I’m planning a trip to the U.A.E in January and would like to stay in a desert camp for 2 or 3 nights. But from all what I could research so far, the only option to stay in a desert camp is booking a tour, for which the operator picks you up in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, takes you to the camp where you have the full programme of camel riding, dune bashing, sand boarding, henna painting, belly dancing, barbecue and so on. And after a night in the camp they drive you back to the cities.
In contrast to that, a few years ago I was staying in a desert camp in Oman, where you could just go to and show up (or be picked up in the nearest village), where you could stay in basic huts as long as you want and which was rather a no-frills-affair, but gave you an actual and authentic feeling of being in the desert.
Does anybody have an idea whether there are similar camps in the U.A.E? Or are there any other options of staying in the desert without going on a package tour?
I dont know of any residential style desert camps in the UAE, along the same lines as the ones in Wahiba in Oman. There used to be a couple of companies in Abu Dhabi that did camel trek type trips with an overnight in the desert, but I dont think they run anymore.
Hi carsten and genghis,
Could you please fill me in about those desert camps in Oman? Can you just show up on your own car? How much would a stay there cost?
Thanks a lot!
:-)
I stayed in a camp in Wahiba Sands, off the Muscat - Sur road. Forgot the name of the camp, but as far as I understood it's run by the same persons who run Al Quabil Rest House. This is also where you can get directions to the camp. When I was there other guests came with their own vehicle, but you'll need a 4WD. Outside the peak season it shouldn't be a problem to show up. Also forget the rate for staying in the camp, it was not that much and included breakfast and dinner, but at least everything is rather basic and simple.
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