Tours from Abu Dhabi and Dubai go to different deserts. The UAE is a desert country, so you don't have to go far to find one. I was told that the tours from Dubai go to more interesting deserts with higher dunes of up to 9-floor high and opportunities to ride on a sand bike. In comparison, the tours from Abu Dhabi are more lack lustre.
I've been on a desert safari tour twice, both departing from Abu Dhabi to Al-Khatim desert which borders between Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.
Usually, the driver will pick up the guests from designated hotels in town and drive to a meeting point where we meet up with 6 to 10 other 4WD to venture into the desert together. On the way, we might stop by the ostrich farm and camel farm where we get to say hi to these animals that we don't normally see very often.
Then the exciting part begins when we venture into the sand dunes. The dunes are not that high, probably 4-storey high at the most. One tip would be to get on the front seat, next to the driver, if you could, as you can see clearly what's ahead. Both times I've sat in the front and most of the time, I could feel my heart pumping out!
It's really like a roller-coaster ride, except this is more adventurous in a moving vehicle. When we are going down, sometimes the driver would swerve at an angle and I thought we were about to tip over! This is really not for the faint-hearted and motion sickness can set in easily. So be prepared! The worst case scenario is that someone is your car throws up and you are trapped with the stink!
The ride is rewarded by an amazing sunset view from the desert. Both times I went, it was Spring time with cooling temperature. I can't imagine going there in the summer with the scorching heat.
We then continue the roller-coaster ride to enter into a village specially created for tourists like us where we'd be treated to a Middle-Eastern feast, belly dancing, Henna painting and Shisha smoking at no extra charge as you would paid for in the safari package. Not forgetting the camel ride and sandboarding at the village. Don't miss that! The came ride is another adventure by itself - another form of roller-coaster ride. Star-gazing when the lights are turned off is an amazing experience for city folks like me.
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