It was second day in Dubai and we discovered our apartment had a great sunrise view just over the Dubai airport. For today, we had booked a package which included visit to Burj Khalifa and Desert Safari. We went out of the hotel room, waved our hands to stop a cab and headed to Burj Khalifa. Uber was double the price, so we ditched it. Arriving at the Burj Khalifa, we joined a queue to have our tickets scanned. We had bought the tickets to visit the 125th floor rather than 148th floor as the latter was way too expensive. We got into the elevator and man, it was way too fast. In around a minute, we were at the 125th floor. The observation deck had a good 360 degree view. We could go to the 124th floor as well which had an outdoor terrace. The fence to the terrace was too high for safety so felt almost like being indoors.

Our next destination was the desert, which was quite a distance away. The journey took nearly an hour, and we arrived around 4 pm, thanks to the timestamp stored with the photos. We had a series of activities planned. If I memory serves me right, we started with the Desert Safari, an experience that turned out to be much more thrilling than I had anticipated. We spent approximately 20-30 minutes engaging in dune bashing, an exhilarating ride through the sand dunes. Following that, we ventured into the Quad bikes, my first time driving in the sand. The bikes’ grip made it a remarkably enjoyable experience. As part of the package, there was also a camel ride, but I decided to skip that part.

Concluding our desert adventure, the package treated us to a delightful buffet and entertaining performances. The initial seating provided in the package was on the ground floor, but for a better view of the surroundings, we opted to pay an additional 50 dirhams per person to upgrade to level one. This was worthwhile and one of my favourite part there so I’ll try and paint a picture of the experience.

It was dusk and sun dipped below the horizon casting a warm glow upon the vast dunes of the desert.The sole shelter we occupied gave us a 360-degree panorama of the illuminated landscape. The desert breeze, carrying whispered secrets, added a captivating touch to the evening. The sky, crystal clear, allowed us to witness the silent flight of planes high above. Amidst this breathtaking natural setting, the performances unfolded in the centre of the stage, captivating the audience with the fusion of traditional and contemporary acts. We savoured this spectacle while indulging in the delightful cuisine served. I found myself immersed in this magical spectacle. As it night deepened, the sky turned into a sparkling tapestry of stars. It’s truly remarkable how the collaboration of nature and human creativity transforms the desert into an enchanting spectacle, creating a lasting impression in my travel memories.