Can I do a bike tour in Dubai?
Picture this: It’s sunset. Black waves are gently rolling up the sandy shore. The sun descends into the horizon. And you? You’re cruising effortlessly over the packed beach sand and through the shallow waters on your specially-made, next-gen bike.
Can you feel that fresh, beach air yet?
There are a lot of ways to see Dubai’s hidden corners: fishing villages, Kite Beach. But if you really want to unlock the secrets of these charming places, there’s nothing better than a quality bicycle tour. Eco-friendly and exhilarating, Dubai bike tours are a great way to stay fit while exploring the desert oasis.
You’re telling me I can ride a bicycle… through sand?
You might be thinking to yourself, “This sounds like a tall order. I’ve biked through sand before, and it was no easy-going task.” And without specialized gear, you are 100% correct. You wouldn’t get very far in the Dubai desert riding around on a neighborhood Schwinn.
Thankfully,
this bike tour uses E-Fat Bikes.
These bicycles come with electrical assist and extra wide tires. They were originally developed to handle the snowy trails of Alaska, but now they’ve been modified to take on the desert sand. To make the desert bicycle tour as convenient and fun as possible, these E-Fat Bikes have been fitted with:
• Four-inch tires that help you easily glide over the sandy dunes,
• Four power-assist modes that power the bike and give your legs a break,
• A light aluminum frame to keep you moving, and
• A control unit so you can easily see and select from the different power assist modes.
On an e-fat bike, the desert and the beach are your playground: no dune is too tall, no distance too far. A support vehicle and extra batteries are on hand for those who need a break or want to crank up the juice and be an “easy rider.”
Let’s hit the trails!
Now that you’re ready to hit the trails (armed with your trusty E-Fat Bike), it’s time to consider your options. All come with unique advantages, so it all comes down to personal preference.
There are beach tours at morning and sunset that show cyclers the Dubai canal, past fisherman ports, the famous kite beach and then heading towards the icon 7 star hotel, Burj Al Arab.
Next, there are desert tours that take you through some of Dubai’s most beautiful natural landscapes to give you an up-close and personal portrayal of the desert’s hidden gems. There is even an overnight trip for those hoping for a truly unforgettable experience under the stars.
Desert Tours
A collection of different desert tours will bring you through the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR). This is an 87 square mile nature reserve that was created in 2002.
Bike tour riders will get to explore a number of different facets of the DDCR on this trip, including Al Qudra Lake and the Ghaf Tree Forest. The DDCR features exotic and interesting flora and fauna: including over 50 plant species, mammals like sand foxes and hedgehogs, reptiles like geckos, and creepy crawly insects like centipedes and scorpions.
Two different tours will bring you through the desert.
Morning Tour
The morning bike tour goes through the DDCR and up to the Ghaf Tree forest for a gourmet picnic. The Ghaf Tree has been the national tree of the UAE since 2008, and plantation drives are regularly pursued to sow the tree’s seeds all over the country.
Ghaf trees are native to the desert, require little water, and quite useful. Different parts of the Ghaf have traditionally been used for dyeing, fuel, fodder, timber, medicine, and more. Only one in 5,000 Ghaf trees germinates and grows into an adult tree, so each and every tree is considered precious.
Overnight Cycle Adventure
Feeling up for something even more adventurous? You can cruise through the high dunes – spotting gazelles as your go – up to a gourmet BBQ under the gorgeous Arabian sky. Then, you’ll get to stay in luxurious Bedouin tents, complete with modern bathrooms and showers, for a comfortable and enchanting experience unlike any other.
Beach Tours
Feel like a trip to the beach? No problem! Two different tours offer incredible trips that bring you up close to some of Dubai’s most appealing attractions. The best part is, you can choose between a morning trip and a sunset trip. This means that early risers and sunset-lovers can both be satisfied.
These trips start from Kite Beach and go down along the Dubai Canal past quaint fisherman villages that give you a glimpse of Dubai’s past. Keep going down the beach for some truly epic views of the iconic, sail-shaped Burj Al Arab Hotel. It’s the perfect photo opportunity to cap off an incredible adventure.
The aptly named Kite Beach has rental shops for surfers and kite boarders, who can be seen surfing and jumping over the waves of the adjacent Arabian Gulf. The fishermen villages are a glimpse into Dubai’s proud history as a seafood-oriented economy. Although now a wealthy place, Dubai used to depend on the ocean for its sustenance. A common expression was: “If your lungi [sarong] is wet, then your pocket will have money.”
With so many options, it isn’t easy to select what the best course is for you and your team. But one thing is for sure, bicycle tours offer an unbeatable, incomparable look into the past, present, and future of Dubai. For nature lovers, the adventurous, and bikers of every fitness level, there’s no better way to see the hidden side of this desert oasis.