Roar Adventure Tourism offers free cancellation on every Dubai desert safari package, protecting your booking amount if your travel plans shift.
Roar Adventure Tourism offers 100% free cancellation on standard desert safari packages (Morning, Evening, Overnight, Quad Bike, Dune Buggy) when canceled 24 hours or more before the tour. VIP Desert Safari uses a tiered schedule: full refund at 48+ hours, 50% at 24 to 48 hours, no refund inside 24 hours. Excursions (Abu Dhabi City Tour, Dubai City Tour, Dhow Cruise, Hot Air Balloon) offer a full refund at 72+ hours and a 50% refund at 48 to 72 hours. Weather related cancellations always qualify for a full refund or free reschedule, regardless of timing.
Roar Adventure Tourism’s Cancellation Policy by Package Type
The refund window depends on two variables: package category (standard safari, VIP safari, or excursion) and hours before departure.
Standard Desert Safari Packages
Morning Desert Safari, Evening Desert Safari, Overnight Desert Safari, Quad Bike add-on, Dune Buggy add-on.
| Cancellation Time | Refund Eligibility |
|---|---|
| 24 hours or more before tour | 100% Refund |
| Less than 24 hours before tour | No Refund |
| No-show | No Refund |
VIP Desert Safari Packages
VIP tours use a three-tier refund structure instead of a single cutoff:
| Cancellation Time | Refund Eligibility |
|---|---|
| 48 hours or more before departure | 100% Refund |
| 24 to 48 hours before departure | 50% Refund |
| Less than 24 hours before departure, or no-show | No Refund |
Weather-related cancellations on VIP tours, initiated by Roar Adventure Tourism rather than the traveler, qualify for a full refund or free rescheduling regardless of timing. Refunds are processed to the original payment method within 7 to 10 business days.
Private Morning Desert Safari
This package carries a variation worth noting. Cancellations within 24 hours are not simply forfeited; a free reschedule to another date is offered instead. This is more flexible than the standard-tour policy, so it’s worth confirming at booking if a private morning tour is under consideration.
Non-Safari Excursions
Applies to: Abu Dhabi City Tour, Dubai City Tour, Dhow Cruise Marina, Hot Air Balloon Ride, and similar excursions.
| Cancellation Time | Refund Eligibility |
|---|---|
| 72 hours or more before | 100% Refund |
| 48 to 72 hours before | 50% Refund |
| Less than 48 hours before, or no-show | No Refund |
Seasonal and Promotional Packages
Holiday and festival packages (Diwali, New Year) sometimes carry their own schedule, such as a 7-day cancellation window with a tapering refund scale down to zero inside 72 hours. Always check the specific terms on the package page, since seasonal offers override the general policy.
Weather and Force Majeure Cancellations
If Roar Adventure Tourism cancels a tour due to a sandstorm advisory or another force majeure circumstance beyond operational control, the traveler is entitled to a full refund or complimentary rescheduling, independent of how close to departure the cancellation happens. This is distinct from a traveler-initiated cancellation and is not subject to the standard cutoff windows above.
How to Cancel or Request a Refund
- Locate your booking reference number from the confirmation email.
- Contact support with the reference number and reason for cancellation.
- Email: info@roaradventuretourism.com
- Phone / WhatsApp (24/7): +971556054570
- Confirm whether the cancellation qualifies for a full refund, partial refund, or free reschedule, using the tables above.
- Allow 7 to 10 business days for the refund to reach your original payment method.
Direct Booking vs. OTA Booking: What Actually Changes
Booking a Dubai desert safari through an OTA (GetYourGuide, Viator, Booking.com, Klook, Expedia) and booking directly with the operator can both offer free cancellation, but the terms and the party responsible for honoring them are not the same.
| Factor | Booking Direct (Roar Adventure Tourism) | Booking via OTA |
|---|---|---|
| Cancellation policy | Fixed, published, tour-specific (see tables above) | “Check the policy on your specific ticket,” varies by listing and can change without notice |
| Refund processor | The operator directly | The OTA platform, which then coordinates with the operator |
| Price | Base rate, no markup | Often carries a 10 to 25% resale markup on top of the operator’s own price |
| Price matching | Best Rate Guarantee, matched or beaten if a lower comparable price is found | Not applicable |
| Support during a cancellation | Direct line to the operator via WhatsApp/phone | Routed through OTA customer service, adding a layer between traveler and operator |
| Camp and fleet ownership | Owns Dadabhai Camp at the Lahbab red dunes and its vehicle fleet (Toyota Land Cruisers, Nissan Patrols, dune buggies, quad bikes) | Reseller relationship; the OTA does not operate the tour |
| Licensing transparency | Dual DTCM (tourism) and DET (economic trade) licensing displayed directly | Licensing of the underlying operator isn’t always visible on the listing |
The practical difference: an OTA’s “free cancellation” badge reflects that specific listing’s terms, which can differ from the operator’s own policy and follow the platform’s separate refund-processing timeline. A direct operator advantage removes that intermediary layer entirely; the cancellation terms, the refund, and the support all come from the same source.
Why Book Directly With Roar Adventure Tourism
- No resale markup. Direct pricing avoids the 10 to 25% margin most OTA resellers add.
- Best Rate Guarantee. A lower comparable price found elsewhere is matched, often beaten.
- Owned camp and fleet. Own Camp in Al Aweer and a company-owned vehicle fleet mean no third-party subcontracting, which is where OTA bookings sometimes lose consistency.
- Direct refund authority. The same team that runs the tour also processes the cancellation, rather than a platform intermediary.
- 24/7 WhatsApp and phone support. Cancellations, rescheduling, and group-booking changes go through one direct channel.
- DTCM and DET dual licensing. Both the tourism operating license and the economic trade license are held and disclosed.
- Total geographical flexibility. Hotel pickup is included across Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman.
How to Choose the Right Safari Package (With Cancellation Flexibility in Mind)
- Match the package to your certainty level. If your itinerary is still firming up, a standard package (24-hour window) carries less risk than a last-minute, non-refundable deal.
- Check whether it’s a standard, VIP, or excursion product. The refund schedule differs meaningfully between these three categories, as shown above.
- Favor the Private Morning Safari if your plans are volatile. Its free-reschedule option inside the 24-hour window is more forgiving than the standard forfeiture rule.
- Read the specific package page before paying. Seasonal and promotional tours can carry different windows than the general policy.
- Confirm the cancellation channel in advance. Know whether you’ll cancel via WhatsApp, phone, or email so there’s no delay if plans change.
What to Ask Before Booking
- What is the exact cancellation cutoff for this specific package: 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, or a tiered schedule?
- Is a no-show treated the same as a late cancellation, or is there a grace period at pickup?
- If the tour is cancelled due to weather, is the choice between refund and reschedule mine, or the operator’s?
- How long does the refund take to reach my payment method?
- Is rescheduling available as an alternative to forfeiting the booking amount?
- Does the price include hotel pickup, or is that a separate line item that affects the refundable total?
How to Avoid Cancellation Penalties
- Cancel inside the free window, not on the day of. For standard safaris, that means acting at least 24 hours ahead; for VIP tours, 48 hours secures the full refund instead of the 50% tier.
- Choose a package with a reschedule option if there’s real uncertainty about the date. Rescheduling avoids the forfeiture entirely on packages that offer it.
- Notify the operator directly rather than assuming a booking will auto-cancel. No-shows are treated as non-refundable regardless of intent.
- Keep the booking reference accessible so a cancellation request isn’t delayed by an administrative back-and-forth.
- Don’t rely on an OTA’s generic cancellation badge without checking the specific listing’s terms. The cutoff shown at search-result level isn’t always what applies to the exact time slot booked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Roar Adventure Tourism offer free cancellation? Yes. Standard desert safari packages can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund.
What happens if I cancel within 24 hours? For standard packages, the booking amount is forfeited. For the Private Morning Desert Safari, a free reschedule is offered instead.
What if my tour is cancelled due to weather? Weather-initiated, force majeure cancellations qualify for a full refund or complimentary rescheduling, regardless of how close to departure the cancellation occurs.
How long does a refund take? Refunds are processed to the original payment method within 7 to 10 business days.
Is it cheaper to book through an OTA or directly? Direct booking avoids the 10 to 25% markup OTA resellers typically add, and includes a Best Rate Guarantee if a lower comparable price is found elsewhere.
How do I request a cancellation? Email info@roaradventuretourism.com or contact +971556054570 via phone or WhatsApp with your booking reference number.
