Face it, city living takes its toll on us all. Sure, there are plenty of places to relax within the city limits, but spa treatments are often ridiculously pricey and the beaches are generally overcrowded; what you need is a break from the oppressive pace, outside the confines of the city. There’s a good chance you have a car, know someone with a car, or are old enough to rent a car: you’re out of excuses; get out of the city! And don’t forget to take this magazine with you.
Destination: Musandam (Dibba)
Journey time from Abu Dhabi: Four-five hours
Why: If you’re the sporty and adventurous type, or if you just love the great outdoors, then this is the trip for you. First of all, to get there (if you opt for the longer, more scenic route) you get to travel along classic mountain roads that give you soul-soothing views of rugged peaks and picturesque stretches of desert land. Once you arrive at your destination, however, you’ll find yourself plunged into a watersports-lover’s paradise – the region offers fantastic diving, boat trips and kayaking, as well as many more activities, all of which will give you the chance to inhale the fresh air and soak up the scenery. You’ll return to work on Sunday morning refreshed, with a burnt nose and feeling like you’ve managed to squeeze a fortnight’s worth of activities into just a few days.
Best for: City-weary folk who need to recharge their batteries
Directions: Take the Abu Dhabi-Dubai road, then turn on to Emirates Road (311). Follow this until you reach the Dubai bypass road (611) then take Al Dhaid road (88) and stay on it until you reach Masafi. Turn left on to road 89 and follow it all the way to Dibba. The Omani-based Sheesa Beach Travel and Tourism is a friendly, well-run company that arranges Dhow cruises, diving and camping for reasonable prices. Contact them on (+968) 02 683 6551 or visit www.sheesabeach.com
Tip: Don’t forget your passport, as you need it to cross the UAE-Omani border. And if you need a visa, make sure to arrange it in advance.
Destination: Al Ain
Journey time from Abu Dhabi: An hour and a half to two hours – it’s around 160km away
Why: For the drive to the top of Jebel Hafeet. At 1,240m above sea level, it might only be the third tallest mountain in the UAE, but, because it stands by itself, it’s probably the most impressive. In fact, the winding road to the summit is one of the absolute best road trips in the world. The route through Jebel Hafeet offers sweeping views across both the Omani and UAE borders – a word of warning: the car park at the top gets very crowded at the weekend. Make sure you also pop into Green Mubazarrah, a lush area at the base of the mountain that boasts hot springs, earning Al Ain its nickname ‘the Garden City’. These begin beneath the mountain, and, over thousands of years, have developed into pools in which you can bathe. The nearby Ain Al Faydah picnic resort has a boating lake, gardens and chalets. Also, pay a visit to the nearby Al Ain Zoo and Wildlife Park (www.awpr.ae), which is undoubtedly the best in the country and is home to a huge selection of animals, including rhinos, giraffes and a pair of white tigers. Meanwhile, those with a penchant for history would do well to visit Al Jahili Fort in the centre of the city.
Best for: Those who are fans of great views and exotic animals
Directions: From Abu Dhabi, take the Al Ain Road (Route 22). Head in the direction of Al Ain’s town centre, towards Sanaiya, Sanaiya West and Meziad, then follow the signs to Jebel Hafeet. The road continues up the mountain for 12km. At the top you’ll find the Mercure Hotel (+9713 783 8888, www.mercure.com). For the zoo, once in Al Ain City, follow the signs to Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort, aka AWPR (www.awpr.ae).
Tip: Get there before 5pm, or it will be dark before you reach the top.
Destination: Khasab , Oman
Journey time from Abu Dhabi: About five hours
Why: A hugely different country, culture and landscape lies just a few hours’ drive from Abu Dhabi. The area will give you a true taste of old style Arabia, with quiet villages, secluded beaches and dusty, mountainous landscapes. Make sure you visit Bukha Fort for some fantastic mountain views, while Khasab, is known as ‘The Norway of Arabia’ because of spectacular fjords. However, there’s little chance you’d want to take a dip in a Scandinavian lake sans wetsuit, while the crystal clear seas at Khasab are crying for you to dive in. Grab your scuba kit or snorkel and hit the water – you might even spot the dolphins and whale sharks that live here.
Best for: Nature lovers
Getting there: Head to Dubai, and take Sheikh Zayed Road north through the city and all the way to Ras Al Khaimah. From here, take the Al Rams Road and follow signs to the cement factory. Once you’ve made it into Oman, there’s an amazing beach that’s just perfect to pitch your tent and take a dip in. From here, the scenery is spectacular – think S-bends, sheer drops, towering cliffs and great views of the Arabian Gulf to your left.
Tip: Be prepared to wait at the border crossing into Oman, and remember your passport and visa. How fast it’ll take depends very much on the mood of the officials and how many people are crossing the border at the time – expect 15 minutes on a good day; 45 minutes if they’re taking their time.
Destination: Big Red Sand Dunes
Journey time from Abu Dhabi: About two and a half hours
Why: Should you require a real shot of adrenaline, take a thrilling safari into the desert. Dune-bashing through the distinctive scenery will give you chills as the car leaps over ridges and hangs at 45-degree angles, and you’ll feel like you’re going to roll right down the sheer faces. The dunes are one of the Middle East’s premier tourist attractions, so don’t expect to be all alone in the peaceful desert – you’ll undoubtedly be surrounded by hurtling jeeps revving across the landscape. This is also a chance to watch the sunset, and, if you’re lucky, you might even spot a desert fox, snake or scorpion.
Best for: Adrenaline junkies
Directions: Head along to Dubai and then take the Dubai-Hatta Road (E44) or the Oman Road (E66) as the landscape changes shape and colour from yellow to red. Along the Hatta Road you’ll see 4×4 drivers pulling into the nearby row of shops to deflate their tyres before hitting the dunes. There are a few dirt track entry points, but they are hard to spot, so keep your eyes peeled.
Tips: Dune-bashing is incredibly hazardous and is for experienced desert 4×4 drivers. Most rental companies won’t allow you to take their motors out to the desert, so, if you don’t own a tank, book a professional tour.
Destination: Moreeb Dune
Journey time from Abu Dhabi: Two and a half hours
Why: Although Dubai’s big red dunes might attract more tourists, the 300m-high Moreeb Dune in the middle of the Empty Quarter desert is far more impressive. Big piles of sand might not immediately seem like reason enough to drive hours across the UAE, but these gargantuan shifting mounds are awe-inspiring. While the peaceful sands are the draw, there are other points to visit before you head off-road. Liwa’s 180km crescent of oases is dotted with freshwater pools and date plantations, and was the traditional home of the Bani Yas tribe; the Bedouin ancestors of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family. Visit the villages along the crescent, and the fort and oases as you get near to Moreeb Dune.
Directions: Head towards Musaffah Industrial Estate, then follow the E11 signs to Tarif. Keep on this road for about an hour, until you get to an Adnoc gas station. Soon after, turn left towards Madinat Zayed, then keep driving through the town until you reach another town called Mezaaira. Here, you’ll need to keep an eye out for the signposts, one of which will point you down a winding road that zig zags its way through the desert to the dune. Should you have a GPS, its location is 22°58’34.94”N, 53°47’14.70”E, and it isn’t more than 30 seconds from a road.
Tips: Don’t forget to stock up on everything you need for the drive, you could be out there for while; take water, snacks, and maybe even a first aid kit.
Destination: Sur , Oman
Journey time from Abu Dhabi: About eight hours – worth spending a weekend
Why: For the excellent scenery – think imposing rocky mountains and famed dhow yards, as well as the lush wadis just south of Sur, which are well worth a 4×4 bash. There’s also a fantastic new motorway (not an expression we employ lightly) between Muscat and Sur, which winds around the mountains and makes for a smooth ride. Head a further 61km south and you’ll reach the Turtle Beach Resort on the Ras-al-Jinz. If you’re lucky, you might see one of the 30,000 turtles that hatch here annually; if not, you still get to stay on a gorgeous beach and enjoy some watersports. Between Sur and Muscat you can also stop over at the fishing village of Quriyat.
Best for: Those in need of a seriously sleepy weekend
Directions: Head to Dubai and then head out on E44 (that’s the Dragon Mart/ Al Waqqa road), and keep following the signs to Hatta. From the Hatta border, follow signs to Muscat, heading up to the coast. In Muscat, go to ‘Wadi Adai’ roundabout. Then follow the signs towards Quriyat. Continue following the signs for 100km-150km and you’ll see a Shell petrol pump on your right-hand side, immediately after crossing a winding road across a mountain range. A few metres after the petrol pump, you’ll find a roundabout with a big blue Sur sign that points to the right. Turn right, then right at the next roundabout and left at the one after that, and you’ll find yourself on the new motorway. Go straight for 100km or so. Sur is at the end of this road.
Tips: Make sure your car is properly insured for use in Oman. The rules have recently changed so that only certain hire companies can offer Omani insurance – Avis (www.avis.com) and Budget UAE (www.budgetuae.com) both offer the correct coverage.
Destination: Khor Fakkan
Journey time from Abu Dhabi: About four hours
Why: This is one of the most picturesque locations in the UAE, resting between the mountains and the untouched coastline. Make sure you go diving or snorkelling around Shark Island. Don’t be put off, the blacktip reef sharks are very timid and rarely attack.
Best for: Underwater adventurers
Directions: Head north towards Dubai and keep going on the Sheikh Zayed Road until you reach Sharjah. Keep an eye out for signs towards Dhaid on the E88. Keep going straight, passing the Masafi factory and the Friday Market. Once you reach Masafi, turn right towards Fujairah, but when you arrive at the coast, take a left. Keep heading straight for about 20 minutes, whereupon you’ll find yourself in the centre of Khor Fakkan.
Tips: When you reach Masafi, stop for a few snacks at one of the many roadside cafés. Some of the spots serve amazing shawarmas.
But wait, there’s more
Sharjah’s corniche: See the Blue Souk, wander the galleries and museums of the Qanat Al Qasba quarter and ride the Eye of the Emirates – the 60m-high big wheel. Check out the new Time Out Sharjah for more ideas.
Wadi Wurayah: The UAE’s first protected mountain area, Wadi Wurayah is home to the country’s rare Arabian leopard, as well as bats and desert foxes. It’s the richest natural environment in the UAE – every reason to respect your surrounds and not leave any litter. For information, call Emirates Wildlife Society on 02 634 7117.
Wadi Sharm And Khadra Pools: Sharm is one of the biggest wadis in the region, typically full of water from the Hajar Mountains – creating the Khadra pools. There are also villages and oases in the area. www.offroaduae.com.
Fossil Rock: This offers one of the steepest drives in the UAE, and is a great spot to learn desert driving (though always with two cars). www.offroaduae.com.
Ras Al Khaimah: The peaceful Arabian city might not be the liveliest place in the UAE, but it does have some decadent hotels. The Cove Rotana Resort (+9717 206 6000) and Banyan Tree Al Wadi Resort (+9717 206 7777) are probably the most luxurious.
Tips for the trips
The first thing you should pack is your emergency kit, which should include a first-aid kit, a flashlight and an extra gallon of water. Besides that, here are a few tips for the road.
• Keep fruit and veg in zip-lock bags, washed, sliced and ready to eat. These make good snacks, and fit nicely into a cooler if you’re taking one along (and you probably should).
• Toothpicks are often excellent replacements for cutlery.
• Take entertainment along, especially if you’re taking the kids; ‘Are we there yet?’ is only funny the first 600 times.
• If you are indeed taking children, also take paper towels, sanitiser and wipes; car sickness and spilled beverages can ruin a road trip very quickly.
Desert Safaris
If you’re looking for a professional road trip in the desert, these guys offer a full package.
Arabian Adventures: Pickups start between 4pm and 5pm, and, after a scenic drive into the desert, the guys will bash the dunes until you stop screaming. The package also includes a visit to a camel farm, a barbecue with complimentary shisha and soft drinks, and (almost) guaranteed desert sunset. Dhs305 per person, and up to six can fit in a car. Booking two days in advance is recommended (02 691 1711).
Cyclone Travel: Pickups start at 4pm, and desert activities include camel riding and sandboarding. The 6-hour evening will include photo ops in traditional garb, a barbecue buffet, shisha and soft drinks. Dhs350 per person, and Dhs250 for children. Up to six per car, and booking are recommended. (02 627 6275)
