9 DAYS

The Dakar
Rally Driving
Experience

Day 1. Riyadh – Arrival & Briefing

Arrive in Riyadh. Check in and attend the full pre-expedition briefing on the Dakar Rally driving experience: safety protocols, desert driving techniques, vehicle familiarisation and route overview. The Dakar Rally has been held in Saudi Arabia since 2020 — the world’s most demanding off-road race crosses more than 8,000 km of extraordinarily varied terrain including dunes, rocky plateaus, riverbeds and high-altitude mountain passes. This experience follows the rally route and culture in the most immersive way possible. Overnight in Riyadh.

Day 2. Riyadh to Rally Stage – Desert Camp Arrival

Depart Riyadh in a convoy of top-of-the-range Toyota Land Cruiser 4×4 vehicles. Drive into the heart of the Saudi desert to join the Dakar Rally route. Experience the extraordinary first section: the vast gravel plains (gabbro) of the Najd plateau, where Dakar competitors reach extraordinary speeds across flat open terrain. Arrive at the first authentic desert camp — a full bivouac-style camp modelled on the Dakar village, with proper cooking facilities, medical support and navigation briefing for the day ahead. Overnight desert camp.

Day 3. Desert Rally – Dune Driving & Navigation

Full day of immersive rally-driving experience on the extraordinary Dakar route: morning session on mega-dune navigation — learning the techniques used by professional Dakar drivers to read and conquer sand dunes up to 100 metres high. Afternoon: high-speed gravel track driving in the Land Cruisers with experienced co-drivers providing live rally navigation. Evening: technical briefing on rally car set-up and suspension adjustment. Overnight desert camp.

Day 4. Desert Rally – Vehicle Maintenance & Stage Racing

Morning: rally car maintenance session — an extraordinary hands-on experience with professional mechanics demonstrating tyre changes, suspension repair and desert vehicle preparation techniques used by the Dakar teams. Afternoon: timed stage section on a specially prepared desert course, giving participants the extraordinary experience of a real competitive rally stage with a start gate, timing equipment and finish line. Overnight desert camp.

Day 5. Desert Rally – Empty Quarter Entry & Mega Dunes

Drive deeper into the extraordinary Arabian landscape, entering the edge of the Rub al-Khali (Empty Quarter) — the world’s largest sand desert. Full day navigating the extraordinary mega-dune systems, including dunes rising over 250 metres — the largest navigable sand dunes in the Dakar route. Techniques: dune cresting, soft sand extraction, desert recovery procedures. Overnight desert camp beneath an extraordinary Arabian night sky.

Day 6. Desert Rally – Rocky Plateau & Wadi Stage

Extraordinary change of terrain: transition from sand to the rocky hamada (gravel desert) and dramatic wadi (dry riverbed) stage sections. The wadis provide extraordinary natural rally stages with challenging rock crossings, sandy drops and tight canyon navigation — replicate the Dakar’s most technical sections. Evening: rally celebration dinner around the campfire with traditional Saudi hospitality. Overnight desert camp.

Day 7. Desert Rally – Spectator Stage & Dunes of Ghadah Al Hosan

Visit the extraordinary Ghadah Al Hosan dune system — one of the most dramatic natural landscapes in Arabia and a key section of the Dakar route. Observe the extraordinary spectator culture of the Dakar Rally: thousands of Saudi fans line the dunes to watch. Experience a live Dakar Rally stage as spectators if timing permits. Overnight desert camp.

Day 8. Return Journey – Desert Drive to Riyadh

Final desert drive back towards Riyadh through the extraordinary landscapes of the central Arabian Peninsula: vast gravel plains, rocky outcrops, and the extraordinary emptiness of one of the world’s last great wilderness landscapes. Arrival in Riyadh. Overnight in Riyadh.

Day 9. Riyadh – Celebration & Departure

Morning at leisure in Riyadh. Optional visit to the Saudi Motorsport Museum or the extraordinary car culture of the Saudi capital. Transfer to King Khalid International Airport for onward travel.

Must see

ATTRACTIONS

Traditional Saudi camp-fire celebration dinner

Options

ACCOMMODATIONS

Riyadh

★★★★★

Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre
The Ritz-Carlton Riyadh
Waldorf Astoria Riyadh Ithra

★★★★

JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh
Crowne Plaza Riyadh Palace
Sheraton Riyadh Hotel & Towers

★★★

Novotel Riyadh Al Anoud
ibis Riyadh Olaya
Citymax Hotel Riyadh

The Dakar Rally Driving Experience hotel room

Must try

FOOD

Marqooq

A traditional, hearty Gulf and Saudi comfort dish consisting of paper-thin sheets of wheat dough cooked directly in a rich, spiced meat and vegetable stew; as it simmers, the dough absorbs the savory flavors of lamb or chicken and seasonal vegetables.

Aseeda

A simple, yet rich dish, often eaten without other complementary dishes, it is traditionally served at breakfast; consists of a serving of dough made by stirring wheat flour into boiling water, sometimes with added butter or honey.

Khanfaroosh

A deep-fried sweet cake or pancake from the Arabian Gulf region; the flavors of saffron, cardamom and rose water are whisked together into a smooth batter and deep-fried to produce a soft, spongy, golden brown doughnut-like treat.