Platinum Heritage

Platinum Heritage offers a more considered alternative to the dune-bashing trips sold across Dubai. Part of Hero Experiences Group, the company behind Hero Balloon Flights, it focuses on the heritage, culture and wildlife of the desert, and every trip is accompanied by a dedicated conservation guide. It has won Tripadvisor's Travellers' Choice awards for seven consecutive years, from 2019 to 2025, and also operates in AlUla in Saudi Arabia.

Its Dubai safaris fall into two collections. The Heritage Collection is the more traditional: guests ride through the dunes in vintage Land Rovers, watch a falconry display in a traditional setting, and visit an authentic Bedouin-style camp for Emirati food and entertainment, including performances such as yola, ayala and razfa, traditional dances and songs of the region. The Platinum Collection is the luxury version, with a drive in a modern Land Rover Defender, a falconry performance in a luxury majlis, an exclusive desert oasis camp, fine dining and evening fire and acrobatics shows, and a five-star breakfast on morning trips.

Both collections include traditional headwear and water, and an overnight stay in a Stone Dwelling Room can be added for those who want to sleep in the desert. The emphasis throughout is on explaining the desert environment and Emirati traditions rather than thrills, which makes these trips well suited to families with children, couples and anyone wary of high-speed driving. Book on the website or through the company's experience consultants, who can advise on which trip suits you; full refunds are offered for cancellations made more than 18 hours before pick-up.

Desert trips are best between October and April, when evenings are pleasantly cool; in summer, morning or late-afternoon departures avoid the worst of the heat. Wear comfortable clothes that cover the shoulders for the camp, bring a light layer for winter evenings, and remember that sand gets everywhere, so leave valuables at the hotel. Prices are higher than mass-market safaris, reflecting the smaller groups and the inclusions.

The company's office is at 1303 Control Tower in Motor City, which it shares with Hero Balloon Flights; it can be contacted on +971 4 412 6333 or by WhatsApp. Pick-up arrangements are confirmed when you book. Combining a heritage safari with a sunrise balloon flight makes a full desert day.