Camel Riding Safari with BBQ Dinner | Dubai
About This Tour
There’s a quiet gap in most Dubai desert safari line-ups, and this tour was built to fill it: a complete desert evening — sunset, camp, BBQ dinner, live shows, the whole beloved programme — with a camel trek at its heart and no dune bashing anywhere in it. If a 4×4 plunging down a dune face is the one thing standing between you (or someone you love) and the desert, this is your page.
The evening unfolds in two graceful halves. First, the trek: after hotel pickup across Dubai and a smooth drive out — no off-roading on this tour, start to finish — you’ll meet your caravan and its handlers at the edge of the dunes for a genuine guided camel ride of around 45 minutes through the open sand. This is the same unhurried, swaying journey our standalone Camel Riding Safari is built around: ridge-top photo pauses, Bedouin heritage shared by guides as you ride, and a route timed so the final crest meets the sunset, with the dunes turning gold and then red around your caravan’s long shadows.
Then, the camp. Your camels deliver you (almost literally) to a Bedouin-style desert camp for the full evening programme: Arabic coffee and dates on arrival, henna painting, traditional costume photos, and a generous BBQ dinner buffet — grilled meats, salads, Arabic mezze, and always vegetarian options — served while the live entertainment runs: Tanoura dance, fire show, and belly dance under the open sky.
Who is this evening for? Expecting mothers, for whom dune bashing is off-limits but the desert needn’t be. Anyone prone to motion sickness, finally able to say yes to the desert invitation. Seniors and multi-generational families, who get a full shared evening with zero jolts. Toddler families, since under-3s are excluded from nothing here. And a growing number of guests who could do the 4×4 drive and simply prefer the desert this way: slower, quieter, closer to how it was experienced for the four thousand years before turbochargers.
Tour Highlights
Sunset camel trek
45 minutes through open dunes with handlers, ridge photo stop as the light turns gold.
Zero dune bashing
Smooth sealed-road transfer start to finish — the only full desert evening we run with no off-road driving.
Bedouin camp arrival
Walk in right at golden hour — the best entrance the camp offers. Arabic coffee, dates, henna, and costume photos await.
BBQ dinner buffet
Grilled meats, salads, Arabic mezze, and vegetarian options with unlimited soft drinks.
Live entertainment
Tanoura dance, fire show, and belly dance performed under the open desert sky.
Most accessible evening
Our first recommendation for pregnant guests, seniors, toddlers, and motion-sensitive travellers.
What’s Included
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off anywhere in Dubai (smooth-road transfer)
- Guided sunset camel trek (approx. 45 minutes) with handler support
- Riding briefing and ridge photo stop
- Full desert camp access with reserved-by-booking seating
- Unlimited water, soft drinks, tea, and coffee
- Live entertainment: Tanoura, fire show, and belly dance
- Henna painting, costume photos, Arabic coffee, and dates
Not Included
- Dune bashing and sandboarding — deliberately; see the Evening Desert Safari if you want them
- Quad bike or buggy sessions (available via the Quad Bike Tour)
- Alcoholic beverages
- VIP lounge upgrade (combinable — compare the VIP Desert Safari Dubai)
- Private caravan upgrade (available — ask at booking)
- Gratuities for handlers and camp staff
Itinerary
- 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Hotel Pickup
Collection from your Dubai hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle — a smooth highway drive, no off-roading at any point.
- 5:00 PM
Meet the Caravan
Arrive at the camel point on the desert's edge, meet your handlers, and take the short mounting-and-posture briefing.
- 5:15 PM
Sunset Camel Trek
Around 45 minutes in caravan across the open dunes, with a ridge photo pause as the light turns gold.
- 6:00 PM
Sunset Arrival at Camp
The trek's final stretch delivers you to the desert camp as the sun meets the horizon — the evening's signature moment.
- 6:15 PM
Camp Welcome
Arabic coffee and dates, then henna painting and costume photos at your own pace. Non-riding companions transferred directly join you here.
- 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
BBQ Dinner & Live Shows
The buffet opens as the Tanoura, fire show, and belly dance performances run.
- 8:45 PM
Return Journey
A smooth drive back with hotel drop-off between 9:30 and 10:00 PM.
What to Expect
A Genuinely Smooth Evening
This is the only full desert evening we run with no off-road driving whatsoever — the transfer stays on sealed roads, and the dunes are crossed by camel or not at all. Guests who’ve avoided the desert for years over motion sickness consistently tell us this was the page that changed their plans.
The Camel Trek
Camels stand back-legs-first with a lurch your handler braces you through; after that, the gait is a slow sway most riders find soothing. Padded saddles, secure handholds, handlers walking alongside throughout. Children from around age 2 ride with a parent.
Is There Really No Dune Bashing on This Tour?
Anyone in your party who prefers not to ride — or shouldn’t — transfers directly to the camp and meets the caravan on arrival, at an adjusted rate. Pregnant guests usually choose exactly this, keeping the whole evening shared.
The Camp
The full classic programme with open seating, a generous buffet, and shows staged for every table. Arrive with the caravan and you’ll walk in right at golden hour — the best entrance the camp offers.
Weather
October to April is prime; winter evenings cool quickly after sunset, so pack a layer. Summer dates shift the trek slightly later and lean on the camp’s shaded lounges.
Photography
Caravan silhouettes at sunset, then fire-show light after dark — two of the desert’s three iconic shots in one evening. Tripods welcome in the vehicle; tell your driver if you’re shooting seriously.
Accessibility
Wheelchair Users The smooth transfer and camp’s carpeted core make this our most accessible desert evening. The camel trek requires mounting assistance — contact us about a camp-only version.
Strollers Easy — sealed-road transfer, level camel point, carpeted camp.
Infants & Toddlers The headline feature: nothing on this tour excludes them. Under-2s join the camp evening; from around age 2, children ride with a parent.
Seniors The evening we name first when older travellers ask — full programme, zero jolts, handler support at every step.
Pregnant Guests The desert evening we recommend by name. Smooth transfer and camp fit fully; we suggest skipping the saddle and transferring directly to camp — the evening loses nothing.
Safety, Suitability & Rules
Not Recommended For
- Pregnant women
- Guests with severe back, neck, or joint issues
Children Policy
- Children are allowed
- Must be supervised during camel rides
Liability & Guest Responsibility
Guests must follow the guide and handler instructions.
Conduct
Unsafe behavior may result in tour cancellation.
What to Wear & Bring
- Comfortable clothing
- Closed shoes or sandals
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Light jacket in winter
- Camera or smartphone
Add-ons & Upgrades
Private Vehicle Upgrade
Exclusive transport, more privacy and flexibility
Extra cost applies
Extended Camel Ride Longer camel riding duration Subject to availability
Additional Information
Best Time to Visit
October to April for the golden trek light; December–January sunsets are the postcard. Summer departures run with later timing and leaner crowds.
What to Wear
Long comfortable trousers if you’re riding, sandy-tolerant footwear, and a layer for the post-sunset camp. A scarf earns its place in every photo.
What to Bring
Camera, sunscreen for the trek, and small cash for handler tips and camp extras. Dietary needs: vegetarian options always on the buffet; vegan, gluten-free, and other requirements handled with advance notice.
Special Occasions
The caravan-at-sunset arrival is quietly spectacular for anniversaries and proposals — private two-camel caravans and camp surprises can be arranged.
Dietary Needs
Vegetarian options are always on the buffet. Vegan, gluten-free, and other requirements are handled with advance notice — just let us know at booking.
Pair It Well
The trek-only version is the Camel Riding Safari; the engine-included classic is the Evening Desert Safari; the full map of options is our Desert Safari Dubai page.
Can I Cancel My Camel Riding Safari with BBQ Dinner Booking?
Yes — cancel 48 or more hours before pickup for a full refund; cancelling 24–48 hours before gets a 50% refund; cancellations less than 24 hours before pickup are non-refundable.
- Full refund if cancelled 48+ hours before pickup.
- Cancellations 24–48 hours before pickup receive a 50% refund; cancellations within 24 hours of pickup are non-refundable, as caravan places and camp seats are reserved by name.
- No-shows are charged in full.
- Evenings cancelled for weather or safety are rescheduled free or refunded in full.
- Date changes are free with more than 24 hours’ notice, subject to availability.
100%
Refund · 48+ hours before pickup
50%
Refund · 24–48 hours before pickup
0%
Refund · Less than 24 hours before pickup
Pickup & Transport
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there really no dune bashing at all?
None — no off-road driving of any kind, in fact. The transfer stays on sealed roads and the dunes are crossed by camel. That’s the entire premise of the tour.
Is this suitable during pregnancy?
Yes — it’s the desert evening we recommend by name for expecting mothers. The smooth transfer and full camp programme fit beautifully. We suggest skipping the camel saddle itself (the mounting lurch is the issue) and transferring directly to camp; the evening loses nothing.
Can toddlers and babies join?
Yes — that’s the headline feature of this tour. Under-2s join the camp evening freely. From around age 2, children ride with a parent on the camel. Nothing on this tour excludes them, unlike dune bashing tours where under-3s cannot participate. Children under 3 travel free when they sit on a parent’s lap; if you request a child seat, the child pays the adult price.
What is included in a camel riding safari with BBQ dinner?
Hotel pickup and drop-off, a 45-minute guided sunset camel trek with handler support, full desert camp access, BBQ dinner buffet (veg & non-veg), unlimited soft drinks, henna painting, costume photos, Arabic coffee and dates, and live entertainment including Tanoura dance, fire show, and belly dance.
What if someone in our group doesn’t want to ride?
Non-riders are fully welcome — they transfer directly to the camp and meet the caravan on arrival, at an adjusted rate. Pregnant guests usually choose exactly this option and still enjoy the full evening.
How far ahead should we book?
Camel caravan places and camp seats are reserved by name, so booking a day or two ahead is recommended. During peak season (December–January) we suggest booking earlier as dates fill quickly.
