We were holidaying in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, so we had the tour there. The price was $40 per person. Picked us up from the hotel immediately by jeep. The car was a Toyota Land Cruiser, white colour. In the UAE on jeep safari tours use these very cars. There were 6 people in the car, not counting the driver. In the same car, with the same driver and in the same composition you will be on an excursion and then return to the hotel back.
The best view is the seat next to the driver and if you want a good video or good photos, you better take it. Since we were picked up last, we already had no choice of seats. But I found out later that some of the organisers of excursions, you can book this place for an extra fee. When we were picked up, we went straight into the desert (as we were the last ones).
When leaving the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, we turned right and drove through the desert. We then stopped at a certain place and waited for other cars. At this time the drivers were deflating the tyres to drive better on the sands and we walked around and took photos. Hello dunes.
When all the cars were gathered, we got into ours and followed each other across the desert. The driver put on some songs and we had a fun ride. Initially, the driver asked us what kind of ride we wanted: extreme or medium. We chose the medium option, but emotions were running high. Oh, and we didn’t find the dunes that cool either.
Several times we thought that we would roll over. The driver immediately said that if he got motion sickness, we warned him.
The cars followed each other. We were the last to go, even more interesting to watc
After rolling, we stopped (all cars) for a photo stop,
it was already sunset and we all started taking photos. We were also being photographed by the driver. Photos at sunset in the desert are very beautiful. Many, directly, specially go to the desert just for the sake of photos with photographers, thinking over the image and shooting options.
When we had thoroughly enjoyed the sunset, we drove to a Bedouin village. Of course this is not a real village, but one made especially for sightseeing.
On the way we met wild camels, they are of course very different from domestic camels (in appearance and their grooming).
When we arrived in the village, there was some sort of entertainment, for a fee.
Riding camels, snowboard down a sand mountain, ride quad bikes, take a picture with a falcon (these are the Emiratis’ favourite birds for hunting). The child asked to be photographed with a bird. We put it on his arm and then untied the falcon’s eyes. The photos turned out great, the falcon was just handsome. If you plan to ride camels, you should take into account that the camel rises very sharply and just as sharply lands on the ground.
You need to stay very firmly in the saddle. The woman was also getting henna tattoos. A simple drawing could be done for free, more complicated ones for money. They served Arabic coffee in small cups. You could also buy various souvenirs, multi-coloured sand in a bottle with a drawing or inscription. While it was still light, everyone was having fun and taking pictures. But it gets dark very quickly in the desert. Therefore, as soon as it got dark, everyone sat down in front of the stage, waiting for the “bread and spectacle”. It was asked to sit in the same composition, as they came from excursions, but many sat where they wanted.On the tables there were beautiful lamps.
When everything was ready, we were invited to choose our food (buffet), there was hot, side dishes, greens, salads. It was delicious, but there are some spicy dishes too. When everyone was seated on the ground at small tables, the show began.
The show was very much enjoyed, a lot of things we’ve seen for the first time. There was a belly dance and a small fireworks show.
After the performance they offered hookah to the wish. Then all settled in their cars and went to the hotels.
I can say that the excursion was very pleasant, I recommend it. You need to take water with you, money for additional entertainment and souvenirs. We left the hotel in the afternoon, it was hot, but in the evening it is cold in the desert. Knowing this, we took warm clothes with us. A lot of people were freezing. We went in our trainers, then really shook the sand out of them. But in the evening, when it was cooler, we did not regret that we were in trainers. The excursion still depends on which emirate you are holidaying in. You will be taken not far from the emirate where you are. We looked at friends’ photos, they had smaller dunes and the Bedouin village was simpler, not so colourful.
