5 h

Small Group

Instant confirmation

About this activity

Begin your small-group experience with a morning pickup from your Dubai hotel. Hop inside a luxury 4x4, air-conditioned vehicle, and enjoy the views as you leave the skyscrapers behind for the surrounding desert.

As you travel, listen as your driver-guide talks about the country’s love of falconry. Hear how the activity derived from a form of Bedouin hunting, when tribes would capture prey to supplement their diet with meat.

After roughly 40 minutes, arrive at Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, the national park where your small-group falconry experience takes place. First, take a wildlife-spotting drive through the reserve as you hear about the animals and plants that thrive here. Twist around the dunes and watch for local creatures such as Arabian oryx, antelope, hares and lizards.

Then, meet one of the reserve’s qualified falconers and start your interactive experience with a number of falcons, kestrels and other birds of prey, all from an exclusive family collection. With practical tips from your trainer, take an active part in the birds’ daily training session. Wear a falconry glove and fly the birds from your fist to collect food and return to your hand.

During your 1.5- to 2-hour session, see demonstrations of ancient and modern training techniques, and watch the birds as they soar through the sky and dive for their bait. Marvel at their speed and listen as the falconer describes their innate hunting instincts. When your session finishes, travel back to your hotel where your tour ends.

Tour with Breakfast:Make your morning even more of an occasion and upgrade to include a breakfast that's fit for an Arabian king. Before your Dubai hotel drop-off, travel to the luxurious Al Maha Desert Resort for breakfast in the hotel’s stylish Al Diwaan restaurant. Choose to sit inside or outside, and enjoy an international buffet that features classic western treats such as eggs Benedict alongside spiced scrambled eggs and even fillet steak. Fruit juice, coffee and tea are included. Morning cocktails of mimosas and bloody marys are available at your own expense. See a sample menu in the Itinerary.

This unforgettable travel experience will entertain you for minimum 5 h. Our top tourist experience will take place as a Small Group. Besides that, this activity has an instant confirmation.

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Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Professional driver-guide
Round-trip transport by air-conditioned 4x4
1.5- to 2-hour interactive falconry session
Use of falconry glove and other equipment
Breakfast at Al Maha Desert Resort (if option selected)
Value Added Tax of 5% is already included on the prices

Not included

Food and drinks (unless specified)
Gratuities

Additional

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
Pickup and drop-off time will vary throughout the year depending on weather conditions

Features

Tourism

85%

Original

55%

Cultural

50%

Adrenaline

30%

Reviews

5.0

11

W

WRashed

5 | 2017-06-16

We were picked up on time from the hotel. Our tour driver and guide and his assistant were both great. We had fun flying falcons, eagle and a large owl. The guide was very informative, helpful and funny. This tour was the highlight of our Dubai trip. Highly recommended.

S

Sabrina W

5 | 2017-05-31

Absolutely amazing!!! Seeing all the different birds and learning the history and background of the birds was so neat. It started with an early pick-up at the hotel, because the heat can be too much for the birds. We went out to the sanctuary and on the way were able to see the hot air balloons going up. When we made it to the sanctuary, we were able to watch the sun fully rise over the dunes. So pretty!! After that, we went to the small camp and enjoyed dates and coffee while everything was set up. Then we got to meet each of the birds and see them fly and have them take food from us. My favourite was the owl but they were all gorgeous. After a nice length of time with the birds, we then went to a souk that specializes in everything falconry, including birds. That was so neat to see. Then it was back to the hotel. Overall an amazing experience!!!

L

Laura B

5 | 2016-12-31

DO NOT MISS THIS. We have been in the Galapagos swimming with penguins and 10 feet from cheetahs in South Africa and this rivals that experience. To see these birds fly, hunt and land on your arm is beyond magical. There was a beautiful eagle in the car when we were picked up at 5 AM and then we met an owl, 2 falcons and a Harris hawk at sunrise where we watched the mist lift from the desert floor. So well done and so interesting. And the luxurious breakfast at the exclusive resort was the perfect ending. Thank you Brian, Khan and Royal Shaheen.

m

mech_integration

5 | 2015-12-02

A Perfect day out in Dubai. Great service from Henry and a fabulous and memorable day with the amazing birds! The knowledge and expertise from the Royal Shaheen team was terrific. Absolutely a 'must do' while visiting Dubai!

t

twcurtis

5 | 2015-10-19

There should be a sixth star for this experience! From the moment we were picked up at our hotel at 5am in a 4x4 with an eagle in the back, to the moment we were returned, we were treated to the most informative, enjoyable, and inspirational experience. This wasn't just a birds of prey experience, our guide was charming, informative, patient with our questions, took the time to ensure we saw the desert and surroundings through his eyes. Once we got to the 'event site' we were greeted by more birds of prey and the traditional half-filled cup of qahweh with sweet dates and then followed a most excellent bird of prey experience. We were privilidged to be able to have two owls fly between us and land on our gloved arms, demonstrations of traditional and modern training methods of falcons and ending up with being allowed to have an eagle - the chap that had travelled with us in the car - fly from a perch to our arms - awesome. Breakfast at Al Maha Desert Resort was very welcome, beautifully presented and served overlooking the desert and then all too soon we were courteously driven back to our hotel. This company specialise in small groups so that all are able to participate fully. Absolutely the best.

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