A Desert Safari offers thrilling activities and is highly regarded as a top attraction in Dubai. Every single participant can have a perfect safari experience with exhilarating dune bashing rides, relaxing camel ride, and an overnight stay under the stars in a cozy Bedouin-style tent. But to make the adventure enjoyable, it’s important to choose the right desert safari Dubai timings.
Typically, desert safaris are conducted during morning, evening, and for an overnight. This guide delves into safari timing options with a breakdown of their inclusions and recommendations for different time frames according to your preferences and schedule.
Morning Desert Safari: Embrace the Tranquility of Dunes
The Morning Desert Safari is for those who want to discover the desert’s beauty before it gets too hot. All tour operators have their own schedule that typically ranges between 5:00 am and 9:00 am depending on the season, choice of transfers, and pickup locations of guests.
The desert in morning is peaceful and beautiful with the golden light creating mesmerizing shadows across the dunes. The breathtaking scenery create perfect opportunity for photography. Whether you’re new or experienced in photography, you will love capturing the stunning beauty of the desert. The cooler temperatures also create a perfect atmosphere for enjoying various activities like
- Dune bashing in 4×4 vehicles
- Camel rides to explore the desert landscapt at leisure
- Exciting sand boarding and quad biking if chosen
- Falconry displays and desert walks
A typical morning safari finishes by 11 am or 12 pm, leaving the rest of the day for you to explore other attractions of Dubai. For families, business travelers, and those on tight schedules, the morning desert safari is perfect for a brief, yet thrilling desert adventure.
Evening Desert Safari: Sunset Views and Arabian Entertainment
The Evening Desert Safari is immensely popular among tourists and locals. It starts at 4:00 pm and lasts six hours. The pick-up time for this adventure is around 3.00 pm or 3:30 pm depending on your location and the choice of transportation. On this safari, you can enjoy a blend of adventure, sightseeing, entertainment, and sumptuous dinner.
You will enjoy multiple experiences that will fulfill your desire for adventure and sightseeing. The safari offers these types of activities:
- Adrenaline-pumping dune bashing
- Camel riding
- Sandboarding and quad biking
- Witnessing the desert sunset remains an unforgettable phenomenon
When the sun sets beneath the horizon, you will enjoy diverse cultural activities and Arabian delicacies in a Bedouin-style camp that include:
- Henna painting
- Shisha lounges
- Photo session in traditional costumes
- Cultural performances such as belly dancing, Tanoura dance, and fire shows
- Buffet dinner with Arabian and multi-continental dishes
The Evening Desert Safari wraps up by 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm, offering guests a complete dose of adventure and cultural enlightenment.
Overnight Desert Safari: Sleep Beneath the Desert Sky
For a complete immersive desert experience, book an overnight desert safari. It combines the thrill, adventure, phenomenal desert sunset view, sumptuous dinner, and a night of camping under the desert stars in a traditional Bedouin camp.
This safari starts just like the evening safaris, extends into night, and wraps up the next morning by 8:00 am to 9:00 am. After enjoying all the activities and finishing dinner, you will be provided with sleeping bags and blankets in your designated tent. The activities stretch through the early parts of the night and include:
- Observing the starry sky in the desert.
- You can have peaceful sleep while looking up at stars through the open sky.
- Sunrise viewing
- Light refreshment with Arabian tea/ coffee, dates, etc.
- Drop-off at your location between 8:00 am and 9:00 am.
The Overnight Desert Safari creates an ideal environment for romantic couples, adventure-seekers, and photography enthusiasts who want to capture the desert sunset and sunrise view over the dunes.
Schedule Your Perfect Desert Adventure
Understanding the desert safari timings is important to plan your desert adventure. Here is what you can expect with each time slot:
- Morning Safari – Depending on the tour operator and season, it starts from 5:00 to 9:00 am and ends at 11:00 am or 12:00 pm. The duration of this safari is 4 -5 hours.
- Evening Safari – You will be picked-up either at 3:00 or 3:30 pm depending on your location and dropped back at 9:00 or 10:00 pm. It lasts for 6 to 7 hours.
- Overnight Safari – The timing of this safari is same as the evening safari, but it extends to night and wraps up the next morning by 8:00 or 9:00 am. The duration of this safari is around 18 hours.
One more thing to note here is that the desert safari timings along with the duration vary with each tour operator. Most importantly, the timings are influenced by the season, pickup location, and transfer chosen. So, it’s better to double-check before booking any safari.
Scheduling of Dubai Desert Safari Based on Season
The desert climate in Dubai has significant effects on safari safety and comfort levels. So, knowing Dubai desert safari timings according to the seasons will help you choose the perfect timing.
October to April (Winter): The desert safari attracts its highest number of guests this time of year. All the three safari types remain comfortable due to the favorable cool weather conditions during this period.
May to September (Summer): During these months, the desert temperatures rise to 45°C. Scheduling your visit in the morning or at night will provide better comfort because of the extreme temperatures during daytime.
During summer periods tour operators modify schedules so their guests can safely travel during morning hours and nights and avoid the hottest part of the day.
What to Pack When Going on Your Safari Adventure?
The following items will help you get the most from your desert safari experience:
- Comfortable clothing and sunglasses
- Sunscreen and hat
- A camera or a phone with an extra battery.
- A shawl or a jacket because night-time temperatures drop drastically (it gets cold).
- Closed-toe shoes to move freely on sand.
- Reusable water bottle
A light sleeping bag or extra clothing layer for the Overnight Desert Safari will add extra layer of comfort, especially if you’re sensitive to cold.
Which Desert Safari Is Right for You?
Your selection of safari depends on how you travel as well as the available time with you.
- Morning Safari: The morning safari will suit people who wake up early, love adventure, and those who are short on time.
- Evening Safari: Perfect for first-time visitors to Dubai as it blends adventure with traditional activities.
- Overnight Safari: For couples seeking a memorable romantic getaway and those seeking an immersive experience.
The different safari choices allow you to experience various aspects of the expansive Arabian desert. Consider weather conditions, the time you want to spend from the hustle and bustle of the city and whether you want to go with children or elderly.
Your visit to Dubai is incomplete unless you experience the captivating beauty of the Arabian desert. Whether you want to witness captivating desert sunrise, desert sunset, have a romantic getaway from the city, or an immersive overnight escape, knowing the Desert Safari Dubai timings is crucial to make your desert adventure unforgettable.
Desert Safari Dubai timings are planned to optimize your experience by providing enough dose of adventure, sightseeing, comfort level, and enjoy engaging activities during every part of the day. Beyond its sandy dunes lie captivating experiences which make the desert a whole universe of adventure.