One mention of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the first city that comes to mind is Dubai. But what if we tell you there is another gem we discovered recently and it has the best of both worlds — the breeze of the sea and the breathtaking view of the clouds on the mountain tops? Yup, on the northwest side of the country resides a laidback yet adventurous Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) which is the home to some of the boldest adventure sports.
Featured on CNN Travel’s ‘best destinations to visit in 2023’, Ras Al Khaimah has something for every adventure junkie. Let’s start with the waters.
Water adventures in Ras Al Khaimah:
Ras Al Khaimah houses a stretch of island along the country’s west coast and each island portion homes some of the best resorts the city has to offer. For example, in the south of the island stretch resides the luxury resort Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island which offers ample water sports options. One of which is Ras Al Khaimah’s biggest floating water park, built by Wibit, paddleboarding, and kayaking.
Many resorts such as Waldorf Astoria, Hilton, Rixos, Rotana, Ritz-Carlton, Radisson, and the world’s largest Hampton Resort by Hilton also offer other water-based sports that will give you the perfect adrenaline rush. The Royal Yacht Club of Ras Al Khaimah also offers yachting and sailing for water sports enthusiasts. We would recommend you to call the club to get all the details.
Air-Based Activities in Ras Al Khaimah:
Up Above the World So High:
You might see people paragliding and skydiving across the globe, but have you seen people — non-pilots — flying planes? Well, Ras Al Khaimah allows you to fly a plane (obviously under the guidance of a certified pilot). Head to the Al Jazirah Aviation Club for the extravagant experience. Recently, News18.com got a chance to sit in one of the aircraft and it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The pilots not only show you a view of the city and Al Marjan Island — the island area of Ras Al Khaimah — but they also give you an opportunity to take charge of the handle and learn a few tricks. As per the management of the club, those interested in learning the troops of flying can register for classes.
Coming Through:
Besides the flying lessons, Ras Al Khaimah also offers one of the longest zipline experiences in the world. Situated in the Jebel Jais mountain peak, the ‘Jais Flight’ is 1680 metres above sea level and is 2.83 km long. The adrenaline-fueled zipline gives you a gorgeous view of the deep ravines and canyons and if you are lucky, you also get to fly through clouds.
View this post on Instagram
Apart from the zipline, the tall mountain of Ras Al Khaimah also offers a paragliding experience adventure lovers also have a chance to paraglide from the top of Jebel Jais. Called the Jais Wings, the paragliding experience gives a breathtaking view of the Arabic land.
The mountain range also offers activities such as The Bear Grylls Explorers Camp which includes mountain biking, hiking and climbing that is bound to quench your thirst for adventure.
Rolling Our Way Down:
Jebel Jais also offers a roller coaster ride, called Jais Sledder. The sledder gives you full control of speed and break, making the roller coaster experience very personalised. News18.com got a chance to experience it and while we had a ball, we would like to warn you that it isn’t for the weakhearted. The ride is open from Tuesday to Sunday 11:00 am to 5:30 pm. Tickets are sold at the counter only.
The mountain range also offers a few challenging treks. Besides the sports, the mountain range also boasts restaurants that give you the perfect view of the valley.
How to reach Ras Al Khaimah?
There are two ways to reach Ras Al Khaimah from India. Most flight services to Ras Al Khaimah are offered by Indigo. While the airline offers a direct flight from Mumbai and Kozhikode, the airline offers one-stop flight services for cities such as Hyderabad, Chennai, New Delhi and Chandigarh, to name a few.
Another way to reach Ras Al Khaimah is to book a flight to Dubai and head to the city by road. The city is just an hour away from the Dubai airport.
