Top 15 Adventures to Have on Your Solo Trip to Dubai
Stunning beaches, skyscrapers, and luxurious malls are a few of the things that make Dubai an interesting destination for female solo travel. However, any Dubai trip is incomplete without some adventures and outdoor activities.
Over the years, Dubai has become a preferred choice for adventures and outdoor activities among locals and tourists alike. These thrilling adventures are something that one must definitely try once in their lives.
If you are planning a solo trip to Dubai, this list of top 15 adventures and outdoor activities in the country is a must-try. Although you may not be able to do everything in one trip, you can select the ones that excite you the most and go for it!
1. Sandboarding
Sandboarding is one of the most famous adventurous activities for adventurers, and what better country to do this than the land known for its sand dunes? It is similar to skiing and snowboarding but with a twist – it is done amidst deserts. Many people indulge in this smooth experience of sliding and gliding in the desert!
While going sandboarding, I would recommend you wear appropriate desert clothes such as full-sleeved shirts and pants. Also, for a better grip on the sandboard, wear closed shoes.
2. Flyboarding
Also known as hydro flying, flyboarding is one of the best adventures in Dubai. A water propulsion device will be attached to your feet that will allow you to fly over water at a speed of 40 kilometres per hour. As you fly on the water surface, you can enjoy the beautiful landscapes of Dubai.
Flyboarding is considered a unique and thrilling adventure to do in Dubai. And rightly so. I would recommend you definitely try this one out on your solo trip to Dubai. Nemo Water Sports, Umm Suqeim 2, Jumeirah Road offers one of the best experiences of flyboarding!
3. Shark Diving
Did you ever imagine that you will get to swim with sharks? Shark diving surely is a scary thing to do but so worth it. Nothing can get more adventurous than being surrounded by several species of marine animals, including a few sharks! If you are a water baby, this will be a cherry on top.
The Dubai Mall offers an indoor aquarium where you can swim with the sharks. This unique adventure activity has attracted many tourists from all around the world. And honestly, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t intrigued by shark diving. The experience offered at The Dubai Mall is safe, and the sharks they have got are quite friendly. I was also scared to try it out, but what’s life without a little swim with the sharks, right?
4. Scuba Diving
Another famous water adventure activity for water babies is scuba diving. You can do it in any part of the world, but the experience you will get in Dubai is quite unique and thrilling. The Grand Jumeirah Beach of Dubai offers an irreplaceable experience of scuba diving. You will be under 12 meters of deep water for about two hours.
Before you begin the activity, you will be trained by experienced instructors. And these instructors are friendly and train the visitors well. So you do not have to be scared of anything. Also, if you do not know how to swim, you can still go scuba diving. The instructors will train you well.
5. Indoor Skydiving
If you have acrophobia – fear of heights – but still want to experience skydiving, don’t worry, Dubai has got you covered. Dubai’s Ifly offers an indoor skydiving experience where you can fly indoors. Basically, it’s a fan device that helps create a vertical movement of up to 3 meters in the air. You will be given all the protective gear and equipment, and experienced professionals will guide you on what to do.
It is one of the best adventures in Dubai that you must definitely try out on your solo trip to the country.
6. Wakeboarding
When it comes to water sports, Dubai has got plenty to offer. Another famous water adventure that you must try in Dubai is wakeboarding. It involves standing straight while slightly leaning back on a wakeboard. Even though it may sound a bit scary, trust me, it is worth every penny.
Experience wakeboarding professionals will handle you and teach you the techniques to master this exhilarating adventure. Jumeirah Beach is one of the many places that offer a wakeboarding experience. It is quite inexpensive as well, so if you enjoy it, you can even go for round two!
7. Deep-Sea Fishing
Although some people may not find deep-sea fishing to be adventurous, it is quite a unique experience in itself. You can catch exotic marine species, mainly fishes, by yourself. Also, if you want, you can cook it for yourself!
It is the perfect outdoor activity if you love fishing. Even if you have never done fishing before, you can still try out deep-sea fishing in the exotic seas of Dubai!
8. Bungee Jumping
If you love extreme adventurous activities, then look no further, Dubai has got something for you – bungee jumping. It is one of the best adventures in Dubai, and many tourists visiting the country do it.
In case you get scared of heights, you can jump with a group of other travellers. Or you can ask the trainer to jump with you. They will be more than happy to help you.
Although I am not scared of heights, seeing the height for bungee jumping scared me a bit. Along with me, there was a group of travellers from Israel who had come to Dubai. I asked if I could do the activity with them, and they were more than happy to accept me as a part of their bungee jumping group.
I tried bungee jumping at the Dubai Gravity Zone, and it turned out to be an amazing experience. Clearly one of the highlights of my solo trip to the country.
9. Hot Air Balloon Ride
Another thrilling outdoor activity to experience in Dubai, the Hot Air Balloon ride, is personally my favourite. It is perfect for you if you want to spend a relaxed day exploring the city, from high above. You can enjoy the stunning views of the Persian Gulf and the exotic Burj Khalifa.
I would recommend you go for the hot air balloon ride in the morning as it will allow you to experience the beautiful sunrise.
Although it can get a bit expensive, it is surely a once-in-a-lifetime experience to view the beautiful landscapes of Dubai from high above the ground!
10. Sea Breacher Ride
Fancy a shark-shaped watercraft? Look no further, Dubai has got a sea breacher ride for you! It is considered one of the most exotic adventure activities in Dubai. The shark-shaped watercraft is a brilliantly designed watercraft that looks like a deadly shark. Also, it has the capability of floating underwater as well as going deep inside the water!
The speed at the surface of the water goes up to 80 kilometres/hour. Under the seawater, it can go as deep as 5 to 6 feet, and the speed goes up to 35-40 kilometres/hour.
On my solo trip to Dubai, I got the chance to go on a sea breacher ride. In my opinion, it is one of the best adventures in Dubai that every solo traveller must try out. Sitting inside the shark-shaped watercraft and speeding at 80 kilometres/hour on the surface of the water turned out to be a beautiful experience that I will cherish forever.
11. Dubai Seaplane Flight
Considered a luxurious adventure activity, the Dubai Seaplane Flight is a favourite among many tourists who visit the country every year. All you have to do is sit back and relax while the pilot takes you on a mini-tour of beautiful Dubai. You can get stunning views of the landscapes in the country, such as the Persian Gulf, Burj Khalifa, and Palm Jumeirah.
The seaplane flight will last anywhere between 45 minutes to one hour. It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you must try on your solo trip to Dubai.
12. Water Jetpack
Dubai is a complete package of luxurious malls, delicious, authentic restaurants, and plenty of adventurous activities designed for everyone. When it comes to water adventure activities, Dubai leaves no stone unturned in offering you the best. The water jetpack experience in Dubai is one of the most famous among tourists. This is one experience that will give you goosebumps for sure!
Because of a busy schedule and time constraints on my solo trip to Dubai, I missed out on water jetpacking. I had read up so much about these water jetpacks in Dubai, and even a few locals suggested I try it out. But there is always a second time. I would highly recommend you try it out on your Dubai trip.
13. Quad Biking
The list of adventures and outdoor activities in Dubai would be incomplete without a few desert activities. So here is one – quad biking. It is one of the best adventures in Dubai and one of the most easily accessible too. The combination of a light body and wide tyres can easily run in the desert. Climbing the dune hills is even easier than planes.
Riding a quad bike is easy as well. If you do not know how to ride bikes, don’t worry, the experienced professionals will help you every step of the way. I did not know how to ride either. But the professionals taught me the techniques to keep the bike moving the right way on the sandy surface of the desert. It is an exhilarating experience, and I would recommend all of you to try it out once.
14. Dune Buggy Driving
Another desert outdoor activity in Dubai, Dune Buggy Driving is famous among the locals and visitors. Driving a dune buggy is a unique and exciting way to explore the sand dunes in Dubai. The thick tyres on the vehicle are perfect to smoothly move across the desert without stopping midway.
Again, if you do not know how to drive, experienced professionals will help you out. This is a must-try outdoor activity if you want to explore the Dubai deserts on wheels!
15. Desert Safari
Last but not least, your solo trip to Dubai would be incomplete without the famous desert safari! Everyone, including locals, tourists, solo travellers, family, or group travellers go on a safari desert in Dubai. And how could I visit Dubai but not go on a desert safari? This one adventure activity was on the top of my to-do list in Dubai!
The desert safari will offer you experiences that you will cherish forever. On your desert safari, you will be staying in camps in the desert. While on the safari, you can do many different things such as camel riding, dune bashing, among many others. Also, you can enjoy your delicious meal under the sky full of stars!
The number of activities and opportunities offered in a desert safari make it popular among people. This is one thing you must definitely try out on your trip to Dubai and take home a bag full of memories with you.
You can read more about Dubai Desert Safari here.
Dubai is an interesting destination for solo female travellers, and each of the adventures and outdoor activities mentioned is popular in the country for some or other reason. The country has plenty to offer you as per your taste and liking. Even though some of the activities and adventures mentioned in the blog may seem a bit expensive, but the feeling and experience after you do it will definitely be worth every penny. Also, how often do you get to do many things in one country during one visit right?
If you happen to travel to Dubai on a solo trip, do let me know in the comment section below of your experiences. I would love to hear them. Cheers!