Well, hello from Dubai where I’m on an 18 hour layover. So I thought I’d pop up some photos of and information about a day trip my teenagers did in the desert around Dubai when we stayed here at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel.
The two boys went off on their own to do the tour and had a great time.
They were with a very large tour company called Arabian Adventures, which has an office at the hotel and is part of the Emirates Group. So I reckoned they’d be safe enough.
Being 16 and 14 at the time, it was good for them to have an adventure without their old mum and little bother and sister in tow.
The boys loved meeting other visitors on the way, the drive took about an hour they informed me (probably unreliably.)
First stop was to meet and greet the camels. Teen17 had met camels as a wee baby, we lived in Karachi for a year from when he was three months old. Maybe that’s why he felt so comfortable with them.
They boys said they aren’t planning on any long distance camel trekking in the near future.
An arty shot taken by Dexbox aka Teen14.
And here he is with his Akubra hat on, very Aussie.
And then it was off into the sand dunes to do some sandboarding. The boys raved about this, they loved it. Teen17 has done some snowboarding but Dex hadn’t.
They said that running back up the dunes was exhausting. The tour activity level is noted as ‘challenging’ on the website.
Thanks boys for taking these photos and letting me use them.
Dex also shot a little bit of video on his phone, which I’ve knocked up into a 30 second video… not an elegant video but you’ll get a sense of it in only 30 seconds.
Camel Riding and Sandboarding Tour Details
The boys did the Rides and Slides tour, organised by Arabian Adventures, which has a huge range of tours on offer.
My two friends who live in Dubai recommended this company for quality and safety.
Tours cost: We paid 275 AED (Emirati Dirhams) per person which is currently about AU$80. No reduced prices for children.
Ages: Children over 10 only.
Dubai Stopovers With Kids – My Other Posts
A Dubai Stopover With Kids – Things You Need To Know
Jumeirah Beach Hotel Kids and Teens Clubs
Jumeirah Beach Hotel – The Views!
Jumeirah Beach Hotel – Rooms, Suites and Villas
Jumeirah Beach Hotel – Food + Activities
Hope you are well wherever you are in the world.
Take it easy
Thanks for showing us a different part of the world. Makes me think to plan a trip outside soon. Your boys looked like they really had fun! I know, sandboarding is really cool. Hope you are well, too!
Julie
Gourmet Getaways
We were there in winter which was sunny but not too hot. Can’t even imagine the heat in summer time in those dunes. I don’t think I’d be too elegant on a sandboard, or on a snowboard really, but I’d give it a bash. The teens do love a bit of freedom.
What an adventure going off on their own and it looks like a great choice for teens… and nutty mums… I wouldn’t mind trying it myself 🙂
I wouldn’t either! Haven’t been on the back of a camel for far too long. I went a few times in Karachi. Camels also pulled huge wooden carts though but sadly I never had an opportunity to steer one of those. One day I’ll go on a long camel journey… probably not this year, or even the next five, but sometime!
Hey Seana sand dunes/ camels in Dubai look fabulous!
I don’t have any teenagers but I am not far off!!! Lol
Thanks for post I will be there in June
Magdalena
I think they did really well taking the shots. I love the arty one in particular. I bet it was hot.
Carolyn