This it the ultimate way to experience the Dubai desert from above and below. Enjoy your award-winning Afternoon Heritage Desert Safari, stay overnight in traditional, yet comfortable accommodation and rise with the sunrise for an incredible balloon flight with falconry followed by an impressive breakfast.

About this activity

DAY 1 – VINTAGE LAND ROVER SAFARI AND OVERNIGHT CAMPING

Start your overnight experience with a pickup from your Dubai hotel to travel into the desert. Get greeted at the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve and get your Adventure welcome pack including your traditional Arabic headscarf.

Travel into the desert aboard your open-roof vintage Land Rover, a mode of transport used extensively in 1950’s desert expeditions. As you travel, listen to your Conservation Guide’s stories about Dubai past and present, as well as the many customs and traditions that you’ll experience throughout the evening.

Pose in the sand dunes for a photo as the sun goes down, and watch the UAE’s national bird – the falcon – during a falconry display. Make your way past the gently flickering flames from the lights that mark the entrance way to your authentic Bedouin Camp, and then hop out of your Land Rover to take a seat at your shared table. Before your meal starts, a range of cultural activities are demonstrated. Enjoy an Arabic coffee and sit back to watch dancers performing to traditional Emirati music, or perhaps get a henna tattoo, smoke a shisha pipe (Arabic water pipe) or even try the traditional mode of Bedouin transport — a camel. Then, all that’s left to do is to feast on your 4-course dinner under the stars. Like the activities at the camp, the dishes are mostly traditional Emirati specialties, combining flavors from the Middle East.

After your meal, sit around the bonfire and gaze up at the stars, try shisha if you like, and then make your way to your Arabic stone dwelling — complete with comfortable mattress, pillows and blanket — nestled inside the camp. Settle in and enjoy sleeping overnight in the heart of the desert!

DAY 2 – HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE

As you are only minutes from the Hot Air Balloon take off site you can wake up later than passengers coming from Dubai. Once you arrive you will receive a safety briefing before climbing inside the balloon basket with the world’s most experienced Hot Air Balloon Company “Ballon Adventures Dubai”. Feel your adrenaline race as your balloon drifts gently upward.

As you rise higher, marvel at the awesome sunrise views and hear interesting commentary from your pilot about the geology and wildlife of the protected Dubai Desert Conservation Reservation while you watch for roaming animals such as gazelle and camels.

After your approximately 1-hour flight, enjoy a smooth touchdown controlled by your pilot and step back on to solid ground.

If you wish, buy a professional video of your flight (own expense) so you can relive the experience at home. You will be driven to a private desert conservation reserve where you will have the chance to freshen up at clean, private bathrooms. Breakfast will be a scrumptious selection of delicacies such as hand-cut smoked salmon and caviar.

It is the perfect way to experience Dubai!

Overnight Heritage Desert Safari, Sunrise Hot Air Ballon Ride Highlights

Traverse the desert in museum-quality 1950’s vintage Land Rovers

Spot native wildlife like Arabian oryx on a desert drive in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve

Enjoy a photo stop in the sand dunes and witness a spectaclular falcon show

Watch the live demonstrations of Arabic coffee-making, henna painting, ride a camel and more

Spend the evening in an authentic Bedouin camp with a delicious Emirati cuisine dinner

Watch a traditional cultural dance and join in with an Arabic drumming performance

Sleep in comortable traditional Arabic stone dwellings with bedding

Enjoy a spectacular Hot Air Ballon ride at sunrise

After your Hot Air Balloon ride, feast on a delicious 5-star a la carte breakfast

What you need to know

Pick-up from the hotel (only Dubai) between 2.30 pm and 4.30 pm

Arrive at the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve to receive your Adventure Pack and put on your Sheila/Ghutra (traditional headscarf)

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

Enjoy a sunset falcon show with sparkling juice

Arrive at an authentic torch-lit Bedouin camp

Be entertained with traditional henna tattoos, live bread-making, Arabic coffee-making, camel rides and aromatic shisha pipes

Additional Information:

• We don’t pick up guests from private residences in Dubai unless you have booked a private car. If you are staying at a private residence, we can pick you up from the nearest hotel.
• Children over 5 years old and under 12 years old will be accepted at the child rate.
• Children under 5 years old are not suitable for this tour.
• Each room sleeps 5 people and the allocation of rooms is done per booking unless otherwise requested. Please let us know how many rooms you would like when you make the booking.
  A 400AED fee is applicable to single occupancy rooms.
• So that you never feel overcrowded, we restrict numbers to 75-100 guests in our very spacious camps.
• We require a minimum of 3 hours in advance to book this activity online. Alternatively, you can contact our office directly to inquire about short-term bookings.
• Some vehicles can accommodate a maximum of 10 guests.
• For a private car booking, please select the number of vehicles only.
• The physical fitness to be able to climb in and out of the hot air balloon basket is required.
• Pregnant guests are not permitted on the hot air balloon after their first trimester. If you are within your second trimester, you can still participate in the Overnight Desert Safari
  Guests with neck or back injuries are not recommended to participate in the hot air balloon ride.
• The camel ride is at our camp after dark. For the safety of the camels and our guests, these are short rides in a lit area. For longer camel rides, please see our Camel Desert Safari.
• The camp is operated on solar power and therefore the lights are switched off when the last guest goes to sleep. Every guest is given a flashlight.
• A confirmation with a precise pick-up time will be sent to your email or phone before 1:00 pm on the day of the Desert Safari.

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!