A holiday to the world famous capital of the UAE, Abu Dhabi, isn’t complete until you hop in to a 4-wheel drive and steer your way through the enormous dunes that make up the desert expanse. With an abundance of high dunes and sand valleys, dune bashing is one of the Emirate’s most popular sporting activities.
For those who aren’t in the know, dune bashing is the practice of off-roading on large sand dunes. An experienced driver will drive a four-wheel vehicle straight up and over the dunes, sometimes letting the wheels leave the ground. Vehicles driven on dunes may come equipped with a roll cage in case of an overturn so don’t worry if you see one, it’s just for safety purposes. Adrenaline junkies are definitely going to enjoy the fast-paced action of these much-loved Abu Dhabi Excursions.
Due to the intense heat of the desert, dune bashing usually takes place in the early hours of the morning or late afternoon, to ensure the sand is hard enough to drive on. If you’re staying at a resort that is closely situated near the desert, like the Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara for example, check if the resort can organise the dune-bashing excursion for you. It’ll be an easier, more reliable option that’ll take you straight from the comfort of your room to the dunes, minus the long drives out into the desert.
Alternatively, there are several licensed operators offering dune bashing packages that either come at a set rate or can be either tailor made to suit your needs, at a higher price of course. Most will combine dune bashing with a desert safari so once you’re done racing through over the dunes; you can sit back, relax and take in the stark beauty of the dunes and the indigenous plants that inhabit the desert.
Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+