Your Perfect Getaway: The 5 'must-do' UAE road trips

The weather is cooling down and those who have been cooped up in air-conditioned homes and malls during the long summer are finally coming out to take in the fresh air again.

So without wasting the cool breeze that is blowing away those cobwebs, jump into your cars and venture down for a UAE road trip to kick off the season:

Jebel Hafeet

Anyone who’s lived in the UAE long enough has heard of the country’s most famous peak.

Even though it is often mistaken as the tallest mountain in the country, its popularity stems from the picturesque drive up a winding motorway that transports you to the very summit of the tabletop peak, to serve up a majestic view of the city of Al Ain and Oman in the horizon.

Families often use the summit as a perfect picnic spot while young ones play in the distant; but those particularly lazy to pack a meal will find a restaurant serving sandwiches, hot tea, coffee and other nibbles to satiate that appetite.

You can club the day out in Al Ain with a visit to the zoo earlier in the day or head to Al Mubazzarah Park for some family time.

Liwa Oasis

Agreed, it’s an epic four hour trek to make it to the Liwa Oasis, best described as the gateway to the Rub Al Khail or The Empty Quarter – the world’s sandiest desert.

Liwa itself is a cluster of villages surrounding an oasis on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, with a few restaurants tucked away and the stunning resorts of Qasr Al Sarb and the Tilal Liwa Hotel.

Those with 4x4s and a penchant for dune bashing must attempt the Mureeb Dune in the Rub Al Khail.

Meanwhile, the Qasr Al Sarb Desert Resort by Anantara has launched a new challenge for its most adventurous guests, to conquer its nearby 180 metre high dune in a bid to be crowned the champion of the dune and to support Operation Smile UAE.

Guests will be encouraged to challenge their fitness levels with a timed-climb of the dune, as part of an ongoing challenge they can track on the resort’s leader-board on Facebook.

The ultimate winners (both male and female) will then be crowned on June 4, 2015 and awarded a three-night stay at Per Aquum Niyama in Maldives, or at Anantara Phuket Villas in Thailand, courtesy of Minor Hotel Group.

The challenge is priced at Dh100 per attempt, of which Dh25 will be donated to Operation Smile UAE – the local arm of the international children’s charity committed to saving lives and allowing children with cleft palates to smile properly for the first time.

And returning guests who wish to defend their title can do so with a 50 per cent discount on their second attempt.

Ras Al Khaimah

Only an hour and a half away from Dubai’s city limits, Ras Al Khaimah offers the perfect day break for those looking to go fishing, crab hunting, playing a bit of golf or even horse riding in the desert.

If you are heading up there with the children in tow, why not check out the new RAK zoo that opened to the public in September.

Located on Airport Road, the one sq km area is the third largest in the country, following Al Ain Zoo and Emirates Zoo in Abu Dhabi.

Animals include the rare Golden Tiger, African Lion, White Lion, White Tiger, Black Panther, Cheetahs, Grey Wolves, Arab Wolves, rare deer and a collection of birds.

The Golden Tiger is the first in the country to be exhibited, and a second of its kind is expected to be added to the zoo population.

The zoo also offers an equestrian training club for women and children, a biking circuit, camel rides, restaurants, cafés and corner games for children.

Fujairah

While the resorts down Al Aqah give you everything that your heart desires and more, if you are looking for life in a simpler lane, then you can’t go wrong with a beach day in Fujairah, which is a mere one-hour ride from Dubai.

The Al Rafaah area offers the ideal beach for families planning a little swim and sleep by the sea.

However, the tides can play havoc at night, so it is advisable to camp a little further from the shore for safety.
Also, don’t forget to stop off at Masafi and Dibba and trudge to the old markets there for a treasure trove to be found.

Hatta

In this town tucked away at the foothills of Al Hajjar mountains, you can explore the Hatta Pools, head to the local souks, or have a bash at the 100m high Big Red dune.

You can pitch camp anywhere in the desert, but avoid blind spots at the base of a sand dune to avoid collision with vehicles.

While the Hatta Rock Pools were a sight to behold once upon a time, the beauty has been exhausted these past few years with an infestation of littering in the area. However, the authorities are on a beautification project and we all have our fingers crossed.

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