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Ras Al Khaimah is known for its majestic mountains, rolling dunes, and pristine coastline. As such, it is the United Arab Emirates’ premier destination for adventure and exploration.
The emirate offers a wide array of the best things to do in the UAE that lets you connect with nature and engage in exciting outdoor adventures. You can all do these while enjoying scenic views and breathing fresh, clean air.
Ras Al Khaimah’s year-round sunshine and favorable weather conditions mean you can enjoy all outdoor activities any time of the year. Moreover, its focus on eco-tourism and sustainability is an added bonus if you’re an eco-conscious traveler.
If you’re looking for a destination that immerses you in the best of nature and a variety of outdoor activities, Ras Al Khaimah should be your top choice.
Best Things to Do in Ras Al Khaimah
Below are the top outdoor activities you shouldn’t miss when you’re in Ras Al Khaimah:
Enjoy scenic mountain views from the world’s longest zipline.
Jais Flight is one of Ras Al Khaimah’s popular outdoor attractions. It opened in 2018 and still holds the record for the longest zipline in the world, spanning 2,830 meters (2.83 kilometers) long.
The zipline is located in Jebel Jais, 1,680 meters (1.68 kilometers) above the Arabian Gulf. While on the three-minute ride, you’ll go through and over peaks, canyons, and ravines.
As you soar over the Hajar Mountain, you’ll get great views of the mountains and nearby natural wonders. You can enjoy all these while riding at exciting speeds that can reach up to 150 km/h.
Jais Flight gives you the exciting opportunity to see amazing bird’s-eye views of Jebel Jais aboard a thrilling, world-record-holding ride.
If you want a longer zipline adventure, sign up for the Jais Sky Tour. It lets you ride six ziplines connected by seven platforms.
Each zipline ride offers incredible views of Hajar Mountain. The sky bridge, which is the highest platform, is 300 meters above the ground and seems like a stage floating atop the mountain.
The Jais Sky Tour is around two hours long, so be prepared for this unique experience.
Ride a hot air balloon.
If you still haven’t gotten enough of Ras Al Khaimah’s scenic views from the top, go on a hot air balloon ride, which is offered by ActionFlight.
ActionFlight offers a variety of amazing air adventures via hot air balloons. While up in the sky, you’ll get fantastic views of the Arabian Sea, Strait of Hormuz, mangroves, wadis, and Ras Al Khaimah’s famous mountains and deserts.
While aboard the hot air balloon, you also have the chance to see the emirate’s fascinating wildlife roaming on the land, such as foxes, camels, donkeys, and oryx.
You can customize your tour to catch the beautiful sun rise over the desert or sun set over the sea to see these spectacular views from the sky.
Go hiking.
Once you see Ras Al Khaimah’s beautiful mountains, you’ll want to explore them. You can do this by joining a hiking tour.
The Jebel Jais Mountain offers several hiking trails with different challenges that allow you to explore this natural wonder.
The hike starts on a hairpin road that takes you through ruddy landscapes, chasms, and cliffs. As you make the trek, take in the gorgeous natural surroundings and take plenty of photos, too.
When you reach the viewing deck, you’ll get incredible views of the Hajar Mountain range, the desert, and the Arabian Gulf.
As you go on the hike, be on the lookout for mountain goats, donkeys, and eagles. They’ll definitely liven up your adventure.
Join a survival camp.
If you’re a huge fan of Bear Grylls, join the Bear Grylls Explorers Camp. This Ras Al Khaimah camping experience lets you learn the latest, most useful skills and techniques you need to survive in the wilderness.
Each class is led by explorer-instructors trained in survival techniques practiced and recommended by Bear Grylls himself. You’ll face a variety of challenges to learn and apply essential self-rescue skills and strategies to survive in the wild.
The camp takes place in the Jebel Jais mountains. The sessions happen in the heart of the wilderness to ensure you learn the survival skills and techniques practiced by the British Forces.
But even if you’re in the wilderness, you can enjoy wild camp accommodations and camp-style breakfasts and dinners. You’ll also be given kit items for the lessons and a neck tube, certificate, and Bear Grylls Explorers Camp badge when you complete the course.
Go on a pearl farm tour.
Ras Al Khaimah is home to the only Arabian pearl farm in the world, the Suwaidi Pearl Farm. Here, you can learn about the interesting history and culture of pearl farming in the UAE.
The Suwaidi Pearl Farm is located in Al Rams, a fishing village in Ras Al Khaimah. The tour starts here, where you’ll hop on a traditional pearl fishing boat.
As you navigate the lagoon, you’ll have scenic views of the surrounding mountains, villages, and mangroves. The guide will talk about the history of pearl farming in Ras Al Khaimah and the traditional techniques and tools pearl divers used in the past.
You’ll then visit the farm and learn about the modern-day pearl farming techniques used today.
During the tour, you’ll be given an oyster, which you can open to check if you get a pearl. If you don’t get one, drop by the gift shop to buy your own pearl and other trinkets featuring this gem.
Enjoy some water sports.
Ras Al Khaimah’s waters make them the perfect spot for different water sports and activities, which include the following:
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Jet skiing- Parasailing
- Wakeboarding
- Kayaking
- Snorkeling
- Scuba diving
- Flyboarding
- Fly fishing
- Deep sea fishing
These watersports and activities let you enjoy and explore the stunning waters of the Arabian Gulf while getting a great workout. They can definitely elevate your experience in Ras Al Khaimah.
All these are offered by Adventure Sports, a well-known watersport provider. You can try these activities at the DoubleTree by Hilton Marjan Island, Hampton by Hilton Marjan Island, and Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah.
When you’re looking for fun and exciting outdoor activities to enjoy, pack your bag and visit Ras Al Khaimah.