UAE is known for its buildings and cities that feel like living in the future. It’s challenging to get bored, but residents regularly have skyscrapers. What does UAE offer?
If you think the same, this article will change your perception because there are beautiful mangroves, scenic mountains, and fantastic roads to places that one could never imagine.
Suppose you are also frustrated with soaring 45 degrees and bored of staying indoors. These five road trips will provide a perfect escape and deliver mesmerising views of nature.
1. Jebel Hafeet
Jebel Hafeet means “empty mountain.” It is situated on the border of the United Arab Emirates and Oman. The mountain range has seen the maximum average temperature of 33°C, while in other parts of the country, it goes up to 49°C.
It’s among the country’s highest mountain ranges and lets you admire the beautiful scenes as you travel. The road is perfect and has a total of 60 turns. Grab your snacks and watch the beautiful mountains get shorter as you climb.
Enjoy the best view with a cold breeze as you reach the top. You will also find restaurants, hotels, food trucks and fully air-conditioned facilities that provide you with a space to spend your afternoon if it’s too hot outside.
The fantastic trip doesn’t end here. We recommend you to stay in one of the hotels for the night to enjoy the wide-open sky with twinkling stars that too with a cold breeze. It’s perfect for enjoying quality time with your partner and the best option to escape Dubai’s heat. At least for a day!
Don’t forget to take a quality camera to capture the best moments and replenish the memories of the fantastic trip once you are back.
It takes 1.5 to 2 hours from Dubai and Abu Dhabi city. Start google maps and take route of your choice. Your trip will include the E22 Abu Dhabi-Al Ain highway and Dubai-Al Ain E66. It will be a relaxed trip but take your travel essentials.
2. Kalba mangroves
Are you surprised to hear about a Mangrove Forest in the desert land? Yes, Kalba Mangroves comes under the Kalba Conservation Reserve. It is home to remarkable landscapes, and being in the forest provides much-needed relief from the summer heat.
You can enjoy the beautiful view as you travel and notice a subsequent decline in the temperature upon reaching—the 500 hectares of protected forest host a large variety of rare birds and diverse ecosystems. Just take a walk and explore everything the place has to offer.
It’s an excellent destination for a nature enthusiast, and they even allow you to pitch your tent and enjoy your outing. You can travel with your family, kid, friends, or partner; the place is best for all and provides you with enough activities and options you would never get bored with.
Once you are done exploring the mountains, head to the Al Hefaiyah Mountain Conservation Centre to find trails for a scenic hike (if you are interested in hiking), explore the Al Hafiya Picnic Park and have lunch in the perfect setting. Don’t forget to enjoy kayaking in the pristine waters close to the mangrove forest.
It’s a complete package that provides the fun of a road trip and adventures of hiking and kayaking; you can even stay in one of the luxury tents provided by Kalba Kingfisher Lodge.
The place is 130 kilometres from Dubai, providing you with enough stretch to enjoy the road trip and a significant relaxation in the forest.
3. Khor Fakkan
If you want your road trip to end with breathtaking views of empty beaches, waterfalls, and a dam, prepare for Khor Fakkan. It’s a city on the east coast of UAE that faces the Gulf of Oman. Khor Fakkan means “Creek of Two Jaws” and is home to major container ports of the country.
Enjoy the views of the Hajjar mountains as you drive. If possible, leave early in the morning so you can enjoy the cold breeze in your car and have enough time to explore other excursions the place offers.
Khor Fakkan is a city famous for its port and fascinating views. The place has a lot to offer for both beach and mountain lovers. Upon reaching, you can explore the Al Rafisah Dam, Al Rabi hiking trails, Khor Fakkan heart beach, waterfalls or sheet park.
Suppose you are tired of driving and looking for a fantastic escape to relax, then en route yourself to the famous cloud lounge in the Al Suhub Rest Area. It’s 600 meters above sea level and has a majestic view of the scenic mountains and the coastal city of Khor Fakkan. You can enjoy the lounge facilities, relax, and have tasty delicacies in the restaurant. It would be great to spend your afternoon in the lounge.
You can easily cover all these places within a day, so there is no point in staying. Start your trip early in the morning because it allows you to enjoy the day quickly and return in the evening while exploring the scenic views. It takes around 1.5 hours to drive from Dubai.
Make sure you take a moment to step out of your car and click pictures with the fantastic view. It would indeed be a memorable trip.
4. Jais Sledder
Take a route through Ras Al Khaimah, one of the seven Emirates that make up UAE. The region offers the country’s highest mountains and delivers a thrilling view of a great mountain peak. The road is perfect but has many curves, so don’t forget to take a vomit tablet with you.
Enjoy your scenic mountains as you reach closer to your destination, “Jais Sledder.” Here the actual thrill starts. If you love adventures and aren’t afraid of heights, then you and the Jais sledder are the perfect matches.
You can comfortably sit on a low-slung track that reaches up to 40 kilometres per hour as you race down towards the Hajar mountain range. It’s the longest sledder in the country, covering 1,840 meters and offers you an approx.—8 min a ride.
It’s known for serving the glorious panorama and the views of the remarkable coastline. Even the speed of 40 kilometres per hour will feel thrilling because you will sit close to the ground, and the breeze will surely take your heart away. Also, there are no online bookings. Make sure to collect your tickets from the counter.
That’s not it! Once you finish enjoying the sledder, head to other tours the place offers. You can experience the zipline, the sky tour, explorer camps and more. If you get tired of exploring, take a break in one of the air-conditioned restaurants, enjoy the food, and restore your energy to explore more or drive back.
On the return, you may take the same route to enjoy the beautiful sunset and take a few minutes to stop and click the Instagram-perfect pictures. It would be the perfect day out with family or friends.
5. Hatta
The last and probably the most popular destination to escape from UAE’s heat is Hatta. It’s about 1.5 hours from Dubai, and your route will pass the Hajjar mountain range, which is famous for offering scenic views.
You will surely enjoy the road trip, but the fun starts once you reach. Hatta is a popular destination for those seeking adventure in their life. It is jam-packed with great activities. During the day, you can do mountain biking, hiking, adventures, animal riding or kayaking. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or a pro; the place offers activities for all.
At night, hit Hatta’s caravan park, campsite, resorts, farms or luxury tents. Even sitting beside the campfire under the stars is enough to eliminate all your stress.
Suppose you are still left with enthusiasm and energy to explore more, head to Hatta Wadi Park to find 900 trees that offer shade to Al Yamm Café. Replenish yourself by grabbing the tasty drinks the café offers.
Please ask the locals for any new activity that would have been added recently and take at least two days if you want to enjoy Hatta at its best. Don’t forget to click pictures and let your friends know about the fantastic spot.
Essentials for the perfect road trip in UAE
You don’t want to end up with a broken car on the highway at 45°C. A lot can happen during a road trip that ruins your entire experience. That’s why planning is always a great idea. With essentials, you also need to take care of the route, places you will visit, and many more things. Let us understand them one by one.
1. Plan your route
You will be driving on those quiet roads where you sometimes won’t find anyone for hours. Of course, you don’t want to get lost in such conditions. Although you will find directions on every corner, still it’s a great idea to plan the route or download the offline maps of your way as a precaution.
2. Plan your budget
Fuel for your trip, entry fees, tickets, resort bookings, food, everything costs money. If you are travelling solo, that won’t be an issue, and you will easily manage. But the expense doubles or triples if you plan to visit with your partner or family. Make sure you plan it so the trip won’t get hard on your pocket.
3. Make a booking
Imagine reaching your favourite spot and getting denied entry. It will surely break your heart and the excitement of the whole trip with come down to the bottom. Most adventures and parks offer online bookings. So, select your route, list places you would like to visit, and make reservations. It gives you a sense of relaxation; otherwise, the whole time, you would think, “if we will get the tickets or not?”
4. Toiletries, Clothing and Electronics
Sunscreen is the essential thing you would need to block out the harmful rays and protect your skin from burning. Depending on your travel days, you need different toiletries that might include shaving razors, toothpaste, body wash, deodorants, etc.
Carrying an extra pair of clothes is recommended even if you go out for a day. Also, if you are planning for a beach, you need towels, moisturiser, flip flops, umbrellas, etc. You never know which adventure you try and make your clothes dirty.
Electronics will include the must-have Bluetooth speaker for parties and music. Rest take care of your smartphone, power bank, headphone etc.
Conclusion
We all deserve a break because we all get frustrated with confined spaces. In Dubai, you hardly have any options to admire the natural beauty in the city, and no one likes to step out in the scorching heat of summers.
So, these places would be perfect for an outing of a day or two. Don’t expect your travel to be incredibly cool because you will lose the sweat if you step out in the desert, but all the places mentioned in the article are cooler than cities.
All these destinations offer a scenic view of mesmerising mountain ranges and traffic-free roads. Even if you plan to stay, these places provide good facilities, including four- and five-star hotels. You will also find many adventures at your destination that will never make you feel bored.
To enjoy your trip, ensure you don’t forget road trip essentials. A planned trip is always the best because it gives you confidence and saves time because you already know about your next move.
Have a great trip, and please share this article so that others also get to know about these fantastic destinations. You can always let us know about your experience in the comments below.
