Dubai City Tour With Lunch (veg-thali) & Desert Safari

Dubai City Tour with Veg Thali Lunch & Desert Safari

Short on time in Dubai? This full-day package covers the two things almost every visitor wants to do, seeing the city’s famous landmarks and spending an evening in the desert, without having to organise anything in between. We pick you up in the morning, show you the city, take you to a vegetarian restaurant for a proper Indian thali lunch, and then hand you over to our safari team for the afternoon and evening in the dunes.

It is especially popular with families and with guests who eat vegetarian, because lunch is taken care of at a pure-veg restaurant and the desert BBQ buffet in the evening also has plenty of vegetarian dishes.

Quick facts

• Duration: full day, about 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
• Pickup: 9:00 AM from hotels in Bur Dubai and Deira only
• Lunch: vegetarian Indian thali at a local restaurant
• Dinner: BBQ buffet at the desert camp (veg and non-veg)
• Guide: English-speaking guide on the city tour
• Payment: pay 50% online to confirm, and the balance on the day
• Upgrade: VIP desert safari service, +AED 50 per person

Your day, step by step

9:00 AM, hotel pickup

Our driver collects you from your hotel in Bur Dubai or Deira in an air-conditioned vehicle. Please be in the lobby a few minutes early.

Morning, Dubai city tour

Your guide takes you around the highlights of old and new Dubai. Some places are photo stops where you get out of the vehicle, and others you see as you drive past:

• Dubai Frame or the Museum of the Future (photo stop)
• Zabeel Palace
• Etihad Museum (drive past)
• Jumeirah Mosque (photo stop)
• Burj Al Arab view from Jumeirah Beach (photo stop)
• Palm Jumeirah (drive past) and the area around Atlantis
• The Pointe on the Palm (photo stop)
• Dubai Marina and Marina Mall (drive past)
• Mall of the Emirates (drive past)
• Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall

Around 2:00 PM, vegetarian thali lunch

We drop you at a local vegetarian restaurant for lunch. A thali is a set meal of several small dishes served together, usually dal, vegetable curries, rice, bread, salad and something sweet, so it is filling and there is a bit of everything to try.

Around 3:00 PM, pickup for the desert safari

After lunch, our safari driver picks you up directly from the restaurant, so there is no need to go back to the hotel, and heads out of the city towards the desert.

Afternoon and evening in the desert

• Dune bashing: an exciting off-road drive over the red dunes with an experienced desert driver
• Sunset photos: a stop on the dunes to photograph the sunset
• Short camel ride at the camp
• Henna painting for ladies
• Arabic dress photos in traditional costume
• Unlimited water, tea and coffee, plus starters and soft drinks
• Live shows: belly dance, fire show and Tanoura dance
• BBQ buffet dinner with vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes

Around 9:00 PM, drop-off at your hotel

After dinner and the shows, we drive you back to your hotel in Dubai.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off (Bur Dubai and Deira)
• Half-day Dubai city tour with an English-speaking guide
• Vegetarian thali lunch
• Transfer from the restaurant to the desert
• Dune bashing, sunset photo stop and a short camel ride
• Henna painting and Arabic dress photography
• Unlimited water, tea and coffee, starters and soft drinks
• Belly dance, fire and Tanoura shows
• BBQ buffet dinner (veg and non-veg)

Not included

• Entry tickets to attractions (the city tour is photo stops and drive-pasts)
• Quad biking and other paid activities at the camp
• Pickup from areas outside Bur Dubai and Deira

Want a different combination?

If you would rather have the city tour and safari without lunch, see our Dubai City Tour and Desert Safari combo. If you would like to add a dhow cruise as well, the Dubai Trio Offer bundles all three at a discount. You can also book the Dubai City Tour or a desert safari on its own.

Good to know

• Times are approximate and depend on traffic and the number of guests on the route.
• Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, and bring sunglasses and sunscreen.
• Dune bashing is not recommended for pregnant women, people with back or heart problems, or very young children.
• Children must be accompanied by an adult.
• Tours can change or be cancelled in bad weather for safety reasons.

Cancellation policy

All sales are final. Confirmed bookings cannot be refunded.

Frequently asked questions

Is the lunch fully vegetarian?

Yes. Lunch is a vegetarian Indian thali at a vegetarian restaurant.

Is the desert dinner vegetarian too?

The desert camp serves a BBQ buffet with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, so vegetarians have plenty of choice.

Do we go back to the hotel between the city tour and the safari?

No. After lunch the safari driver picks you up straight from the restaurant, which saves time.

Which areas do you pick up from?

Hotels in Bur Dubai and Deira only for this package.

Do we go inside Burj Khalifa or Dubai Frame?

No, entry tickets are not included. The city tour is a mix of photo stops and drive-pasts. Ask us if you would like to add tickets.

What does the VIP upgrade include?

The VIP service is an optional upgrade for the desert part of the day for AED 50 per person. Message us on +971 52 275 0502 and we will explain what is included on your date.

Is this tour suitable for children?

Yes, families book it often. Please let us know if you are travelling with very young children so we can advise on the dune drive.