Abu Dhabi, the capital city of UAE, is a city full of sky scrappers, grand palaces and opulent mosques. But do you know they are also home to rich mangrove forest reserve? In this post, we will take you to the pristine back waters of Abu Dhabi through our kayaking tour.
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When we were travelling in Abu Dhabi, we had two things in mind. One, to see the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Two, to do something totally offbeat. That’s when we read about this amazing Kayaking tour.
Initially we thought all we will be seeing in this kayaking tour are the grand palaces and tall skyscrapers. But how we were wrong! Do you know that Abu Dhabi has rich mangrove forest reserve? Honestly, we did not know, until we booked this tour.
Rightly so, we jumped into the opportunity to explore these hidden gems. In this post, we will share our experience of kayaking in Abu Dhabi around the eastern mangrove forest reserve in Abu Dhabi.
With so much to look forward to, we were eagerly waiting at the eastern mangrove shores in Abu Dhabi to start our Kayaking tour with Noukhada Adventure Company. The guide provided us with our life jacket, and getting the tour and kayaks assembled. The colours of the water, kayak and the mangrove forest instigated that rush in us to start our tour. What we saw and experienced in the next 2 hours was outstanding, and something one can not imagine it to be in Abu Dhabi.
We passed through the shallow tidal waters surrounded with mangrove trees, far far away from the concrete land and that transported us to a completely contrast place. We savored our kayaking journey as we spotted crabs, and occasional birds around.
Kayaking for about an hour or so, the tide was low, and we couldn’t go further into the mangrove forest. So we detoured a bit and stopped over a hidden beach amidst these mangroves. We think it’s the best beach and most calmest place we’ve ever seen – So tranquil and beautiful, a place to take a big breathe, meditate, to unwind things, relish life at the lap of nature, and what not.
Noukhada is one of the adventure company that try to promote and develop eco-tourism for Abu Dhabi in specific, and UAE as a whole all while providing Kayaking, Stand up Paddle, windsurfing and many more. We totally recommend using their tours if you want to travel responsibility with a dash of adventure. We can close our eyes and pick this among all the other activities we’ve experienced in UAE as one of the best off-beat activities.
Recommended Reading: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi
Kayaking for the first time? Read these tips!
1.If you are kayaking for the first time, never try doing it alone. Take a partner with you.
2. Book a kayak tour, preferably for a shorter duration (45 minutes or 1 hour is ideal to begin with). Tour guides usually accompany such tours (like this one), and they help you with tips on how to hold the paddle and how to paddle.
3. You don’t need to know swimming to be able to do kayaking. You will be provided with a buoyancy aid.
4. Choose the right kind of kayak. There are Sit On Top Vs Sit In Kayaks. Similarly, Single Vs Double Kayaks. Since you are kayaking for the first time, it’s great to kayak with a partner in a double kayak.
5. Dress for the water, and not according to the weather. While it may be super sunny day, but the waters would still be really cold. Wear waterproof pants or wet suits if it is not summer.
6. Carry a dry bag to keep your belongings.
7. Carry plenty of water, sunscreen, hats and some energy bars to munch on.
Book Your Stay
The Abu Dhabi EDITION is a waterfront property with 198 stylish bedrooms. It is also pocket friendly. Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island is a glitzy hotel offering lovely views of old Abu Dhabi. The St. Regis Abu Dhabi is home to world’s highest suspended hotel suite with city’s best beach clubs and pristine beach around.
Have you kayaked around the mangrove forest in Abu Dhabi before? Is this your kind of adventure?
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Disclaimer: Thanks to Noukhada Adventure Company for sponsoring the Kayaking tour. We were not compensated or asked to write a positive review. As always, all the opinions are our own.
Sofi leen
I remember the first time I went to the UAE and looking all over the internet for the information you’ve placed so well here! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Sofi leen recently posted…Planning your trip to Dubai – Travel to Dubai
Bella
wow looks so lovely the water its so pretty!!! I would love to do this one day!
brandy toenges
My family loves to go kayaking all summer long. This places looks like a beautiful place to go!
Krysten Quiles
Oh my gosh this is GORGEOUS. I would love to be able to explore here someday!
Ashley Jones-eaton
This looks like a fun place to visit! Makes me want to go kayaking.
Monidipa
This is one of things I loved doing in Abu Dhabi. It is actually fun there. Bt I have not heard of this adventuring company.
Marie Phillips
What a perfect day on the water! I would love to go do that.
Marie Phillips recently posted…Does Chewing Gum Help Students Focus?
WorldInEyes
oh wow it looks so amazing and stunning..Glad you shared this with us..Thanks indeed..loved it..
Lyosha
must be super exciting! I love water and kayaks not less than big boats. Abu Dhabi has wonderful surroundings
Lyosha recently posted…Floppy hat
Melanie
I would love to do something like this one day!
rachel
This is such an awesome experience. I LOVE kayaking.
Lavern Moore
I can’t wait to these travel restrictions let up. This is going to be one of my first destinations!
tweenselmom
Those photos are gorgeous! Glad you shared this with us, thank you!
Bhuvi
I love to go kayaking.First time i went kayaking in thailand, i was really afraid that time.Your blog remained of me there. lot of memories….
AMY KAUR
Your overviews of these places are so thorough and they give so much good infomation.I will def have to add this to my list
Elizabeth O
It all looks idyllic and wonderfully relaxing. I think this is a really wonderful thing to do on a travel adventure off the beaten path.