Best Thing To Do in Desert, What to Expect & What’s Included
The best desert safari in Sharjah is never just one thing. In a single evening — or a full morning — you can go from the raw adrenaline of dune bashing to the quiet magic of watching a falcon glide over the dunes, all before sitting down to a traditional Arabic dinner under the stars. It’s one of those rare experiences that genuinely delivers something for everyone, regardless of age, fitness level, or how adventurous you are.
Here are the 10 best activities you can enjoy on a Sharjah desert safari, what makes each one worth doing, and who each activity is best suited for.
1. Dune Bashing
Dune bashing is the centrepiece of every desert safari and the activity most people look forward to the most — and it rarely disappoints. Your driver takes a powerful 4×4 Land Cruiser up, over, and through the red sand dunes of Lahbab at speeds and angles that feel genuinely wild. The vehicle tilts, drops, and climbs in ways that make even nervous passengers burst out laughing. It’s exhilarating in a way that’s hard to describe until you’ve experienced it.
Best for: Everyone — though those with back problems or motion sickness should let the driver know so they can take it a little easier.
Why It’s Unique
- Pure adrenaline: The rapid ascents and plunging descents over the red sand dunes create a roller coaster feeling unlike anything else — no two runs are ever the same
- Skilled drivers: Our drivers have years of experience reading the dunes — they know exactly which angles to take and how to keep the ride exciting but safe
- Stunning scenery: From the crest of each dune you get unobstructed views across the Lahbab desert, with nothing but rolling red sand in every direction
Tips for Dune Bashing
- Keep your seatbelt on at all times — the drops are steeper than they look from outside the car
- If you feel motion sickness coming on, let the driver know immediately — they can slow down or stop
- Avoid heavy meals right before — an empty stomach makes the experience much more enjoyable
- Hold your camera or phone tightly — it’s easy to drop things during the sharp turns
2. Camel Riding
Camels have been the backbone of desert life in the Arabian Peninsula for thousands of years, and riding one is a genuinely unique experience. The slow, swaying rhythm of the camel’s walk, combined with the height and the desert surroundings, makes for a calm and surprisingly moving moment in the middle of what is otherwise a very active day. It’s the kind of thing that sounds like a tourist cliché until you’re actually up there, looking out across the dunes.
Best for: Families, couples, and anyone who wants a cultural and memorable experience. Great for kids.
Why It’s Unique
- Living history: Camels were the original desert transport for Bedouin tribes for centuries — riding one connects you directly to the region’s heritage in a way no other activity does
- Unique perspective: The height of a camel gives you a completely different view of the desert landscape — wider, calmer, and more panoramic than anything at ground level
- Surprisingly peaceful: After the noise and speed of dune bashing, the gentle sway of a camel ride feels like a completely different world
Tips for Camel Riding
- Wear trousers rather than shorts — the saddle can be rough on bare legs over longer rides
- Hold on firmly and lean back slightly when the camel stands up and again when it sits down — these are the two trickiest moments
- Relax your body and go with the swaying motion rather than fighting it — it makes the ride much more comfortable
- Ask the camel handler questions — they are usually very happy to share stories about these animals and their role in Emirati culture
3. Sandboarding
Think snowboarding, but on sand dunes instead of snow — and without the cold. Sandboarding involves strapping onto a board and sliding down the face of a dune, which sounds simple but quickly becomes addictive once you get the hang of it. The climb back up is the hard part, but the ride down is worth every step. First-timers usually start on smaller dunes and work their way up as their confidence grows.
Best for: Anyone who likes active, outdoor fun. Teenagers and young adults tend to love it most, but it’s suitable for all ages.
Why It’s Unique
- Year-round fun: Unlike snowboarding, sandboarding doesn’t depend on the weather or season — the desert dunes are always ready
- Instant progression: Most people go from nervous beginner to confident slider within just a few runs — it’s one of those activities that rewards you quickly
- Great for photos: Riders carving down the face of a red dune make for some of the best action shots of the entire safari
Tips for Sandboarding
- Closed-toe shoes are essential — sand between bare toes while boarding is very uncomfortable
- Start on a smaller dune to get a feel for the board and your balance before going for the bigger slopes
- Keep your knees slightly bent and your weight centred over the board — leaning too far back will slow you down, too far forward and you’ll tumble
- Wax the bottom of the board before each run for a faster, smoother slide — your guide will help with this
4. Quad Biking
For those who want to explore the desert at their own speed, quad biking hands you the controls. You’re on an all-terrain vehicle, navigating the dunes and open desert tracks under the guidance of the team. It’s faster and more independent than dune bashing, and appeals particularly to those who like to drive rather than just be driven. The desert landscape looks completely different from the seat of a quad bike — lower, wider, and more immersive.
Best for: Adventure seekers, thrill-lovers, and anyone who wants an active hands-on desert experience. Available for kids too with our kids quad biking option.
Why It’s Unique
- You’re in control: Unlike dune bashing where you’re a passenger, quad biking puts you at the wheel — you set your own pace and choose your own lines through the terrain
- Explore freely: The open desert feels completely different when you’re on a quad — you can cover more ground, discover more of the landscape, and feel genuinely immersed in the environment
- Great for groups: Riding alongside friends or family on quads, racing each other across the flats, is one of the most fun shared experiences on offer in the desert
Tips for Quad Biking
- Full-length trousers and closed-toe shoes are required — helmets and safety gear are provided
- If you’re a first-timer, take the brief instruction session seriously — understanding the brakes and throttle before you set off makes everything safer and more enjoyable
- Stay on the designated tracks, especially as a beginner — wandering off-route can get you stuck in soft sand
- Remove loose scarves and dangling jewellery before riding — they can get caught in the wind or the vehicle
5. Dune Buggy Riding
The dune buggy takes the quad biking experience up a level. These purpose-built off-road vehicles — available as 1, 2, or 4-seaters — are built for serious dune driving. Unlike the 4×4 dune bashing where you’re a passenger, in a dune buggy you’re the one steering through the terrain. It’s loud, fast, and one of the most memorable things you can do in the Sharjah desert.
Best for: Those who want maximum thrill and the freedom to drive themselves. Excellent for couples and small groups wanting a more private adventure.
Why It’s Unique
- Raw power: The Polaris RZR and Can-Am buggies are purpose-built machines for desert terrain — they handle the dunes in a way that no regular vehicle can match
- Private experience: Unlike group safaris, a dune buggy session is just you and whoever is in your vehicle — no strangers, no crowd, just the desert
- Multiple configurations: With 1, 2, and 4-seater options from both Polaris RZR and Can-Am, there’s a buggy for solo riders, couples, and families
Tips for Dune Buggy Riding
- Remove loose jewellery and tie back long hair before getting in the buggy
- Wear your helmet correctly and keep your harness fastened throughout the ride
- Keep both hands on the wheel at all times when navigating steep dune faces
- First-timers should start at a moderate pace to get comfortable with how the buggy responds before pushing the speed
6. Falconry Display
Falconry is one of the oldest and most culturally significant traditions in the UAE — recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. Watching a trained falcon up close is a genuinely impressive experience. These birds are extraordinarily fast and precise, and the relationship between the falconer and the bird takes years to develop. You’ll have the chance to hold a falcon, watch it fly, and learn about its role in Emirati heritage directly from an experienced falconer.
Best for: All ages — children are particularly fascinated by it, and it makes for incredible photos.
Why It’s Unique
- UNESCO heritage: Falconry is not just a performance — it’s a living tradition that has been practised in the Arabian Peninsula for over 4,000 years and is officially recognised as part of global intangible cultural heritage
- Up close encounter: You can hold and photograph a real falcon — not behind glass, not from a distance, but right on your arm
- Fascinating insight: The falconer’s knowledge of these birds — their behaviour, training, and role in Bedouin life — makes this one of the most genuinely educational moments of the safari
Tips for Falconry
- Bring a camera — a falcon perched on your arm against the desert backdrop makes for one of the best photos of the entire trip
- Move slowly and calmly around the birds — sudden movements can startle them
- Ask the falconer questions — they are passionate about their craft and happy to share their knowledge
- Included in all safari packages — no need to book separately
7. Sunset Viewing
This one sounds simple but it’s consistently described by visitors as the most memorable moment of the entire safari. The evening safari timing is built specifically around the sunset — you’ll find yourself standing on the crest of a dune as the sun drops behind the horizon, turning the red sand gold, amber, and eventually deep pink. The silence, the scale, and the colours combine into something that’s genuinely hard to capture in a photo but impossible to forget.
Best for: Everyone. This requires no effort and delivers one of the best natural shows in the UAE.
Why It’s Unique
- No light pollution: Away from the city, the desert sky during sunset is completely unobstructed — the colours are more vivid and dramatic than anything you’ll see from a hotel rooftop
- The red dunes amplify it: The Lahbab dunes are naturally red-orange in colour, which means the golden hour light turns the entire landscape into something that looks almost unreal
- A moment of stillness: After the noise and excitement of dune bashing, the sunset moment is completely silent — just the wind, the sand, and the sky
Tips for Sunset Viewing
- Climb to the top of a dune for the best unobstructed view — your guide will point you to the best spot
- Put your phone down for at least a few minutes — the sunset is genuinely worth experiencing with your own eyes, not just through a screen
- The best light for photos is in the 10 minutes just before and just after the sun hits the horizon — don’t put your camera away too early
- Best experienced on the Evening Safari or Overnight Safari
8. Traditional Camp Experience — Henna, Shisha & Arabic Coffee
Once the active part of the evening winds down, the camp comes to life. Skilled henna artists create intricate traditional patterns on your hands or feet. Shisha is available for those who want to try it. Arabic coffee — cardamom-infused and served in small cups — is offered alongside dates, as it has been for centuries in the desert. The Bedouin-style camp setting, with its low seating, lanterns, and open desert around it, creates an atmosphere that feels genuinely special.
Best for: Everyone, but particularly those interested in culture, photography, and authentic experiences.
Why It’s Unique
- Living tradition: Henna painting, Arabic coffee rituals, and shisha are not put-on performances for tourists — they are genuine expressions of Emirati and regional Arab culture that have been practised for generations
- The camp atmosphere: The combination of lantern light, open desert, low cushioned seating, and the smell of oud incense creates an atmosphere that is unlike anything most visitors have experienced before
- Something to take home: A henna design lasts 1–2 weeks — it’s a living souvenir of your desert experience that goes home with you
Tips for the Camp Experience
- Get your henna done before dinner rather than after — it needs 20–30 minutes to dry and you don’t want to smudge it while eating
- Try the Arabic coffee even if you’re not a coffee drinker — it’s very different from Western coffee, lighter and spiced with cardamom, and is a genuine cultural experience
- The dates served alongside the coffee are a traditional pairing — try them together as the locals do
- If you want a specific henna design, show the artist a photo — they are very skilled at recreating patterns from reference
9. BBQ Dinner Under the Stars
The desert camp dinner is a full Arabic and international buffet served in the open air with the desert surrounding you. The spread includes lamb and chicken kebabs, ouzi, biryani, hummus, fattoush, falafel, and a selection of traditional desserts, including luqaimat and kunafeh. There’s something about eating outdoors in the desert at night — warm from the fire, under a sky full of stars — that turns a buffet dinner into one of the genuine highlights of a UAE trip.
Best for: Everyone. The buffet format caters to all dietary preferences, including vegetarian options.
Why It’s Unique
- The setting: Eating under an open desert sky, surrounded by dunes, with live entertainment ahead of you — it’s a setting that no restaurant can replicate
- Authentic cuisine: The menu features genuine traditional Emirati and Arabian dishes — ouzi, luqaimat, kunafeh — that you won’t find on a standard tourist menu
- The whole experience: The dinner is not just a meal — it’s the centrepiece of the camp evening, shared with the whole group in an atmosphere that is naturally social and celebratory
Tips for the BBQ Dinner
- Pace yourself during the activities — you’ll be genuinely hungry by dinner time and the spread is generous
- Try the luqaimat — these small fried dough balls drizzled with date syrup are a traditional Emirati street food and are delicious
- Vegetarian and lighter options are available — let your operator know in advance if you have specific dietary requirements
- Seating is on floor cushions — comfortable clothing that works sitting cross-legged will make the dinner more enjoyable
10. Evening Entertainment — Belly Dancing, Tanoura & Fire Show
The evening concludes with a series of traditional live performances at the camp. The tanoura show features a whirling dancer in a brightly coloured spinning skirt — a mesmerising performance rooted in Sufi tradition. The belly dancing performance showcases one of the most recognised art forms of the Arab world. The fire show adds a dramatic finale, with performers spinning and tossing fire against the dark desert sky. Together they create a lively, colourful, and thoroughly entertaining end to the evening.
Best for: All ages — kids are often completely captivated by the fire show and tanoura.
Why It’s Unique
- Open-air theatre: Watching these performances in the open desert at night, under the stars, with a fire crackling nearby, is a completely different experience from seeing them in a hotel or theatre
- Cultural depth: The tanoura is rooted in Sufi spiritual tradition — there is real meaning and history behind the spinning, not just spectacle
- The fire show finale: The fire performance is genuinely impressive — the performers are skilled artists, and the desert darkness makes the flames all the more dramatic
Tips for the Evening Shows
- Arrive at the performance area a few minutes early to get a good seat — front and centre is the best spot for the tanoura show
- The performers often invite audience members to join the tanoura — say yes if you get the chance, it’s great fun
- Use portrait mode on your phone for the belly dancing and a slower shutter speed for the fire show — the light trails make for stunning shots
- The shows run for about 60–90 minutes in total, so get comfortable and enjoy them at a relaxed pace
Which Safari Includes All of These Activities?
Most of these activities are included across all our safari packages. Here’s a quick guide to help you pick the right one:
| Package | Price | Key Activities Included |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Safari | 60 AED | Dune bashing, camel ride, sandboarding, BBQ dinner, shows, falconry |
| Special Safari | 120 AED | All above + home pickup in Land Cruiser, henna, Arabic coffee |
| VIP Safari | 200 AED | All above + VIP seating area, waiter service, premium experience |
| Adventure Safari (ATV) | 220 AED | All above + quad biking included |
| Overnight Safari | 300 AED | All above + overnight camping, stargazing, sunrise, breakfast |
| Private Safari | 700 AED | All activities are fully private for up to 6 people |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all 10 activities suitable for children?
Most of them, yes. Camel riding, sandboarding, falconry, henna, the camp dinner, and the evening shows are all great for kids. Dune bashing is suitable for children over 3 years old. Quad biking has a dedicated kids quad biking option. Dune buggy riding is recommended for older children and adults.
Which activities cost extra?
Dune bashing, camel riding, sandboarding, falconry, henna, BBQ dinner, and the evening shows are all included in the standard safari packages. Quad biking is included in the Adventure Safari package or available as a standalone rental. Dune buggy riding is a separate tour.
How long does the full safari experience last?
A standard evening safari runs for 6–7 hours, including pickup and drop-off. A morning safari runs for 4–5 hours. If you want to experience everything, including stargazing and sunrise, the overnight safari is the one to book.