Reviewed · DUBAI TOURS
Can-am Maverick X3 Rs Turbo RR/ 195 HP/ 2 seater/ 1 Hour
Dubai’s desert is not a backdrop for this tour. It is the road, the playground, and the test track. You take the wheel of a 195-hp Can-Am Maverick X3 RS Turbo RR, climb soft dunes, and feel the machine respond when you press the throttle.
I like the choice of a morning or sunset departure, since the light changes the whole mood of the desert. I also like the private guidance: names such as Jordan, Robin, Aiden, Luch, and Trey appear repeatedly in the experience, and their main job is to keep you calm, pointed in the right direction, and within safe limits. The main drawback is price. At $545 per group, with the booking shown for up to one person, this is a serious splurge for roughly one hour of driving.
Key points at a glance

- A 195-hp Can-Am: This is a high-powered Maverick X3 RS Turbo RR, not a mild sightseeing buggy.
- About one hour behind the wheel: The full experience lasts around 2 hours and 20 minutes, including transport and the desert activity.
- Morning or sunset choice: Pick cooler-looking morning light or a sunset setting, depending on your schedule.
- Hotel pickup and drop-off: Transport is offered from your Dubai hotel, which makes the outing easier to arrange.
- Patient guides matter: Jordan, Robin, Aiden, Luch, Trey, and William are among the guides named in feedback, with particular praise for calm instruction.
- Up to eight people: The activity has a maximum of eight participants, while the advertised vehicle is a two-seater.
What the Can-Am Maverick X3 feels like in the Dubai desert
The Can-Am Maverick X3 RS Turbo RR is the star here. Its 195-horsepower engine gives you power on demand, which matters when the buggy is climbing loose sand or cresting a dune. This is not simply a ride through the desert with someone else driving. You are in control, with a guide helping you manage the route and pace.
That distinction makes the outing more personal than a standard 4×4 desert tour. You are not watching the dunes through a window. You need to steer, judge the slope, and listen to instructions while the buggy moves over uneven sand.
The machine is built for speed and hard driving, but you do not have to treat the accelerator like an on-off switch. One useful point in the feedback is that you can control your own speed. That makes this more approachable than the horsepower figure suggests, especially if you are excited but nervous.
Still, do not mistake self-controlled speed for a gentle activity. The open desert can feel more intense than expected, particularly when the buggy climbs sharply or comes over a dune. Some people will find that thrilling. If you dislike fast motion, uneven ground, or a feeling in your stomach, this may not be your best Dubai excursion.
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Your hotel pickup and arrival in the desert

Pickup is offered from your Dubai hotel, a practical benefit in a city where getting from an urban hotel to the desert can take planning. You do not need to build a separate transport arrangement into the day, and the return is included in the same general setup.
The listed duration is about 2 hours and 20 minutes. The activity title identifies one hour of Can-Am driving, so the remaining time is best understood as the transfer, arrival, instruction, and time around the desert operation. Exact timing can depend on pickup location and the tour schedule.
The experience is offered as a private tour with personalized instruction and guidance. At the same time, the activity allows a maximum of eight participants, so clarify how your booking will be arranged if you are traveling with a larger party. The advertised vehicle itself is a two-seater, making it especially suited to one driver and one passenger.
The $545 price is listed per group up to one person. That wording is unusual, so check the booking details carefully before paying if you hope to add another driver or participant. I would also compare the cost with your own priorities. If you mainly want desert scenery and photographs, a less expensive desert outing may give you more for your money. If driving a serious off-road machine is the main reason for coming, the price becomes easier to justify.
Training first, throttle second

You receive training before heading onto the sand. That is important, not decorative. A powerful buggy gives you plenty of response, and a short briefing helps you understand how to operate it before the real action begins.
The guide also warns against risky driving. Take that seriously. The fun comes from handling the buggy well, not from trying to prove that you can drive at maximum speed every second. The best approach is to start gently, learn how the machine reacts, and then increase your pace only when you feel settled.
The guides receive especially strong praise for the human side of the experience. Robin is described as reassuring for a nervous driver. Jordan is noted for patience, kindness, and a professional approach. Aiden is credited with coaching a worried participant into having a much better time, while Luch is praised for making the group feel safe and comfortable.
Those details matter because confidence can change the whole outing. A guide who rushes you would make the desert feel stressful. A patient guide gives you room to learn while still keeping control of the group. Names can change from one departure to another, so you should not book on the assumption that a particular guide will be present, but the repeated pattern is clear: instruction and supervision are central to the experience.
One hour of dune driving

Once the briefing is complete, the main event begins. You take the wheel and follow the guide through the dunes. The route is about driving across soft sand, climbing rises, and enjoying broad desert views from the buggy rather than from a passenger vehicle.
The Can-Am’s power is most noticeable when the ground rises. The engine gives the buggy the ability to push up dunes with force, and the open setting lets you feel the motion directly. The experience can include sharp changes in elevation and moments of air over the sand, so expect a physical ride rather than a calm scenic circuit.
The guide leads, and you follow. That structure is useful. It keeps the group together and gives you a clear line to follow when the dunes begin to look alike. The tour is not presented as a free-for-all, and the safety instructions are there for good reason.
You can set your own pace within the group. A confident driver may want a brisk run, while a first-timer may prefer to remain cautious. Both approaches can work, provided you follow the guide’s instructions and avoid risky moves.
The desert is also visually rewarding between bursts of speed. The dunes create wide, clean views with few distractions, and the changing light can make the sand look entirely different at morning and sunset. Some outings may also offer glimpses of camels, adding a bit of desert character beyond the machinery.
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Morning or sunset: choosing the right departure

The morning option makes sense if you want to begin the day with the activity and leave your evening free. It may also suit you if you prefer daylight for seeing the route clearly and taking desert photographs.
The sunset option gives the ride a more dramatic setting. Lower light changes the color of the sand and adds a natural ending to the drive. One piece of feedback specifically favors a night-time setting, while also warning that the motion can be hard on your stomach. That is a useful reminder: darkness or fading light may add atmosphere, but it does not make the ride gentler.
Dubai can be hot, and a May departure was described as particularly warm. The supplied information does not specify the exact clothing or equipment provided, so ask the operator what you should bring and wear. At minimum, plan around desert heat and a physically active ride.
How safe and comfortable is the experience?

No off-road activity is risk-free, especially one involving a 195-hp vehicle on dunes. The encouraging part is that the operation includes advance training, guide-led driving, and repeated warnings against reckless behavior.
The strongest feedback focuses on feeling safe without losing the sense of excitement. That balance is difficult to get right. If the guide is too strict, the activity can feel dull. If the guide is too casual, a powerful buggy in open sand can become intimidating.
The named guides are often praised for keeping people under control while still allowing them to have fun. Quintin, for example, is credited with being authoritative and maintaining order. Trey is praised for watching group safety and helping people enjoy the drive. William is associated with a fast, energetic experience and plenty of air time, which may appeal to experienced thrill-seekers more than cautious beginners.
Your own driving style matters. You should be honest about your comfort level during the briefing. A nervous driver is not automatically a poor fit, since several guides are specifically praised for helping anxious participants. But you need to accept that the outing remains fast, bumpy, and physical even when handled responsibly.
Most people can participate according to the supplied requirements, but no detailed medical or age restrictions are provided. If you have concerns about motion, heat, or strenuous movement, contact Big Red Adventure Tours before booking.
What makes this different from a regular desert safari?

A typical desert safari lets you sit back while a professional driver handles the sand. This experience gives you the controls. That is the key difference, and it explains both the price and the excitement.
You get a stronger sense of the terrain because every turn and climb is your responsibility. The desert becomes something you read through the steering wheel and accelerator, not only something you photograph. For someone who already plans to visit Dubai’s dunes, this offers a more active way to see them.
The tradeoff is that you receive less of the broader cultural program commonly associated with a full desert camp outing. The supplied details focus on driving, views, pickup, and guidance. They do not promise a meal, entertainment, falconry, camel ride, or overnight stay, so do not book this expecting a complete evening safari package.
There may be dune boarding or related elements on some outings, since one account refers to dune boarding alongside the buggy ride. However, it is not clearly listed as a standard inclusion, so treat it as something to confirm rather than a guaranteed part of the booking.
Who will get the most from this tour?

I would recommend this for someone who wants one main Dubai adventure and wants to be active rather than sit in a vehicle. It suits couples, solo drivers, and small groups who are comfortable paying for a high-powered machine and a guided desert route.
It also works for a mixed-confidence group. One person can drive while another rides in the two-seater, and the guide can help a nervous driver settle in. If several people want to drive, check the booking terms because the listed price and vehicle arrangement are limited and not fully explained in the supplied details.
Families can enjoy the experience, but the activity is not presented as a quiet family sightseeing ride. The physical motion, heat, and speed are central to the outing. Parents should use their own judgment and confirm any age requirements before booking.
I would skip it if you mainly want a relaxed desert photo stop, if you are uncomfortable with fast off-road motion, or if $545 feels too high for about an hour at the controls. There are less costly ways to see the dunes. This tour earns its price only if the Can-Am driving is the centerpiece of your Dubai plans.
Booking, cancellation, and practical details
Confirmation is provided when you book, and a mobile ticket is available. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund.
The activity requires good weather. If the operator cancels because conditions are poor, you should be offered another date or a full refund. Since cut-off times use local Dubai time, check the clock carefully if you are changing plans from another time zone.
The tour is booked, on average, about 45 days ahead. That suggests planning early, especially if you want a particular morning or sunset time during a busy visit. Pickup, timing, and the number of drivers in your group are the three details I would confirm before final payment.
Should you book the Can-Am X3 tour?
Book it if you want the desert to be an active experience and the idea of controlling a 195-hp buggy sounds better than riding in a standard safari vehicle. The hotel pickup, guide-led format, patient instruction, and choice of morning or sunset make the outing easy to fit into a Dubai schedule.
Think twice if you are price-sensitive or want a longer, gentler desert program. At $545 per group up to one person, this is a specialist splurge, not a budget excursion. For the right driver, though, one hour in the dunes can be the most memorable part of a Dubai visit.
FAQ
How long does the Can-Am Maverick X3 tour last?
The full experience lasts approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes. The tour title specifies one hour of Can-Am driving, with the rest of the time covering transport, preparation, and the surrounding activity.
How much does the experience cost?
The listed price is $545 per group, with the booking information showing up to one person. Check the final booking terms if you want to include another passenger or driver.
Is hotel pickup available in Dubai?
Yes. Pickup and drop-off from your Dubai hotel are offered.
Can I choose a morning or sunset departure?
Yes. You can choose between morning and sunset tour times.
How many people can take part?
The activity has a maximum of eight participants. The advertised Can-Am Maverick X3 is a two-seater.
Can I cancel for a refund?
You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted, and poor weather may result in an alternative date or a full refund.
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