Desert camping in Ras Al Khaimah and my encounter with million stars

Have you ever slept in a desert and counted the million stars that twinkle before you?

If this is a kind of bucket list you want to tick off, head straight to Ras Al Khaimah, known for its red sand desert. Read more…

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Ras Al Khaimah is one of the destinations in UAE that is full of beautiful coast and islands, enchanting mountains, secret exclaves.

This makes Ras Al Khaimah a treasure trove of UAE. It’s no news that UAE is blessed with vast expanse of Arabian Desert.

To experience desert camping, we decided to stay in Ras Al Khaimah’s Bedouin Oasis.

This post is a honest opinion on our experience of staying in the camp site and savouring all the things this tour has got to offer. 

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Where is Ras Al Khaimah

We drove approx 90 minutes from Sharjah in the direction of Ras Al Khaimah before we took glimpse of rolling red sand dunes shimmering in the sun light.

With a bit of twists and turns, reached Bedouin Oasis campsite as sun was setting down the horizon. Bedouin Oasis is located in the Ras Al Khaimah’s Banyan Tree Al Wadi.

Desert Camping in Bedouin Oasis

We saw pre-erected tents lined up on both the sides and further away were the authentic Bedouin style tents covering up rest of the campsite.

Inspired by the lifestyle of the nomadic tribes Bedous, these tents were made of traditional and natural materials and lets oneself to discover the ancient desert lifestyle.

Already impressed with the debonair of the campsite, we decided to climb the little mound to get Coup d’oeil of the campsite.  

As the dusk was falling, the whole desert turned perhaps into an oasis.

Also Read: Guide To Visiting Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi

Fun Things To Do While Desert Camping

We decided to get a dash of adventure in the desert and tried sand boarding. What seemed initially difficult, later became more enjoyable and fun.  

We didn’t master it, but managed to do few slides. Then we settled in one of the cosy corners of the table in the centre of the camp as we sipped our tea.

Also Read: Visit Al Mumzar Beach Park in Dubai, an offbeat attraction

That beautiful evening passed by as we had conversations with other people and waited to watch belly dancing.  

We settled in a comfortable corner sipping the Arabic coffee, we saw the belly dancer shake off her hip to the peppy Arabic music effortlessly and with sheer elegance.

In no time, all of us were wiggling our hips to the music along with the dancer.

The dance fun was followed by a home cooked food that included salads, Arabic bread, BBQ kebabs, curry/dhal and fried rice.  

After the bountiful dinner, we settled in near the campfire with another cuppa while some of them tried shisha smoking.  

Hours went by and the darkness overtook the sky, we were still chatting with others and having conversation about the countries we come from and travel in general.  It’s a nice feeling to talk with people who share same interest.

The chillness was creeping in at 10pm when we noticed the stars brimming brightly and taking over the dark sky.  

A few more hours of chat later we decided to go to our tent to sleep.  

The tent was equipped with 2 separate beds, sheets, fleece blankets, water bottles and a LED light.  

December in UAE is cold, and being in desert, we felt very cold, but as we snuggled into our blankets, we felt cosy and warm in minutes.

Even with our eyes feeling super sleepy, the eye lids deny to close as we stood staring at the millions of stars twinkling in the sky, under the canopy.  Such is the magic of these nocturnal skies.

This picture was taken around 4 or 5 am when the sun was still below the horizon waiting to rise. Ain’t that wonderful?  Having starry dreams, we both dozed off to get a few more hours sleep.

Sun rays knocked our tent directly at 7am. We got up and refreshed ourselves. Talking about the facilities of the toilet, you might wonder how the standards of the toilets were.  They were good with flushes (yes! inside a desert).  

The simple breakfast was already awaiting us at one of the Bedouin tents that consisted of breads, cereals and spreads.  

We finished our breakfast and had plenty of time before we leave the oasis.  Hence decided to click some pictures of this arid landscape.

Being in a desert, and not having camel safari?  You know we wouldn’t let go of such opportunities.  We took a short camel ride around the campsite.

Camping in the desert should definitely be in your itinerary if you are travelling to UAE and it will remain as one of the most unforgettable experiences of your life time.

Why Choose Bedouin Oasis

The tents are pre-erected, and you need not worry about the pegs or assembling a tent.  There are beds and sheets provided already, so you needn’t worry about bringing your sleeping bags either.  

There are loads of entertainment factor along with dinner and breakfast. There is mobile reception in the middle of this desert.  Clean bathrooms are available.  What else would you need?  It’s a complete oasis retreat.

Practical Information and Tips

• Desert Camping season is from Mid October through mid April when the temperate is cool in UAE.
• The desert gets pretty cold in the night.  Carry warm clothes or jumper with you.
• Although there are toilet papers, during crowded days, they may be in demand.  It is advisable to carry a roll of toilet paper with you. 
• Carry an insect repellent to avoid any insect bites. 
• Definitely carry some snacks and water bottle. 

Where to Stay

Waldorf Astoria in Ras Al Khaimah offers luxurious rooms, spa treatments, swimming pools and private beach as well as being pocket friendly. You can choose Rixos Bab Al Bahr for a perfect family friendly all inclusive beach resort. DoubleTree by Hilton is a standard luxurious hotel with rooftop pool, free parking and fitness centre.

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Disclaimer: Thanks to ArabianIncentive for sponsoring us Bedouin Oasis Overnight Desert Camping.  We were not compensated or asked to write a positive write. As always, all the opinions are our own.