Wildlife Tours in Dubai: The 13 Strongest

1.Skip-The-Line Ticket to Butterfly Garden

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,223 reviews · 90 days · from $20Our pick

Enter Dubai Butterfly Garden with a skip-the-line ticket valid for 90 days. Walk through covered rooms filled with more than 15,000 butterflies from over 50 species, visit the life-cycle education area, see the koi pond, and let children enjoy the cinema. Expert hosts can explain the butterflies and help you handle them gently.

“I've waited years to visit Butterfly Garden and even though I've been to the Miracle Garden many times something held me back. Not this time. I'm travelling alone and catching up on all the attractions that I've missed before. This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. It's so easy to get to by taxi from anywhere and the price is outstanding. It's an ethereal experience to interact so closely with these magical creatures in an environment where they seem so content and free. It's so well organised and peaceful, there's no pressure to move on and it was not crowded even though there were plenty…”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Sunrise Desert Jeep Safari with Wildlife Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,782 reviews · 4 hours · from $51

Leave your Dubai hotel around 4:00 to 4:30 AM for a four-hour sunrise safari with an English-speaking guide such as Mustafa, Bhiru, Nitin, or Ornell. Ride a 4WD across the dunes, try sandboarding, watch the sun rise, eat a picnic breakfast, and visit Al Qudra Lakes and an Arabian oryx feeding station.

“Amazing Activity - great way to start the day. Loved seeing the animals, not so harsh dune drive and extra-ordinary sandboarding experience. Just which there was an easier way to get back up the hill :-)”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Conservation Drive & Platinum Breakfast

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 274 reviews · 5 hours · from $189

Start before sunrise in a Land Rover Defender, then explore Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve with a guide such as Dean, Ronald, or Roberta. Expect falconry, wildlife sightings, a short camel ride, a remote lake, and a lavish breakfast at the Platinum Camp or Al Maha resort. This is a calm, nature-first alternative to dune bashing.

“I was looking for a desert safari that was more informational rather than the traditional dune bashing and belly dancing you normally get from all of the other tour companies. The tour was is exaclty what I was looking for, a knowledgeable tour guide, a comfortable ride, a chance to see the desert and the desert animals. The best part was a stop at the Al Maha Desert Resort for refreshements. The resort is a beautiful quite oasis with birds, gazelles and onyx.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Desert Conservation Wildlife Drive & Breakfast at Al Maha Resort

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 186 reviews · from $193Top rated

Ride from your Dubai hotel in a Land Rover Defender, then explore the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve with a trained guide. Look for Arabian oryx, gazelles, desert monitors, birds, tracks, and native plants before breakfast at Al Maha Resort. Guides such as Fahad, John, Oscar, Austin, Mehdi, Majed, and Leesa have led this outing.

“Wonderful morning and saw plenty of wildlife. The breakfast was also luxury. You may even spot a gazelle or two joining it!!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Al Marmoom Oasis Safari, Animal Spotting & Breakfast

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 172 reviews · 4 - 5 hours · from $134

Spend four to five hours at Al Marmoom Oasis with hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, a 1980s open-air Mercedes G-Class ride, camel caravan, wildlife spotting, falcon photos, Arabic coffee, traditional clothing, and a Bedouin breakfast. Guides such as Nomi, Saeed, Ali, and Mustafa are praised for patient explanations and helpful photography.

“We really enjoyed the tour! Saeed was a great guide and the rest of the crew was also very accommodating and friendly. Can highly recommend. Thanks to all of them.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Dubai Private Sunset Desert Drive with Wildlife Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 74 reviews · from $106

You’ll leave central Dubai around 3 p.m. in a private air-conditioned 4x4 with an English-speaking driver, cross the desert, try sandboarding, visit Al Qudra Lakes, and stop at an Arabian Oryx feeding station. The sandboarding is fun but physical, and the climb back up each dune takes effort. Transfers add 60 to 90 minutes.

“So much fun!! What an experience!! Super fun sand bashing and boarding, BUT you have to walk back up the hill!! HaHa!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Burj Khalifa, Dubai Aquarium & UWZ with Penguin Cove Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 63 reviews · from $112

Visit Burj Khalifa’s 124th and 125th floors, then explore Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, including Penguin Cove. This self-guided combo lasts about three hours, with no guide or private transport. You choose suitable times for each attraction, but high-demand slots can be reassigned close to your requested time.

“The experience was very good, great views and beautiful aquarium. Gave 4 stars because I do not believe it was worth the cost. Pretty high cost for what was received.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Skip-The-Line Ticket to Butterfly Garden

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 61 reviews · from $16Best value

Visit Dubai Butterfly Garden beside Miracle Garden with a mobile admission ticket. Walk through climate-controlled domes filled with about 15,000 butterflies from 45 to 50 species, see lifecycle displays, and explore at your own pace. Allow 45 minutes to 3 hours, depending on how long you spend with the butterflies.

“The Garden was full of beautiful butterflies to see and many displays. The staff explained the exhibit and I was happy that was able to hold a beautiful in my hand. A must see”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Dubai Desert Morning Drive with Wildlife Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 40 reviews · 4 hours · from $85

Start with hotel pickup in a private air-conditioned 4x4, then race across Dubai’s dunes, try sandboarding, and look for oryx, gazelles, flamingos, and other birds. Finish at Al Qudra Lakes with Arabic coffee, dates, refreshments, and a snack box. Guides such as Mustafa, Ahmed, Sahib, and Ornell are praised for safe driving and friendly service.

“We got to see oryxes and flamingoes. We were given a nice simple breakfast with sandwiches, apple, banana and a cake cum cookie. Had a great time. Guide was informative.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo with Penguin Cove

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 40 reviews · from $58

Visit Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo with access to Penguin Cove, a 48-meter underwater tunnel, glass-bottom boat rides, cage snorkeling, and shark activities. The one-hour visit begins at 10:00 am inside Dubai Mall and suits families, children, and anyone who wants a close look at marine life without leaving the city.

“The excencial of Dubai. Thanks to Sifiya, excellent assistant we have booked city bus of Dubai burjkhalifa vip floor the view was great we have good vacation with travel saga”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Private Dubai Flora and Fauna Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 29 reviews · 4 hours · from $102

See thousands of butterflies in climate-controlled domes, then walk through Dubai Miracle Garden’s huge floral displays, arches, castles, and sculptures. Your private, air-conditioned transfer includes both entry tickets and hotel pickup. There is no separate tour guide, so you get flexibility but should expect transport and basic assistance rather than a narrated tour.

“Très bonnes activités. Jardin des miracles : +++++ => c’est beau à faire Jardin des papillons: ++++ => très bien si vous aimez les papillons, ils volent autour de vous, se posent sur vous. Il n’y a pas de guide mais un chauffeur (le guide n’est pas nécessaire). Service du chauffeur : bien ++”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Burj Khalifa, Dubai Aquarium & UWZ with Penguin Cove Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 28 reviews · from $118

Visit Burj Khalifa’s 124th and 125th floors, then explore Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo with Penguin Cove access. This self-guided combo lets you choose when to visit each attraction, but long queues can make the Burj Khalifa portion last far longer than its advertised 50 minutes.

“Awesome experience. Amazing views of Dubai.. Beautiful structure. A must see while visiting Dubai. If you are scared of heights this is not for you.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo with Penguin Cove Tickets.

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 25 reviews · from $45

Spend about two hours exploring Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo at your own pace. Walk 11 meters below the surface through a 48-meter tunnel, then see otters, piranha, seahorses, lionfish, jellyfish, and more across three themed zones. Choose an upgrade for Penguin Cove or a private transfer.

“The penguin cove could have been more exciting. The guide was very low and u clear, hard to understand. Other than that, pretty cool aquarium.”

Check availability →Read our full review