So last month, I finally ticked off something on my bucket list forever—a proper desert experience. It’s not the touristy camel photo-op nonsense, but the real deal. My cousin went last year and wouldn’t shut up about it, which was annoying, but tbh, I get it now. Our driver was Khalid, who grew up in the desert but now lives in AD. Super chill guy with the BEST stories about growing up Bedouin. The drive out for the desert safari took about an hour. Maybe less; I was busy trying not to spill coffee on myself while typing directions to our Airbnb host for later.
We booked this Abu Dhabi desert safari at the last minute but THANK GOD we did it!!! Our hotel guy recommended this company—I can’t remember the name—something with “Arabian” in it? Anyway, they picked us up in this massive 4×4 that looked like it could survive the apocalypse.
OMG, the dune bashing!!!! I literally thought we were going to die five times, hahaha. Mia was screaming her head off, and I was laughing until we hit this one massive drop, and then I screamed, too. It was so embarrassing, but Khalid just laughed and said, “This is nothing, Habibi,” before taking us up an even bigger dune. My stomach was in my throat, but it was so worth it.
Something nobody tells you—bring extra memory for your phone or camera!!! I filled mine up halfway through and had to delete about a hundred pictures from our Dubai days. The colors when the sun hits the sand are insane, not like the filters you see on install—better.
After the crazy driving part, we went to this desert campsite. Ngl, some parts felt a bit setup for tourists (the belly dancing show was… a choice), but they had this old guy doing falconry, which was proper cool. The falcon caught something mid-air, like 50 meters up!!! Tried to get it on video, but obvs my phone decided to focus on some random person’s head instead.
The food was actually decent, which surprised me because these tour things usually have garbage catering. This lady with the fastest hands I’ve ever seen made bread right in front of us. I don’t know what they put in the lamb, but it was a bomb af.
The stars, though, can’t even describe them. We don’t get stars like that back home because of all the light pollution. Khalid showed us how to find north using the stars, which apparently is how his grandad used to navigate. It made me realize how useless I’d be without Google Maps lmao.
Do you know those moments when you’re traveling that just stick with you forever? This was definitely one. Not just because of the adrenaline rush from nearly rolling down a sand mountain (though that was epic) but because of the whole vibe. One minute, you’re doing something crazy modern, like posting a selfie from the middle of nowhere, and the next minute, you’re learning techniques people have used for centuries.
So, if you’re on the fence about booking, JUST DO IT. Yeah, it’s a bit pricey, and yeah, you’ll get sand EVERYWHERE (I’m still finding it in my shoes weeks later, by the way). But honestly, it’s one of those things that makes you realize why you bothered traveling halfway across the world instead of just looking at pictures online.
Also, Bring sunscreen! I got burnt to a crisp even though we were only in direct sun for about two hours. The desert sun hits differently!!! Also, drink lots of water.
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