DUNES CAMPING & SAFARI: VIDEO REPORT
Right in the middle of the deserts of Ras Khaimah is located The Dunes Camping and Safari – a veritable treasure trove for desert nomads like myself who are looking for an escape from the high-stress city life to relax and unwind far from the madding crowds.
Set amidst the undulating sand dunes of Wadi Samha’, the Dunes Camping & Safari is a premium desert lodge in Ras Al Khaimah and has been gaining increasing popularity amongst both international and local travellers. The camping lodge exudes an aura a typically Arabic surroundings and offers comfortable and affordable accommodation, with endless views of the Arabian desert that further accentuates the overall sense of tranquillity one gets as soon as you enter the premises of this unique property.
Dotted with modern dome tents and elevated tree houses, complemented by an earthy, typically bedouin colour palette, gives The Dune Camping resort a contemporary yet quintessentially Bedouin feel.
The open-plan dining-cum-entertainment lounge and bar area is spacious yet cosy, drawing in natural daylight and moonshine. The Dune Camping resort has 10 dome-shaped tents, each exquisitely decorated and with generous private space. Each dome has its own outside deck area and seating arrangements for relaxation.
At night, the entire campsite comes alive as colourful and strategically placed lighting sweeps across the entire campsite and walkways.
The entire campsite and the dining complex are connected through bricked pathways meandering through the natural landscape along which the accommodations are located. The air-conditioned domes feature an open-plan sleeping and living area beneath a high-domed roof with see-through panels as walls.
This rustic desert lodge features a centrally-located restaurant, located in the open-air dining pavilion, serving delicious food at breakfast and dinner.
At dinner, we savoured some sumptuous barbecue meat (served fresh straight from the coal pit), rice, Arabic bread as well as some local dishes like hummus and manakeesh. Breakfast options were wide too – with a choice of international breakfast as well as a dedicated omelette station.
The lodge offers all-inclusive rates, including breakfast, dinner and a thrilling nightly entertainment bonanzna that features a belly dancer, a fire-eating artist and a mesmerising tanoura dance performance.
WHAT I LIKED:
All in all, the Dunes Camping resort is a self-contained world of luxury, offering city dweller yuppies like moi just what we need: tranquility, privacy, and a sense of space. Undoubtedly, the management has done an excellent job designing and maintaining the understated elegance of this unique holiday destination through their immaculate attention to detail, themed design elements, high service levels and well thought-out entertainment offerings.
The entire layout of the desert camp is simple yet convenient: the communal areas (small lobby, tented sitting areas, henna station, boutique shop, restaurant, and lounge) are centered around a large sandy courtyard, with the dome suites located along an arched walkway. The walkway continues all the way to the five elevated tree houses that are located in the centre of the open courtyard. The entire property is surrounded by a fence to prevent anyone (including camels) from entering the resort premises.
The dome tent we stayed in had an en-suite bathroom with a clean and convenient indoor shower, modern wash basin, and a stand-alone bath. There was a private patio just outside the living room that could be accessed through the main door. The private outside deck offered terrific views of the central courtyard and the sand dunes beyond. Here’s a useful tip: the five premium dome suites are nearest to the main dining area and are recommended for those who do not wish to walk too much up and down the walkways.
The interiors of the Premium domes and the five Deluxe domes are all decked in colourful hand-woven cloth with typical Arabic motifs, neutral colour palettes and a translucent plastic exterior that provides ample natural light and provides panoramic views of the entire campsite. The open-plan concept and expansive outdoor courtyard match the minimalist, airy and modern interiors of the futuristic domes.
However, our prime reason for a visit to The Dunes Camping resort was to explore the Arabian desert. For that, two daily desert drives are available (evening and early morning), in addition to a free camel-back safari for those wanting to explore the nearby dunes. The 4×4 desert safari is led by a trained desert driver and you can expect an enjoyable and thrilling rollercoaster ride across the sand dunes as you embark on your 4×4 adventure in the dunes.
SUGGESTED SCHEDULE
Below is a suggested schedule for your stay at the Dunes Camping resort:
| 5 am: | Early wake up |
| 5.30 am: | Light breakfast (tea, coffee and bread) |
| 6 am: | Desert drive. Halfway through the desert drive, stop for tea / snacks |
| 9 am: | Return to the campsite for full breakfast |
| 9.30 – 1 pm: | Relax outdoors |
| 1 pm: | Lunch |
| 2 – 4 pm: | Explore the campsite |
| 4 pm: | Tea / Coffee |
| 4.30 – 7 pm: | Camelback safari. Watch the sun set over the distant sand dunes |
| 7pm: | Return to campsite |
| 7 – 9 pm | Dinner as you enjoy the entertaining performances |
TRAVELLER TIPS
Most of the available accommodation (specially domes and elevated tree houses) feature a queen-sized bed. As a result, the bed-configuration is not very suitable when you’re traveling with a friend. However, an extra mattress is provided (free of cost) for your convenience.
The property, obviously, does not have a wi-fi. Make sure you top up your mobile phone data package before checking in.
The bathroom taps run groundwater which is not suitable for drinking. So beware.
AMENITIES & ACTIVITIES
The Dunes Camping resort has a wide variety of amenities and activities. These include:
- 4×4 Desert Safari
- Romantic Private Safari Dine in Desert
- Farm Visit with Brunch at Farm
- Private Safari to Jabel Jais Mountains
- Camel Ride
- Private Sunset Romantic Dinner
- Shisha
- Bar
- Guided Quad Bike Tour in RAK Dunes
- Evening Entertainment
- Private Barbecue
- Private Parties
- Corporate Event Management
EXPANSION PLANS
The increasing popularity of the Dunes Camping resort has prompted the management to launch an ambitious expansion plan that will see the construction of 15 new accommodation units as well as a new swimming pool in the next six months.
“We will be expanding our accommodation inventory by mid-2021,” revealed Shabu Korah Vaniyapurackal, founder and managing partner of Dunes Camping and Safari LLC. “Ever since our establishment in December 2019, we have been registering a steady growth in the number of tourists visiting our property – both local as well as international. As a result, we will be embarking on a major expansion programme in the first half of 2021, which will see the construction of 15 new accommodation units as well as a new swimming pool,” he said.
Jubin Joseph, managing director and CEO, echoed the optimism: “Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism industry is poised for unprecedented growth in the coming years and we feel we should compliment the efforts of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) in attracting more tourists to the emirate by investing and upgrading our infrastructure to meet international standards,” he said. “Expansion was an inevitable decision for us – as we are also seeing exponential growth in the local staycation tourism sector due to restrictions on international travel because of COVID-19,” he said.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Winter is obviously the best time to visit the Dunes Camping resort when the temperature is perfect for outdoor activities. However, a 4×4 desert safari can be experienced at any time of the year as you’re in the closed confines of an air-conditioned 4×4 most of the time.
As the property is built on a natural desert oasis, the vegetation inside the campsite is lush and verdant – attracting a wide variety of bird life throughout the year.
HOW TO GET THERE
The Dunes Camping resort, although located in the middle of the desert, is easily accessible in a normal saloon car, thanks to a special off-road track.
The Dunes Campsite is located approximately 35 minutes (40 Kms / 25 Miles) drive from the RAK International airport and 65 minutes from Dubai International Airport (83 kms / 52 miles).
If you’re driving from Dubai, take Exit 119 on the 311 highway and follow the sign posts for The Ritz Carlton Ras Al Khaimah. From the entrance gate of The Ritz Carlton, take left and follow the sign posts.
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