Morning Dune Drive 2025 Review: Is the Sunrise Trip Worth It?

The alarm going off before the sun is, honestly, never really a welcome sound. Yet, you know, when it’s the signal for a desert adventure, you sort of find the energy from somewhere deep down. The whole idea of the 2025 ‘Sunrise/Morning Dune Drive’ is basically to swap your usual morning coffee routine for something a little more memorable. It’s pretty much about watching the desert wake up, and as a matter of fact, it’s an experience that’s completely different from the afternoon or evening trips. We’re talking about a quiet that is, frankly, just not present later in the day when things get a bit more crowded. I mean, the air is still cool, and there’s a kind of peace that settles over the sand before the day’s heat truly kicks in. It’s a very different mood, actually. To be honest, I was a bit skeptical if the super-early start would pay off in the end. So, this is a look at how it all went down, you know, from the pick-up in the dark to standing on a sand dune as the world lit up in brilliant colors.

The Pre-Dawn Pickup & The Drive Out

So, our adventure began in the pitch black of the very early morning, maybe around 4:30 AM. A seriously clean and, frankly, quite comfortable 4×4 Land Cruiser appeared right on schedule. The driver, a person with a genuinely friendly face, greeted us warmly, which, you know, sort of makes a big difference when you’re still half asleep. Leaving the city behind is almost a strange experience. One minute, you are surrounded by the sleeping towers of steel and glass, and the next, you are on a very empty highway stretching out into what seems like nothingness. You actually get to see the city lights fade away in the rearview mirror. It is like you are really leaving the modern world behind for a few hours. The drive itself is, basically, about an hour long. It’s a pretty good opportunity to maybe catch a little more sleep, or just stare out the window as the landscape gradually, you know, changes. The transition is subtle at first, with just a few sandy patches here and there, but then, all of a sudden, you are seemingly surrounded by endless dunes. It’s really quite a sight.

A Proper Rollercoaster Over Sand

Alright, so once we were properly in the desert reserve, our driver paused to let some air out of the tires. Now, this is apparently the signal that things are about to get interesting. He turned to us with a bit of a grin and just said, “Hold on.” And, honestly, he was not kidding. What followed for the next 30 minutes was something that you could call a rollercoaster made of sand. The activity, officially known as ‘dune bashing’, is pretty much what it sounds like. The driver, who is obviously a complete expert, steered the big 4×4 up and down these incredibly steep dunes. Sometimes, the vehicle would be tilted at an angle that felt almost impossible, you know, making you feel like you are about to tip over. Yet, you just don’t. The feeling of sliding sideways down a massive wall of sand is a serious rush, I mean, it’s a mix of scary and incredibly fun. You are literally laughing and gripping the handle at the same time. The engine roars, sand sprays against the windows, and you are just kind of amazed at what the car and the person driving it can actually do.

That First Light Painting The Sky

After the thrill ride, the driver found a perfect high dune and parked. And then, there was just silence. I mean, a profound kind of quiet that you don’t often get to experience. We all got out of the car, and the air was still refreshingly cool. And, right on cue, the show began. At first, it’s just a slight lightening of the dark blue sky on the horizon. Then, you know, a streak of deep purple appears, followed by pinks and oranges that are just incredibly vivid. Watching the sun finally peek over the distant dunes is, frankly, a pretty emotional moment. It really does feel like you are seeing the world being born all over again. The light spills across the sand, and it literally changes the color of the entire desert from a dull gray to a rich, warm gold. The rolling dunes, which were just dark shapes moments before, are now revealed in all their beautiful, wind-sculpted detail. It’s so quiet, and you actually feel very small in a good way, standing in this huge, beautiful space. It is more or less the main reason people choose this early trip, and let me tell you, it absolutely delivers.

“There’s a moment when the sun first hits the sand, and everything turns golden. In that quiet, you just sort of feel a real connection to the place. It’s honestly what makes the early alarm totally worth it.”

A Slower Pace Atop a Camel

Once the sun was properly up, we drove for a little bit to a more traditional-looking camp setup where the next part of our morning was waiting: the camel trek. Honestly, these animals are such calm and, in a way, dignified creatures. Getting on one is a slightly clumsy affair, as they stand up in a two-step motion that kind of lurches you forward and then backward. But once you’re up, it’s a completely different point of view. You sway gently from side to side as the camel plods along the sand, which is a rhythm that has been used for transport in this part of the world for thousands of years, you know. It’s much slower than the 4×4, obviously, and it gives you a chance to really look at the small details of the desert you might have missed. You can actually spot little tracks from desert creatures from the night before. Our guide, walking alongside, pointed out some interesting things about how these animals are so perfectly suited to this environment. The trek itself is not very long, maybe about 15 to 20 minutes, which is just about right, to be honest. It’s more about getting the feel for this classic mode of desert travel rather than covering a long distance.

Having Some Fun on a Sandboard

Next up, for anyone feeling a little bit adventurous, was sand surfing, or as some call it, sandboarding. Basically, it’s just like snowboarding, but on sand and, well, you don’t need all the bulky clothes. The guides have the boards ready, which are pretty much just simple slabs of wood with foot bindings. They picked out a dune that was steep enough to be fun but, thankfully, not so steep as to be genuinely terrifying. To be honest, I thought it would be really difficult, but it’s surprisingly easy to get the hang of, at least for a simple straight run down. You just sort of point the board downhill and go. Standing up is the hard part; many people, myself included, found that sitting on the board and just sliding down was actually just as fun and resulted in far less falling over. You do have to walk back up the dune yourself, so, you know, that’s your workout for the day right there. It is a really lighthearted way to end the desert activities. Lots of laughs, lots of sand everywhere – seriously, you’ll be finding sand in your pockets for days – but it’s absolutely a good time.

A Few Practical Things to Keep in Mind

So, if you’re thinking about doing this 2025 morning tour, here are a few thoughts that might actually be helpful. It’s a pretty amazing experience, but a little bit of preparation can make it even better.

• Clothing is Key: You should probably wear light, comfortable clothes. It’s cool in the very early morning, so a light jacket or sweater is a really good idea. You can just take it off as the sun comes up and things get warmer.
• Sensible Shoes: Just wear sandals or flip-flops. Honestly, sneakers will just fill up with a ton of sand and become incredibly annoying. It’s much easier to just kick off your sandals and walk barefoot on the cool sand.
• Keep Hydrated: Of course, the tour operator will almost certainly provide water and soft drinks, but it’s still a good idea to bring your own bottle of water, just in case.
• Camera and Power: The desert sunrise is obviously a photographer’s dream. So, make sure your phone or camera is fully charged. You don’t want to run out of battery at that key moment.
• Motion Sickness: Now, if you are someone who gets a bit queasy, the dune bashing can be intense. You could perhaps tell the driver, and they can usually offer a milder ride. It’s really up to you.
• It’s for Early Birds: This seems obvious, but it’s really a tour for people who don’t mind a super-early start. The reward is that you get back to your hotel by late morning, so you still have the rest of the day for other things.

Read our full review: Morning Dune Drive 2025 Review Full Review and Details]

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Sunrise Dune Drive Bookings)