Dubai: Overnight Desert Safari and Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride
Description
Embark on an African-style wildlife safari, desert camping, and a hot air balloon flight in this overnight adventure from Dubai. Travel through the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve in a vintage Land Rover, spotting wildlife like gazelles, oryx, and camels. Enjoy a 4-course dinner under the stars at a Bedouin-style camp, and the next morning, soar above the Arabian Desert in a hot air balloon to witness the sunrise.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Pick-up from Dubai hotels between 02:00 PM and 04:30 PM, depending on the season. We will inform you of the exact pick-up time around noon on the day of your desert safari.
Arrive at the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve and receive your Headscarf and a Stainless Steel Water Bottle. These are included in each booking and are a gift for our guests to take home.
Embark on a 60-minute nature safari
Marvel at a spectacular sunset falcon show against an Arabian sunset backdrop.
Arrive at an authentic torch-lit Bedouin camp and receive a warm Arabic welcome with coffee and dates. Enjoy live breadmaking, coffeemaking, camel rides, and shisha. Indulge in a four-course traditional dinner, and immerse yourself in interactive Emirati performances like drumming and Yola.
Extend your desert adventure with an overnight stay in a traditional Arabic stone dwelling. Enjoy the comfort of a cozy bed, soft pillows, and fresh sheets for a restful night’s sleep.
Enhance your adventure with a breathtaking sunrise hot air balloon flight the next morning. The overnight Bedouin camp is just 15 minutes from the balloon take-off site. After your flight, return to the camp for a delicious breakfast before heading back to the city.
Return to the hotel between 09:00 AM and 10:00 AM, depending on the season and traffic.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We offer pickup from any hotel in Dubai. For pickups from a residence or apartment, a private vehicle booking is required. Pick-up times vary throughout the year based on sunset times. Generally, expect pickup between 2:00 pm and 4:30 pm. We will confirm your exact pick-up time via email or phone call around noon on the day of your excursion. If you do not hear from us, please contact us through your booking or account.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- The Dubai desert can get cooler in the evenings during winter, so we recommend you bring a light jacket and closed shoes
- Please note: Guides in the following languages (German, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Italian) are upon request and availability.
- Children under 7 years are not permitted to join the hot air balloon experience
- At the camp there is running water and clean bathroom but no shower
- One backpack or luggage not more than 50 cm in height is allowed per guest
- The rate for a private vehicle depends on the total number of participants including children
- Children below 5 years old must be booked on a private car
Reviews(67)
From start to finish, this experience was professional, seamless, and truly spectacular. After clear communication with the Hero backoffice, my wife and I were picked up punctually by Ravi in a luxurious 4x4 and whisked away for an overnight desert safari and hot air balloon flight. The Evening: Tradition & Comfort The experience kicked off with thoughtful touches: metal water bottles and traditional headgear. Highlights included: Camel Trek: A peaceful 45-minute ride through the dunes where we spotted several Oryx. Falconry & Culture: An insightful demonstration on the importance of the UAE’s official bird, followed by a warm welcome at camp with coffee and dates. The Camp: Our stone accommodation was cozy and well-appointed. The evening was a perfect blend of a superb traditional feast (both table service and live stations) and activities like henna, stargazing, and traditional music. The Morning: A Valentine’s Sunrise A 5:30 AM wake-up call led us to the highlight: a hot air balloon flight. The Flight: Rising over the desert at sunrise was breathtaking. As a Valentine’s special, we were joined by a falconer and his bird, Jaffar, who took flight while we were mid-air. The "Platinum" Touch: Post-landing, we were treated to a romantic breakfast at a premium camp. The tables were beautifully decorated with flowers and rose petals, accompanied by non-alcoholic bubbly and a gourmet spread. Conclusion This experience managed to "tick all the boxes." Between the high-end transport, the romantic Valentine’s Day extras, and the flawless organization, it was worth every dirham. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Dubai.
Hi StPotter, Thank you for your incredible review! We’re thrilled to hear that your overnight desert safari and sunrise hot air balloon experience exceeded all expectations. It’s wonderful to know that Ravi’s professionalism, the camel trek, falconry, camp experience, and the romantic Valentine’s touches all made your trip unforgettable. Rising over the desert at sunrise and enjoying a luxurious breakfast sounds truly magical! We sincerely appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another exceptional adventure in the future.
The experience was so amazing. All of the staff were so nice and professional. Food was 10/10 and the hot air balloon was the most amazing experience. Highly recommend
Hi 526toril, Thank you so much for the amazing review! 🤍 We’re thrilled to hear you had such a fantastic experience and that our team, the food, and especially the hot air balloon made it truly unforgettable. Your 10/10 recommendation means a lot to us! We hope to welcome you back again for another incredible adventure very soon.
Quality throughout. Staff were friendly and seemed to enjoy their jobs. Experiences were top notch (opt for camel ride over land rover)! Food was excellent.
Hi Scottpl4543HV, Thank you for the fantastic feedback! We’re so glad you enjoyed the quality throughout, our friendly team, and the overall experience. Great tip on choosing the camel ride—it’s definitely a guest favorite! Delighted to hear you loved the food as well. We hope to welcome you back again soon for another unforgettable adventure.
Super trip, perfectly organized, super friendly team. Balloon ride was very spectacular, jeep ride and breakfast absolutely first class.
Hi Travel68698422308, Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the experience from start to finish — from the spectacular balloon flight to the Jeep ride and first-class breakfast. Our team will be thrilled to know their hospitality made your day even more special. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
Amazing balloon experience with Noman as our guide and Yosh as our fantastic captain. Seeing the sunrise in the hot air balloon and watching the falcons fly in and out of the balloon was really cool.
Hi JoshuaT1866, Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the Hot Air Balloon adventure with Noman and Captain Yosh — seeing the sunrise and the falcons in flight truly makes it a magical moment! We’ll be sure to share your kind words with the team, and we hope to welcome you back soon for another unforgettable experience in the Dubai desert.
The camp was nice and the evening meal was hearty and very good. The balloon flight was fantastic. Breakfast was refined and hearty. The staff is considerate and very friendly.
Hi Audrey, Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re so glad you enjoyed the camp, the evening meal, and the fantastic hot air balloon ride. It’s great to hear that the breakfast also met your expectations and that our team’s hospitality stood out to you. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable experience in the future!
I would like to give a big shout out to Ronald out tour guide,Rayan the falcon champ and Filiberto the waiter…your professionalism exceeds all.
Hi bonniemU9405TJ, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that Ronald, Rayan, and Filiberto made such a positive impact on your experience. Their professionalism and dedication are truly appreciated, and we’re grateful for your kind words. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back for another amazing adventure soon!
We had the most amazing tour guide Nasir! He gave us a tour of the city from the time he picked us up until we got to the camp. The picture tours, hospitality, diner, and night in the desert were the experience we were looking forward too. We appreciated that safety was the priority when it came to the air balloon ride. I would highly recommend this tour if you are in Dubai.
Hi SantiagopJ9236GX, Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience with us! We’re so happy to hear that Nasir made your tour memorable by guiding you through the city and ensuring a fantastic experience at the camp. It’s great to know you enjoyed the picture stops, hospitality, dinner, and your magical night in the desert. We’re also glad you felt safe and well cared for during the hot air balloon ride—it’s always a top priority for us. Your recommendation means the world to us, and we hope to welcome you back for more unforgettable adventures in Dubai soon!
Highlight of my trip!!! This was the best tour I have ever been on (I do ALOT). The service was phenomenal and my guides were amazing! I was picked up promptly at my hotel where they brought me to the desert where we got into a vintage Landrover to go out onto the nature preserve then we watched an amazing falcon show while enjoying tea before heading to the camp for a fantastic traditional dinner and shows. I stayed in a nice stone cabin room then got up early to enjoy a phenomenal hot air balloon ride and falcon show from the hot air balloon then enjoyed a delicious breakfast. If you’re in Dubai do this experience, you will not regret it!
World class experience and service! From the moment I was picked up at my hotel I had a fantastic guide through the experience. We went out into the desert, enjoyed beautiful views, great dinner with a comfortable overnight, then a fantastic 10 out of 5 star experience with the hot air balloon ride the next morning! You want to do this experience while in Dubai!
Hi John M, Thank you so much for your amazing feedback! We’re delighted to hear that you had a world-class experience from start to finish. It’s wonderful to know that you enjoyed the desert journey, the dinner, the overnight stay, and especially the incredible hot air balloon ride. We aim to offer an authentic experience, filled with Emirati traditions and rich culture, for our guests. Your kind words inspire us to keep delivering unforgettable experiences. We truly appreciate you recommending this adventure to others—thank you for choosing to spend your time with us during your visit to Dubai! We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable journey soon.
