Private vs Shared Desert Safari: Is Private Worth It?
A shared safari puts you in a Land Cruiser with other guests (up to 7) on a fixed schedule. A private safari gives your group the whole car for one price, with your timing, your dune-bashing intensity and your stops. From 3 guests, private often costs about the same per person.
Showing 5 reviews selected by Google as most relevant.
Emdad was our guide for the dessert safari experience and he was amazing from the get go till the very end. He picked us up on time, drove smoothly to the dessert camp and took us on a fun ride for dune bashing followed by Sandboarding. We had a 1.5 year old baby with us and he helped make sure she was enjoying as well in her car seat in the back. He then also recommended to upgrade us to VIP plan because the food would be served first there and be better and we were so glad we did that because we got amazing food before others. And then all the shows including belly dance and fire show were amazing too. Highly recommend booking a private car tour!
Desert safari experience with them was amazing. It was totally worth it. Family including our little kid enjoyed. Had booked private tour with them. Dune buggy ride was the best part. Dune car bashing was also fun. Buffet dinner had wide variety. Took photographs in desert. Camel ride was short. Everything went as per package plan. We went to Arabian heritage camp. Live shows kept us entertained throughout. Loved the fire show in the end. Desert safari experience is a must while in Dubai. Thanks to our tour operator for memorable day.
Really amazing day, i really enjoyed lot Dune bashing and camp also very very recommended.guide and driver EMDAD is very kind and very helpful. Thankyou somuch team Desert safari travels
We had an amazing experience. The guider Mr Rufi Choudhry of Adventure Safari Tour was very friendly, funny and cheerful. If I plan to Visit the UAE I will definitely use his services and recommend to anyone interested as well.
Ali is truly the best guide. Thanks to him, we were able to end our Dubai trip on a beautiful note. He genuinely loves his job, sincerely cares for his guests, and was highly professional from the beginning to the very end of the tour. In particular, yesterday my husband had an emergency situation on the way to the desert tour after eating something wrong at a restaurant. Ali remained calm, immediately called an ambulance, and continued to check on the situation while staying in constant communication with us. Even after my husband was discharged from the hospital, Ali came a long distance to pick us up and personally took us back to our hotel. He also rearranged and carried out the desert tour today, which we were unable to do yesterday, and everything was absolutely perfect Once again, we sincerely thank Ali for his dedication, kindness, and outstanding care. I have traveled to many countries and had many great experiences, but without a doubt, Ali is the best! (I truly believe your company is extremely fortunate to have an employee like All.) Thank you so much Ali, God bless you and your family, Inshallah! See you again :)
A shared safari puts you in a Land Cruiser with other guests (up to 7) on a fixed schedule. A private safari gives your group the whole car for one price, with your timing, your dune-bashing intensity and your stops. From 3 guests, private often costs about the same per person.
- 1: Shared evening with dinner: AED 99 · Private evening with dinner (AED 1,099): AED 1,099 · Private per person: AED 1,099
- 2: Shared evening with dinner: AED 198 · Private evening with dinner (AED 1,099): AED 1,099 · Private per person: AED 550
- 3: Shared evening with dinner: AED 297 · Private evening with dinner (AED 1,099): AED 1,099 · Private per person: AED 366
- 4: Shared evening with dinner: AED 396 · Private evening with dinner (AED 1,099): AED 1,099 · Private per person: AED 275
- 5: Shared evening with dinner: AED 495 · Private evening with dinner (AED 1,099): AED 1,099 · Private per person: AED 220
- 6: Shared evening with dinner: AED 594 · Private evening with dinner (AED 1,099): AED 1,099 · Private per person: AED 183
Private is worth it when
- You have children under 3 (UAE rules don't allow them on shared dune bashing)
- You want a gentle ride, or an extreme one
- You're 4-6 people
- It's a special occasion, a photoshoot or a proposal
What 'shared' really means
On a shared safari, a Land Cruiser collects up to 7 guests from different hotels along a route, so the first pickup can wait while others are collected. The dune bashing route and camp time are fixed. It's sociable and the cheapest way to go for 1-2 people.
What 'private' really means
A private safari is your group only. The driver comes straight to you at the time you choose and drives at your pace. You can stop for as many photos as you want, skip the camp or stay longer. For families with toddlers, nervous passengers or anyone celebrating something, it removes almost every common complaint.
The hidden-cost trap
Some operators quote private cars per person or add a surcharge if you're fewer than 6. Our private prices are per car: the same for 1 guest or 6.
Is private desert safari worth it?
For 3 or more guests, yes. The per-person cost is similar and the experience is much more flexible.
Do private safaris use a private camp?
The car is private. Dinner is at the shared camp unless you choose the VVIP private set-up or the romantic dune dinner.
Can we share a private car with friends staying at another hotel?
Yes. Private cars can collect from two nearby addresses.