Overland Mountain Desert Day Safari(TourTip-7 Platinum)

Overland Mountain Desert Day Safari
(TourTip-7 Platinum)

Pick up from any hotel in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and cruise terminal (only Dubai), pick up at 10 am - hotel pickup / return in a private Land Rover Defender

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Duration

11 hours (Approx.)

Tour Type

Daily Tour

Group Size

Unlimited

Languages

English

Overview

Get off the beaten track and experience a private Mountain Desert Safari on an overland adventure!

About this activity

For the intrepid explorers who prefer off-the-beaten-track adventures, this full day Mountain and Desert Safari takes you to some of the best outdoor gems in Dubai and the UAE. This overland safari is designed for the nature lovers, adventure seekers, outdoor enthusiasts and active types.

Explore the unique mountain ranges and iconic desert dunes of the United Arab Emirates in a Classic Land Rover Defender with your own private Conservation Guide. Enjoy activities like photography, hiking, fat-biking and swimming in the mountain wadis (Arabic for valley). Picnic in the great outdoors and take in stunning views of one of the Middle East’s most unique landscapes.

After discovering the mountains, head into the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve to enjoy a wildlife drive through this pristine and protected area of Dubai. Spot native wildlife like Arabian oryx and gazelles, learn about Dubai’s fauna and flora and hear fascinating stories about the desert’s earliest inhabitants, the nomadic Bedouin.

Witness a spectacular sunset falcon show in the desert and spend the evening experiencing a glimpse of Dubai’s heritage with cultural entertainment like Arabic coffee-making, an interactive drumming performance, henna painting and more. Enjoy an Arabic feast of traditional dishes and soak up the magic of the desert at night while dining under the stars of Arabia.

Overland Mountain Desert Day Safari Highlights

Embark on a Mountain Safari in a Landrover Defender

Enjoy a picnic lunch in the wadis

Explore the wadis with activities like cycling and hiking

Venture into the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve on a desert safari

Watch a sunset falcon show in the dunes

Spend the evening in an authentic Bedouin camp

Enjoy an authentic Arabic dinner with traditional dishes

>Delight in cultural entertainment like live coffee-making drumming and more

What you need to know

Private pick up in an air-conditioned vehicle between 05.30 am and 7 am.

Pick up time depends on the season, click on “BOOK NOW” – more infos

We offer this safari at the moment only with a “private car”

Arrive at the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve after 45 – 60 min

Receive your Adventure Pack and put on your traditional headscarf

75-min spectacular falcon show with demonstrations of traditional training techniques and an interactive demonstration with birds of pry like hawks, desert eagle and barn owls

Embark on a wildlife drive through DDCR in a private open-top vintage Land Rover

Traditional breakfast in an authentic Bedouin camp

Enjoy a short camel ride around the camp

Return to the hotel between 10.30 am and 11.30 am

Bathroom facilities are available in the desert and the camp

A portion of your Desert Safari fee is contributed towards local conservation

Children over 5 years old and under 12 years old will be accepted at the child rate

So that you never feel overcrowded, we restrict numbers to 20 guests on this experience. Sometimes we might have two shows who will join in one camp for breakfast

Additional Information

We don’t pick up guests from private residences. We can pick you up from the nearest hotel in Dubai.
A confirmation with a precise pickup time will be sent to your email or phone before 6:00 pm on the day before the Desert Safari.
Duration of our private Heritage Falconry Wildlife Safari: 5 hours (Approx.)

Prices (Examples)

4950 AED / person
check details here:

Payment

payment by credit card

The booking procedure

Click on “Book now” and check options. You will then be redirected to our booking system.

Choose your desired date, the number of people and the pick-up point. Please complete the guest data and payment details (credit card payment) carefully.

After submitting the booking you will receive your booking confirmation by email. We are always available to answer any questions you may have!

Cancellation policy

Cancellations or amendments for non-group bookings (a non-group booking is equal to or less than 4 guests in a single booking):

Cancellations made at least 72 hours prior to tour departure: eligible for full refund
Cancellations made under 72 hours prior to tour departure: not eligible for refund

Cancellations or amendments for group bookings prior to tour departure (a group is greater than 4 guests in a single booking)

Cancellations made 7 to 14 days prior to tour departure: eligible for 50% refund
Cancellations made under 7 days prior to tour departure: not eligible for refund

SAFE TRAVEL DUBAI

The safety and wellbeing of our guests and staff has always been our priority. As a responsible tourism company, our robust health and safety protocols are in line with the highest global standards. Our protocols are approved by the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Safe Travels global regulations which ensures safe and secure experiences for travellers. The protocols take into account current WHO and CDC guidelines and will be updated as new information becomes available about COVID-19.

VIEW OUR PROTOCOLS

Book directly through Platinum Heritage

Platinum Heritage Dubai is the only Ecotourism Desert Safari company in Dubai. We are advocates of sustainable travel and our mission is to conserve the natural environment, wildlife and culture of Dubai and its people.

Our range of Desert Safaris have been created to suit different types of travellers. Whether you are looking for adventure, an escape into Dubai’s nature, a traditional encounter with Bedouin, or a luxurious journey through the sand dunes, we have meticulously created the experience for you!

Itinerary

Included/Excluded

Durations

5 – 7 hours

Time

in the morning

Tour ID

8752

Tour's Location

Pick up from any hotel in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and cruise terminal (only Dubai), pick up at 10 am - hotel pickup / return in a private Land Rover Defender

FAQs

We have created two unique desert safari collections, with very different concepts.

Our Platinum Collection was designed for our discerning guests who are accustomed to the finer things in life. Luxurious Range Rovers, dining around an oasis inside a royal property, falconry and access to the Conservation Reserve. Away from all crowds, the Platinum Collection ensures privacy and exclusivity.

Our Heritage Collection focused on showcasing Dubai’s culture and heritage, authentic Arabic cuisine, entertainment and local traditions. The Heritage Collection has been designed to engage our guests in UAE history. Rather than read about it or sit and listen, our guests will have a chance to participate in a range of activities, bringing history to life.

As an ecotourism company we focus on sustainable practices and conduct gentle wildlife drives in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve that do not include dune bashing. While dune bashing can be a fun experience, it has its downsides; it’s typically not family friendly, can feel rushed, but most importantly the pristine Dubai desert has so much more to offer. With an expansive and rich culture, exotic wildlife, and some of the most breath-taking scenery in the world, the deserts of Dubai have so much to offer that will leave you with lasting memories.

In addition, the desert ecosystem is very sensitive and about 95% of the animals in the desert live under the desert. When you drive really fast across dunes you are damaging all the vegetation and wildlife. Dune bashing is not an innocent pastime, it’s an adventure sport and should be limited to certain areas because it does a lot of damage.

Platinum Heritage only operates with in-house vehicles and Conservation Guides. This means that we have very limited capacity and quite often sell out weeks in advance. Once you have confirmed your travel plans, it is strongly suggested that you book your desert safari before you arrive to avoid disappointment. Our online booking system contains live inventory so you can see if seats are still available.

We list the most popular hotels (from a possible 650 hotels and apartments in Dubai). However, we will pick you up from any hotel in Dubai. Please phone 04 440 9827 for information about pick-ups from other Emirates as additional charges may apply.

We never want our guests to be sitting for long periods in the lobby of their hotel. Instead we prefer to give a precise pick-up. However, there are numerous factors which make it impossible to provide a precise pick-up time at the time of booking. At the time of booking, you will have a 1 hour range to help you plan your day. We will then take the following steps on the day of your safari…

Phone you at your Hotel room and advise you of the pick-up time. If you are not in the room…
We leave a message with the Concierge
Send you a confirmation email.
If you are not in the room and we were not provided with an email address, we will phone or leave a text message on the international number you provided.If you have not received a message by 1pm on the day of your tour, please phone 04 4409827.

Many of our guests want to recognise the tremendous contribution our Conservation Guides make to their experience. However, there are no obligations to include a gratuity and if you do, the amount depends completely on your generosity.

The weather in the Dubai desert is very different to in the city. During the day, loose-fitting clothing and shoes that can be easily removed (flip flops/sandals/thongs) are best. However, at night, please use the following as a guide:

May-October – Loose clothing, shorts, t-shirts, etc
November – April – Dress in layers.
It can become quite cold in the desert as soon as the sun sets. Especially between December-February, the temperature can get down below 10 degrees Celsius. Jeans, closed shoes, shirts, cardigans or even a jacket is required on cooler nights in the desert.

As the saying goes, when in Rome, do as the Romans do! Alcohol is generally not permitted in the Arabic culture, and while the Rulers of the country have shown great flexibility in allowing service in hotels, we are committed to stay true to local traditions and showcase the authenticity, warmth and hospitality of this region. For these reasons we do not serve alcohol on our tours.

You already do! A portion of your fee is donated towards Conservation of the UAE desert. We provide support for a protected area which ensures the future of the region’s desert habitats and bio-diversity. It is managed according to sound scientific ecological principles, aimed at protecting natural resources and maintaining original desert landscapes. Please let us know if you would like to make an additional contribution.

Bedouins would build their camps on the top of sand dunes for many reasons; to catch any cool winds, to avoid low areas susceptible to flash floods, to keep watch on approaching tribes, and to avoid snakes and scorpions which prefer low lying brush. Platinum Heritage has constructed the industry’s first camp sitting on top of a dune.

Other desert safari companies build in a “pocket” in order to protect against heavy winds. However, this comes with the disadvantage of being very hot in summer and very cold in winter. Not to mention that they become the unwilling home to lots of creepy crawlies like spiders, scorpions and snakes which prefer low lying areas. We can avoid this and take advantage of the cool Dubai afternoon breeze, using nature’s natural air-conditioning and pest control.

The only concern for our pregnant guests would be during the wildlife safari in our Land Rovers as it can be a little bumpy. If you are experiencing a healthy pregnancy, it shouldn’t be an issue as it is only slightly bumpier than driving on a dirt road.

For their comfort and safety, we are happy to accommodate expectant mothers up until their last trimester. If you would still like to join the safari, you can skip the wildlife drive and we can arrange for you to be dropped directly at the sunset stop for the falcon show where you can wait for the other guests. This would be approximately a 1 hour wait and besides missing out on the wildlife drive, the full itinerary can be enjoyed.

Utilising the first 4WD ever introduced in the UAE, our 1950’s Land Rovers are collectors’ items and this is the only place in the world you can experience these vehicles driven in the desert. Most 4WD’s (modern included) take a lot of maintenance to drive over the dunes every morning and night. When a vehicle is 60 years old, it takes daily monitoring and maintenance which is why we have a full-time Mechanic on hand in order to take preventative maintenance.

However, things happen and vehicles do break down (even modern ones). We have spare vehicles traveling with the convoy just so a breakdown becomes part of the adventure and not something that would cause a delay or result in guests missing anything. If something does happen during the desert safari, enjoy the adventures as many generations before you have done (see the picture below taken in Al Ain in 1958).

If you speak Arabic, Russian, German, Italian, French, Spanish or Portuguese, our talented team will be able to help you for no additional cost. Please just let us know at the time of booking so we can try to accommodate your request.

Tours require a minimum number of guests to operate. Minimum guest numbers differ between tours and are subject to change at any time. If a tour is cancelled due to minimum guest numbers not being reached, guests will be offered an alternate tour option or be provided with a full refund.

Our camp is located approximately halfway between the cities of Dubai and Al Ain. Dubai experiences a coastal weather system that is usually associated with high winds and rain around 5-7 days per year. Al Ain is at the base on a mountain-range and is subject to higher of concentrations rainfall.

Our camp is located between the two weather systems and does not usually enjoy rainfall as high as either centre. It is due to this lack of rain that there are a great deal less trees and plants in the desert than in either city. So, if you see a weather report for rain and storms in Dubai, quite often the sun is shining with vivid blue skies at our camp. Please check with us before changing your plans. If the tour is not able to operate due to inclement weather, compensation will be automatically offered.

We are happy to accommodate your food/dietary requirements. We have many dishes that are vegetarian so you will still have a variety to enjoy. Please inform us at the time of booking if you have any food allergies.