Most booked
Top rated
Lowest price
Two different things called a "camel ride"
Most listings that say "camel ride" mean the ride at the safari camp. A handler leads a short line of camels around a marked circuit, usually two people per camel, for about 5–10 minutes. It comes with almost every evening safari and morning safari in Lahbab, Al Awir and Al Badayer. It is a good photo stop, and for many people it is enough.
A camel trek is a different product. You ride in a caravan away from the camp, through the dunes, for around 45 minutes. Platinum Heritage runs a 45-minute trek in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR) before a sunset falcon show and dinner. In Al Marmoom, morning and evening camel caravans end at a Bedouin-style village with Arabic coffee and a meal. These trips cost several times more than a shared safari and take a half-day, but you spend real time on the animal.
Camp ride, trek or farm visit: side by side
| Type | Time on the camel | Where | What else is in the trip | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camp ride on a standard safari | ≈ 5–10 min, led loop | Camps in Lahbab, Al Awir, Al Badayer | Dune bashing, sandboarding, BBQ dinner or breakfast | First-timers, families, tight budgets |
| Sunset camel trek with camp | Longer than a camp loop; length differs by listing, so read it | Desert camps such as Al Khayma | Camp dinner, henna, telescope stargazing, falcon photos | Sunset on camelback without heritage-safari prices |
| Heritage camel safari, DDCR | 45 min in a caravan | Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve | Sunset falcon show, 4-course dinner, stargazing; ≈ 7 h in total | A calm, culture-first evening without dune bashing |
| Camel caravan, Al Marmoom | Caravan ride, morning or evening | Al Marmoom reserve, Al Qudra side | Bedouin village, coffee-making, breakfast or dinner | Heritage, photography, smaller groups |
| Camel farm stop | A stop to see the herd | Farms on the way to the dunes | Part of some morning safaris | Seeing young camels up close |
Operators' own published prices for the heritage evenings, checked November 2026: Platinum Heritage Camel Desert Safari AED 795 per adult; Al Marmoom Bedouin Experience evening heritage safari with camel caravan AED 690 per adult. The standard camp ride has no separate price. Compare live partner prices on the cards above and on our price guide.
Sunrise, morning or sunset
Sunset is what most people search for, and the light on the red dunes is at its best then. The trade-off is heat: from late spring to early autumn the desert is still hot in the late afternoon, and the camp is busy. Morning and sunrise rides are cooler, quieter and usually end with breakfast. If you want both a camel ride and the dunes from above, some hot air balloon packages add a short camel ride after landing.
For a longer trek, the reserve matters more than the hour. Inside the DDCR and Al Marmoom you ride through protected land where oryx and gazelles roam free. Our reserves guide explains who may operate where.
Getting on, staying on, and animal welfare
The camel kneels while you climb on. It stands up back legs first, so you tip forward, then back. Lean back slightly and hold the handle until it is fully up, and do the same when it kneels again. Wear long, loose trousers; see what to wear.
Some practical limits, as published by Platinum Heritage for its camel safaris:
- a maximum of two people per camel;
- families with children under five need a private car on the camel safari;
- the camel safari is not recommended for guests more than six months pregnant;
- weight limits apply, so mention it when you book if you are tall or heavy.
The same operator publishes its camel care rules: camels are ridden only twice a day, have a full day off each week, use padded saddles and are checked regularly by vets. Not every operator publishes this. It is fair to ask yours how many rides each camel does per day, and whether there is shade and water at the camel line. Our family guide covers age rules for the rest of the safari.
Where else you meet camels
The DDCR lists camel treks among its approved activities, and falconry shows often follow a trek. If you only have an hour in the city, Visit Dubai notes short camel rides on Jumeirah Beach. Al Marmoom is also home to the Dubai Camel Race Track, a different, sporting side of camel culture.
