Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari with BBQ: What to Expect

If you want one tidy block of time that covers dunes, a camel and a proper desert dinner, the Helios evening desert safari from Abu Dhabi does it in about six hours, with hotel pickup and drop-off. It suits couples, friends and families who want the full desert afternoon and evening without arranging transport.

It is a poor fit if you want silence, a long camel trek or an empty horizon. The dune drive is bumpy, the camp is built for visitors, and you will not be alone in it. Go in expecting a well-organised, lively evening and you will enjoy it.

A note on the name

The listing carries the words "Morning Desert Safari" because this is the evening version of that trip. Nothing here happens in the morning. Start times are 14:30 and 15:45, and you finish after dinner.

How the afternoon runs

Your driver collects you from your hotel or from Port Zayed. Pickup covers central Abu Dhabi hotels and Port Zayed, so check that your hotel is within that area before you book.

Then come the dunes. You cross them in a four-wheel-drive vehicle with a driver, which means steep climbs, sideways slides and plenty of sand in the air. Next is sandboarding: you board down a dune slope. Expect to climb back up on foot through soft sand, which is harder work than it looks.

The camel ride follows. Treat it as a short, photogenic experience, not a journey across the desert.

The camp after dark

As the light fades you continue to a desert camp. Henna painting and shisha come first, then a dance show, then a barbecue buffet dinner. After dinner you are driven back to your hotel or Port Zayed.

This is the unflattering part: it is a staged evening, and personal purchases at the camp are not included. If you want the desert at its quietest, a separate stargazing outing is a better match; our guide to desert stargazing from Dubai explains what you can see and when it works.

Because the trip is about six hours, you should be back in the city roughly between 20:30 and 21:45, depending on your start time. Plan a late dinner elsewhere only if you skip the camp buffet, and there is little reason to.

Private or small group?

The trip runs in two formats:

• Small group: a shared tour with up to 15 guests, and the lowest-priced format.
• Private: just your party, whatever its size. This is the only format that includes a private vehicle.

If you book the shared tour, you are in a group and not alone in the vehicle. Families with several children or friends who want their own pace will find the private option more comfortable.

What is and is not included

Included: pickup and drop-off, the four-wheel-drive vehicle with driver, the dune drive, sandboarding, the camel ride, henna painting, shisha, the dance show and the barbecue buffet dinner.

Not included: alcoholic drinks, tips and personal purchases at the camp. Bring a little cash or a card for those.

Preparing well

• Heat: the afternoon start puts you on the dunes in the warmer part of the day for much of the year, and sand holds heat. Abu Dhabi's climate is close to Dubai's, so our month-by-month guide to the best time to visit Dubai is a fair guide to the seasons.
• Clothing: light, loose layers and shoes you can take off easily. Sand gets everywhere, and the desert cools after dark. Our Dubai packing list covers the desert as well as the city.
• Motion sickness: if you are prone to it, take advice before the dune drive.
• Phone and camera: keep them in a sealed bag or pocket during sandboarding.

Fitting it into an Abu Dhabi stay

The safari takes your afternoon and evening, so keep the morning for something else. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque makes a natural pairing; read the mosque dress code and visitor guide first. If you are based in Dubai and visiting Abu Dhabi, see our Abu Dhabi day trip guide. Hotel pickup for this safari is in Abu Dhabi, so you would need to be staying there.

FAQ

What time does the evening safari start?

There are two start times, 14:30 and 15:45. The whole experience lasts about six hours.

Where do I get picked up?

From your hotel in central Abu Dhabi or from Port Zayed. You are dropped back at the same kind of place after dinner.

Is it a private tour?

It can be either. Helios runs it as a shared small-group tour of up to 15 guests, and also as a private tour for just your party. The private vehicle comes only with the private option.

Are drinks included?

The barbecue buffet dinner is included, but alcoholic drinks are not. Tips and personal purchases at the camp are also extra.