Oman - Khasab and Musandam

During our stay in the UAE we also made a full day trip to Oman. More precisely, to the region of Khasab and Musandam.

Khasab is a peaceful town located at the foot of Wadi Khasab and overlooking the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. Khasab in Arabian means 'fertility' which refers to the large produce of dates (did you know they're about good for nearly everything?) and to the fresh water.

In Khasab we boarded a dhow (traditional boat used in the Arab countries) to explore the fjord of Khor Sham. That's a spectacular sheltered 16 km long fjord with crystal clear water. Because of the presence of mountains around, it has been given the nickname 'The Norway of Arabia'. It truly is very beautiful!

Along the cruise, we were able to see some old villages, dating back ages ago and still inhabited by some families - those of Nadiff, Qanaha and Maqlab - and also passed Telegraph Island where the British built a telegraph station in 1865. They laid an underwater cable from India to Basra in Iraq to get a telegraph connection between England and India. The island was only manned for a very short time. Now it's surrounded by reefs and corals and is one of the best places for swimming and snorkeling. You can also spot dolphins there.

It was a very pleasurable cruise. We were comfortable (I don't mind sitting on cushions) and got everything we needed. At noon we were treated to a nice lunch aboard the vessel. Rice and vegetables and chicken + fruit as much as you liked.

UAE - Ras Al Khaimah

One of the smaller emirates is Ras Al Khaimah. We only discovered it by accident, while checking for hotels in the wider region of Dubai. Looked up more information on the internet, and decided to also spend a couple of days there.

We were lodged in the Hilton Resort & Spa, a big hotel with various swimming pools, private beach, spa and health club, etc., etc. We had a sumptuous suite (being in a mood to spend some money) and everything was more than fine.

While you can stay in the resort itself and just have a beach holiday (like most tourists, especially those with children) Ras Al Khaimah has other possibilities.

One way to discover the area is doing a tour, preferably with a private guide. We took this opportunity to spend a whole afternoon exploring the area. We drove to Marjan Island, where the most expensive hotels are being built, into the desert where we could watch falcon training and see Arabian horses. We also went to the Dhayah fortress, which is one of the oldest in the region. You have to be fit, though, because you have to mount over 200 steps to reach the top of the mountain on which the fortress is built.

Ras Al Khaimah is near Oman and the Hajar mountains form the border. The highest of these mountains is Jebel Jais. You can drive out to there, have a picknick if you like or do some mountain climbing or try the zip line. They have the longest zip line there, 3 km between two mountain tops! The government of RAK is doing everything to boost tourism, and like everywhere in the emirates it has to be bigger and better than anywhere else!

UAE - Dubai

When you talk about Dubai to most people they ask: 'Is there anything to see there?' Well, there surely is.

For starters, Dubai is the only town in the UAE which still has an old town. It's very nice to walk around there, finding all kinds of quaint shops. There is also a massive renovation going on (Dubai will host the World Expo in 2020) but here they are doing a good thing. They restore houses and shops just like they used to be ages ago, and you can't even tell the difference!

Next to the palm islands, Dubai has a creek. Our hotel was near to it, and from our room we could watch the dhows go and leave the harbor. A visit to Palm Jumeirah is of course due. You can do that by car, or by helicopter (we did both). On Palm Jumeirah the most expensive hotels are to be found, including two 7-star hotels (Atlantis and Burj Al Arab). You can only enter them if you are a guest there, but you're allowed to take pictures from the outside. Jumeirah also has a marina. Very pricely real estate there, as well!

Most people will have heard about Burj Khalifa, up to now the highest building in the world (though the government intends to build one that's even higher). Tourists can go up to three different levels, and of course the ticket price will correspond. You already have breathtaking views from the 125th floor. When leaving the Burj Khalifa, you can see the fountains that move to music starting at 6 pm. It is really worth waiting for that.

When you get tired of the sun, and want to do something more active than shopping in the many malls and souks, you can go indoor skiing. Ski Dubai is modern and has nice slopes for beginners and experts alike. Outside +32° Celsius and inside -4°. Included in the ticket price is the rental of the material, which is in good quality I must say. We tried it out and it was a very nice day. You can ski, have a warm drink or grab a bite to eat nearby.

Just outside Dubai there's the desert. Different compagnies offer trips into it. We went for a sunset camel trek. We had private transport into the desert (about one hour's drive). The last part of the drive was riding up and down the sand dunes (nice!). Then we went for our camel ride (just take care when the camel gets up) in the early evening. When we returned to the bedouin camp we got some mint tea and dates, and afterwards we could sit down to a traditional dinner. Very tasty, and quite to my liking. After dinner there were traditional dances and opportunity to have a henna tatoo on your hands. You could also pose for pictures with a falcon on your arm.