To be honest, a desert will usually be the last place you would think of for a family holiday. But then, that will be because you haven’t experienced the world’s largest sand desert, the Empty Quarter, while staying at a luxury resort in Abu Dhabi. If you are still a bit unsure, read on and see what fun awaits!
Camel Trekking
Step back in time and ride like the Bedouins once did on the ‘ships of the desert’, aka camels. You can enjoy camel trekking for the whole family while staying at properties like Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara. Suffice it to say that kids will love this slow and scenic journey through the desert valleys of Liwa, with golden dunes stretching as far as the eye can see and plenty to tell their friends back home!
Desert Drives
Buckle up for a family safari in a 4×4 that can handle the dunes of Abu Dhabi. Family resorts here will provide the vehicles with friendly drivers who will whisk you through rolling dunes, stopping for photos and desert tales. While there are gentle drives for families with little ones, those with bigger kids can try some mild dune bashing, which is like a rollercoaster ride, but along the shifting sands!
Falcon Encounters
Get up close with the UAE’s most majestic and iconic bird, the falcon, at specially organised shows in the desert. These awe-inspiring and majestic creatures show off their hunting skills in live demos that will leave everyone wide-eyed, especially the kids. Depending on the season and kind of show, you may even get to see Saluki dogs in action, another hunter that’s part of a rich desert tradition.
Movies Under the Stars
Forget family movie night on a couch back home or in the cinema, because here, you can enjoy it in the vast desert! Get ready to laze on cushions, munch popcorn, and watch a family-friendly flick beneath a sky full of stars. It’s a chilled-out, heartwarming way to wrap up a day of desert fun, full of laughter and good times you can cherish for a lifetime.