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Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates is the perfect ‘detour destination’ when visiting Dubai, thanks to its stunning scenery, luxury hotels and fascinating culture
Detour destinations are on the rise, with holidaymakers eager to enrich their travels by exploring lesser-known locations. And Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates – with its golden deserts, majestic mountains, meandering valleys and pristine beaches – offers an adventure-packed and idyllic escape like no other, especially when paired with a visit to Dubai.
Dubai high life
Our journey began in Dubai, where we admired the incredible architecture and glittering skyline – including the undeniably impressive Burj Khalifa (left) – by night after spending our days soaking up the tropical weather. We stayed at Rixos The Palm Hotel & Suites, an ultra-all-inclusive five-star resort at the end of the Palm Jumeirah. It’s a real ‘destination within a destination’, with a private beach, oasis-style swimming pools, ample restaurants and bars, kids’ club, beauty salon, fitness centre and spa, where we indulged in a Balinese massage.
The stylish and spacious rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows provide scenic views across the landscaped gardens, azure waters and famous skyline, which we admired from our balcony. Palm tree-lined paths led us around the resort, and live music kept us entertained in the evening.
On to Ras Al Khaimah
To enhance our UAE experience, we travelled an hour north to Ras Al Khaimah. Here we found ourselves in the heart of movie-like scenery, including the breathtaking Jebel Jais (the highest mountain in the UAE), expansive sandy beaches and pristine blue waters where we even spotted turtles. This was our introduction to the relaxed vibe of the Emirate as we drove through stretches of golden desert and spotted camels along the way.
We stayed at Rixos Al Mairid Ras Al Khaimah – a five-star resort with a private 1.5km beach in the coastal area of Al Mairid – which opened in October last year and offers sensational views of the Arabian Gulf. It has a wide variety of dining and beverage venues with a focus on locally sourced food, plus an entertainment hub, a kids and teen club and seven swimming pools. We loved floating in the large saltwater pool with a swim-up bar.
Accommodation includes rooms, suites and villas, some with private pools and direct beach access. We had the latter, with stunning shore views and a patio where we could listen to the soothing sound of the waves. Just a fewsteps away were beach loungers to chill out on.
Days out
We ventured further afield to discover more of Ras AlKhaimah’s charm, which included a trail through Wadi Khammed with local expert Fadi Hachicho. We hiked from the bottom of Jebel Jais through the canyon’s awe-inspiring landscape made up of striking rocks and boulders. Then we travelled along winding roads to a viewing deck where we could look out over Jais Flight, the world’s longest zipline, which stretches for 2.83km. With rugged peaks towering around us, we were astonished by the spectacular summits, complete with wild goats roaming around.
Another highlight was a visit to Suwaidi Pearls. A serene boat ride transported us to the farm’s floating pontoon to learn about the process behind farming oysters – one of the UAE’s most treasured traditions, which dates back seven millennia. We even opened an oyster ourselves to reveal a glistening white jewel inside.
Hotel highlights
At the Rixos resorts we made full use of the activities and classes on offer, which include the likes of Aqua Fit Mat. In Dubai, we tried anti-gravity yoga, testing our balance before cocooning ourselves in hammocks for a mindful reset. One morning we went paddleboarding, settingoff from the beach and gliding towards The Palm.
In Ras Al Khaimah, we joined a cycle tour, exploring the more rural area away from the resort. Led by one of the fitness staff, we admired the scenery before riding along the coastline; it soon became our favourite way to start the day. We also enjoyed sunset yoga in the resort’s beachfront studio before ending the day with a stroll along the shore as colours of red and orange flooded the sky.
Eat like kings
At both Rixos hotels, we were spoiled for choice with dining options. In Dubai, we devoured wild mushroom and truffle risotto in its Italian restaurant L’Olivo and sampled a Turkish-inspired buffet at A’la Turca, while their take on a Moscow Mule, made with spiced rum and passion fruit, soon became our tipple of choice. If we felt peckish, we indulged in traditional Turkish treats and freshly baked viennoiseries or grabbed an ice cream from the cart.
In Ras Al Khaimah, we ate alfresco at Toro Loco, sampling buffalo chicken wings and Bloody Mary ceviche. At their own L’Olivo restaurant, highlights were the grilled peach with burrata and the chef’s seafood ravioli eaten on a tranquil balcony where we were serenaded by a violinist. We also dined under the stars at Sol Seafood Grill &Bar, where butter shrimp, fried calamari and sea bass were followed by a delicious Turkish rice pudding, candied pumpkin and tahini mousse. Afterwards, we sipped Turkish tea in the Dome Lounge with baklava, followed by cocktails at the adults-only bar Arela to the beat of a DJ set.
How to book
See rixos.com for accommodation, and visit rasalkhaimah.com for activities in Ras Al Khaimah. Rooms at Rixos The Palm Hotel & Suites start from £210 and at Rixos AlMairid Ras Al Khaimah from £110 (both per person per night, all inclusive). Emirates offers direct return flights from London Heathrow to Dubai from around £576. The best time tovisit the UAE is October to May.