Private Desert Safari
Your own 4x4, a private driver-guide and the desert entirely on your schedule.
Tour Overview
Short answer: the Private Desert Safari gives your group exclusive use of a 4x4 and driver-guide, with a fully flexible schedule and pace, for AED 750 covering up to six guests.
Rather than joining a shared convoy on a fixed timetable, the Private Desert Safari puts one vehicle and one driver-guide entirely at your group's disposal. Pickup time, dune-bashing intensity, the number of photo stops and how long you linger at any point of the evening are all yours to decide — your guide adapts around you rather than a schedule shared with strangers.
It's the option we recommend most often for families with children of different ages, groups celebrating something together, or anyone who's found a shared safari's fixed pace frustrating on a previous trip. You still get every classic activity — dune bashing, camel ride, sandboarding and a camp dinner — just with total control over how the evening unfolds.
Why Choose This Tour
Short answer: total schedule control and a driver who tailors intensity specifically to your group, at a price that often works out cheaper per person than a shared tour once your group reaches four or more.
A family of five booking the standard evening safari pays for five individual seats; the same group on a private booking pays one flat vehicle rate that, from four guests upward, frequently comes out lower per person — while gaining full control over pacing that a shared tour simply can't offer.
Tour Highlights
- Private 4x4 and dedicated driver-guide
- Fully flexible, personalised itinerary
- Ideal for families and groups of 4+
- Extra photo and rest stops on request
- All the classic desert activities
- Privacy away from large group camps
What's Included
- Private hotel pickup & drop-off
- Private 4x4 with driver-guide
- Dune bashing at your pace
- Camel ride & sandboarding
- Dinner at a desert camp
- Live shows
- Water & soft drinks
- Alcoholic beverages
- Gratuities
- Optional quad biking
- Personal expenses
Pricing
Short answer: AED 750 covers one private 4x4 for up to 6 guests; additional vehicles for larger groups are AED 650 each, and a fully private dining setup away from the shared camp adds AED 300.
| Option | Who it's for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Private 4x4, up to 6 guests | Base group vehicle rate | AED 750 |
| Additional vehicle (7–12 guests) | Second 4x4 travelling with your group | AED 650 |
| Private dining upgrade | Separate table away from shared camp | AED 300 |
| Optional quad bike (30 min) | Per rider, added for your group | AED 100 / person |
Complete Itinerary
Pickup time
Choose any start time between 2:00 and 4:00 pm to suit your group's schedule.
Dune bashing
As much or as little as you like, at a pace set by your group, not a shared convoy.
Photo & rest stops
Your guide stops wherever the light, dunes or your group's energy calls for it.
Camp dinner
Standard camp dinner and activities, or a private dining setup on request.
Return
Head back whenever your group is ready — no fixed departure time to match.
Hotel Pickup
Complimentary pickup, everywhere
Hotels, apartments, residences, villas and Airbnb stays across Dubai — all included at no extra cost.
Confirmed via WhatsApp
Your exact pickup time is confirmed by our reservations team over WhatsApp after booking.
Pickup window varies
Timing depends on the tour and your location — we build the route to reach every guest on schedule.
Private pickup available
Selected tours offer a private vehicle upgrade if you'd rather not share a pickup route.
Hotel Pickup Across Dubai
We offer complimentary pickup and drop-off from all hotels, apartments, villas, residences, and Airbnb accommodations across Dubai. Once your booking is confirmed, our operations team will contact you via WhatsApp with your exact pickup time and driver details.
Guests staying at Dubai Airport hotels, Dubai Marina, JBR, Palm Jumeirah, Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, Deira, Bur Dubai, Al Barsha, Jumeirah, and other Dubai locations are all covered.
Contact Us on WhatsAppNeed assistance with your pickup? Our team is available 24/7 on WhatsApp to help you with your booking and pickup arrangements.
Vehicle Information
Toyota Land Cruiser or Nissan Patrol 4x4s, seating up to 6 guests plus driver, air-conditioned throughout. Groups above 6 are split across a second matching vehicle that travels alongside yours the whole tour.
Safety Information
Your private driver-guide adjusts the intensity of the drive to your group, making this a great option for families with children or travellers who prefer a gentler ride. Seat belts and maintained vehicles as standard.
Tour Requirements
No fitness test or prior experience needed. Let us know your group's ages and any specific requests (softer dune bashing, extra stops, dietary needs) when booking so your guide can plan accordingly.
Best Time to Join
Short answer: year-round, with the flexibility to shift your pickup earlier in summer to avoid peak heat, or later in winter to catch a longer sunset — a benefit unique to the private booking.
Because you set the schedule, this is the tour where seasonal timing matters least — your guide can simply shift departure to whatever works best for the season and your group.
What to Wear
Short answer: the same as our standard safaris — breathable layers, closed shoes for sandboarding, and a light jacket for after dark.
Since the pace is yours to set, families with younger children often appreciate the flexibility to pause and adjust clothing layers between activities.
What to Bring
Short answer: sunscreen, sunglasses, snacks for children if travelling with young kids, and a secured phone or camera for dune bashing.
Because your guide can pause more freely than on a shared tour, this is a good option for families needing occasional breaks. See our desert safari tips guide for a full checklist.
Child Policy
Short answer: all ages welcome, with intensity and pacing fully adjustable to the youngest member of your group — our top recommendation for families with a wide age range.
A private booking is particularly useful for mixed-age families, since your guide can moderate dune bashing for younger children while still giving older teens and adults a genuine thrill on request.
Cancellation Policy
Short answer: free cancellation or rescheduling up to 24 hours before pickup; cancellations inside 24 hours are non-refundable.
Because your booking reserves an entire vehicle rather than individual seats, please confirm your final group size at least 24 hours ahead. Contact our team for any changes.
Private vs Shared Desert Safari
| Private Desert Safari | Shared Evening Safari | |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | AED 750 / vehicle (up to 6) | AED 125 / person |
| Best value at | 4+ guests | 1–3 guests |
| Schedule | Set by your group | Fixed departure time |
| Dune-bashing pace | Adjustable to your group | Standard pace for all passengers |
| Best for | Families, mixed ages, special requests | Solo travellers, couples, small groups |
Want a private evening with a gourmet dinner too? See the VIP Desert Safari (Majlis), or read our full comparison guide.
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Watch This Experience
Local Insider Tips
- Split larger families across two smaller vehicles rather than one big one. It's often cheaper than a single oversized transfer and lets grandparents ride at a gentler pace than the kids.
- Tell your guide your must-see stop before you leave. If there's a specific dune or viewpoint you've seen in photos, mention it at pickup — private bookings can usually accommodate it.
- Book the private dining upgrade for milestone celebrations. AED 300 gets your group a table away from the shared camp without the full VIP majlis price.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time can I choose for pickup?
What is your cancellation policy?
Does weather affect a private safari?
Is this a good option for families with young children?
Can pregnant travellers book a private safari?
Is a private 4x4 safer than a shared one?
What should we wear?
Can we arrange a private dinner setup?
Can we add quad biking to a private tour?
Is the camel ride still included privately?
How many people can share one private vehicle?
Can we control how many photo stops we make?
Meet Our Expert Desert Safari Guides
Private bookings are matched with a guide experienced in reading a group's specific needs — pace, comfort and age mix — rather than driving a fixed shared route.
Tufail Ahmed
Tufail is frequently requested for larger private groups, comfortable coordinating a second vehicle alongside his own when families split across two 4x4s.
Anees
Anees is our most-booked guide for mixed-age private family groups, adjusting the drive in real time between a nervous grandparent and an adventure-seeking teenager in the same vehicle.
Qamar
Qamar is often requested by private groups wanting extra time at specific viewpoints, happy to build a slower, photography-focused route on request.
A private tour lives or dies on how well the guide reads your specific group — an experienced driver adjusts dune-bashing intensity in real time for a nervous passenger, times stops around a tired toddler, and still delivers a genuine thrill for anyone in the vehicle chasing one. That flexibility only comes from years of guiding varied groups, which is why every private booking is led by one of our senior desert guides rather than a newer driver still learning the terrain.
Read more verified Desert Safari Dubai Reviews from our guests.
What Travellers Say About the Private Desert Safari
"Travelling with my 70-year-old mother and my teenage sons, this was the only option that worked for everyone. Our guide dialled the bashing right down for mum, then let the boys have their fun in a second run."
"Split our group of ten across two vehicles as suggested and it worked perfectly — cost less than we expected and everyone had the pace they wanted."
"Booked the private dining add-on for my wife's birthday and it made all the difference — felt like a proper occasion rather than a shared camp table."
Ready to Book the Private Desert Safari?
Instant confirmation, free hotel pickup and free cancellation up to 24 hours before you travel.