Sandboarding is included in our full-day desert safari from $45 per person, and it happens on the Lahbab Red Dunes after the 30-45 minutes of dune bashing. It is easier than snowboarding and harder than it looks: the run takes seconds and the climb back up takes minutes. This guide covers how to ride (sitting, lying or standing), what to wear, what actually tires you out, who should skip it and why it is best done on a safari with a driver.
By SB Excursions · Published 29 October 2026 · Updated 29 October 2026
Tour on this route: Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai — From $45 per person, 7 hours.
Is sandboarding included in a Dubai desert safari?
On our full-day desert safari, yes. It costs from $45 per person and includes 30-45 minutes of dune bashing on the Red Dunes, sandboarding, a camel ride, a BBQ dinner and shows, with hotel pickup. You pay on the day, with no prepayment.
This guide also answers:
- Can children go sandboarding?
- Is sandboarding possible in summer?
Four ways to fit sandboarding into a Dubai day
#1
On the full-day desert safari
The standard way. After 30-45 minutes of dune bashing on the Big Red dunes, the guide stops at a slope for sandboarding, and the optional quad bike or buggy ride follows. The full day then adds a camel ride and falcon photos at sunset and a BBQ dinner with shows at Al Khayma camp. It costs from $45, or $65 with the 30-minute quad bike, with hotel pickup and no prepayment.
#2
On the evening quad bike safari
The evening quad safari from $70 per person on a shared quad, or $105 on your own, puts a 60-minute self-drive ride first and then sandboarding, sunset photos, a camel ride and the camp dinner. Pickup is in the afternoon, usually about 1:15-2 PM, and the exact time moves with the season.
#3
A specialist or private dune session
Some desert operators run sandboarding-only or private dune sessions with a driver and more time on the slopes. We do not run one, so check what boards are provided, how many runs you get, the length of the session and the price before you commit. A longer session helps only if your legs can handle the climb.
#4
Not recommended: a rented car and a dune of your own
Rental contracts and insurance usually exclude off-road driving, soft sand traps ordinary cars within minutes, and phone signal can be patchy. A safari 4x4 travels in a convoy with a driver who knows the dunes, which is the point. If you want to ride a board with no group, hire a private driver and a board through an operator, not your own car.
Sandboarding in Dubai: the short answer
Sandboarding is included in our full-day desert safari, from $45 per person. It takes place on the Lahbab Red Dunes, known as Big Red, after the 30-45 minute dune bashing session: the driver stops at a slope, you take a board, climb up and slide down. You can do it sitting, lying on your stomach or standing like a snowboarder, and nobody expects you to stand on the first run.
It is easier than snowboarding, because sand is slower and softer than snow, and harder than it looks, because the climb back up is the real workout. The run takes seconds; the climb takes minutes, and after four or five goes most people are happy to stop. That makes it a fun stop on a safari and not a reason to book a trip on its own.
Where sandboarding fits in a safari day
The order matters, because sandboarding is a break between the drive and the evening. On our full-day safari, the programme runs like this.
| Order | What happens | Why it matters for sandboarding |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hotel pickup in an air-conditioned 4x4 | Wear your sandboarding clothes from the start; there is no changing room on the dune |
| 2 | 30-45 minutes of dune bashing on the Red Dunes | Avoid a heavy meal 2-3 hours before pickup, so the drive does not make you queasy |
| 3 | Sandboarding, and the optional quad bike or buggy ride | The slope stop; the guide chooses the dune |
| 4 | Camel ride and falcon photos as the desert turns gold | Light is at its best; shake out your shoes first |
| 5 | Al Khayma camp: BBQ dinner, shows, drinks | Brush the sand off before dinner |
From our tour page: the full-day safari takes 7 hours from hotel pickup to drop-off, with no prepayment.
The evening quad bike safari runs a similar camp programme, with a full hour on a quad first, then sandboarding. The Big Red guide explains where the dunes are and why the safari goes there, and the desert safari price comparison shows what each option adds.
Sitting, lying or standing: how to ride
There are three ways down, and the right one is the one you will actually try.
- Sitting is the easiest. Sit on the board with your feet forward and your hands on your lap or on the front edge, and let the slope do the work. A seated rider is the least likely to fall, which makes it the safest choice for children and nervous adults.
- Lying on your stomach is the fastest and the most fun for many people. Hold the front edge with both hands, keep your chin up and your face turned slightly aside, and wear sunglasses against flying sand.
- Standing is the snowboard version. Stand across the board with your knees bent and your weight a little back, so the nose does not dig into the sand, and look where you are going, not at your feet. Expect to fall a few times, and sit down if the board speeds up.
If you have snowboarded or surfed, standing comes quickly. If not, start sitting, then lying, then standing on the last run when you have the feel of the board. Do not put a hand or a foot out to stop yourself, because a twisted wrist or ankle is a common sandboarding injury.
How hard is it, really?
The slide is the easy part. What makes sandboarding tiring is the climb back to the top of the slope in soft sand, where each step sinks and slips, and a short climb feels like a staircase in a sand dune.
| Part | Difficulty | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Sitting down the slope | Very easy | Slow to medium speed, no balance needed |
| Lying on your stomach | Easy | Faster, with sand in your hair and sleeves |
| Standing up | Medium | Takes a few tries; falls are soft but not harmless |
| The climb back up | The hard part | Soft sand, many steps; take it slowly and drink water |
| The heat | Season-dependent | Fine in winter evenings, tiring in summer afternoons |
Difficulty is a general guide; the guide on the dune will pick the slope for your group.
Take your time on the climb, carry the board by the front edge, and stop to rest at the top of the slope if you need to. Four or five runs is a good count for a first visit; there is no prize for fifteen.
What to wear and bring for sandboarding
The advice for the whole safari applies, with a few sand-specific extras. Wear comfortable shoes or sandals, sunglasses, a sun hat and high-SPF sunscreen, and in December to February bring a light jacket for the evening.
- Light long trousers or leggings protect your knees and stop sand getting in at the waist. Shorts are fine in winter if you do not mind a few scrapes.
- Closed shoes or secure sandals, which you can take off for the slide. Sand gets into everything, so bring a spare pair of socks for the car.
- A scarf or a buff for your face if the wind is up.
- Glasses rather than contact lenses, because sand and lenses do not mix.
- A zipped pocket for your phone and keys, so they do not fall out in a roll. What to wear on a desert safari covers every season in detail.
Photos, phones and sand
Fine sand is hard on electronics, and a slide is the moment it gets into everything. Keep the phone zipped in a pocket or a sealed bag while you ride, and take the photos from the top or the bottom of the slope, not on the board.
The best photograph is of someone else: stand a little to the side of the run, crouch low so the rider and the dune fill the frame, and shoot a burst as the board passes. Ask a member of your group to film the run from the bottom, and swap. Wipe the phone with a soft cloth, not your sleeve, before you put it away, because sand scratches screens. The low light of the evening is also the best of the day for portraits, so keep some battery for the camel ride and the sunset, and our photo guide to the best spots in Dubai has framing tips for the sunset.
Best time for sandboarding, and who should skip it
From November to March the sand and the air are cooler and the evening is comfortable, which is the best time to climb dunes. In summer the surface can get too hot for bare feet in the afternoon, so an evening safari is the better choice; our summer safari guide explains how the 7-hour day runs at 40 degrees, and the month-by-month desert guide lists each month.
The full-day safari is not recommended for pregnant women, people with back or heart problems, or infants under 3. Nobody is forced to board, so anyone can watch from the top and join the camel ride and the dinner instead. Children can usually sit-slide with an adult nearby; the desert safari with kids guide covers ages, and we confirm what the camp allows for your child's age when you book on WhatsApp.
Sandboarding or a quad bike: which stop will you remember
Sandboarding is included, so it costs nothing extra on the full-day safari. A quad bike costs extra, and it is a different thing: the $65 option adds a 30-minute quad ride to the full-day safari, and a VIP buggy option is $240 per person. Quad biking and buggy rides are self-drive at your own risk, so follow the guide's instructions at all times.
If you want an engine and a board in the same evening, the evening quad safari from $70 includes a full hour on a shared quad and sandboarding together. The quad or buggy guide and quad biking in Dubai explain the choice. For a first visit, our full-day desert safari from $45 is the simplest way to try the board with the rest of the desert day.
FAQ
Is sandboarding included in a Dubai desert safari?
On our full-day desert safari, yes. It costs from $45 per person and includes 30-45 minutes of dune bashing on the Red Dunes, sandboarding, a camel ride, a BBQ dinner and shows, with hotel pickup. You pay on the day, with no prepayment.
Where can you go sandboarding in Dubai?
The usual place is the Lahbab Red Dunes, known as Big Red, on a desert safari. We do not run sandboarding-only trips; some desert operators do, so check the boards, the number of runs and the price.
How hard is sandboarding?
Sliding down is easy, especially sitting or lying. The hard part is climbing back up the soft sand. Four or five runs are enough for most first-timers.
Do I need experience to sandboard?
No. Start by sitting or lying on the board; standing takes a few tries. If you have snowboarded or surfed, standing comes quicker.
What should I wear for sandboarding?
Light long trousers or leggings, comfortable closed shoes or sandals, sunglasses, a sun hat and sunscreen, and a scarf or buff for wind. Bring a light jacket for the evening between December and February. Glasses are better than contact lenses.
Can children go sandboarding?
Children can usually sit and slide with an adult nearby. The full-day safari is not recommended for infants under 3, and we confirm what the camp allows for your child's age when you book.
Is sandboarding possible in summer?
Yes, but the sand is too hot for bare feet at midday and the climb is tiring at 40 degrees. An evening safari is the better choice from May to September.
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