Craving the sun and fresh air, we look for opportunities to be in the bosom of nature and rest from the hustle and bustle of the city. Woodlands of Ras Al Khaimah desert behind Sheikh Khalifa Specialty Hospital has plenty of options for an afternoon picnic or overnight camping. Such a captivating natural landscape will quickly capture your heart and you will realize that you do not need to cover miles to find a stunning desert location. So, get a blanket, bring your family and friends, favorite snacks, and relax in the surrounding of nature.
FIND A PERFECT SPOT IN WOODLANDS OF RAS AL KHAIMAH DESERT
The journey starts here: 25.626512, 55.841932. Swerving from Al Shohada Road, next to Sheikh Khalifa Specialty Hospital in Ras Al Khaimah, you will drive down the dirt road. The off-road car is not necessarily needed here, of course, as long as you do not plan to venture deep inside the desert.
Relatively close to the road, you will find an old fort (25.624970, 55.829126), that I previously wrote about here: Al Mazra Fort – the Eerie Marvel. It is a lovely heritage location, giving a little bit of insight into the life of people here in the past.
WHAT ABOUT… A PICNIC!
What happens after rain in the woodlands of Ras Al Khaimah desert, is a different story altogether. Those who have seen this bewildering phenomenon have certainly been left speechless. The wilderness of a barren desert, with not much greenery except trees, starts to cover up with a lush green carpet, resembling a landscape straight from paradise.
Strolling between the evergreen trees, one has a chance to choose a perfect spot for a picnic or even overnight camping. Woodlands of Ras Al Khaimah desert is a popular place for families, especially on weekends. There are facilities provided by Ras Al Khaimah Municipality, which makes it easier to dispose of your trash after enjoying the time in nature.
… OR GO OFF-ROAD!
If you are an off-road driving lover, it is certainly a place worth going. For a journey enriched with fun driving through the woodlands of Ras Al Khaimah desert, you may want to enter the area from this side: 25.617747, 55.802764. Following paved roads created to build electricity towers between sand dunes, you will eventually reach the plain covered with a lush forest of trees (25.612078, 55.821232), also accessible from the other side mentioned above. As I said before, the woodlands of Ras Al Khaimah desert tend to be very busy on weekends, so you should probably expect a lot of off-road vehicles roaming around, including cars, quads, and bikes.
And if you are one of those who like to socialize, or perhaps even race with other off-road cars in the desert, “Storm Hill” (Arabic: تل العاصفة – Tal Al Asifah) located nearby (25.612202, 55.812636) is one of those places that people, especially locals, like to gather at to enjoy extreme off-road driving.
REMEMBER!
- Do not leave any garbage behind, including food. Even organic waste can take months to biodegrade and meanwhile it will attract animals. It may not only make them stop eating their natural food and rely on what humans leave behind but also it may make them sick.
- Have always a bag ready to collect trash left behind by other inconsiderate people – in the end, you are saving nature.
- Hike or camp over gravel and rocks. In some areas, the vegetation can take years to grow back.
- Leave natural and historical items where you find them.
- Minimize cooking over a campfire, use the stove instead – it is less impact on the wilderness.
UAE OFF-ROADER GUIDE
If you are looking for more off-road trails to discover around the United Arab Emirates, I can recommend this ultimate guide that is packed with many routes, giving very detailed information and answering all questions you could have about off-roading in the UAE.
You can get it from Amazon: https://amzn.to/2UrKZdo
FIELD GUIDE TO EMIRATES
To learn more about UAE’s natural & archaeological treasures, check: https://www.fieldguidetoemirates.com
I hope you found this article about the woodlands of Ras Al Khaimah desert helpful and it gave you an idea of where to head to next weekend. If you are looking for more places to visit nearby, I recommend you to check: Astonishing Turquoise of Saraya Island or The Secrets of Wadi Naqab.
