Joanna James
The spell of the desert is forceful and especially so in a region like Dubai, where they've combined luxury with adventure and beauty. Here is a list of things to do in the desert.
Once you've got rid of your jet lag at one of the luxury holiday apartments Dubai, embark on a desert safari. Get in the back seat of your four-wheel safari to take in the scenery of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve or simply the endless desert landscape. You'll get to see native wildlife and enjoy the thrill of whipping around sand dunes. You can choose an early morning safari complete with a lavish breakfast or start your tour with a stunning sunset, check out nocturnal creatures and go on an astronomy tour too.
Most hotels and apartments in Dubai such as the Oaks Liwa Heights organize transport for guests. But such comfortable rides don't offer the same rush of adrenaline that a quad bike ride in the desert would. Quad bikes are light and easy to handle. You won't need a lot of skills to ride one on the sandy surface of the desert. Hire a quad bike for half an hour and simply cruise through dunes and sandy hills, not thinking twice about splashing the person riding close to you with sand. It is all in good fun. You'll find riding your quad bike thrilling. But make sure that you always wear a helmet for protection.
Dune bashing is a sport best done while riding a 4x4 vehicle. Get strapped onto your car seat and let the driver take you on a rollercoaster ride over and above the sand dunes. The best vehicles for this particular adventure are hummers and land cruisers. Most desert safaris will include sand dune bashing as part of their activity line-up but there are exclusive experiences for which you can sign up and focus simply on the thrill of bashing sand dunes at high speed.
If you think snowboarding is fun wait till you try sandboarding. This sport is for veritable adrenaline junkies only. Strap on a contraption similar to a snow-board and simply glide down the sandy dunes in glee. Most sandboarding packages are included in desert safaris. One session of sandboarding is enough to learn the tricks of making it down the slopes smoothly.
The magic of the night-time desert is timeless. You could choose a rustic Bedouin camp adventure or go full-on luxury camping. Enjoy a sunset over the desert sky and wait for the stars to send tingles up your spine as you watch live dancing and a fire show. Some camps offer henna painting too. Enjoy a truly Middle Eastern dinner of roasted meat drizzled with aromatic sauce, perfectly fluffy couscous along with the addition of a fresh salad. Once the night properly sets in, snuggle up on your luxurious bed or sleeping bag to star gaze and wonder at the spell of the desert that has fascinated generations of men, women and children.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
