A Dubai desert drive is one of the easiest ways to experience the desert without committing to a full overnight safari—and honestly, that’s exactly why I liked it. You get the dunes, the adrenaline, the photos, and the camels, all wrapped up in a few hours instead of an entire day (or night) away from the city.
We booked a desert drive tour with hotel pickup, which makes everything painless. If you’re staying at Bab Al Shams Desert Resort, the drive out to the dunes is about 30–40 minutes. From Dubai city, it’s closer to 45 minutes. Either way, it’s surprisingly quick to go from skyscrapers to endless sand.
If you’re planning to stay out there overnight, you can check out where to stay near the desert here—it’s the easiest way to compare options without bouncing between sites. I’ve also written a full breakdown of the resort experience, so if that’s on your radar, you can see my full review of Bab Al Shams Desert Resort for what it’s actually like staying in the middle of the dunes.
We added a stop at Love Lake Dubai, which looks incredible in drone shots online—worth noting that drones are not allowed there. In person, though? It felt a little bleak and kind of dirty, if I’m being honest. It wasn’t a highlight for me, and I wouldn’t go out of my way to include it unless you’re already nearby and very curious.
Once you leave that area and head deeper into the desert, the scenery improves fast. The sand dunes feel endless, quiet, and completely different from anything you see in the city—which is the whole point of a Dubai desert drive in the first place.
What I thought Love Lake would look like…
What Love Lake actually looked like…
The main event of any Dubai desert drive is dune bashing. You’re in a 4×4, driving fast over and around steep sand dunes, and yes—it can get intense. The good news is that it’s totally customizable. If you love adrenaline, your driver will absolutely lean into it. If you’re like me and your inner ear starts plotting revenge, they’ll slow it down without making things awkward.
This is one of those experiences that sounds scarier than it actually is, and it helps that the drivers clearly know what they’re doing. You’ll stop a few times for photos, which is when it really hits how massive the desert is.
If you’re comparing tour options, this is the kind of experience you can book through GetYourGuide and choose based on timing, group size, and whether you want extras like sandboarding or camels included.
Sandboarding was more fun than I expected—and also came with a very important lesson: wear socks. Or shoes. Or literally anything on your feet.
The sand on some of the dunes was shockingly hot. Like barefoot-on-100-degree-asphalt hot. I was not prepared for that part, and it turned what could’ve been a graceful slide into a slightly frantic hop back onto the board.
That said, it’s a quick stop, it’s genuinely fun, and it adds another layer to the Dubai desert drive experience beyond just riding in the car.
After the dune bashing and sandboarding, we stopped for a short camel ride. This is the calmest part of the whole experience and a nice way to slow things back down before heading out.
It’s brief, very touristy, and still worth doing at least once. Plus, it’s a classic photo opportunity and a reminder that this landscape existed long before Dubai turned into… well, Dubai.
If you want to see the desert, get a little adventure in, and still be back in time for dinner, a Dubai desert drive is absolutely worth it. It shows you a side of Dubai that feels completely different from the city without eating up your entire day.
If you’re tight on time and trying to fit this into a packed itinerary, it pairs well with a busy city schedule—similar to how I structured things in my Ultimate One-Day Dubai Highlights Tour, which helps balance iconic sights with experiences like this.
For getting around Dubai overall, especially if you’re bouncing between city spots and farther-out experiences like the desert, renting a car makes things much easier. I usually compare options through Discover Cars so I’m not overpaying or dealing with limited availability.
And once you’re back from the dunes and covered in sand, you’ll probably be ready for a good meal. If you’re deciding where to go next, learn more in my post about Where to Eat in Dubai: Best Restaurants With Views—because ending a desert day with a great view just feels right.
Booked my fall cabin before September even started, and I’m not sorry about it. 🍂
These are the stays that make you actually want the cold to hurry up fireplaces, mountain views, the kind of porch you don’t leave. Not every one of these is going to fit every trip, but if a cozy fall getaway is on your radar, this is the roundup to start with.
One of my favorite travel seasons is almost here, and I have zero chill about it. 🍁✈️
There’s just something about fall trips cooler air, apple orchards, that first flannel of the season, food that actually makes sense with the weather again. I’m already mentally packing for it before September even starts.
If fall is your favorite time to travel too, tell me where you’re headed... I’m taking notes for the list.
Pack your bags... ✈️🧳My hiking and road trip gear shop just got a refresh, and this is everything that actually earns a spot in my bag. The dry bag pulls double duty for beach days and trail days, the Osprey backpack is the one I grab for anything motorcycle or day-hike related, and the GoPro comes with me literally everywhere at this point.
Nothing on this list is filler it’s all stuff I’ve used, packed, and repacked more times than I can count. Full shop linked in my bio if you want to build out your own kit before your next trip.
Filing this one under “go now before it gets cold.” Bonneville Hot Springs is one of those trips where fall access is honestly the sweet spot the campground road is open, the hike in is short, and you skip the snow-and-gate situation we dealt with when we went in March.
September and early fall mean clearer trails, easier parking, and pools that are just as good without the extra mile of hiking to earn them. Fewer than 10 people out there when we visited, a rustic changing booth, zero amenities, and pools that range from “relax” to “actually scalding” until you move some rocks around and mix in river water. Small waterfalls feeding in, mountains in every direction, not polished, and that’s exactly the point.
Full breakdown on parking, what to pack, and timing it right is linked in my bio.
Summer’s not even over and I already have the itch. Fall hiking season is calling and I am answering.
Save this if you feel the itch too.🍁
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