Top Dubai On the Water - page 29

We took this trip as a family of five (two adults and three children aged 15, 11 and 8), and every single one of us loved it. We were picked up directly from our accommodation in a spotless 4x4 by our driver and guide, Said Ali, who was brilliant throughout the entire experience. He drove us out into the desert where we enjoyed quad biking, dune bashing and sand surfing before heading to a desert camp for camel rides, an Arabian horse show, dinner and entertainment. The whole trip was incredibly well organised and such good fun. Said Ali was the perfect host for the day – friendly, knowledgeable and genuinely committed to making sure we had the best possible experience. He really went above and beyond. When he realised we hadn’t managed to get a camel ride earlier in the evening, he arranged one for us just as the camp was closing and people were starting to leave – such a thoughtful thing to do! He also turned out to be an excellent iPhone photographer and helped us capture some amazing family photos on the dunes – honestly they look like something out of a magazine. The food and entertainment at the camp were also excellent. There was plenty of choice, with options for both adventurous eaters and those who prefer more familiar dishes. If you’re unsure whether to book this trip, I would absolutely recommend it – it’s an unforgettable experience. And if you’re lucky enough to have Said Ali as your driver, you’re in for an even better day!

A brilliant morning, expertly organised. We were picked up by our guide Usman who was on time and clear on pick up instructions. From our hotel we were driven to the venue which took 50 minutes. First stop was quad biking, we bought head scarfs that were put on by the team and had 30 minutes flying around on the sand. From there we had a short camel ride before being taken on the sand for the dune bashing. They tell you in advance but it's worth repeating, don't eat a lot beforehand unless you want to see it again! Usman was clearly an expert and we flew all around the dunes. We then stopped for some sand surfing which was great fun, but be careful, the sand is a hard landing area! From there we went back briefly to base to de-sand before the drive back to Dubai. All in all a great experience that we all loved. The price was very reasonable for all the different activities. There is a bit of additional selling but nothing too bothersome, there are clean toilet facilities and a drink vendor for coffee, juice and water.

The entire experience was great. Though we got picked up a little later than scheduled, everything went really smoothly in the end. The driver was with us the entire time and explained everything to us. There was some things you had to pay extra like they said if you want to do it like driving the ATVs and extra time on the camel. The food was great too. The show was very entertaining.