Dubai Big Bus Hop On, Hop Off Tour and Desert Safari
Traveler rating
4.4/5
Based on 13 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Dubai Big Bus Hop On, Hop Off Tour and Desert Safari worth booking?
Dubai Big Bus Hop On, Hop Off Tour and Desert Safari is a 1.7-hour experience in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from $82 per person. It scores 55 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4.4/5 rating across 13 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 55 / 100
- Rating
- 4.4/5 (13)
- Duration
- 1.7 hours
- From
- $82 per person
Explore Dubai and its surrounding desert with a hop-on, hop-off bus tour and Desert Safari combo package. This ticket includes a 24-hour hop-on, hop-off pass for Big Bus Dubai, as well as admission to a unique Cavaranser
What you get
- Arabian Dhow Creek Cruise
- 24hr Hop-on, Hop-off Bus Ticket
- Big Bus Tours app (ticket storage, live tracking and ticket activation)
- Henna Painting, Falconry, Fire Show, Tanoura Dancing & more
- Hotel Pick-up and Drop-off
- Water & soft drinks
About this experience
Explore Dubai and its surrounding desert with a hop-on, hop-off bus tour and Desert Safari combo package. This ticket includes a 24-hour hop-on, hop-off pass for Big Bus Dubai, as well as admission to a unique Cavaranserai Desert Safari. Experience the beauty of the Arabian desert as night falls on a guided tour to the heart of the desert, where you'll be welcomed with warm hospitality at an Arabian desert camp. Along the journey, take part in unique desert activities such as dune-bashing in a 4x4 and sandboarding. At the camp, immerse yourself in falconry, see camels, and have henna applied. Witness traditional cultural performances including Arabian dance and fire shows, and indulge in a distinctive Bedouin buffet dinner with soft drinks.
What's included
Included
- Arabian Dhow Creek Cruise
- 24hr Hop-on, Hop-off Bus Ticket
- Big Bus Tours app (ticket storage, live tracking and ticket activation)
- Henna Painting, Falconry, Fire Show, Tanoura Dancing & more
- Hotel Pick-up and Drop-off
- Water & soft drinks
- Caravanserai Desert Safari
- Desert Dune Bashing
- Traditional Arabian Buffet & Barbeque
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- de, ru, en, it, fr, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 30 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Big Bus Dubai
Know before you go
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Download the Big Bus Tours app to access and activate your ticket, track buses in real time, and board easily using your mobile ticket.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 13 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Photo opportunities
5 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Organization
3 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Traveler reviews
13 verified traveler reviews for Dubai Big Bus Hop On, Hop Off Tour and Desert Safari. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Great value tour of the while city
The big bus trips were very good, the dhow cruise was a really nice addition. The desert sunset safari was a bit of a letdown as there was no dancing/show, henna or dune bashing available at the time. Shout out to Keshara Darji for facilitating our trip and making it great!
Response from the operator: Dear 59josr, Thank you for sharing your feedback! We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the Big Bus trips and the dhow cruise. We appreciate your comments regarding the desert sunset safari and will take them into consideration. Keshara Darji truly appreciates your kind words for facilitating your trip, and we hope to welcome you on another adventure soon! With warm regards, Big Bus Customer Service
via Tripadvisor
Great 5 day sightseeing trip
A great way to get around the city. Buses are comfortable, drivers are friendly and helpful (especially Kareem and Dhijil). Lovely time had on Dhow Cruise and Dubai Frame. Desert Safari was a long way and sadly too late arriving to see the sunset! Only criticism is that there is often a long wait between pick ups. We have used sightseeing buses in other cities and have waited 10-15 mins for the bus where in Dubai we were often waiting around 45 minutes for the bus to arrive. I appreciate the traffic is very heavy which can delay the buses but maybe a couple more buses would help?
Response from the operator: Dear Valued Guest, Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with us. It’s fantastic to hear that you enjoyed your sightseeing adventure with Big Bus Tours, soaking in the sights and sounds of the city. We have taken your comments to heart and shared them with our Customer Service team. At Big Bus Tours, we are dedicated to delivering exemplary customer service, and it fills us with joy to know that we met your expectations and contributed to your enjoyable experience. We eagerly look forward to the opportunity to welcome you back on board for another memorable journey with Big Bus Tours soon. Warmest regards, Big Bus Customer Service
via Tripadvisor
Unforgettable Dubai Adventure with Big Bus Tours – Zahid Steals the Show!
We recently took the Big Bus Tours hop-on hop-off in Dubai, and it was hands-down one of the highlights of our trip! From the moment we boarded, everything felt seamless and exciting. The open-top buses offer stunning 360-degree views of the city’s iconic skyline – with expert commentary that brought the history and culture to life. The audio guides were spot-on, multilingual, and packed with fun facts that kept our group engaged without feeling like a lecture. What elevated this from great to absolutely phenomenal was our driver, Zahid. Wow – he is a true credit to Big Bus Tours! We’ve done bus tours around the world and Zahid is hands-down the best driver we’ve ever had. His energy was infectious; his warm smile and genuine enthusiasm made us feel like VIPs from the get-go. He didn’t just drive – he shared insider tips on the best photo spots, pointed out hidden gems we might’ve missed. His friendliness, helpfulness, and all-around amazing customer service were the best we’ve experienced on any tour worldwide – thoughtful, proactive, and effortlessly charming. Zahid, if you’re reading this, you made our day (and our whole holiday) If you’re in Dubai, do yourself a favor and book with Big Bus Tours. It’s flexible, informative, and now forever etched in our memories thanks to stars like Zahid. Five stars – we’d hop back on in a heartbeat!
Response from the operator: Dear Valued Guest, We are immensely grateful for your feedback and truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with us. It’s wonderful to hear that you thoroughly enjoyed your sightseeing adventure with Big Bus Tours, immersing yourself in the rich sights and sounds of the city. The vibrant landscapes and iconic landmarks create such a unique experience, and we’re thrilled to know you made the most of it! Your insightful comments have been carefully noted and shared with our Customer Service team, as we constantly strive to enhance our service. At Big Bus Tours, our commitment to providing exemplary customer service is our top priority, and we are overjoyed that we could meet your expectations and play a part in your memorable journey. We sincerely look forward to welcoming you back on board for another unforgettable adventure with Big Bus Tours in the near future. Warmest regards, Big Bus Customer Service
via Tripadvisor
Sunset safari
Booked 5 day hop on tour with sunset safari as well, used the different ‘ lines’ numerous on different days finding them quite efficient and on time most days except unfortunately a break down of the last bus on the last night causing us to get a cab from furthest area of the route to hotel (or wait for replacement bus)! Of note is the attitude and performance of our driver Zahid on the Sunset Safari who was courteous, kind, helpful and funny when we arrived at the location - a credit to your company!
Response from the operator: Dear Valued Guest! Thank you for your positive feedback, it means a lot to us. Thank you for sharing your positive feedback with us! We are glad you enjoyed your sightseeing experience with us on board Big Bus Tours. We have forwarded your kind comments to our Customer Service team. At Big Bus Tours, we strive to offer excellent Customer Service and nothing makes us happier than when our customers are happy! We look forward to welcoming you again soon on board Big Bus Tours, Kind regards BIG BUS CUSTOMER SERVICE
via Tripadvisor
Amazing big bus tour af safari .
Big Bus Tour's desert sunset experience was unforgettable! The camel ride was a highlight, and the hours ride allowed us to soak in the stunning views. Hina painting on our hands was a lovely touch. Sipping Arabic coffee ☕️and dates was a great addition. We even got to see a falcon also 🫠 And huge thanks to driver Minhaj for being super helpful. Highly recommend
Response from the operator: Dear Valued Guest! Thank you for sharing your feedback about the Big Bus Hop-on Hop-Off tour. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed your experience! We recognize that the inclusions in your Big Bus ticket offer great value, and we are glad you took full advantage of the many free extras to enhance your sightseeing experience. Your positive comments have been forwarded to our Customer Service team. At Big Bus Tours, we are committed to delivering excellent customer service, and nothing is more important to us than customer satisfaction. We look forward to welcoming you back aboard Big Bus Tours in the near future! Best regards, The Big Bus Tours Team
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 1.7 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- 3+
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $82 to $135
- Booked in 30 days
- 5
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Big Bus Dubai, who run 4 experiences we rank across 3 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 62.2.
See everything Big Bus Dubai runsWhy this scores 55
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Dubai Big Bus Hop On, Hop Off Tour and Desert Safari: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Dubai.
How much does Dubai Big Bus Hop On, Hop Off Tour and Desert Safari cost?
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Prices start at $82 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Dubai usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Dubai Big Bus Hop On, Hop Off Tour and Desert Safari take?
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Plan for about 1.7 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Dubai is not rushed.
Is Dubai Big Bus Hop On, Hop Off Tour and Desert Safari worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 55 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.4/5 across 13 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Dubai, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Dubai Big Bus Hop On, Hop Off Tour and Desert Safari?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Dubai Big Bus Hop On, Hop Off Tour and Desert Safari suitable for kids and families?
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The operator sets a minimum age of 3. Older children generally do well here, and families should factor in the 1.7-hour running time when deciding.
How far in advance should I book Dubai Big Bus Hop On, Hop Off Tour and Desert Safari?
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Around 5 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Dubai can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Dubai and add a light layer if any part of the 1.7-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Dubai Big Bus Hop On, Hop Off Tour and Desert Safari start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Dubai within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Dubai?
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On Outty we rank every Dubai experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Dubai Premium Red Dunes Safari, Camels & 5* BBQ at Al Khayma Camp, Dubai: Red Dunes Safari, Quad, Camel, Dune Bash, BBQ & Shows, Dubai Dune Buggy Safari Tour in Red Dunes Options. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Dubai?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Dubai?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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