The Falconer's Journey

Falconry, dune drives and the living traditions of the Bedu. A private, tailored journey of 4-5 days in The Empty Quarter, United Arab Emirates, designed end to end by a Forest Travel advisor — with Virtuoso privileges at the finest luxury hotels, from US$13,500 per traveler.

A country where the vertical glamour of the city, the quiet of the dunes and the warmth of the Gulf are all within a private morning's reach.

When to go

November through March, when the desert cools into clear, temperate days and long golden evenings by the Gulf. Your advisor times it to the light, the crowds and your own calendar.

The experiences

A sense of what this journey can hold — each one arranged privately and shaped to you:

• Spend the morning with a master falconer, the bird returning to the glove against the open desert.
• Ride out across the dunes as the Bedu have for generations, guided by those who know the sand.
• Learn the living traditions of the desert people, from the coffee ritual to the reading of the land.
• Close the day at a private camp where the old ways and a quiet luxury meet under the stars.

A sense of the rhythm

The days keep the desert's own rhythm, falconry and drives in the cool hours and the heritage of the Bedu unfolding slowly, at the pace of the land itself.

Why the falconer

Falconry runs to the heart of Emirati heritage, and in the Empty Quarter it is still lived rather than performed, shared by those born to it.

How to do it well

The counsel our advisors give travelers planning this journey:

• Meet the falconer in the early light, when the bird and the desert are at their best.
• The cooler months suit the drives and the long hours outdoors.
• Come with genuine curiosity, for the traditions open most to those who ask.
• A private guide steeped in the culture turns each ritual into something you carry home.

What only your advisor can open

The difference between a good trip and an unrepeatable one is access — and access is a relationship, not a booking. Every guide, room and moment is chosen and sequenced for you.

Who it's for

Travelers who value privacy, time and doing it once — beautifully — and who would rather have one trusted advisor orchestrate every detail than assemble it themselves.

Estimated investment

From US$13,500 per traveler, based on double occupancy — scaled to your dates, party size and level of privacy. A starting point, not a final quote; confirmed once your advisor tailors the itinerary.

Designed entirely around you

Nothing here is a package. A Forest Travel advisor shapes the whole journey and stays one message away before and throughout your trip.

Your Virtuoso privileges

As a Virtuoso member, Forest Travel includes benefits reserved for Virtuoso guests at the finest luxury hotels, at no added cost: a room upgrade on arrival when available, daily breakfast for two, a property credit toward dining or spa, and early check-in with late check-out when the hotel allows.

Continue exploring The Empty Quarter

Part of our The Empty Quarter travel guide. Related private journeys:

• The Desert Camp
• Desert Honeymoon
• Dunes & Family

Begin the conversation

Tell a Forest Travel advisor how you like to travel and they will design The Falconer's Journey around you — privately, every Virtuoso privilege included. Request your private consultation →