The United Arab Emirates is known for its swanky buildings, top-tier amusement parks, glamorous hotels, stylish restaurants, and a whole lot of indoor attractions. The glamorous emirate of Dubai and the culturally immersive emirate of Abu Dhabi are the places that people mostly visit in the UAE. Both these emirates are filled with attractions and activities that tourists love. But if you want to explore the more rugged side of the UAE, Ras Al Khaimah is the emirate you must visit. Located in the northernmost part of the country, Ras Al Khaimah is filled with numerous historical attractions. But what bring people here are its natural beauty and an array of adventurous activities. Here we will take a look at the best adventure and outdoor activities in Ras Al Khaimah.
Ziplining
Ras Al Khaimah is home to the tallest mountain of the UAE, the Jebel Jais. Here you will find a host of adventurous activities, but the most popular is ziplining. Perched 1680 meters above the sea level, the dual or twin zipline stretches 2.83 km and is considered the longest zipline in the world. Once you are geared up, you will get to enjoy the 3-minute-long ride that is not only adrenaline-inducing but also gives you the chance to enjoy the view of the mountain, complete it with deep canyons, rugged peaks, and plunging ravines. As there are two parallel ziplines, you can have a fun competition with a partner, friend, or family member. You can book Jebel Jais zipline tickets online to ensure that you get to experience this flight on the date and time of your preference.
Desert Safari
You cannot visit the UAE and not go for the desert safari experience. The desert safari in Ras Al Khaimah is available in the morning as well as in the evening. Overnight desert safaris are those where you can spend a night in the desert camp, sleeping in cozy Bedouin-style tents. But the highlight of all the Ras Al Khaimah desert safaris is the desert adventures. Dune bashing session comes at the top, where you go on a rollercoaster ride over the desert dunes in a 4×4 vehicle. The camel riding session comes next, where you get to ride the desert dunes on a camel. You can also try your hand at sandboarding, which is akin to snowboarding but on the sand. If you want to try quad biking in Ras Al Khaimah, the desert safari is the perfect place for it. Most desert safaris offer it as an additional adventure or activity.
Hot Air Balloon Ride in Ras Al Khaimah
If you are looking for an outdoor adventure that is both thrilling and relaxing, a hot air balloon ride in Ras Al Khaimah would be the best for you. The ride happens early in the morning, lending you the opportunity to witness a gorgeous sunrise against the backdrop of Ras Al Khaimah’s splendid landscapes. What makes the hot air balloon adventure in Ras Al Khaimah truly special is that you have the option of flying over different landscapes. The hot air balloon rides here happen over the vast desert lands, the mighty Hajar Mountains, and even the beautiful Arabian Coast, where you get to enjoy a bird’s eye view of the glorious Marjan Island. Hot air balloon rides are available for individuals, couples, and large groups. It is one of the best activities for celebrating special occasions with your loved ones or to just savor the raw beauty of RAK.
Water Adventures
As Ras Al Khaimah is a coastal emirate, there are plenty of beaches here. The beaches of RAK are not just beautiful but filled with some amazing water adventure sports. If you are into spine-tingling water escapades, Ras Al Khaimah will not disappoint you. Here, you can try jet skiing, water skiing, wakeboarding, flyboarding, parasailing, and kite surfing. Those who are fascinated about the underwater world can go for snorkeling and scuba diving in the clear waters of Ras Al Khaimah. The emirate also offers relaxing water activities like sailing, paddleboarding, and kayaking to those interested. Sailing, dolphin watching, submarine tours, etc., are a few other best things to do in Ras Al Khaimah.
Aerobatic Flight
If you love aerial adventures, the Aerobatic Flight in Ras Al Khaimah is one that you must try. The entire adventure happens in EXTRA 330, an aerobatic plane known for its high performance. Before the flight, you will be giving a safety briefing, followed by gearing you up for the flight experience. You would be the passenger while a professional aerobatic pilot will fly the aircraft. During the 20-minute flight, you will get to relish an aerial view of different Ras Al Khaimah landscapes, including its coasts, deserts, and the mighty mountains. But the view is not the only highlight of this flight. The pilots will make your pulse race as they manoeuvre the aircraft through thrilling rolls and loops.
Mountain Sledging
Along with ziplining, Jebel Jais offers another adrenaline-rushing activity that would satisfy the adventurer in you. We are talking about the Jebel Jais Sledder. This ride includes a low-strung track that stretches up to 1840 meters and takes you all the way down the magnificent Hajar Mountains. The length of the track makes it the longest toboggan ride or sledding ride in the world. As you ride along the metal rail while sitting in the two-seater modern sledge, you can choose your speed as per your preference. You can pull in the brakes, lowering the speed of the ride, thus enjoying the amazing views of the mountains. On the other hand, you can let go of the brakes and tumble down the track at 40 km/hour speed.
Hiking
One of the simplest, yet exhilarating adventurous activities you can enjoy in RAK is hiking. The Jebel Jais itself has plenty of amazing hiking trails for everyone, right from beginners to professionals or experts. Apart from Jebel Jais, there are several other places to visit in Ras Al Khaimah which also offer striking hiking trails. These hiking trails are not just challenging but also give the opportunity to admire the landscapes of the emirate in the rawest form. Some of the easy to moderate trails here include Wadi Shawka, Ghaf Trail, Samar Trail (Jebel Jais), Shawka Dam Mountain Trail, etc. If you are looking for some challenging trails, Wadi Galilah, Wadi Naqab, and Wadi Shah are good options.
Conclusion
A few other outdoor adventures you can enjoy in Ras Al Khaimah are abseiling, rock climbing, mountain biking, rope courses, camping, and more. With so many thrilling activities to enjoy, Ras Al Khaimah promises a fun-filled and memorable holiday to adventure enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
