Dubai Dessert Safari

Like any other little girl, I believed in genies, magic and the stories of the seven seas. One of my favorite books was the ” One thousand and One Nights”. The book was full of magic, that it made me promise myself that one day, I will travel the deserts of the Middle East to experience the feel of the Arabian Nights.

My journey started in Dubai, looking forward go visit more cities and countries included in the stories.  I booked a flight, got myself a hotel and booked online for a Desert Safari Tour.

Burjuman Station was the meeting point for the tour participants. From the city, an hour drive to the location where a convoy took us for the sand dunes ride going to the camp.

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The desert looked like a sea of sand, limitless and captivating. 4×4 vehicles drove adventure seekers deep into the heart of the desert. The sand dune experience was exhilarating, it was like a roller coaster ride inside the car. It felt like being inside a tin can being shaken by an invisible hand.

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The sun was setting when the convoy arrived at the camp. The camp was located somewhere in the middle of the nowhere. It was a Bedouin-style camp, very traditional and nomadic.

How about a sunset in the dessert? Magnificent! The desert sunset was a dramatic view, beautiful.

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There were plenty of activities in the camp for everyone to enjoy while waiting for the main event of the night. Sand surfing , ATV ( all-terrain vehicle) and camel ride were available. They served free tea, coffee and dinner starters for guests, at the same time, souvenir shops were located inside the camp.

The sun left the horizon, the sky turned dark; a bonfire in the middle of the camp was lighted. People squatted around the square-shaped stage ready to be entertained. Traditional Arabic music played and the show started. A fire dance and other traditional dances awed the spectators, however, what struck me the most was the belly dancing. It was flawless, sexy and bewitching. The dancer moved like fluid, like silk in the air allowing herself to be caressed by the music. She was like a butterfly fluttering gracefully in the air. I was lost in my Arabian Nights fantasy again, rekindling my obsession of the book.

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After the entertainment, it was a feast underneath the stars. The food was tasty, although I didn’t know what I was eating. The ambiance was out of the ordinary. It was a feast with people from different nationality, culture and religion. People who speak different languages, who have different skin color, nevertheless, shared the same interest.

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The evening was magic;  it could be a different experience for other people, but for me, I was in a trance for a while. I have always been a realist most of my life. I seldom wander in my fantasy world, unfortunately, when I do, I tend to overstay.  The music subsided, the cheers and the merry conversions faded. The night ended and slowly I went back to my reality.

While I was somewhere in the middle of the desert experiencing that moment, I realized that the world is like an open book, waiting to be read.

Travel tips:

  1. The sand dune ride will make some people dizzy. Prepare yourself before engaging to this adventure.
  2. It’s a dessert, so it’s dusty. You can bring extra clothes if you are planning to go somewhere else after the tour.
  3. If you would like to book through Groupon, make sure to call them a day or two ahead for a reservation.

Need help on how to get a tourist visa to Dubai? Here is your quick guide to Dubai tourist visa application.

12 Comments Add yours

  1. Your writing style is beautiful! But the description of the dune ride is so accurate :’D

    Liked by 1 person

    1. My Little Backpack Adventures says:

      Thank you so much. I am still learning though. Still a lot of things to learn about writing especially that English is my second language. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Yeah, the same goes for me 🙂 Actually, it’s my third language, but I enjoy writing and speaking in english a lot 🙂 What’s your first language?

        Liked by 1 person

      2. My Little Backpack Adventures says:

        Sorry, English is my third language too. My first language is Bisaya. One of the dielects in the Philippines. Where you from? What’s your first langauge? 😊

        Like

      3. My first language is turkish and second language is german 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      4. My Little Backpack Adventures says:

        Oh, that is great to know. Thanks for sharing. 😊😊😊

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Always a Foreigner says:

    Everything about this looks amazing. What a great experience!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Januaryrain Pagalan says:

      It was. You should too. 😊😊😊

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Lovely post, I enjoyed your beautiful writing. I can definitely understand the fairytale inspiration! I’ve always wanted to see the stars at night from a desert because I’ve heard they loo much bigger and brighter than anywhere else… (But I’m allergic to camels, that might be a problem!) Great post! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. My Little Backpack Adventures says:

      You should try, but don’t get near the camels. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Januaryrain Pagalan says:

        😀

        Like

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