Timeline:
1500: pickup from hotel
1600: arrive at desert campsite
1602: get approached, their hands wide open, with all manner of services (henna, ATVs, camel rides) for activities that may have been pre-paid for, but tips wanted.
1606: young man will place a shemagh on your head: he wants a tip. Now that you’re already wearing his scarf, you’re going to have to pay him.
1607: be presented with soda, snacks, chips, popcorn, etc: all are EXTRAS, not included in your BBQ package, prepare to pay up should you arrive hungry.
1608-1645: partake in sand surfing, ATV, camel ride. Camel ride takes all of 90 seconds.
1645-1900: sit around doing NOTHING. All this time, car loads of people are coming and going through their “experience.” Meanwhile, you sit, the temperature drops, and you have 1 bar of cell service. Deserts get cold at night: WEAR PANTS people. BRING your winter coats (lighter side, temps drop into 50-60 deg F at night). BRING bug spray: the desert flies are relentless.
1900: show begins, slowly. Sound system: not good.
Another tip: bring a sh*t ton of AED dirhams or small denomination USD ($1, $5, $10 max bills). You will be giving these out like crazy. They also accept TAP TO PAY from your Apple Wallet. Bring battery packs & charger cords for your dying cell phone.
The Dune Bashing is kinda fun, kinda scary: you definitely feel like a rollover accident is is likely to happen. Thankfully, they’re good drivers. It lasts all of 10-12 minutes. Some of you may need Dramamine beforehand.
Our driver: super friendly. Don’t forget to tip him.
This was not the desert experience that I expected. It was much less impressive than I thought. I’m glad I tried it but honestly, do not recommend it if your time or budget is constrained.