The Dubai Desert Safari

Beyond the towers and malls, the true landscape of the Emirates is desert, and the classic escape is a desert safari into the rolling red-gold dunes outside Dubai. A typical trip combines thrilling dune-bashing in a four-wheel drive, sandboarding and camel rides with a sunset over the sands and an evening at a Bedouin-style camp, with a barbecue, music and stargazing under a vast desert sky.

The landscape

• The dunes - the rolling red-gold sands beyond the city.
• Dune-bashing and sandboarding - the four-wheel-drive ride and boarding.
• The sunset over the sands - the desert glowing at dusk.
• The desert camp - the Bedouin-style camp with barbecue and stargazing.

When to go

October to April for bearable temperatures, as the summer desert is dangerously hot; the sunset and evening are the magical, cooler hours. Almost everyone visits on an organised safari from the city rather than independently.

Good to know

It is a packaged, touristy experience rather than a wilderness expedition, and the dune-bashing can be nauseating for some. The camps can be crowded and the entertainment cheesy. Camel rides and any wildlife elements vary in ethics. Still, the dunes and desert sunset are genuinely beautiful.

Nearby

The Al Marmoom reserve, the Hatta mountains and the city of Dubai are within reach.