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Bedouin Oasis Camp is a perfect getaway from the hustle-and-bustle of city life and offers you a chance to enjoy the peace and tranquility of desert living from the luxury and comfort of you own private chalet – complete with an ensuite bathroom. Located in Wadi Khadeja, Bedouin Oasis Camp can also be used as your base camp to explore and experience Ras Al Khaimah and its surroundings. Located in the middle of the desert, this unique camping resort is surrounded by undulating sand dunes that make for a picturesque view – as well as excellent pictures for your social media accounts!
The drive from Highway 311 to the Bedouin Oasis Camp is a scenic journey in itself – taking you along meandering offroad tracks and sand-covered roads, past camel farms and into the heart of the mystical Wadi Khadeja. (see video)
Arabic Style Chalets
Bedouin Oasis Camping resort has 35 chalets of four different kinds. Each chalet comes with an outside sitting area which provides gorgeous views of the all-encompassing desert that surrounds the property. A swimming pool and a dedicated childrens’ play area make the Bedouin Oasis Camping resort a perfect destination for a family holiday in Ras Al Khaimah – specially for those looking for exciting new staycation options during these times of international travel restrictions.
All the 35 chalets are spaced widely apart and are situated in walking distance from the main entertainment and dining area. Each chalet has an en-suite bathroom and a comfortable queen-sized bed, with a small patio at the front to enjoy the natural beauty of the surrounding desert. Some chalets offer an open-plan bathroom with all modern amenities.
The well-appointed chalets follow an Arabic theme and are designed to blend in with the surrounding environment, as though they’re connected to the surrounding desert. Wherever possible, trees and vegetation have been left undisturbed and even incorporated into the property’s overall design. An added bonus for nature living environmentalists: this desert camp is partly powered by solar energy and prides itself on being environmentally conscious.
Glorious Isolation
The remote settings of the Bedouin Oasis Camp gives the feeling of glorious isolation, as you unwind and soak in the peace and tranquility of this oasis in the desert.
For me, the unique village theme of Bedouin Oasis Camp provided a welcome change from the glitz and glamour of the typical super luxury hotels in the UAE. The unique Arabic desert village theme is further accentuated by the old-world rustic interiors of the chalets, which are meticulously designed and furnished to provide you an authentic taste of the ancient bedouin culture. The extensive use of straw, cane and wooden materials in internal trimmings and exterior facades provides an authentic bedouin village feel, while antique metallic lanterns hanging from different vantage points of the property make you feel as though you are on an 1001 Arabian Nights adventure!
To further add to the ‘Alladin’ aura, natural materials like bamboo, earthen pottery, wooden carvings, bedouin fabrics, ropes and antique brass decorations compliment the hues of the surrounding desert by providing a soothing and harmonious color combination.
This unique 1001 Arabian Nights ambience is probably what has made the Bedouin Oasis Camp a popular holiday destination for not only for international tourists but also local residents looking for an exciting staycation in the UAE.
Arab Hospitality
However, the best thing about the resort is the warm, welcoming and helpful staff. Service levels are impeccable and top-notch, as you would expect from a professionally managed camping resort. Both management and staff excel in providing the best service possible, and try their level best to ensure that you have a great stay. The Bedouin Oasis Camp is owned by Arabian Incentive and is managed by Gulf Tours. The property is also the recipient of the prestigious Travellers’ Choice Award from Tripadvisor in 2020.
Activities Galore
Besides the daily evening entertainment programme which includes thrilling performances by a curvacious belly dancer and a fearless fire-eating artist, the camp also arranges all kinds of desert activities which includes guided quad bike tours as well as 4×4 jeep safaris across the dunes, camel rides across the desert landscape, sand skiing and a special romantic meal at the in-house sunset point (see picture below). You can also order a private barbecue and bonfire outside your chalet.
Bedouin Oasis Camp is also known for its excellent food and you will often see groups that come in just for a meal and entertainment. The central dining and entertainment area at the camp serves a variety of drinks including water, tea and even alcohol. You can also order a shisha with the tobacco flavour of your choice.
The Not-So-Good Parts
- Be mindful, this property is located in the middle of the desert and normal amenities are not as easily available as in other parts of the city. Take water, for instance. The water running in the wash basin is probably coming from groundwater sources – and hence is not suitable for drinking. A notice to that effect would help visitors.
- The property does not have any wi-fi connection. So make sure you have enough mobile data on your phone. Plan your stay accordingly.
Best Time to Visit
Without doubt, the best time to visit is during the winter months – between October and March when the average daytime temperature is around 25°C (77°F). This is the best season to enjoy the outdoors, retreat to the solitude of the desert and indulge in all kinds of adventure activities. From March to May, the temperature begins its steady climb towards the summer peaks and again starts to subside from September as temperatures begin to fall steadily.
Amenities & Activities
Bedouin Oasis Camp offers a wide variety of amenities and activities to choose from. These include:
- Swimming Pool
- Guided Quad Bike Tours
- 4×4 Desert Safari
- Camel Ride
- Shisha
- Bar
- Evening Entertainment
- Private Barbecue
- Personal Bonfire
- Private Parties
- Corporate Event Management
Staycation Destination in the UAE
As mentioned, the Bedouin Oasis Camp has emerged as a popular staycation destination amongst the local and regional travellers – an increasing number of local residents and expatriate families are now looking for offbeat tourists destinations like this to satiate their urge to travel.
The increasing demand and popularity of staycations can be gauged by the fact that Google Trends data revealed that the percentage of staycation bookings made on Airbnb increased substantially in January-February 2021. The Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry also recorded a surge in Internet searches for “staycation” since international travel restrictions have been imposed.
Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) has been actively promoting its tourism sector in local, regional and international markets and has been working closely with hotel and hospitality partners as well as government authorities to safely welcome guests back to the Emirate as restrictions are gradually eased. To ensure the safety of visitors and employees, the RAKTDA is in constant dialogue with hotel partners to ensure that all public health guidelines are being strictly followed.
Current hospitality standards and procedures in Ras Al Khaimah include testing of all hotel staff for COVID-19, provision of masks and gloves for all guests, allocation of separate entrances and exits for guests and staff and mandatory thermal screening at all entrances on arrival. RAKTDA inspectors also undertake regular spot checks to ensure the measures are being adhered to and provide support to help hoteliers enforce the protocols designed for guest wellbeing.
“To help reassure our guests, colleagues and residents, we have also introduced the RAK ‘Stay Safe’ Hotel Certification,” says Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority. “Once awarded, hotels can use to demonstrate their adoption of all the measures in place to protect everyone’s wellbeing. We know that many people are looking forward to what we’ve termed a ‘shortcation’ or longer holiday and our aim is give them the confidence that they can comfortably enjoy their time in Ras Al Khaimah,” he said.
How to Get to Bedouin Oasis Camp
Although Bedouin Oasis is located in the middle of the desert, it is easily accessible in a saloon car. As you turn left from the entrance gate of the The Ritz Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, a tarmac track will take you towards your destination. However, this tarmac road soon turns into an sandy track that leads you straight to the property. The Bedouin Oasis is clearly sign posted and there are no chances of you getting lost in the desert.
The Bedouin Oasis is located approximately 35 minutes (40 Kms / 25 Miles) drive from the RAK International airport and it takes approximately just over an hour to reach the Camp from the Dubai International Airport (83 kms / 52 miles).
Driving from Dubai, we took Exit 119 on the 311 highway and just followed the sign posts for the The Ritz Carlton Ras Al Khaimah. From the entrance gate of The Ritz Carlton, we just took the left turn and followed the sign posts.
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