529 Per Person
About 80 kilometres northeast of Riyadh, the landscape changes completely. The sand turns from pale gold to deep red - a rich, iron-rich colour that shifts from amber to burnt orange as the sun drops toward the horizon. This is the Red Sand area, one of the most photographed natural landmarks near Saudi Arabia's capital, and the setting for one of the most activity-packed desert experiences you can book in Riyadh.
At Desert Safari Riyadh, our Red Sand Tour gives you 5 to 6 hours in this remarkable landscape - traveling in a private 4x4, moving between dune bashing, camel farm visits, sandboarding, quad biking, and an Arabic camp session with traditional coffee, dates, and refreshments. The red dunes are the backdrop for all of it. Once you have seen the sand in this colour, particularly at sunset, no other desert in the region looks quite the same.
The red sand dunes are located in the Thamama area, approximately 80 kilometres northeast of Riyadh city. The drive from the city takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic. This part of the desert is well known locally for its iron oxide-rich sand, which gives the dunes their distinctive deep red and reddish-orange colour - completely different from the pale golden sand found in other parts of the Arabian Peninsula.
The area sits within a natural valley formation, surrounded by rock outcroppings on the edges. From the top of the tallest dune, you can see the desert extend in every direction, with no buildings or roads in sight. It is one of the few places within a reasonable drive of Riyadh where the landscape feels genuinely remote.
The Thamama red sand area is open year-round, but the experience is most rewarding between October and April when the temperature is comfortable for outdoor activities. During this period, the late afternoon light on the red sand is particularly striking - the colour deepens as the sun angles lower, reaching its most vivid just before sunset.
Your experience begins with a pickup from your hotel or preferred location in Riyadh. Your driver and guide will be waiting for you, and the journey to the red sand dunes takes approximately 45 to 60 minutes each way. The drive itself is comfortable and air-conditioned throughout.
At the Red Sand Dunes - Activity by Activity:
Dune Bashing - The first major stop in the dunes. Your driver takes you across the red sand in a 4x4 vehicle, climbing the steep faces of the dunes and descending on the other side in a controlled, high-energy ride. The red sand behaves differently from desert sand in other parts of Saudi Arabia - it is finer and packs differently underwheel, which makes the dune bashing feel distinctive. Professional drivers handle this section.
Camel Farm Visit - After the dune bashing, you visit a working camel farm. This is a genuine working operation, not a tourist setup. You can walk among the animals, feed them, interact with them up close, and take photographs. Your guide explains the role of camels in Bedouin history and Saudi desert culture. The camel farm visit is one of the most popular parts of this tour for families and first-time visitors.
Camel Ride - After the farm visit, you have the chance to ride through the red sand on camelback. The elevated vantage point from the top of a camel gives a completely different view of the dunes - slower and quieter than any vehicle, and more authentic to the way this desert has been crossed for centuries.
Dune Top Sunset - Your guide brings the group to the highest accessible dune in the area for the sunset stop. Arabic coffee, tea, and dates are served here while the sun drops and the red sand shifts colour through amber, burnt sienna, and deep orange. This is the most-photographed moment on the tour.
Arabic Costume Photoshoot - At the desert camp, traditional Saudi clothing is available for a photoshoot. Thobe, keffiyeh, and abaya options are on hand. The combination of the red sand backdrop and traditional dress makes for photographs that are hard to get anywhere else in the region.
Sandboarding and Sand Skiing - Your guide provides boards and equipment for sandboarding and skiing down the dune faces. No prior experience is needed - the soft red sand is forgiving for beginners. The sensation of sliding down a steep red dune, picking up speed across fine sand, is something most guests come back and mention specifically when they describe the tour afterward.
Quad Bike Ride (1 hour) - The closing activity on the full tour. You ride a quad bike through the red sand for a full 60 minutes, with control over your own pace and direction within the designated dune area. A safety briefing covers all the basics before you ride. The quad bike ride at sunset or in the last light of the afternoon gives you a perspective of the red sand dunes that no passenger seat can match.
After the quad bike ride, your driver brings you back to Riyadh and drops you at your hotel or preferred location.
Total tour duration: 5 to 6 hours including all transfers.
Price includes: private 4x4 transport, dune bashing, camel farm visit, camel ride, sandboarding, sand skiing, sunset stop, Arabic costume photoshoot, 1-hour quad bike ride, Arabic coffee, tea, dates, and unlimited water and soft drinks throughout.
Advance booking is recommended. Group and private booking options are available - contact our team for group rates.
Perfect for:
Not recommended for:
The Red Sand Tour runs in the late afternoon and is timed specifically to reach the dunes before sunset. This is not accidental - the red sand changes colour dramatically in the hours before dark, and the sunset from the top of the highest dune in the area is the single most photographed moment the tour offers.
If you are visiting between October and April, the late afternoon timing is comfortable temperature-wise and the light is at its best. Between May and September, early morning starts are available for those who prefer cooler conditions - contact our team to arrange this.
The red sand is fine and gets into everything - clothing, shoes, bags, and camera equipment. Preparing properly makes the experience significantly more comfortable.
All seasons:
October to April:
May to September:
General tips:
Desert Safari Riyadh picks up from all hotels and preferred locations across Riyadh city. Your driver will meet you at your hotel lobby or your confirmed pickup address at the agreed time. Our tours manager will confirm your exact pickup time after booking.
If you are staying at a location outside the central Riyadh area, please mention this at the time of booking so we can confirm pickup feasibility and timing.
If the Red Sand Tour appeals to you, these other Desert Safari Riyadh experiences might also be worth considering depending on your interests and schedule:
Advance booking is recommended - tours fill quickly, particularly during the October to April peak season.
The Red Sand Tour Riyadh is a 5 to 6 hour desert experience that takes you to the Thamama red sand dunes, approximately 80 kilometres northeast of Riyadh. The tour includes dune bashing in a 4x4, a camel farm visit, a camel ride, sandboarding and sand skiing, a sunset stop at the top of the highest dune with Arabic refreshments, an Arabic costume photoshoot, and a 1-hour quad bike ride. Private transport is included throughout. Desert Safari Riyadh runs this tour daily, with afternoon pickup timed to reach the dunes before sunset.
The distinctive red colour comes from a high concentration of iron oxide in the sand - the same compound that gives rust its colour. Over millions of years, the iron in the sand oxidised, turning the grains a deep reddish-orange. The colour is most vivid in the late afternoon and at sunset, when the angle of the light intensifies the red tones. The Thamama dunes are one of the most visually striking examples of iron-rich desert sand in Saudi Arabia and are entirely different in appearance from the pale golden dunes found elsewhere near Riyadh.
The red sand dunes are approximately 80 kilometres from central Riyadh, in the Thamama area to the northeast of the city. The drive takes 45 to 60 minutes depending on traffic. Desert Safari Riyadh includes all transport in the tour price — pickup from your hotel, the journey to the dunes, and the return to your hotel or preferred drop-off location.
October to April is the best season. During these months, the desert temperature is comfortable for outdoor activities, and the late afternoon light on the red sand is at its most photogenic. The tour is available year-round, but from May to September, temperatures in the desert are high in the afternoon. During summer months, early morning departures are available on request for those who prefer cooler conditions.
Yes. The Red Sand Tour Riyadh is family-friendly. The camel farm visit, camel ride, and sandboarding activities are all suitable for children. Activities that are not appropriate for younger children will be adjusted with alternative options. Children participate at their parents' discretion, and all child participants remain the responsibility of their parent or guardian throughout the tour.
No experience is needed for either activity. Your guide provides a full briefing and demonstration before the sandboarding begins - the soft red sand is forgiving for first-timers. For the quad bike ride, a safety briefing covers all the controls and terrain guidance before you set off. Both activities are designed to be accessible for adults with no prior experience.
The Red Sand Tour focuses specifically on the Thamama red sand dunes and includes a quad bike ride and a camel farm visit as core activities, with the sunset at the dunes as the centrepiece experience. It runs for 5 to 6 hours and includes refreshments but not a full dinner. The Evening Desert Safari Riyadh is a broader evening package that includes a BBQ dinner, cultural shows, and more time at the Bedouin camp. Both tours cover dune bashing, sandboarding, and camel activities — the Red Sand Tour adds the quad bike ride and puts greater emphasis on the red dune landscape specifically.
The tour includes Arabic coffee, tea, and dates at the sunset stop, plus unlimited water and soft drinks throughout the full tour duration. A full meal is not included. We recommend eating a light meal 2 to 3 hours before your pickup time.
Yes. The Red Sand Tour Riyadh uses private 4x4 transport throughout — your group will not share a vehicle with other tour groups. For larger groups or custom arrangements, contact our team directly and we will set up the right package for your group size and preferences.
Desert Safari Riyadh monitors weather conditions in the Thamama area. If conditions are not suitable for the tour, we will contact you as early as possible to reschedule for another day or issue a full refund. If you are unsure about conditions on the day, please contact us before heading to the pickup point.
Book your Red Sand Tour Riyadh with Desert Safari Riyadh today. Tours run daily — advance booking is recommended, particularly during the October to April peak season when availability fills up quickly.