Tag: abu dhabi hotels

Dune Bashing in the desert -The Thrilling Desert Experience

Dune bashing is an interesting and exciting activity that is popular in United Arab Emirates. It is mainly a off road experience that uses land cruisers, land rovers and other types of powerful four wheel drive vehicles to explore the sand dunes in Dubai. The desert landscape is one of the best places to test your courage and to get a burst of the adrenaline rush. The activity is best suited for the adventurous crowd. It is a good activity to get involved in especially if you are travelling with a group of friends. Of course all safety measures are taken when you participate in dune bashing.

You need to be a good driver and be skilled to handle the dunes in the Dubai desert. The dunes are set in angles which are quite challenging. The drivers who handle the rides have a special license and they have training and experience to drive through the sand dunes so you can be assured that they will keep you safe. There are different times in the day for Dune bashing, the morning, the evening when the sun is setting and the night. You could decide on which time you want to take the ride. Some may prefer to see the sun rise and others might like the thrill of riding through the desert in the night.

The bashing begins when the vehicles enter the Dubai desert, but before getting to the desert the drivers reduce the tire pressure of the vehicles as this makes it easier to navigate the terrain. When the pressure is reduced the tire print is placed with more force on the sand and allows the drivers to cover the surface area. Naturally the ride is bumpy and full of exciting twists and turns. Most rides take a break at the peak and start the journey again. Dune bashing is a popular activity that is available at most of the Abu Dhabi hotels in UAE. There is a range of luxury hotels Abu Dhabi that offer packages for dune bashing. Of them Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara stands out because of its luxurious rooms, amazing service and for the comfort it offers.

Kicking up a Dust

Although Abu Dhabi at first glance seems all desert there are amazing natural destinations in the emirate that extend all the way to the Empty Quarter in the south and the mountains of Oman in the east where pristine waterfalls, cliffs lined with fossils and freshwater lakes are part of the environment.

Adventure travel in Abu Dhabi is all about getting to know the landscape and stretching the mind and in many cases the body to embrace exciting experiences. Late evening dune bashing trips or desert safaris to the Liwa desert is one of the best ways to experience the desert landscape in Abu Dhabi. Traveling in a convoy of 4x4s, travelers are offered a roller coaster ride over sand dunes and are taken to vantage points to see gorgeous desert sunsets. The trip include a visit to a camel farm, camel rides, dinner in a Bedouin style desert camp where guests get to sit around a campfire, smoke an aromatic shisha, partake of a traditional Middle Eastern meal and with no light pollution to detract from the experience, enjoy a sky thick with stars. Overnight camping experience in the desert can be added to dune bashing.

Wadi bashing, driving a 4×4 along rocky and dry river beds is another aspect of adventure travel in Abu Dhabi. This is one of the best ways to see naturally beautiful parts of a wadi such as waterfalls, animals in the wild and mountain pools among others. Another option would be to join one of the many 4×4 clubs and after a little training go dune and wadi bashing with family and friends. The massive dunes in the Empty Quarter offer awesome driving challenges and learning to navigate the dunes is one of the best adventure experiences around. Sand skiing on the 984 foot high sand slopes is another way to enjoy the desert landscape.

Camel racing is a popular local activity and adventure travelers can catch some of the action on race days in Shweihan and Liwa and see racing practices and camel paddocks at Al Wathba.

Traveling 140 km out of town to Al Ain is a must to enjoy the greenest parts of Abu Dhabi, the site of many oases, parks, tree lined avenues, museums, forts and an archaeological park. From here travelers can access Jebel Hafeet the highest point in the area and known for the mineral springs at its base and fantastic views of the sunset from the top. Wadi Adventure in Ain Al Fayda nearby has the regions first artificial white water rafting, surfing and kayaking facility. The 3.3 meter manmade surf wave here is the world’s most impressive. Its 1.7 km kayaking channel is the world’s longest.

Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara a calm and peaceful oasis is undoubtedly a lovely place to experience the desert landscape at its best. As one of exceptional luxury hotels Abu Dhabi, guests are offered a selection of spacious, well designed contemporary rooms, suites and villas added to which are services and facilities that complement the very special quality of the setting. Enjoy well selected traditional Middle Eastern, Oriental and International menus, relaxing and rejuvenating spa treatments and a host of desert based activities that will make a stay at one of prominent Abu Dhabi hotels a real pleasure.