While in Dubai, we booked a desert experience with a company called Heritage Platinum. We were picked up from our hotel and joined a small group of other travellers for a jeep ride, desert views and dinner under the stars. Not long after we arrived, the jeep got stuck in the sand – just minutes after our guide had warned us that the small holes in the ground were made by snakes, which usually come out after sunset. And sunset had just begun.

The driver kept trying to restart the engine, but it wouldn’t move. My partner and I were sitting at the front, feeling the heat from the engine build up under our feet. Then came the smoke. A lot of it. I turned to the driver and said, ‘Please… can we have a new one?’ I was genuinely starting to panic, thinking it might explode. Thankfully, a replacement jeep arrived not long after. We missed the falcon show while we waited, so we were taken straight to the dinner spot instead. As a kind gesture for the delay, the team gave us all the professional photos and videos free of charge.

Despite the little drama, the guide was incredibly knowledgeable, and the rest of the evening was beautiful. I’d definitely recommend the experience and the company to anyone visiting Dubai.