Best desert safari out of Dubai?

[Rich135]

Hi Guys,

I am sure this will have been discussed countless times, but the search facility is still not working...

Parents in law are coming over next weekend, looking for one of those afternoon/evening desert safaris, with a bit of dune bashing, a BBQ/entertainment afterwards for 4 adults and 3 kids.

It looks like it's either Arabian Adventures or Arabian Nights.

Any recommendations or experiences you can share?

Many thanks

Rich

[K50 DEL]

I was going to do this with my family when they came over last year, but browsing around the net I found nothing but complaints about every company.... hardly any time in the actual sand, lots of stops at the side of the road for shopping, rubbish food etc etc.

I ended up canning the whole idea and deciding that I'll get a group of 4x4 owning friends together for a trip the next time they come out and do the whole thing ourselves.

[shirt]

arabian adventures is owned by emirates. a friend used to be their PR manager and from her anecdotes they [as with emirates as a whole] respond well to complaints.

[Mattt]

My parents used Arabian Adventures when they visited and were quite happy.

I never actually made it dune bashing in a car in my time in the Middle East, I refused to go on a 'tourist' event and just assumed I'd go with some friends - but never did (apart from one episode in a Honda City with TobyLaRone ).

Quads were fun though.

[Rich135]

Thanks guys. I read similar complaints, which put me off. I have a very capable Defender, so maybe I will just get a few mates together for support and we can head to the hills (or rather dunes) and have a BBQ at the end of the session.

Now if only my wife trusted my driving skills as much as a total stranger she has never met before, but whom she has just paid money to, therefore he must be good....

Many thanks

Rich

[shirt]

Show us your defender!

Although a supreme wadi basher, best take a shovel and sand ladders in the softer stuff. Have rescued my mate's def90 a few times now!

You can do a day's desert driving lesson pretty cheap with an instructor and multiple drivers. Aforemenetioned defender owner did it with his wife for the same reason, she didn't trust him offroad!

[K50 DEL]

shirt said:

You can do a day's desert driving lesson pretty cheap with an instructor and multiple drivers. Aforemenetioned defender owner did it with his wife for the same reason, she didn't trust him offroad!

I did that last weekend, headed to EDI for a full days course, was excellent fun and the instructors really were keen for us to get the best out of the cars.
Cost was 1200AED per car with 2 people.

[Mattt]

I know the GM of EDI, nice bloke.

[Rich135]

Thanks chaps, that sounds like a better idea. These women eh?

Not got many good piccies, but here is one taken in the soft stuff. I have a couple of sand ladders, high lift jack etc, so 'should' be ok!

[Rich135]

Better piccy found.

I should say, while it's a great car, it's not all roses - I am currently waiting for it to be returned to me with a replacement gearbox!!

[Chessers]

I did an Arabian Adventures full day (Dubai out to Hatta) last year at some point and it was good.

Plenty of food/drink, really good laugh as well.

A bonus was that we only had four in our vehicle, I think some companies cram in seven which would have been a squeeze.

[IanUAE]

Travco are worth a shout or so I was told a few years ago.

[Rich135]

I decided to knock the tour on the head and we're all heading up to Musandam for a night instead, doing the boat tour of the fjords etc.

I will book up one of the training days though, they sounds great. Conveniently its my birthday in a month!

Thanks fot the feedback everyone.

Rich

[Mattt]

I really enjoyed the night on the boat at Mussandam.

Getting chased off the beach by scary looking locals was less fun.

[Desert Dog]

Rich, did that Defender not belong to Fadi from Al Tayer at time? You should hook up with the Land Rover Owners Group - there are 300 members and there are green oval drives happening all the time.

[DubaiJohn]

Mattt said:

I really enjoyed the night on the boat at Mussandam.

Getting chased off the beach by scary looking locals was less fun.

Crikey, that sounds a bit hairy. What happened? We were planning on going camping on a beach in Mussandam later on this in year.

Last time we went camping up in the mountains there some young (13 -18 yrs) local lads came to our camp and asked for whisky! When it became clear we weren't giving them any booze they settled in and had a quick sheesha with us and buggered off.

[Mattt]

DubaiJohn said:

Mattt said:

I really enjoyed the night on the boat at Mussandam.

Getting chased off the beach by scary looking locals was less fun.

Crikey, that sounds a bit hairy. What happened? We were planning on going camping on a beach in Mussandam later on this in year.

Nothing really, we had been dropped off in a cove by the tender and a couple of us were just chilling with some drinks - perhaps making a bit of noise, and there was a little house further up and the blokes came from there.

Probably nothing sinister, we just decided to scarper and swim the 500m back to the boat.

I was pretty hammered by that point, and had to use my almost empty wine bottle as a float.