Top 10 Unforgettable Desert Experiences in the UAE
The UAE is a country which is famous for its advanced cities and tall buildings, but at the same time is home to truly magnificent natural wonder – the desert. The UAE deserts are not only beautiful but also have the beauty of adventure, culture and calmness of mind. Endless sandy dunes that are golden and the blue sky overhead has turned the desert into a new attractive tourist attraction. While some tourists enjoy the excitement of dune bashing others prefer camel back riding, the desert gives a break from the urban life and gives an opportunity to embrace nature and culture.
Desert tours in the UAE are for all types of enthusiasts. If you fancy yourself as an adrenalin-seeker who wants to ride a quad bike over the dunes, or a culture-vulture who wants to discover more about the Bedouin way of life, then there is no dearth of things to do. These are exciting and serene experiences as each moment in the desert is filled with an unforgettable memory. Peace lovers will find the vast expanse of the desert as an opportunity for reflection and star gazing, adventure lovers will never run out of things to do in the desert.
The UAE desert is rich in its cultural and adventurous experience, which is so difficult to find in other parts of the world. Fun activities that are found in the UAE deserts include; hot air balloon ride where visitors get to view the beautiful scenery of the desert, falconry which is a traditional past time activity practiced in the region. A visit to the desert would be one of the most memorable experiences of the UAE, whether you are a day tripper or an overnight camper.
Below are the Top 10 Unforgettable Desert Experiences in the UAE
1. Dune Bashing in the Desert
Dune bashing is considered one of the most adventurous types of activities in the UAE desert. This high energy activity lets you go for a drive over the desert dunes in a powerful 4 by 4 vehicle. The drivers are very professional they masterfully maneuver the sand hills and give the feel of a roller coaster ride. Regardless of whether you are on the dunes of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve or Liwa Desert, the feeling will make you feel so alive as you battle the high dunes. Why It’s Special: The sensation of joy is incomparable, and you will be able to see the essence of the desert with the help of a car and drive it at high speed on the sand.
Check Out Dune Buggy Ride in Dubai
2. Camel Trekking
For a more natural and less adventurous experience of the UAE’s deserts, taking a camel ride will do the trick. Camels are called the ‘ships of the desert,’ and have been for centuries used to transport people across desert territories and riding one allows you to feel like you’re in a different era. You can take a camel ride guided tour around the Arabian desert and enjoy the calmness and the ever-changing scenery of the desert.
Why It’s Special: It’s a very leisurely affair which provides an opportunity to appreciate the views, the sounds and the peace of the desert. Others include being able to watch a sunrise or sundown over the desert while on the camel back.
3. Sunset Safari
The most enchanting activity to do in the UAE desert is a sunset safari. The sun sets in the UAE desert are some of the best in the world since the sky has many colors when the sun is setting. The sunset safari will take you out to the sandy plains in an open, all-terrain vehicle, and then halt at a picturesque location as the sky transforms into a painting of orange, pink and violet hues over the hilly sand dunes.
Why It’s Special: Sunset over the water is beautiful and quiet, so it is perfect for photography and other shots or just for relaxation.
4. One Night Camping in the Stars
So, if one wants to capture the real essence of the desert then a night out under the stars is a must have desert experience in UAE. There are simple Bedouin tents to extremely comfortable luxurious desert accommodations for those who prefer a little more luxury. Every evening is entertained with traditional dance, music and even a belly dance after a delightful traditional meal. At night you will lie down and look at the sky full of stars and avoid the bright light from the city.
Why It’s Special: The best thing is that it is very silent at night in the desert and there is a perfect chance to enjoy the stars. You will also get an opportunity to enjoy true Bedouin hospitality or even learn about Bedouin culture.
5. Sandboarding
Sandboarding is common in the UAE and is one of the most thrilling ways to make your desert sports more exciting. The golden sand dunes of the UAE especially designed for sliding at high speed. The activity of sliding down these steep mounds is a great experience regardless of the rider’s skill level and the vastness of the desert is below you.
Why it’s Special: Basically, sandboarding is very much like snowboarding, only done on the warm, soft sand of the desert. That is a good way to have fun while exploring the desert view.
6. Quad Biking
As for extreme activities, there is no better way to go through the dunes than quad biking. Quad biking in Sand offers the rider a chance to tour around at his/her own pace and at the same time feel the challenge of riding on an unsurfaced sandy track. Many of the tours in the UAE deserts also include quad biking as well as other activities so that you can enjoy the desert in an exciting way.
Why it’s Special: Quad biking is a combination of excitement and discovery. The fact that you can actually ride your own bike makes it an endearing game that puts you fully and entirely in charge of your desert expedition.
7. Stargazing in the Desert
The skies over the UAE are some of the darkest in the world, so you’ll have the chance to see stars like you’ve never seen them before. Go for a guided star watching session where the guide will be able to identify for you the constellations, planets and even galaxies, if lucky. As there is no artificial lighting in the desert, it is the best place to spend the night, as the sky will be filled with the Milky Way and other stars.
Why it’s Special: Stargazing in the desert is going to be a calm holiday where you can escape the noise of the present society and enjoy the boundless reach of space. There are no artificial lights to blind you and you can see the stars as they are.
8. Falconry Demonstrations
One of the oldest traditions in the UAE that can still be considered a sport is falconry. A lot of the desert tours in the UAE give visitors the opportunity to watch a live falconry performance, where trained falcons display their speed. You can even take a shot at meeting these beautiful birds, see how they work and the history of falconry in the UAE.
Why it’s Special: This cultural experience helps one make a cultural intercession into the UAE’s heritage while marveling at the elegance of these birds of prey.
9. Bedouin Cultural Experience
If you want to learn more about UAE desert traditions , it will be advisable to take a Bedouin cultural tour. As part of this interactive experience, you will be introduced to the customs, traditions, and way of life of the Bedouin population. Savor an Arabic dish, have a camel ride and take a look at a Tanoura dance or belly dance.
Why it’s Special: This cultural experience aims to help people discover the life and culture of the desert dwellers that have been in existence in UAE for centuries.
10. Hot Air Balloon Ride
If you want to get a closer look at the vast desert of the UAE then take a hot air balloon and travel over the sand dunes. You will also be able to see the desert up close from the sky as you begin to ascend with rolling sand dunes and distant hills. The calmness of the journey, and the vistas of the desert, makes this one of the most unique experiences of the UAE.
Why it’s Special: Taking a hot air balloon means that you can have the best view of the desert from a bird’s eye view. The smooth and gentle movement ensures that you can have a look at the beauty and take beautiful photos.
Conclusion
The desert experiences in the UAE range from the exciting ones such as dune bashing and sand boarding to the relaxing ones such as stargazing and camel trekking. For the adventurous lot, the cultural explorers, and the laid back travelers, the UAE deserts are a tourist’s delight. Spend time in the enchanting beauty of the desert and make some of the most special moments of your life. These desert experiences in the UAE are going to be the highlight of your tour.
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