10 Tips: How to Make the Most of Your Ras Al Khaimah Desert Safari

The desert comprises 80% of the United Arab Emirates. The UAE’s Bedouins were nomads, moving from place to place in search of cooler climes, food and water, but the desert was their primary home.

Understanding the people of the UAE is appreciating how much the desert — also the rugged mountains, the ephemeral wadis, the rare oases, and the generous Arabian Gulf — has shaped them. If you wish to take this journey, go on a Ras Al Khaimah desert safari. If you’re visiting the UAE, add the desert safari in Ras Al Khaimah to your itinerary, and follow these 10 tips to make the most of your trip to the desert.

1. Choose a good desert safari operator.

Desert safari operators organize desert excursions from start to finish and create tour packages. The higher the Ras Al Khaimah desert safari price, the more inclusions a package has, but most include guest pick-up from and drop-off to the guests’ hotels in Ras Al Khaimah.

Desert safari tour operators can organize everything for you. They’ll arrange:

• Where you’ll go: places you’ll visit
• What you’ll do: activities you’ll engage in
• What you need: food, water, and other essential supplies

Just bring your mobile phone, personal supplies (whatever your tour operator says you must bring for your personal consumption), and some cash for incidental expenses. Your operator will take care of everything else from the start until the end of your tour.

Given the important role tour operators play, you must carefully vet your options. Read desert safari Ras Al Khaimah reviews for feedback on how operators in your shortlist treat guests and, more importantly, how they troubleshoot issues. Go with an operator with superb organizational skills and the capability to turn things around when problems arise.

2. Going solo? Still, get a guide.

There are limitations to packaged tours. Since they have set itineraries, they don’t give you as much flexibility as a do-it-yourself tour.

With the DIY approach, you can linger at spots that offer breathtakingly beautiful views. You can decide to do some activities on the spot in lieu of some other planned event or choose to go deeper into the desert or proceed to the Bedouin camp.

A DIY desert safari is a good option if you have already been on desert safaris, especially in the UAE, and know what to expect and are aware of the laws you must abide by to avoid hefty fines. For instance, did you know that in Ras Al Khaimah, you can get fined AED 500 for littering and starting a fire on the ground and AED 10,000 for removing sand, cutting trees, removing grass, and doing any other thing that can cause ecological damage?

Camping in unauthorized areas may also put you afoul of the law. This is why, if you want to stay overnight in the desert, go to the Bedouin Oasis Desert Camp – Ras Al Khaimah or a similar place.

For your own safety, let an expert desert guide lead your DIY desert outing. Do not travel alone; it’s best to travel in a convoy so you will have support (particularly towing assistance) if your wheels get stuck in the sand.

3. Camp in the Desert

Overnight camping in the Ras Al Khaimah desert can be a memorable experience. Imagine gazing at a multitude of brilliant stars undimmed by city lights.

Whether you’re going DIY or opting for a package from a desert safari operator, consider camping overnight at any of these options:

• Bedouin Oasis Camp: At the Bedouin Oasis Camp in Ras Al Khaimah, goat hair tents provide covered seating areas. Enjoy meat slow-grilled in sand-covered ovens. As the Bedouin Oasis Camp reviews will tell you, you can look forward to a night spent chatting by the fire, captivated by the music, local poetry, and tanoura and belly dancing.
• Bassata Desert Village: Bassata Village is a replica of a traditional Bedouin community. Sit around the fire and marvel at the mastery of belly and tanoura dancers. Try the fresh bread and grilled meats and vegetables prepared by the chefs.
• The Dunes Safari & Camping: Choose among tents, pods, and treehouses for your overnight stay. There are open-air grilling stations, indoor buffets, a bar for refreshments, and Bedouin-inspired entertainment. You can get henna tattoos and arrange desert sports.
• RAK Glamping: This is a pet-friendly desert campsite. You can stay in a Bedouin-inspired tent or an A-frame cabin. There’s air-conditioning, a swimming pool, a play area, Netflix and other modern comforts.

4. Time your visit right.

The availability of outdoor activities depends on the season. Don’t go in the peak of summer, as it would be too hot and activities may consequently be cancelled.

The best time to go on a desert safari in Ras Al Khaimah is the period between November to mid-March, late autumn through winter, because it’s cooler. This is the high season for tourism, however, so prepare to pay more for packages and accommodation. The shoulder seasons of April to May and September to October are a good alternative.

5. Get the evening tour.

Desert tours run in the early morning or early evening. Between the two, the evening tour is recommended. Leave in the early afternoon, take in the gorgeous views of the fiery sun setting over the golden-red sand dunes, and proceed to your camp destination for some BBQ dinner and fireside entertainment.

6.  Stay in a desert resort.

If you want a luxurious Ras Al Khaimah desert safari experience, check in at The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah Al Wadi Desert, which is located in the middle of the desert, particularly the protected Al Wadi Nature Reserve. Ritz Carlton Al Wadi provides curated immersive experiences. The resident experience concierge can introduce you to the following desert safari activities:

• Falconry
• Archery
• Horseback riding
• Desert biking
• Stargazing
• Birdwatching
• Evening camel caravan
• Early morning wildlife feeding experience
• Pony washing and grooming

You may also choose to relax at the spa, the Rainforest, cool down in the swimming pool, and work out at the gym. Based on the myriad Ritz Carlton Al Wadi reviews, it’s clear this hotel offers one of the best desert resort experiences in Ras Al Khaimah.

7. Be open to new experiences.

There are so many activities to choose from. For the most fun in the desert, give them all a try. At the very least, tick off the best desert safari activities from your bucket list, such as:

• Trying authentic Bedouin dishes
• Sandboarding
• Camel trekking
• Dune bashing
• Dune buggying
• Quad biking

Dune bashing in Ras Al Khaimah is a must-try. It’s an exhilarating ride over moving sand dunes, and it takes special skill and expertise to pull it off.

8. Dress for the trip.

This may be common sense, but it bears repeating. Opt for maximum coverage (long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks in breathable, natural fabrics like cotton and linen, plus close-toed shoes) to protect yourself against the sun and sand. Apply (and reapply) sunblock, don a wide-brimmed hat, put on sunglasses, and use comfortable, closed-toe shoes (e.g., sneakers).

9. Book ahead.

Book your desert safari in Ras Al Khaimah tickets in advance. This is how you can make sure your preferred safari operator will have a slot open for the experience during your available dates. Book ahead especially if you have special and custom add-on requests.

10. Talk and listen to your local guide.

The best way to enjoy your desert safari in Ras Al Khaimah is to understand the context of the activities. Listen to the guide’s stories. Ask a lot of questions. Why do they ride camels this way? How did they deal with the heat? Why did they dance like this? What do their poems say? The answers to these questions (and more) will provide color to your desert safari experiences.

Journey Into the Desert of Ras Al Khaimah

The desert is a major part of Emirati history and heritage. Follow along the paths the ancient Bedouin tribes have trodden with a Ras Al Khaimah desert safari. Enjoy the incredible desert views, sit around a fire for music, poetry, and dance, fall in love with the food, and feel your heart pound when you try dune bashing, sand sliding, and quad biking in Ras Al Khaimah.

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority can tell you all about Ras Al Khaimah. Check out our Visit Ras Al Khaimah website now for a guide to a desert safari in Ras Al Khaimah and other information about this activity and our beautiful northern emirate.