Escape to the sand

The first thing that catches your eye, when you look out of the aeroplane window, as Dubai approaches, is the vast expanse of brown boring sand staring from below. Which makes you really glad to see all that concrete within the city; and there’s a lot of it considering the world’s tallest building – the Burj Khalifa towers over the Dubai skyline. The never-ending malls were offering you huge discounts and complimentary weight loss programs – because of the amount of walking you end up doing. But though the malls are attractive and you have to exercise an unbelievable amount of restraint to prevent that plastic card from being swiped, it gets boring after a point – even if you are a die-hard shopaholic. Which is why a desert safari is a good getaway from the busy city life into that sand again – only from up close it’s golden and slightly intimidating.


Dune rider
The innocent looking SUV which picked you up from the hotel transforms into a beast when it reaches the desert after a ’tame’ one hour, 120 km/hr, drive on the highway. A turn of the knob to activate the four wheel drive, reduce the tyre pressure, ask your passengers to fasten their seat belts – yes even those at the back — and the sand dunes are ready to be attacked. The next thirty minutes will be mostly spent in two different ways by the passengers. Either there will be hoots of approval every time the driver would do any of the following – speed to the top of a dune, get the front wheels into the air and then let the vehicle slither down the dune using its own weight or go down a sand slope sideways with the vehicle trying its best to topple. Or you end with white knuckles and a moderately terrified expression which refuses to let go of your face even after you have gotten out of the vehicle.

Sand surfer
Another interesting activity on offer is sand boarding. The equipment is simply a skateboard without wheels. You strap your legs onto it and then slide down a sand dune. Simple till you try it. Three attempts by me to go down the slope without sliding on my bottom for some part of it, proved to be highly unsuccessful.

While everyone was trying different techniques – position, alignment, slope structure, you name the excuses we had it – one little girl put us firmly in place by executing a perfect descent, without so much as a shake of the hand.

A hearty laugh later and with lots of sand in the shoes, the group then headed towards the camp area where there were different stalls set up. From camel rides to smoking the sheesha (hookah), to their local coffee (black with dates as sweeteners) to henna painting and taking your pictures clicked with falcons it was an interesting assortment of activities for those in the mood.

Dubai belly/hips don’t lie
After the sumptuous dinner was the last act for the evening - the belly dancing performance. The woman performer, apart from making her hips move astonishingly, was able to keep the show interesting by inviting the audience to dance with her. No, no slow dance! From the bald headed guy who was asked to balance a stick on his head and then shake his ample belly to the group of girls who had a blast attempting the steps, it was a fun-filled session. Not to mention the freedom to ogle the married men with their wives sitting right next to them had, without batting an eyelid needless to say, at the beautiful performer.

While we returned to our hotel, there is also the option of staying in the camp site and then watch the lazy sun rise from behind one of the sand dunes.

It’s a good getaway for an evening. From adrenaline pumping activities to a fun dance session, a desert safari offers an entertaining concise package. And for around two thousand Indian rupees, considering the activities and the hotel pick-up and drop, it’s a very profitable deal. Next time you find yourself in Dubai; don’t give the desert safari a miss.