12 Dec 10 Experiences In Dubai Perfect For Nature Lovers

If you’re like us (and 99.9999% of the population of the world) shiny skyscrapers and busy city bustle will be the first thing that pops into your mind when you hear “Dubai”. And rightfully so. Dubai is a global city and the business hub of the Middle East – of course it’s going to offer anything and everything you may ever want and need from a metropolis.

But what about outdoor lovers like us? Can they…or shall I say “we”, get what we want from the most populous Emirate in the UAE?

 

 

Well, during our recent trip to Dubai with The Luxury Collection, we were able to satisfy our nature-loving souls more than we thought we would have…and now we have put together this guide to make your upcoming trip to Dubai a nature-loving one.

10 Experiences In Dubai Perfect For Nature Lovers

 

 

Sleep In The Desert at Al Maha

It is no coincidence that we’ve listed this as the number one experience on our list. You quite easily forget that Dubai is in fact in the middle of the desert, so not taking advantage of the iconic, dusty dunes would be a shame. Book a night (or more if you can) at the Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa, as sleeping in one of their private Bedouin tent suites can easily go down as a once-in-a-lifetime bucket list experience, not to mention the array of activities that come included in your package – such as private dinners in the desert, Arabian horse rides, and breakfast on your terrace with (unplanned) Arabian gazelle visitors #truestory. Waking up with views of dunes in front of you will send your outdoor-loving heart racing.

 

 

Ride Camels Into The Sunset

Known as the ‘ships of the desert’, camels have been transporting humans for thousands of years across the hot Arabian environment, and there really is no other animal like it. They are so uniquely adapted to the soft sand and heat, that it literally looks like a walk in the park. The best time to ride one of these long-legged ungulates, is of course just before sunset. A quick word of advice though – getting on and off a camel is extremely dangerous if not done properly, so always listen to the briefing before embarking. Most excursions take up to an hour and if you’re staying at Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa, daily camel rides are part of your package.

 

Admire Floral Creations at the Dubai Miracle Garden

In need of a colourful explosion? Every year from mid-November to mid-May, you can visit the Dubai Miracle Garden and explore all it has to offer. There are said to be over 150 million flowers arranged in interesting and quirky ways. Some of the attractions include an Emirates A380 airbus covered in flowers, and a 15m-wide floral clock. Bring some hayfever pills with you though, if pollen makes you sneeze.

 

Look for Oryx on a Nature Drive

Seeing an Oryx in the wild is an unforgettable experience. These majestic antelope are known for their striking looks, and prominent horns. As they are always on the move in search of food, it can be very difficult to find them, but once you do, it will be an encounter you will never forget. If you’ve traveled through Namibia or South Africa, and spotted Oryx there, you will immediately notice that the Arabian Oryx is distinctly lighter, and that’s because it has evolved over time to repel the heat of the harsh Arabian deserts. The best way to see them is to jump into a 4×4 and head to the dunes – another experience included when you stay at Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa.

 

Go Bird Watching at Al Qudra Lakes

Al Qudra is a welcoming desert oasis, just 30 minutes from the big city, where you can find an array of waterbirds including stunning flamingos. Take a leisurely stroll in between the marshes, and bring your binoculars to spot those harder-to-see birds, like the Asian Houbara. Although we missed this excursion during our own Dubai trip, we have added it to our list for next time.

 

 

Get Lost Inside The Green Planet

Inside this bio-dome-esque looking structure, is the largest man-made life-sustaining tree in the world. Home to over 3000 plants and animals, it’s like walking into the Amazon, but instead of being in South America, you’re in the middle of busy Dubai. Everything from Toucans to Sloths can be seen, and it’s a great place to get close to the shyer animals of the rainforest. AED 89 (approx USD 25) gets you in, and you’ll quickly forget that you’re actually in the busiest city in the Middle East.

 

Explore the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary

Not too far from the bustle of the city, is this wildlife haven sustaining crustaceans, mammals, thousands of fish, and during the winter months, you can even see the beautiful flamingos. Our best tip is to find one of the birdlife hides – a sheltered, often camouflaged hut, that allows you to get close to many birds. Another experience we’ll be adding to our next trip.

 

 

Cruise the Dubai Marina on a Private Yacht

Just a short walk from the Grosvenor House (where we stayed for two delightful nights), is the Dubai Marina. Known as the “most luxurious man-made marina” in the entire world, it offers you a way to see the city from the water. Our 3-hour excursion on our private yacht gave us great views of the city, all whilst enjoying the sunshine, fresh air, and delicate spray of the Arabian Gulf, making it the most outdoor-loving way to view the world-famous city skyline.

 

 

Visit Hatta Dam

Surrounded by mountains, and filled with stunning turquoise waters, this refreshing location offers a wide variety of activities such as kayaking, jogging and hiking. The views from some of the vistas are beautiful, and offer a great day’s outing, only an hours drive from the city centre.

 

 

Explore the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo

Being completely engulfed and surrounded by water is a unique feeling. The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo (situated inside the Dubai Mall) offers a thrilling way to encounter giant fish and happy otters (among other creatures too, of course) and will definitely fool you into thinking that you’ve left the bity city behind. You can walk around and get lost for hours, and if you’re really feeling adventurous, you can hop into a diving suit and scuba dive right there in the aquarium amongst sharks and stingrays (um, something we haven’t done yet, but maybe on the next trip).

 

 

 

Bonus: 10 Experiences (Nearby) Dubai Perfect For Nature Lovers

 

As the UAE is not that big, we thought we’d include some additional outdoor-loving experiences outside of Dubai, that might lure you into a neighboring Emirate:

 

Ride through Big Red in Al Badayer Desert – in Sharjah

Spot flamingos at the Al Zorah Nature Reserve – in Ajman

See the great 80 million year old Fossil Rock – in Sharjah

Go diving at night – in Fujairah

Kayak through the Umm Al Quwain Wetlands – in Sharjah

See the salt flats and wetlands inside Al Wathba Wetland Reserve – in Abu Dhabi

Visit Bu Tinah Island – in Abu Dhabi

See the Emerald-green pools at Wadi Al Bih – in Ras Al Khaimah

Go looking for birds and tropical mammals at Wasit Nature Reserve – in Sharjah

Find Ghaf trees in Al Hayer forest – in Al Ain

 

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