Thursday Thirteen #47: Dubai Desert Safari
By Grace on Jun 5, 2008 in Thursday Thirteen, beautiful Dubai
An hour and a half away from the hustle and bustle of Dubai, the wide golden sand dunes awaits everyone. We went to experience a desert safari - an off road adventure you will never forget!
Here are 13 (+1) photos from our desert adventure.
Here’s what happens if you go on a desert safari:
- The tour operator will come to your house or hotel to pick you up, depending on your location, between 3-4 pm.
- After an hour drive, you will stop for toilet and refreshments. Also, your vehicle will wait for 15-30 minutes until all other vehicles arrive. It is the tradition that group of vehicles go together to the desert.
- The driver checks for the tire pressure and deflate the tires (not completely, just take out some air). This is a necessary procedure for the car to run in the desert sand.
~ The driver assigned to us was a local! He gladly smiled for the camera ~
- The driver will ask everyone in the car to buckle up and this is when the fun begins! The vehicles will go through the sand dunes, climb dune mountains, nose dive (but not quite) from atop sand hills. I can’t describe (and count) how much I screamed!
~ SUV’s in the desert! ~
~ that is a moving SUV in the sand hill ~
~ a Hummer was there too! ~
~ circling the desert ~
- We stopped at a camel pen to take pictures.
~ camels of all sizes - there were baby camels as well ~
~ the camels were tame (but the smell is not!) ~
- After the fun ride in the desert, we were taken to a central camp in the middle of the desert.
~ entrance to the camp ~
~ the camp ~
The tables are gathered around a big carpet. The center carpet has a purpose. I will tell you later.
The desert safari includes a buffet dinner of traditional Arabic food, Indian cuisine and barbeque. Here are the grillers preparing our dinner:
~ tandoori chicken grillers in action ~
~ Chicken Tikka skewers ~
I tell you, the delicious aroma could make your stomach growl! While waiting for dinner, desert safari participants can enjoy alcohol (you have to pay separately - not included in the cost of the safari), henna painting, camel riding, dune bashing and dressing up in traditional Arabic costume.
~ I wouldn’t even recognize my own husband with this dress! (at least when looking from the back) ~
I did henna and went to ride a camel. I wish there were plenty of time to ride a desert buggy and do some dune bashing but the queue was too long.
Dinner was served at 7:30. We were so hungry we took a dash to the buffet table - couldn’t resist the smell of barbeque!
While enjoying our dinner, music was played in the background and a belly dancer came out from her small hut inside the camp and entertained us. The center carpet was for the belly dancer!
Pity I wasn’t able to capture her beautiful face. The dancing was good! She also invited males on the center stage - to the delight of the audience and the invited male, of course. And you think Dubai is a strict Arab country? Look at the belly dancer, she’s practically half naked!!
The show finished at 8:45 p.m. and we headed home happy and full. Sorry for the long post. I hope you did not fall asleep reading this. 
For anyone planning to visit Dubai anytime soon, desert safari is a MUST. You would like to avoid the summer months though, the desert sand will scorch your feet! All in all, our experience was great and filled with memories to keep for a lifetime.
Wow! Look like you guys had a great time in the desert. Great TT and I enjoy reading it to the end.
Did you bring your daughter with you?
Amy @ The Q Family’s last blog post..WW - Would You Eat This?
Amy @ The Q Family | Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
Sounds like a great day. I love the picture of the belly dancer with her swirling scarves.
Robin’s last blog post..WFMW - Scavenger Hunts
Robin | Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
Oh what fun!
Maribeth | Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
Wow…it must be a wonderful experience.
mama meji’s last blog post..Thankful Thursday
mama meji | Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
Grace, I loved this post! The vastness of the desert sand does scare me a bit, though! What fun, I’d love to do that someday. We have sand dune we go to each summer at the Oregon Coast, and several family members have dune buggy type things we ride in - the kids love it!
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jennifer in OR | Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
Oh, I am so Jealous!!!!!!!! It’s all too cool . The belly dancing (which I thought would be boring) looks awesome! And who would imagine Tandoori chicken in the desert - isn’t that Indian food? Didn’t even recognize your Hubby in that outfit, lol! Maybe next time we’re in Dubai
Stacey’s last blog post..Did you know…
Stacey | Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
What an amazing trip! Thanks for sharing it with us.
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Darla | Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
The SUVs in the desert look like part of a chase scene from a movie!
Di | Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
ive always wanted to do that safari! thanks for sharing the photos !
Surfergirl | Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
Grace, thank you for sharing this wonderful experience with us. What memories for your family!
Joyce T.’s last blog post..Thirteen Things I Enjoy About my Job
Joyce T. | Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
That looks very fun,like a Luau in Hawaii may i ask? How much it cost?
marcia @ joyismygoal’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen Comforters to Comfort
marcia @ joyismygoal | Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
Fascinating trip. Thanks for sharing. Happy TT.
pussreboots | Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
Beautiful and looks like so much fun! I really loved this and would *love* to visit Dubai someday. Happy TT!
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maggies mind | Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
Fascinating! Thanks for sharing.
Desert Songbird’s last blog post..The Navy Invented..What?
Desert Songbird | Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
wow wow wow wow wow wow wow…. WOW!! Thank you so much for sharing your adventure! And the photos!! I love the faces of the men. Were there women there? (In abajas?) Gosh what a fun trip and I’m so excited to have gone along.
How are things there?
On a Limb with Claudia | Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
This looks so wonderful! Maybe someday.
Happy TT!
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Denise | Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
My husband is gonna love seeing these. It’s his dream to do offroading in a place like that.
Jenny | Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
Those are amazing photos, Grace!!
It’s one thing to know the desert is a vast land, but to actually see it, it’s phenomenal.
Katelyn loved to see the camels.
The henna tattoo you got is very lovely.
Glad you guys had a fun adventure!
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Christine | Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
That looks incredible. Course if I were to go out in the desert I might end up as a prune rather than a plum!
Happy TT!
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Peter Plum | Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
First time I’ve been here, but I’ll be back. Beautiful pics!! Thanks for sharing
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Val | Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
That looks like you made some great memories! Thanks for sharing it!
Happy T13!
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Laura | Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
What great pics! I can almost feel that hot sand!
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kay | Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
That is amazing. It’s like a whole other world that I’ll probably never see. It’s like something out of a movie! You sure live an exciting life!
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kailani | Jun 6, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for sharing Grace. What an adventure! wish kong matutong mag belly dance hehehee
melbs | Jun 6, 2008 | Reply
murag mamatay man ko sa kahadlok sa ride.
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rose | Jun 6, 2008 | Reply
sounds like an exhilarating adventure.
why am i so thirsty all of the sudden?
thanx for visiting my moods of water tt.
Joy Renee’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen #89
Joy Renee | Jun 6, 2008 | Reply
It sounds like you’ve been to lots of fabulous places! I was in Japan from March of 1992 to September of 1993. It was fabulous!
Love the pictures!
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shauna | Jun 7, 2008 | Reply
I did that tour when I visited Dubai. Fabulous! I loved that middle of the desert stop where we had a fabulous dinner, camel rides, etc..
Waving from Switzerland
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