Introduction
Abu Dhabi is one of the major cities of the United Arab Emirates, famous for the great desert and luxury services. In the middle of the mighty metropolis and magnificent technological marvels of the world, Sahara is a vast desert with golden hues and a ceiling of stars. A desert safari is indeed much more than a thrilling experience; it is a virtual transport into another world that looks prehistoric and alien at the same time. As it will be seen, there are numerous desert safari camping sites to visit each with difference experience that portrays the beauty of Arabian desert. Here, we present to you the list of the best desert safari camping sites in Abu Dhabi that are worth trying.
Criteria for Selecting the Best Camping Sites
There are several aspects considered in the selection of the best desert camping sites in Abu Dhabi.
- Location and Accessibility: The site should be within easy access from the neighboring cities such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Accessibility to transport services and location near the highway is highly desirable in a place.
- Safety and Security: To some extent the safety of humanity, property and the environment is the most significant factor that cannot be compromised. The site should have well-trained staff and security personnel and should ensure that they include service providers for emergency services.
- Activities and Entertainment: Included in the 4wd activities are dune bashing, sand boarding, camel riding, and falconry. Night entertainment such as traditional music, belly dancing and BBQ dinners are also very encouraged to complete the experience.
- Authenticity: The site should provide an attractive venue such as wonderful desert scenery and conditions to observe the stars, as well as any exceptional features like ponds or ruins.
- Contact Information: Select places that have different camping sites; ranging from bare necessities camping sites to glamorous camping sites.
- Brand Images: Go through the ratings and comments made by other clients to determine the quality of services offered and their experiences, respectively.
- Sustainability Practices: The sites identified for study should therefore avoid having detrimental effects on the environment through sustainable tourism.
- Site cost & Utility: Make sure that the site presents good value for its price, whereas the price should not be too high but the services, content and experiences are worth the price that clients have to pay.
10 Best Desert Safari Camping Sites in Abu Dhabi
Feel the thrill and read our selection of the top desert safari camping sites in Abu Dhabi for the memorable night under the starlight.
1. Liwa Desert Safari
Located in the largest sand desert in the Middle East, Liwa Desert Camp is an authentic over-sand facility situated in the area. Located in between those hills which look like waves, the camp provides guests with the main idea of a desert. cater, private accommodation and enclosed tents upstairs and downstairs, standard and luxury wild in terms of location and services. The camel ride to sunset is another popular activity at the camp since the fiery sun sets the sky ablaze in reddish-orange color. For instance, they can have night viewing of the skies where the relatively empty, vast, and uninterrupted horizon means stargazing where the Milky Way is easily seen i.e., the galaxy.
2. Desert Quarters Camp
Desert Quarters Camp, another luxurious Kenyan camp located tens of thousands of kilometers south of the Empty Quarter’s southern borders, represents another less luxurious but more adventurous type of accommodation. The major idea of Bedouin inspired camp is to give people an opportunity to truly immerse into the spirit of the desert. It has original Arabic style of the tents and outdoor yards which people can sit under the fire making and drinking Arabic coffee. Equally inciteful for the reckless, Desert Quarters has quad bikes and sand boarding which entail that the guests get to race and slip through the sandy terrains of the desert. At evening, it turns to be cozy place during the night with live traditional music and dance showing you experience of some other era.
3. The Lost Paradise
Situated in the Rynieh Valley, The Lost Paradise is a discreet oasis that ensures clients avoid a stressful life. This is a campground for the people who are looking for tranquility and vacancy put on the island of Lapad, in the majestic land of the desert. Some of the numerous offered activities include the falconry demonstration, desert archery, and the hot air balloon ride that allows the guests to discover the desert from another point of interest. The camp’s themes of utilizing only natural resources; we have installed solar energy usage as well as wastewater treated to be reused. At night, the guests can go to their own special tents, which are equipped with lanterns and confined with curtains, as they eat a great dinner, listening to the wind and admiring the stars in the sky of the desert.
4. Aitana Desert Camp
Aitana Desert Camp is famous for comfortable rooms and services rendered as well as numerous service diversions for the family and the sweethearts. The camp is established in Arabian Desert, the area has sand dunes and stunning sunset. There are places to stay from luxurious rooms for instance spacious suites to Royal Bedouin tents with excellent view of the desert. The key activities of the camp are dune bashing, sand skidding and a Bedouin group’s sheltering site where tourists have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the customs of local people. Regardless of whether or not Aitana directs their attention to someone’s success, the unique services help guests develop unforgettable memories in addition to a heightened sense of appreciation for the desert.
5. Al-Ain Oasis
Al-Ain Oasis is complete with the feel of the desert and gives a quiet oasis experience. There is a camp specific to Al-Ain that near the famous Al-Ain Oasis this camp allows one to enjoy the preserved irrigation systems and plantation of dates that are the main news productions of the region. Its structure resembles a camp and the whites related to the building and the rich vegetation ensures a contrast with the desert environment. There are, for example, camel trekking, quad biking, and an Arabic cooking class as some of the activities that the guests are free to participate in. As the sun sets, cultural activities such as live music and/or dancing erupt in the middle of the camp and keep the night lively and alluring in true desert nature.
6. Lost Mountains Camp
It can be inferred from the name; Lost Mountains Camp is an experience of the desert with their positioning adjacent to the only range of mountains in UAE. This camp is unique in the combination of the exciting adventures and quiet and relaxing holiday backdrop of the massive sandy dunes and rocky mountains. The guests are offered the opportunity to sandboard, paraglide, and go on a panoramic quad bike tour. The infrastructures include luxury tents and Bedouin houses that provide comfort during the visitors’ stay in the camp. While night falls, guests sit around the camp fire and make friendships with their group members, followed by roasting of marshmallies as the sounds of the Arid environment take over.
7. Green Desert Camp
Green Desert Camp is one kind of tourism industry that is recommending with the idea of using sustainable natural resources. The camp provides an opportunity to stay in the middle of the Al Ain Emirate while taking care of the environment. Some of the features of the camp are environmentally friendly such as the solar energy and the cultivation of organic foods for cooking throughout the camp. Textual info: for entertainment, the guests get to experience the beauty of desert by taking a camel ride, going for nature walks for better exploration and here one can be able to meet other animals and plant life in the desert. At night, the camp comes alive to a new van, guests sleeping in hammocks, fresh cool wind on the island, and the natural sound of the desert.
8. Jumeirah Beach Resort Desert Camp
Jumeirah Beach Resort Desert Camp is again a luxurious desert village located near the city’s beach frenzy. This camp is particularly apt for those people who wish to enjoy the best of beach and the desert. During the day, guests can go swimming, snorkeling, and water skiing; then, after a brief desert trip in the form of bashing over the dunes, or a camel ride at sundown. The camp possesses all the features of comfort and exquisite design, the atmosphere of the beautiful lake and the surrounding countryside. In the evening, visitors are free to taste exquisite dishes at a restaurant or order a meal in their villas, which would be served with live music and folklore shows.
9. Al Wahda Desert Camp
The Al Wahda Desert Camp has always been attracting tourists for its main two focuses, namely cultural experience as well as adventure. Located in the vast plain, the camp provides various acts that can be engaging for clients to get an adventurous feeling of the plain area. These are the falconry show, where tourists can watch and even participate in a falconry demonstration that is conducted by the falcon masters and the experiencing of the Bedouin culture by a visit to the Bedouin village. The camp is set up in a very natural manner and although amenities range from luxury tents it can also have actual Bedouin style tents. In the evening, there is an opportunity to taste Bedouin dinner at the camp with the views of the starry sky.
10. The Mirage Camp
The Mirage Camp is a luxurious camp that is located in the Liwa Oasis which can be considered as the highlight of the camp. This is the type of camp for luxury and one that offers many activities in the middle of the desert camp facilities are luxurious. For entertainment, the guest may decide to go for the Spa and have the Arabic massages or opt to go for Safari rampaging over the sand dunes. The most memorable and entertaining part of the camp is the hot air balloon ride, which is best done in the early morning to capture the true beauty of the desert. It is during the evening, when the camp has an atmosphere that provides Ruakura style entertainment and with a gourmet dinner that recreates the regions flavor.
Best Time To Visit Camping Sites in Abu Dhabi
Explore desert camping sites in Abu Dhabi during the months of October to April, as the weather remains cooler here. The weather remains favorable during this period, with pleasant warmth during the day and cool breezes at night, creating perfect conditions for outdoor fun.
Weather Conditions by Season
Winter (December to February)
- Best time for desert camping due to mild temperatures.
- Daytime temperatures: 20°C – 28°C (68°F – 82°F).
- Nighttime temperatures: Can drop to 10°C – 15°C (50°F – 59°F).
- During this time, you can maintain outdoor activities such as stargazing along with bonfires and enjoy long overnight camping periods.
Autumn (October – November) & Spring (March – April)
- Slightly warmer than winter but still comfortable for camping.
- Daytime temperatures: 25°C – 35°C (77°F – 95°F).
- The cool evening temperatures during camping create an enjoyable outdoor stay in the desert.
- The months October through November together with March through April serve as the most appropriate time to enjoy activities including dune bashing and camel trekking plus sandboarding.
Summer (May – September) – Not Recommended
- Extremely hot and humid, making desert camping difficult.
- Daytime temperatures: 40°C – 50°C (104°F – 122°F) or higher.
- Nights remain warm, offering little relief from the heat.
- Anticipate hot evenings throughout this time because there is minimal nighttime temperature decrease.
Why is October to April the Best Time?
- Comfortable temperatures for outdoor activities.
- During this period visitors can enjoy both clear nights suitable for stargazing and photography.
- The reduction in temperature stimulates wild animals to engage in more frequent movements.
- The traditional Bedouin camping sites together with safari tours maintain their maximum guest capacity.
- Safe and enjoyable for families, solo travelers, and adventure seekers.
Additional Tips for Desert Camping
- You should put warm clothing in your bags to protect yourself against cold temperatures at night.
- Water must be carried in sufficient amounts to maintain hydration.
- Weather reports should be checked before making your departure.
- Summer peak season should be avoided because of high heat-related risks.
You will have the most rewarding Abu Dhabi desert safari camping experience when you book your visit during the months between October and April to enjoy the perfect desert climate.
Essential Tips for Desert Camping
- Clothing: During the day it was quite warm therefore appropriate t-shirts and skirts were appropriate while at night it was cold and therefore suitable warm clothes should be worn. Do not miss a hat and sunglasses to protect yourself from the Sun.
- Drink Plenty of Water: One must make sure to put enough water in a bottle to drink throughout the day. Do not take alcohol and caffeinated drinks because they cause dehydration of the skin.
- Sun Protection: It is recommended to apply sunscreen with SPF of 15 or higher, wear a hat with a wide brim and some clothes are available with UV protection.
- Pack Smart: It is recommended to bring a first aid kit, portable charger, pocket knife, and insect repellent, respectively. Camera is inevitable while capturing the moments of life We cannot deny the importance of a camera in capturing the moments.
- Environmental Ethics: Be sure to preserve that environment around you, hence embrace the practice of leaving no trace. Managing to reduce waste to the dumping areas and to reduce the negative impact on the environment as much as possible.
- Accommodation: As much as it might not be advisable to dress formally, ensure that you come along with boots ready for both sand boarding and other activities. It is advised that to participate in the camel riding one should wear shoes which are closed based on the toughness of sand.
- Feel the Rhythm: Get into the experience about what the desert has to offer, even take up something new.
- Live Now: Don’t ignore the natural beauty of the desert and the beautiful night sky that you will find in this desert.
- Advance Booking: One should always plan for the safari early in advance, especially when the camps are fully booked for periods.
Conclusion
There are many desert safari camping sites in Abu Dhabi where campers get to enjoy numerous activities as well as adventurous levels of their choice. From adventure to sophistication, leisure, or a blend of such experiences, these camps offer a great chance to discover the enigma of Arabian desert. Both camps are unique in character and that the range of activities are available that each time when visiting, the guests can immerse themselves in the magic of the desert.