A camel ride at sunset is one of those experiences that lands differently for a child than for an adult. The parent sees a photograph. The child sees an animal the size of a small building kneel down, let them climb on, and then stand up in two lurching stages that produce a shriek and then a very large grin.

The hotels in this collection work with camel operators that take animal welfare seriously, which is the thing worth checking before you book anything of this kind. Think visibly well-conditioned animals with proper padding and no evidence of overwork, handlers who know their camels individually, short rides rather than long forced treks, and shaded rest areas for the animals between groups. Moroccan, Omani, Egyptian, and Emirati desert properties lead here, often pairing the ride with a camp dinner and a sky full of stars.

Below are the top family hotels with camel rides, sorted by overall score.