Dune Bashing

Location:
United Arab Emirates

In Abu Dhabi

By Sam Porter

Dune Bashing

In the desert in Abu Dhabi

Warning – don’t take your mum on this unless she’s an adrenaline junkie. Mine isn’t. She spent 2 hours driving through the dunes clinging onto the handle over the door with her eyes closed, tightly, grimacing in fear. I felt guilty; bad daughter.

We’d taken friends a few months before and they’d loved it. We were only on the dunes for about 40 minutes that time, but that had been a big group with about 20 jeeps. You get picked up and driven out to the desert, where you transfer into 4x4s if you didn’t arrive in one. The drivers let rip and take you up and down and up and over the dunes, the louder you scream the faster they go. It’s exhilarating and better than any roller coaster I’d ever been on, it sends waves of panic through you as you see the jeep in front disappear over the top of a dune. The guys are experienced and can drive you through the desert terrain even whilst having a casual chat on their mobiles.

We got stuck up one dune and another jeep had to tow us down, but it was all good fun.

Some stop so you can get out and see a camel farm, others stop to let you out to take pictures of the sunset over the desert – like scenes from the beginning of Star Wars when Luke still lives in Tatooine. By the time darkness falls you arrive at a camp to get some food, drinks, have a camel ride, sand board down a dune, get some Henna patterns on your hands and try on local attire before you leave to go home.

This is a must for anyone holidaying in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or any other Emirate in the UAE. Just don’t take your mum without warning her first!!

Further Information

Travel tips: Expect to pay about 280Dirhams (40 GBP). Call round the hotels and ask the concierge to arrange it. Ask if your tour has a bar, as not all are dry.

Must see/do at this place: If you go on a desert tour during winter months (Nov - March) take a jacket as it gets cold and windy in the desert after dark.

You should avoid here: Don't sit near the stage unless you want the belly dancer to drag you up!!