Pushpitha Wijesinghe
For travellers used to cool climates, Abu Dhabi is a start difference. Thanks to its vicinity to the desert, once in Abu Dhabi, tourists can choose from a variety of desert activities to enhance their holiday in the Middle East.
Ideal for the adventurous tourist seeking a rush of adrenaline, a desert safari in the deserts of Abu Dhabi is a combination of a number of desert activities. Including activities such as dune bashing and sand skiing to camel riding, the desert safari is an option perfect for tourists wishing to experience the essence of the Abu Dhabi desert.
Ideal for those who seek an adrenaline rush, dune bashing is one activity that allows you to vent out all that pent up energy as you conquer the sand dunes of the desert while riding a four wheeler. While the uneven terrain is bound to make the experience even more exhilarating, the experience is akin to a well thought out obstacle course.
A truly spectacular sight to behold as the sunsets and the Village is lit up, the Arabian Nights Villages seeks to provide tourists and guests with a unique experience. The Village offers guests with certain packages that include a visit to a camel farm, dune bashing, a belly dancing show, painting with Henna and sand sledding to mention a few.
While off road driving can be similar to dune bashing in Abu Dhabi, choosing to go off-roading allows tourists the opportunity to take a longer time to experience the thrill while also encountering different terrains. Tourists can choose to take a long route and experience Abu Dhabi in a novel fashion.
Up for a desert challenge? Try racing up Tel Moreeb: popularly considered to be the tallest sand dune in the entire world. The dune itself is around three metres high and is at a sharp incline that makes racing up the dune on a dirt bike or a four wheeler, a uniquely challenging experience.
The Middle Eastern form of snowboarding is called sand boarding and allows the adventurous few to careen down a sand dune at speed on a board. Unlike at a ski resort, guests need not worry about making it during a certain season for the sand dunes are available all year round and are no less exciting.
Similar to sand boarding, sand skiing involves using skis to navigate and zigzag down the slope of a sand dune. Additionally, tourists can choose to sled down a dune and this form of sport is known as sand sledding, similar to sledding down a snowy mountainside.
Most luxury hotels Abu Dhabi offer their guests with the option of choosing a camel ride during their stay. Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara offers their guests the opportunity to choose from a family, short or sunset trek across the Liwa Desert – all you need to do, is show up and explore the vast deserts in a different light.
Opt for a different camping experience by choosing a desert camp. The Al Badeyah desert camp, for instance, offers tourists with the option of staying in a tent with beds, a children's playground and a trampoline in order to live like the Arabians for a night or two.
