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Abu Dhabi Meet the locals

Our most recommended Abu Dhabi Meet the locals

Abu Dhabi: Desert Safari with BBQ, Camel Ride & Sandboarding

1. Abu Dhabi: Desert Safari with BBQ, Camel Ride & Sandboarding

Join a small-group or private guided day trip from Abu Dhabi to the desert with hotel transfers included. Enjoy a dune bashing experience, watch the sunset from a Bedouin camp, take part in cultural activities, watch traditional performances, and savor a BBQ buffet dinner while watching the stars. After pickup in an air-conditioned 4WD vehicle, enjoy a comfortable ride to the desert. Once there, visit a camel farm to get up close to these animals who are well-adjusted to desert life. Next, take part in an exhilarating dune bashing experience. Feel your stomach jump as the vehicle heads up and down the steep sand dunes. Then, try your hand at sandboarding by sliding down the dunes on a board. Arrive at the Bedouin desert camp to enjoy a warm welcome of traditional Arabic coffee and dates. Then, walk up a dune to take pictures as the desert changes color as the sun sets on the horizon. At the camp, dive into the local customs and culture of the Arabian peninsula. Enjoy cultural activities such as henna painting, shisha smoking, and camel rides. Then, try on traditional Arabian costumes and take pictures with a falcon. Watch captivating performances of Tanoura dancing and belly dancing, before tucking into a barbecue dinner. Finally, the lights of the camp will be switched off. Sit back and admire the star-lit sky for a peaceful moment of contemplation before returning to the bright city lights of Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi: Morning Desert Safari with Camel Ride

2. Abu Dhabi: Morning Desert Safari with Camel Ride

Embark on an exciting morning desert safari in the desert surrounding Abu Dhabi. Ride over the vast dunes in a 4x4 Land Cruiser, glide down the dunes on a sandboard, and enjoy a relaxing camel ride with scenic views. Get ready for a desert safari starting with an early morning pickup at your hotel. A 45-minute drive takes you to the heart of the desert outside Abu Dhabi. Explore the desert in a 4x4 Land Cruiser, bashing the huge dunes. The fun continues with a chance to try out sandboarding. Follow the instructions and glide over the dunes effortlessly. During the safari, there will be plenty of opportunities to pose for some photos in the desert. This special morning safari concludes with a short camel ride before the transfer back to the pick-up point.

From Dubai: Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Mosque Guided Tour

3. From Dubai: Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Mosque Guided Tour

Depart Dubai and journey to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi by modern air-conditioned vehicle. Relax in comfort on the 90-minute drive with your professional guide. On arrival, marvel at the 8th largest mosque in the world. Spread over 30 acres, the magnificent structure took more than a decade to build and now stands as a showcase for the United Arab Emirate’s Islamic cultural heritage. Roam around the site that can accommodate up to 40,000 worshippers at any one time. Marvel at priceless features, such as the huge Swarovski crystal chandeliers, floral mosaics, and artifacts of gold, silver, and marble. Be amazed by the gigantic carpet in the main prayer hall. Measuring 60,570 square feet and weighing 35 tons, the carpet was made in Iran and is the result of the toil of thousands of carpet weavers over 2 years. Take stunning memorable photos of the complex and its awe-inspiring architecture, and get a better appreciation of the vision of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the late president of the UAE and the mastermind behind the mosque. Depart Abu Dhabi and journey back to Dubai for a drop-off at your hotel or designated location.

Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari & Dinner Under the Stars

4. Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari & Dinner Under the Stars

Take part in an evening of adventure unlike any other on this 5-hour excursion to the desert of Abu Dhabi. Leave the city in the afternoon and head toward the desert to discover the true Abu Dhabi. Enjoy an exciting drive over the sand dunes, something akin to desert off-roading. Then you will visit a camel farm and watch the sunset from the dunes. Continue your journey toward a traditional Arabic camp, where you will have the opportunity to try a host of activities like henna painting and belly dancing. You may also try Shisha, the traditional Arabic smoking pipe, as well as sample the Arabic sweets and coffee significant to Bedouin culture. You will then be served a BBQ dinner under the starlit sky, with live Arabian entertainment to ensure it's a night to remember. Relax as you learn firsthand what Arabic hospitality means, with Arabic coffee and dates served as they have been for centuries, and continue to be served in Emirati homes today.

Abu Dhabi: Overnight Desert Safari

5. Abu Dhabi: Overnight Desert Safari

Spend one day and night in the desert and experience the complete thrill! Take in the desert evening and get the real exposure to desert life. The campsite is attractively and artistically designed with Arabian concept and feel. Here you can enjoy the music along with tea and Arabic coffee. In addition, you can try sheesha in different flavors; it will make you feel calm and help you to relax. You can explore the camp at your own pace and cover yourself in traditional Arabic dresses and be photographed. The overnight desert safari is a fun experience that includes henna painting for ladies. International food with a Barbecue will whet your appetite. Once all the thrill calms down you sit together and chat with your beloved or your friends and enjoy the rhythm of the desert night. You go to sleep recalling the evening that you spent in the desert and prepare your mind to wake up in the morning to see the desert sun. After having breakfast and a glorifying sunrise experience you bid farewell to the desert adventures.

Abu Dhabi Traditional Desert Camp Experience And Quad Bike

6. Abu Dhabi Traditional Desert Camp Experience And Quad Bike

Experience this Abu Dhabi desert safari adventure along with a heap of Arabic cultural and traditional encounters. Offering you plenty of opportunities to explore the Abu Dhabi desert, this evening safari is for desert lovers, adventure seekers, and cultural enthusiasts. Enjoy a sand dune bashing ride on a Land Cruiser in the golden Abu Dhabi desert and discover the unspoilt and tranquilizing beauty of the desert despite its heat and harshness. With the charming landscapes of the desert and the desert breeze flowing through your hair, you will discover a whole new world full of spectacular views throughout your Abu Dhabi off-road desert adventure tour. To give you a full cultural and traditional Arabian experience, you will visit to a camel farm in Abu Dhabi and a traditional desert camp where you can spend time with the cheerful camels and have a deeper look into the Abu Dhabi desert life. Get on an exciting Quad bike for 10 minutes and go on an adrenaline-pumping journey. Then, ride a jolly camel across the desert like a real desert local, capture some amazing shots of the magical sun fall over the sand dunes, get a traditional henna design on your hand, witness the charming traditional Arabic belly dance and Tanoura dance, and get high enjoying some Shisha smoking. End your Abu Dhabi off-road desert adventure tour day by enjoying a delicious traditional Arabic barbeque under the starry night sky observing the twinkling stars and constellations.

From Abu Dhabi: 4-Hour Morning Desert Excursion

7. From Abu Dhabi: 4-Hour Morning Desert Excursion

Your exciting Abu Dhabi off-road desert excursion begins at the time of your pickup in the morning. Head to the desert in an air-conditioned 4x4 Land Cruiser jeep and ride on the sand dunes. Admire the golden sand and desert scenes under the hot sun. Watch the magnificent sand patterns and ride over the dunes to explore the hidden beauty of the harsh Abu Dhabi desert. For those who prefer more adrenaline-rushing adventures, try sandboard surfing. Climb the golden sand dunes and feel the silky sand and dry desert breeze as you go down the dunes. Finish your excursion with a ride on a camel. Gaze at the enchanting views of the Abu Dhabi desert and experience the rhythmic sway of the camel ride. Relax and look for the horizon to capture the beautiful view of where the desert and sky meet.

Abu Dhabi: Professional Photoshoot at Sheikh Zayed Mosque

8. Abu Dhabi: Professional Photoshoot at Sheikh Zayed Mosque

Capture the best memories of your time in Abu Dhabi with a photoshoot at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. After meeting your professional photographer at the meeting point, head to the mosque, where the photographer will capture the best shots of your trip against the most splendid backdrop in the city. Inside the mosque, discover rich floral patterns and calligraphy. Outside, admire Sivec marbles made in Macedonia and Greece. You will also have the opportunity to have your photo taken in front of one of the world’s largest mosque domes. Have your photo taken with the backdrop of the world’s largest hand-woven carpet, or in front of the world's largest marble mosaic floral design. Alternatively, stand in front of the chandelier and glass panels made of Swarovski crystals for a glamorous photo. FInish the photoshoot by admiring the glory of the reflective pools surrounding the mosque. After the mosque visit, move to the Cinnabon Cafe for further refreshments. You will receive the photos from your tour via email the following day.

Abu Dhabi: Desert Safari with BBQ, Belly & Tannura Dance

9. Abu Dhabi: Desert Safari with BBQ, Belly & Tannura Dance

Discover the true desert of Abu Dhabi. Feel the thrill with an exciting drive over the dunes, visit a camel farm and take to the dunes on a sandboard. Watch the spectacular sunset from the dunes as the afternoon turns. Your journey will continue until you reach the traditional Arabic camp, where you enjoy a unique evening of activities and entertainment. Have the opportunity to try various activities like henna painting, belly dancing, and shisha. Watch the sunset and feast on a BBQ dinner served under the starlit sky. Enjoy live entertainment in the form of belly dancing to ensure you have a night to remember. Experience traditional Arabic hospitality, with Arabic coffee and dates, served as they have been for centuries.

Abu Dhabi: City Tour and Desert Safari Package

10. Abu Dhabi: City Tour and Desert Safari Package

This package offers a special combination of a morning-guided city tour and an evening desert safari experience. Begin your day exploring the vibrant city of Abu Dhabi and conclude it amongst the calming views of desert sand dunes. Relax between activities in the comfort of your accommodation. The morning Abu Dhabi city tour begins with a visit to the divine Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Marvel at the structure and the gold, marble, stone, and crystals used to design the mosque. See how as one of the largest mosques in the world, approximately 40,000 people can be accommodated at the same time. Afterward, visit the Heritage Village, a reconstructed Emirati village, and get a glimpse into the traditional Bedouin way of life. Next, drive to Saadiyat Island and Yas Island. See the Yas Marina circuit that has hosted the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix since 2009. Drive past the Corniche and admire the scenic beauty of the Arabian Sea. Take a brief photo stop at Abu Dhabi’s iconic Emirates Palace. Conclude your morning tour with a stroll through a dates market. In the afternoon get picked up for your evening desert safari in a 4-wheel drive vehicle. Head out to explore the Arabian desert and feel your adrenaline rush as you cascade on the steep dunes and sand sweeps around the vehicle. Visit a camel farm in the middle of the desert to meet and feed camels. Go to a Bedouin desert camp and enjoy a warm welcome with Arabic coffee and dates. Test your balancing skills while sandboarding. Try out the other cultural activities like camel riding, henna painting, shisha, or taking photos in Arabic costumes. Have the chance to take a picture with a falcon. Wind down while enjoying an entertaining Tanoura dance and a breathtaking belly dance performance under the gleaming desert sky. Indulge in a scrumptious barbecue dinner with unlimited soft drinks and shisha smoking.  Once the adventures and activities are wrapped up, the lights of the camp will be doused. Sit back and gaze at the desert and the star-lit sky for a few peaceful moments before heading back to your accommodation.

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What people are saying about Abu Dhabi

Overall rating

4.8 / 5

based on 3,277 reviews

Fabulous tour in a small-ish group of 16 people - the guide David was excellent and engaging The mosque is just so impressive and we had plenty of time to view it all. The entrance is strict and many people got caught out with incorrect dress and turned away but out tour provided abayas if needed . It is a very busy place and you need to be prepared to queue and walk in lines to get round - lots of photo opportunities and David was very informative and super helpful all the way through. We were picked up in the morning and taken to a rendezvous point where we joined the bus and dropped back after our return to Dubai We highly recommend this tour - very reasonably priced and enjoyable

Our tour guide was Ahmed. Sweet, funny, and very helpful guide who’s driving skills through the dunes were excellent. If you remember to, ask him where in Tokyo he is from and perhaps he will get the joke. We stayed overnight for the open camping and it’s worth it to see the sunrise over those sand dunes. The bathrooms DO have water (not mentioned above in guide information) and they provide a metal frame cot bed with small mattress to sleep with blankets. We went in early March so the weather was not too extreme either way. Picky eaters should bring some snacks just in case. Great experience and there is a lot of entertainment before bed time.

Perfect, Ahmed was great, funny and friendly, we had a great time. He really went out of his way to help us and even acted as a photographer. We were picked up at our apartment, easy communication via Whatsapp, heading to the desert, dune bashing, sandboarding, camel rides, quad rides, well-stocked buffet meals. Belly dance show and more. Water and soft at will. We slept on the spot it was very pleasant, the accommodation is minimalist but sufficient for one night.

What a magnificent experience. The tour was enlightening and included both the mosque and history of Abu Dhabi. Our guide, Shaun, was knowledgeable and professional taking the time to take pictures for us. I would recommend this tour to anyone. If I hadn't been flying home. I would have taken the full day tour

It was well organised. The tour guide Hsssan was really nice and helpful. His knowledge and skills are great. The place amazing. Worth visiting. I highly recommend it to everybody