Quad biking is rather exhilarating. In the desert it is even more so. Not much of an adrenaline junkie by nature, I prefer to get my kicks from a great historical site, a particularly good meal or a beautiful view. Perhaps like sand boarding, this activity is for kids and kids at heart. It seems we have a good deal of both in our group.
Having come out to the Bedouin Oasis to enjoy a night away from the big smoke before the summer heat picks up again, we are with a group of friends and have booked quad biking for the nine of us.
We head off from camp just after 5:45pm and the shadows are starting to stretch across the sand. Around one or two bends and the camp is lost in the dunes behind us. There is just us and the sound of quad bikes, their dust in the air.
We ride in a string, lengthening and contracting according to speed and confidence of the driver. The children have to ride with an adult. After a few basic instructions, we turn over control to our junior riders. Their first taste of driving is exhilarating for them.
For a while we follow the leader until our guide loops back past us. Some of the group have gotten behind and we’re asked to wait. The temptation to do some loops of our own is too much. We try not to get too carried away before we’re off again.
After a sunset lineup for some photos we continue with the ride. The children’s excitement is pretty contagious and I find myself yahooing with the best of them.
The scenery is quite incredible. I feel like I’m in the middle of nowhere. The desert is silent, other than the quad bikes. The sand glows in the evening sunlight and the light breeze tickles my skin.
On the way back to camp we ride by a heard of camels. There are lots of babies that are clearly a bit startled by the noise as they head to their mums for comfort. The mums are less interested, they stand guard their babies, like all mums do, and watch us go by, their big brown eyes following, just to make sure we are only passing.
As we file back into the camp he fairy lights twinkle in the trees, the fire lamps are burning and I can smell the smoke of the barbecue in the air. I’m not ready to finish and want to go again. I feel thrilled, elated, energized by the whole experience. Turns out I might be a kid at heart after all.
Good To Know
Quad bike tours can be booked with the Bedouin Oasis at the time of booking accommodation or on arrival. The camp may request cash, it is best to carry some amount of cash to cover quad biking and incidentals for your stay.
Would I Return?
Yes. Particularly with friends or tourists, the more the merrier.
