Hi everyone! I am continuing my series of reviews about holidaying in the UAE in February. While we all sit in self-isolation and without the opportunity to travel, we can only dream and make plans for future trips.
Today I want to tell you about the obligatory (in my opinion) type of entertainment in the Emirates – a desert safari.
I will go ahead and boldly say: the safari is the most unforgettable experience of a trip to the UAE.
We personally bought a tour from a private tour operator (there was a branch on the territory of the hotel). The cost for February was as follows: $45 for a seat in the car, $55 for a seat next to the driver in front.
I chose, of course, the seat next to the driver to enjoy the holiday to the fullest! My friend chose a seat in the back seat, behind me, which she later seriously regretted! The difference is only 10 dollars, but the impressions are different …
What a desert safari consists of:
- transfer hotel – desert – Bedouin camp – hotel by SUV
- hour drive across the desert barchans with a professional driver
- meeting sunset in the desert
- time in the Bedouin camp (dinner, concert, camel ride, souvenir shopping)
- We were very lucky, our driver was not only a very experienced driver, an interesting interlocutor, but also the director of the company, whose services we used during this excursion.
The excursion “desert safari” will take you practically the whole day, calculate your time in travelling! From the hotel we were taken away first at 14-00, we stopped at a neighbouring hotel and picked up some more passengers, brought us home about 23-30.
The SUV has 7 seats (driver and 6 passengers in three rows (1-3-2). The occupancy of the car is usually 100%. I was particularly spacious and comfortable in the first seat, there is an unreal amount of space!
The journey time all the way to the desert I didn’t time the journey, spent the time talking to the driver and getting to know the other passengers. We drove to our destination for about an hour and a half.
A jeep safari usually consists of a convoy of 3-4 vehicles. The first car leads the way, you cannot overtake or fight off the convoy.
We were the leader of the tour and led the other drivers.
I apologise to the reader for the vertical shooting, I was shooting for instragram stories. After reaching their destination all drivers deflate their wheels to avoid tyre deformation. The picture of the desert is on my phone’s screensaver, liked it so much…
Through the closed car window the colours are a bit muted due to the tinted windows:
The barkhans are so majestic, the desert seems endless. The trip across the dunes lasts about an hour, the programme includes a couple of stops for photography and resting the vestibular apparatus.
In fact, there are many more stops, as most of the passengers get carsick on the trip.
So please, calculate your strength. The jolt of the body when overcoming the dunes is very strong and not everyone will be able to withstand it. It is always uncomfortable to interrupt the journey, but the driver has no way out…
After the barchans, there is a technical stop where the wheels are brought back to normal and the insides of the vehicle are cleaned from the ravages of sand. Passengers at this time can visit the toilets, have a snack (many stalls with food and drinks), buy souvenirs.
After the service station. service station, the convoy of drivers rushes to take seats on the high ground and show the passengers a beautiful sunset.
It really is an unforgettable sight. The sun just hides behind the desert before your eyes! Emotions cannot be conveyed, it is necessary to see at least once in person!
Barkhans are constantly in motion due to wind gusts, the photo clearly shows this movement.
The next point of our programme is the Bedouin camp. Hurry up for a delicious dinner, camel ride, performance and relaxation.
The UAE has a strict dry law, but the camp offers anything for the tourist’s soul.
Dinner buffet, on the same level as the hotel, the quality and taste of the food is not inferior at all. From drinks cola, mineral water, black tea in unlimited amounts.
Seatings are set up around the stage where the performance will take place. Before the performance there is time to ride a camel (service included in the tour, 1 lap).
Conclusion
With two hands I recommend the “desert safari” excursion, if your health and strength allow.
