Spend the night in deluxe tent accommodation under the desert stars, enjoying wildlife walks and drives, delicious traditional cuisine and spellbinding entertainment in our most immersive safari experience.
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Shared or Private Transfer
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Dune Drive
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Wildlife
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DDCR Visitor Centre
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Deluxe Tent Accommodation
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Bedouin BBQ Dinner
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Marshmallows & Shisha
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Fresh Breakfast
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Camel Ride
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Walking Night Safari
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Morning Wildlife Drive
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Arabic Entertainment
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Stargazing
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Private Table Service
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Soft Drinks
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Bar (paid)
About
Language:
English
Full description
Our overnight desert safari is an unforgettable camping experience in the enchanting surroundings of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR).
Bookended by an evening and morning packed with exciting activities and mouth-watering food, you’ll spend the night in an idyllic campsite nestled among the dunes.
Your experience will begin when you’re picked up from your hotel or residence in Dubai and driven to the stunning DDCR. You can also drive yourself if you wish, parking for free at the DDCR entrance – or driving all the way over the dunes to the campsite, providing you have a suitable vehicle.
Entry to the DDCR Visitor Centre is included, so you’ll have the opportunity to explore fascinating exhibits on the breathtaking area you’ll be staying in.
After the excitement of driving across the dunes in a 4x4, spotting incredible desert wildlife with the help of your safari guide, you’ll enjoy a short trek on an Arabian camel to the campsite.
Here you’ll be greeted by a breathtaking Bedouin-inspired space and make yourself at home in your deluxe tent accommodation – where you’ll find a tasteful welcome gift.
You’ll then take your seat for a sumptuous traditional BBQ dinner, with a set menu designed by JW Marriott. Indulge in freshly baked Arabic bread, Arabic mezze, Zarb-cooked meats, kunafa chocolate dessert and unlimited soft drinks as you’re treated to private table service.
Your ambient evening in the desert will continue with charming Arabic entertainment – a live oud player will provide a delightful soundtrack, and a fire show will offer spellbinding visuals.
There will be opportunities to spot wildlife throughout your desert safari, including on a thrilling walking night safari – when many desert creatures emerge.
Upon your return, you’ll unwind by a welcoming campfire, enjoying marshmallows and shisha in a truly relaxing setting. There’ll be time to admire the mesmeric desert sky in an unforgettable stargazing session, while a paid bar with cocktails and a fine wine list is available throughout the evening.
When you retire to your tent, you can spend some time soaking in the desert atmosphere on your private decking area or simply drift off to sleep in complete tranquillity.
In the morning, you’ll be served a delightful fresh breakfast before embarking on another captivating wildlife drive.
Finally, you’ll be dropped off back at your hotel or residence in Dubai – or return in your own vehicle if you choose to do so.
To add another fantastic activity to your overnight desert camping itinerary, you can book an overnight desert safari & hot air balloon combo.
What's included
- Transfers to and from your hotel or residence to the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR) *
- Pick-up and drop-off in an Arabian Adventures 4x4 vehicle *
- Access to the DDCR Visitor Centre
- Drive across the desert dunes in a 4x4 *
- Deluxe tent accommodation with welcome gift
- A ride on an Arabian camel
- Wildlife spotting opportunities
- Arabic entertainment (oud player and fire show)
- Walking night safari
- Marshmallows and shisha
- Stargazing
- Traditional Bedouin BBQ dinner
- Fresh breakfast
- Morning wildlife drive
- Soft drinks
- *Not applicable on the self drive option.
What's not included
- Cocktails, fine wine and other alcoholic drinks at the paid campsite bar
Highlights
- A unique overnight experience in the heart of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
- Close encounters with local wildlife throughout your stay
- An evening dinner in a Bedouin-inspired camp with waiter service
- Camel trek onboard an Arabian Camel
- Opportunities to witness the desert sunset and sunrise
- Once-in-a-lifetime moments throughout your stay
Know before you go
- Guests opting out of a transfer to the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR) can park for free at the DDCR entrance. From there, the Arabian Adventures team will pick them up in a 4x4 and transport them into the reserve.
- A self-drive option is available for guests with suitable vehicles. The Arabian Adventures team will assess the vehicle and escort guests to the camp in a convoy. It is mandatory to provide the vehicle registration number in advance of the service date to secure the necessary approvals with DDCR. Please contact our team via WhatsApp to share your requirements, or complete a contact form.
- For self-drive guests, the meeting point is at the DDCR gate at 17:00 (October to May).
- Fresh linen and towels are provided in your tent. Shared bathroom facilities are also provided on site.
- Temperatures can fluctuate in the desert quickly. Warm afternoons can turn into cool evenings, particularly in the winter months.
- While we endeavour to show you as much wildlife as possible, we cannot predict the movements of every species. Therefore, if some of the animals change their plans, we can’t guarantee you’ll spot them.
- Please inform our team of any existing medical conditions before joining us for your Overnight Desert Safari. Where necessary, we will work to make alternative arrangements for certain activities to ensure the comfort and enjoyment of all guests throughout the experience.
- Please note, for expectant mothers and guests with existing medical conditions joining us with a package which includes transfers, the 4x4 dune drive will be omitted from their individual itinerary for their comfort.
- During the Holy Month of Ramadan, water will continue to be available to guests. However, we kindly request that it is consumed in our vehicles during daylight hours. Water may not be consumed outside during daylight hours, however, there will be plenty of opportunities to drink in the vehicles throughout your experience. Speak to your tour guide if you have any questions.
Age policy
- The following age brackets apply for booking purposes:
- Adults: 12 years old and above.
- Children: 5-11 years old.
- Overnight tents can accommodate one child on a rollaway bed which must be requested in advance. You can request by speaking to our team via WhatsApp to share your requirements, or complete a contact form
Cancellation policy
- We understand that plans can change. If they do, please let us know at least 24 hours prior to your activity. We will not be able to process refunds for bookings cancelled less than 24 hours before your activity starts.
- Full payment for your booking is required at least two days prior to your activity. If payment is not received before the expected date, we reserve the right to cancel your activity.
- In exceptional circumstances, we may have to amend the Overnight Desert Safari schedule or cancel the activity entirely. We reserve the right to amend and cancel activities in such circumstances, and will ensure we communicate any changes in advance where possible.
FAQ
Is the overnight desert safari suitable for solo travellers?
Absolutely! Both shared vehicle and private vehicle packages are available for solo guests, and accommodation can be reserved by solo travellers too.
How many people does each tent accommodate during the overnight stay?
The tent accommodation is designed to host a maximum of two adults and one child (aged 5-11).
Are special dietary requests accommodated during the stay?
We can accommodate special dietary requirements during your stay with us. All we ask is that you share these in advance, so we can prepare your request accordingly.
What is the entertainment schedule during the overnight desert safari?
A typical activity schedule for an Overnight Desert Safari includes
- Camel ride
- Dune drive
- Walking night safari
- Arabic entertainment (oud player and fire show)
- Stargazing
- Morning wildlife drive, including a sunrise stop
Between these, the main activities on your schedule are to enjoy the view and enjoy your overnight camp accommodation!
Is there a pickup option available from areas other than Dubai hotels/residences?
We review these requests on a case-by-case basis. Reach out to our team and we’ll try our best to accommodate.
Are there any restrictions on carrying electronic devices to the overnight campsite?
Electronic items such as mobile phones are allowed on the campsite. How else can you get those Insta-worthy shots, right? Your accommodation won’t have any charging points however, so we’d recommend bringing a portable charging pack with you.
We also ask for you to refrain from bringing any items which may be harmful to the wildlife and environment we are looking to protect, like e-cigarettes for example.
What should I wear for an overnight desert safari?
We recommend wearing lightweight, breathable clothing and comfortable, robust shoes for your Overnight Desert Safari. We recommend wearing sunscreen for the safari and packing a pair of sunglasses and a hat. Find out more about what to wear on a desert safari.
Is the desert camping experience suitable for children?
Children are welcome to enjoy the desert camping experience with us, under the following circumstances:
Children under the age of 5 can only be accommodated when the camp is privately booked on an exclusive basis.
For children under the age of 5, a private vehicle should be reserved for the safari experience and their information shared with us at the time of booking.
Are there vegetarian or vegan meal options available?
We will work to accommodate special dietary requirements when they are shared with us in advance. Please contact our team via WhatsApp to share your requirements, or complete a contact form.
What safety measures are in place at the campsite?
The safety and wellbeing of our overnight guests is a top priority, and we have taken a variety of steps to guarantee the overnight experience is comfortable and safe.
A comprehensive risk assessment has been conducted for our campsite facilities and activities to ensure that potential risks are identified and effectively managed. While you’re camel riding, relaxing by the campfire and sleeping – know that we have taken precautions to ensure your safety.
Although an emergency of any kind is highly unlikely, we understand the importance of being prepared. We have emergency procedures in place and have trained all our Safari Guides accordingly to put these into practice. Our Guides are also certified in First Aid and have access to first aid kits and defibrillators.
We have also taken steps to ensure fire safety at all times. Our campfire is carefully managed by our Safari Guides, and we have multiple fire extinguishers conveniently located throughout the campsite and the Guides are trained in their use. If the need arises to evacuate, our campsite offers an open plan layout with plenty of safe egress options.
As a rule, we encourage all guests to act in a respectful and mindful way throughout their time with us. We discourage any behaviours which could disrupt any wildlife or compromise personal safety in any way. With this in mind, while we do not prohibit any specific items, we ask our guests to make reasoned judgements about what they bring into the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve.
Our Guides are always on standby, ready to assist and make sure that you have a memorable and safe stay with us.
