If you go to Dubai, you must go and experience the Desert Safari.
I went with Oasis Palm. The trip will cost you dhs 150. The driver will pick you up from the hotel. It takes about 1-2 hours to reach the desert where you will start your adventure. The four wheel drive can take in around 6 tourist.
There will be a pit stop at the souvenir shop before you actually set foot in the desert. Before the adventure, the driver will release some air from the vehicle so that it can glide in the hot desert.
Conditions can be quite harsh, 37 degree Celsius, dry air, you get dehydrated quite fast. Best to gear up with sunglasses, some towels and water. The red sand are really fine. It basically seep into my shoes as I stroll around. So I decided to go bare foot.
Hiking up the slope of reddish sand is no fun under the scorching sun.
The first stop in the desert is only about 10 minutes for everyone to take some photos. So when the time is up, the driver will call the tourist back to the vehicle. Time to sprint back to the car.
Woo Hoo, jumping from the cliff. I basically used up my energy on the first leg of journey. Not a wise move.
The troop move in a very big convoy. The leader of the pack is moving at a crazy speed. Please buckle up to avoid injuries. The ride can be quite rough.
There is about 20 minutes of thrilling ride across the desert. You will scale to steep slope, drop down in the next moment or go 45 degrees sideways. Best way to understand what I say is to go experience for yourself.
2nd stop, you can sand surf or chill and take some photos of the endless desert. If you have the stamina, you can go for several rounds as the drivers act as a conveyor belt to "reload" your surf board.
Being in the desert can be no fun if your lost. I really do not know how the driver navigate themselves.
I think most likely I will end up like this if I get lost in the desert.
Even if you finally find help, you will be lucky enough to still have energy to call for help. That is also if the person answers your call.
Next stop, you can go on an ATV ride on a desert course. dhs70 for a single seater, dhs 120 for a double seater. You can skim the track for about 20 minutes.
Got an Arabian hitch hiker. 1st round is slow, as you master the course, you can really start drifting. Operation is simple, right handle bar petrol, left handle bar brakes.
If there is too much adrenalin rush for you, you can always settle down for a milder camel ride. After that you can get some inai or go for a photo session in arabic wear in the desert camp.
Free flow of drinks and alcohol, followed by an Arabian Buffet. Food are nice and fresh.
The trip wouldn't be complete without a belly dance performance. The dancer "Ella" will invite the audience to dance with her in the middle of her performance. After that, it marks the end of the desert safari.
You can leave your footsteps behind in the desert but the wind will sweep it in a blink of an eye erasing your track, so capture the moment with your camera.
