We will never deny that Dubai is the most sparkling jewel in the crown of UAE’s tourism scene. It’s hard to skip this city and we urge you don’t. But there is a vastly unexplored area across the UAE that has elements to blow your mind!
If you are up to taking the off-beaten path to discover something extraordinary, Ras Al Khaimah has got enticing things for a delightful vacation trip. This write-up will tell you about 10 awesome reasons to visit Ras Al Khaimah along with a lot of good descriptions of this impressive destination.
10 Awesome Reasons To Visit Ras Al Khaimah
The Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) is a land blessed with an impressive archaeological heritage and an enriched cultural legacy. This place gives you not just one or two but as many as 10 reasons to drop all excuses and come to its land for exploring the unstirred beauties.
1. A Unique Combination of Stunning Landscapes
What makes the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah stand out from the other Emirates in the UAE has to be its impressive landscapes. This area enticed visitors with its charming combination of all major four elements of landscapes – coastal beaches, expansive desert, imposing mountains and enchanting mangroves.
When you are in Ras Al Khaimah, you can enjoy the best of all these 4 different landscapes without travelling long distances. It is more like relishing a “4 in 1” offer for holiday makers.
2. Short Travelling Distance from Dubai
If you are not willing to stay out of Dubai for visiting Ras Al Khaimah, there is no need to push yourself. You can reach Ras Al Khaimah within an hour (more or less) from Dubai by taking Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311).
The road distance between Dubai and RAK is approximately 115 kilometres and extremely good road condition makes travelling faster between these two popular tourist destinations. There is no train service available from Dubai to reach Ras Al Khaimah till this date but you can go for a bus ride to save some extra bucks.
3. Pleasant Weather Compared to Dubai
If you consider the Dubai sun to be ruthless, then Ras Al Khaimah can soothe your wound with its comparatively “cooler” and pleasant weather. Honesty speaking, there’s no bad time to visit Ras Al Khaimah because even summer is not that brutal there.
Although the weather in Ras Al Khaimah is bearable, still we recommend planning your vacation to RAK between the months of November and February.
Being nestled on the coastline and home to plenty of natural greens, Ras Al Khaimah doesn’t allow day temperatures to soar high and it cools down rapidly after sunset. Evenings are always pleasant here.
4. Wide Variety of Adventure Activities
From rock climbing to hiking, from mountain biking to dune bashing – Ras Al Khamiah is a perfect gateway to a wide range of adventure activities. All adventure lovers can try here some of the best activities that can even outdo their Dubai and Abu Dhabi counterparts.
Jabel Jais has the world’s largest zip line. On the other hand, Hajar Mountain terrain offers a once-in-a-lifetime biking and hiking experience. Exploration enthusiast has got Jazirah Al Hamra while underwater scuba diving reveals a whole new world. There’s wakeboarding and more to get glued to at RAK.
Who will not be amazed by those endless hiking trails all across the Hajar Mountains and Jebel Jais? Even if you are not an ardent hiker, you would love to take a chance with them to have a glimpse of some breathtaking views.
5. History and Heritage of More Than 7000 years
We bet you will be utterly surprised if you take a look at the cultural history of Ras Al Khaimah. It’s not just rich but diverse too. As per many historians, this emirate played a substantial role in the development of the modern UAE.
No wonder why history buffs head to the National Museum, Dhayah Fort, Sheba’s Palace (oldest in the UAE) and Qasr Al Zabba of Ras Al Khaimah to understand its fascinating history and heritage of more than 7000 years. The museum houses artifacts dating back to the 14th century along with a beguiling collection of ancient pieces in form of exhibits.
6. Some Epic Beaches and Luxury Beach Resorts
The most fascinating part of Ras Al Khaimah is its serene coastal beaches. As soon as you step into this region, a bunch of iconic luxury resorts is all set to pamper you with their exceptional service and high-end facilities.
The shore of Ras Al Khaimah is dotted with a series of world-famous luxury hotels like The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Resort & Spa and the Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah. This place has earned the reputation of housing the biggest names from hospitality industry. What’s more, RAK hosts some of the best family hotels in the UAE!
7. There’s a Haunted Town Whispering Chilling Folklore
Do you love horror stories or those spooky movies? One of the most intriguing places in Ras Al Khaimah is Jazirah Al Hamra. This abandoned village in the south of the emirate is believed to be haunted by Jinns, spirit-like entities from Islamic folklore.
Jazirah Al Hamra is surely an off-beaten destination where we can’t guarantee you will meet the Jinns in those rusty 14th-century houses but the ambience will be enough to send a chill through your spine. Despite being haunted, this place looks quite photogenic because of its gorgeous orange hue and unusual appearance.
8. An Unusual Desert Wildlife
Not just the landscape, desert wildlife in Ras Al Khaimah is truly captivating. Animals are a rare sight in all major cities of the UAE but RAK is exceptional. Apart from domesticated camels and falcons, this place lures a large chunk of tourists for its free-roaming animals.
Arabian oryx is the most beloved desert animal and Ras Al Khaimah offers you plenty of opportunities to spot many. Although this species was recently brought back from the brink of extinction, RAK’s landscape acts as a natural habitat for this beautiful creature.
9. Mangrove Coastline Bustling with Species Diversity
Ras Al Khaimah flaunts a surreal stretch of 65-kilometre coastline. Much of it is occupied with green mangroves loaded with avian and aquatic species. Spotting a large flock of flamingos is a regular thing in those mangrove areas.
The best way to understand the biodiversity of the mangrove is to paddle through it. These swampy areas are now valued for saving and enriching the Emirate’s shoreline with diverse and vibrant flora and fauna.
10. It Is a Very Natural Alternative to Man-Made Attractions of the Other Emirates
Unlike other emirates of the UAE, Ras Al Khaimah is known for its natural wonders. Everything that catches your attention at RAK is mostly natural creation or created with minimum effort from mankind.
When other emirates are more into exhibiting their advanced technology and immense wealth to the world, Ras Al Khaimah remains rich in natural wonders. The historical journey of this emirates is also outstanding and you can still taste that vibe all over the place.
Bonus #11 – Sunrise & Sunset!
One bonus reason for the list… places to watch sunrise and sunset. As Ras Al Khaimah is located towards the north of the UAE, it has a much more mountainous landscape. Add to this a lot less light pollution compared to Abu Dhabi & Dubai and you have yourself a fantastic place to catch unrivalled sunrise and sunset spots!
Conclusion
Ras Al Khaimah is certainly a hidden gem, nearly forgotten and ignored by many. But we took the burden to reintroduce this gorgeous emirate so that you don’t miss a chance to visit this place when you are in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Hopefully, you loved reading the article and we can assure you gonna love the place even more!
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