Getting ready

The best months for desert trips in Saudi Arabia

October to April for evenings and overnight stays, early mornings in summer: when to go and what to expect each season.

Reading time: 1 minute Written by the السعودية بأختصار guide team

The wide dunes of the Empty Quarter
The wide dunes of the Empty Quarter

The desert is beautiful all year round, but each season suits a different trip. Here is what we tell guests who ask about the best time to go.

October to April: the golden season

Warm days and pleasant nights, roughly between 20 and 30°C. This is the best time for the evening safari, the overnight camp and private dinners, and the sky is clearest for stargazing in December and January.

Ghaf trees among the dunes of Umm Al Quwain
Ghaf trees among the dunes in winter

May and September: in between

Days get hot, but evenings are fine. We suggest the evening safari, which starts a little later, or the morning dunes.

June to August: early mornings first

Daytime temperatures can pass 40°C, so we shorten the trips: the morning dunes end before 9 am and the evening safari starts after the worst of the heat. There is cold water in every car, and we pause the overnight camp until October.

Sandstorms

They happen now and then in spring and early summer. We check the weather warnings every day, and if there is a dust or wind warning we move your trip or refund it in full.

For your safety: These are general tips from our guides. Always follow the driver's and guide's instructions on the trip, and never go into the desert alone without experience. In an emergency call the police on 999 or an ambulance on 997.

Desert tips

Getting ready Reading time: 1 minute

What to wear on a desert trip

Light clothes that protect you from the sun, shoes that suit the sand and a warm layer for the night: a short guide from our team.