My last two trips to Europe have seen me fly via Dubai, both times scheduling a couple of days to stop over and explore the city. I have always had a Dubai desert safari in the back of my mind when organising what to do. I think it was the imagery of glowing tents, lush carpets and starry skies that originally drew me in, mixed with the fact that my husband has an interest in falconry. So ahead of our second visit we made sure to research and book a safari ahead of time. After having a fantastic experience I wanted to share the company and itinerary we went for in the hope that it will make the decision process easier for you and maybe even inspire a different stop-over location.
PLATINUM HERITAGE CAMEL SAFARI
Platinum Heritage Tours and Safaris stood out to us for a couple of reasons. First of all, I love a website that is highly visual, informative and doesn’t gloss over any of the details. Tours are easy to differentiate between and prices are clearly listed. I am a sucker for pretty pictures too. Their sunset vantage point, vintage Land Rovers and beautiful dining area was exactly how I imagined a perfect night under the stars.
I should point out that this is not a sponsored post. I just like to gush a little when I find something I can recommend with confidence.
I chose the Camel Safari because I wanted to experience sunset at a slower pace with only long, leggy shadows keeping us company (no dune bashing for me thanks). There is the option to take a wildlife tour in one of their 1950’s Land Rovers which, if my husband has his way, we will be returning to experience. No complaints here :)
DUBAI DESERT SAFARI ITINERARY
To take you through a typical Dubai desert safari here are the highlights from our afternoon trip:
We arrived from our hotel transfer to a conservation reserve where the camel-riders and four-wheel-drivers parted ways. At this point you can leave any personal belongings in the transfer cars to pick up later at the main campsite. This is useful if you are jumping on a camel and want to carry as little as possible. Being bloggers we carried a drone and SLR gear in two backpacks. Yep, I practically had a bigger hump on my back than the camels. 
Our group, captured by Platinum Heritage’s photographer.
The 45-minute camel ride starts with a headscarf being skillfully tied for you, by one of the guides. This is to protect your hair from the sand and wind so that there are no distractions during the ride. Ice cold water is available before you set off and I would recommend taking a couple of bottles. Your guide will really appreciate the extra one as they walk the camels through hot sand dunes. The camels are beautifully adorned in printed fabrics and crocheted bridles, with one assigned to each person. The camel ride gives you plenty of time to take in the size of the sand dunes and how the elements have formed ripples and shapes in the landscape. 
The camel ride is timed perfectly, arriving at a little oasis in time to watch the sun go down. Vibrant cushions and rugs create a comfy space to take in the sunset and falconry show. Upon arrival we were greeted with sparkling date juice which was really refreshing after spending some time in the sun. It was shoes off and headscarves on for the start of our falconry demonstration. With plenty of time for questions and photos my husband definitely got his ‘birds of prey’ fix.
After the show we were whisked off in the Land Rovers which darted over the sand dunes to our final destination, the Bedouin Camp. The roof-off ride allowed for a bit of star-gazing as a warm breeze swept through the cabin. At this point I put the camera away for most of the night just to soak up the atmosphere.
Arriving at the traditional camp was magical. Fire lamps and palm trees marked the entrance, where we cleansed our hands in rose water with the scent of incense burning all around. After cleaning away the day’s adventures we were served dates and Arabic coffee to kick start the night. Dates are an absolute weakness of mine and something that I’ve devoured when visiting the markets of Dubai and Turkey. I was glad to try Arabic coffee too as it was not something I had sought out previously. It was surprisingly sweet with a slightly fruity flavour.
The first thing I did after seeking out a tented dining table was to get a henna tattoo. Under the light of traditional torches a henna tattoo artist drew intricate creations to each person’s liking. I opted for a trailing hand design which, being authentic henna, lasted for a few weeks. Little stations like these formed part of the nights entertainment, like the traditional bread-making display that cooked up piping hot slices for our soup starter.
After several courses and dessert, to say that I was full would have been an understatement! I kicked back in one of the many lounge spots and realised that I wished I was spending the night out there. With a warm breeze and a sky full of stars to get lost in, it would have been easy to doze off. The cultural performance with its hypnotic dancing kept me entertained though and I took it all in with a cup of date-glazed donuts.
At the end of the night we were transferred back to our hotel, feet sandy and skin freshly inked. It was an experience that I look forward to doing again and would gladly recommend. The history of pre-oil Dubai that was explained to us also gave me a fresh perspective on a city that is synonymous with modernity. I would recommend a Dubai desert safari to anyone wanting an authentic cultural experience and a unique stop-over. I think the level of service and attention to detail in Platinum Heritage’s tour is what exceeded my expectations of a safari. To experience the Dubai desert with a full belly and a glass of cold bubbles is quite frankly, my kind of tour.
If you have any questions about the tour or how much time you need to experience Dubai please leave a comment below. I would be happy to share more recommendations and tips I’ve learned with you.
All images by Escape Button and ShootBlogLife unless captioned otherwise.
