As the original desert dwellers, the Bedouins are integral to an authentic desert safari experience. Their intimate knowledge of the desert’s unforgiving terrain as well as the flora and fauna that call the majestic dunes their home is of great value to those keen on exploring the arid wilderness. A few moments spent with the locals, listening to their inspiring tales, will take you back in time for a fascinating insight into life in the desert. To truly take it all in, the Al Marmoom Bedouin Experience with luxury desert safari operator Platinum Heritage is the ideal fit. During this six-hour tour through the Dubai desert, you can explore the wilderness on the back of a camel, watch a falcon show, visit a Bedouin village, meet the locals, get up close with farm animals and tuck into an authentic Arabic dinner.
Your journey begins with a hotel pick up in a luxury 4x4, but once you hit the dunes, you trade the bustle of the city for the quieter and simpler pace of life in the desert. Here, you hop on the back of a camel and traverse the golden dunes with your caravan for over 25-minutes before you reach an authentic Bedouin village nestled in a desert oasis. You'll be welcomed in cultural fashion with Arabic coffee, dates and rose water, following which you can watch a falcon show and see how this bird of prey assisted the locals while hunting. Feel free to explore the village and you will find tents assembled with wood, stones and goat hair, a traditional kitchen, cooking stations, farm animals and some more camels. There's also a small souk at the site, where you can browse through Arabic spices and local handicrafts.
One of the best ways to learn more about the region's culture is by interacting with the Bedouins themselves. And with this experience, you can feel free to help around at the live cooking stations or simply watch the locals prepare a traditional dinner. But the highlight of it all is listening to stories that have transcended generations, it's as though you've taken a journey back in time for an up-close glimpse of life as it was decades ago. And when the night sky turns a deep shade of blue, you'll enjoy the chance to learn more about the stars with an astronomy session, complete with a telescope to gaze into space.
Click here for morning safari packages starting from AED495.
