Exploring the UAE outdoors | Friday – Gulf News

If trekking is your thing, sign up for a tryst with Hajar Mountain Adventures for exceptional trekking, climbing, canyoning and abseiling experiences. Authorized by the RAK Tourism Development Authority, they offer bespoke wilderness packages where you can pitch a tent and cook your own meals. Afterwards, you can meander along well-worn paths, passing some of the oldest settlements in the region.

If you’re looking for some adrenaline rush and gravity-defying challenges for you and your kids, OCR Park on Hudayriyat Island in Abu Dhabi is the place to be. Featuring the largest permanent obstacle course in the UAE, the expansive venue is designed to test the stamina and fitness of young and old.

Drawing on many of the lessons taught in the military, OCR incorporates strategically designed physical challenges on different terrains. You can climb, jump, and even swing on ropes across obstacles that vary in size, complexity, and difficulty based on the experience, skill, and fitness level of participants. The track is 3 kilometers for adults and 1.5 kilometers for children. They also offer specialized programs and dedicated staff for the determined.

general admission

children: Dh50 (weekdays); Dh75 (weekends)

adult: Dh100 (weekdays); Dh150 (weekends)

If you’re adventurous in natural terrain, the newly reopened Jais Sledder in the Jebel Jais Mountains of Ras Al Khaimah is a must. The ride will take you through one kilometer of mountainous bends with panoramic views along the way. This ISO certified sled is designed to ride comfortably for two; children must be accompanied by an adult. The top speed you’ll reach is 40 kilometers per hour and the sled is equipped with a braking system.

Child plus Adult (Combined Offer) 60 dirhams

Nestled on the plains at the foot of Jebel Buhais near Al Madam in Sharjah, Buhais Geopark is a great family trip for hiking, walking or long drives through the mountains.

The park provides insight into the overall history of the planet, with a special focus on areas in the Emirate of Sharjah.

The main highlights are the outdoor trails through Bronze Age burials (Wadi Suq period) and several types of rock formations, you can even see some fossils in the rocks.

Once at the top of the trail, you can enjoy stunning views of the Al Faya and Aqabah mountains on one side and the Hajar mountain plains on the other. There are plenty of picnic spots, where you can even meet some birds and butterflies and spot the tracks left by birds, animals and insects.

Want to experience ancient Rome in the UAE? At the foot of Mount Said is the magnificent amphitheater, inspired by Roman architecture. Designed with state-of-the-art cooling and sound systems, it is the ideal outdoor venue for major events. A majestic 45-meter waterfall cascades next to the amphitheater, which is carved from natural rock and is usually illuminated at night.

Located in Al Warqa 5, this recently refurbished park is home to more than 3,000 animals from around the world. It consists of five main attractions including African Village, Asian Village, Arabian Desert Safari, Explorer Village and Adventure Valley.

The main attraction is the Explorer’s Village, where visitors can take a big bus on an animal adventure. An Arabian Desert Safari is a driving experience where you can see a variety of animals from the Arabian Peninsula.

Primarily powered by solar energy, the park now aims to become one of the top ten zoos in the world due to its commitment to animal care, conservation and education.

Mandara Equestrian Club, located near the Deerfields Mall in Shahma, Abu Dhabi, is a family-owned business offering horse riding and other equestrian experiences.

It is a fully licensed riding school and the only ISO-certified riding school in the country for both beginners and advanced riders.

There is a Mandarina Café within the club, using produce from local farmers and our own organic farm.

It offers special activities for children, including pony rides and potted plants.

price: Cycling from Dh275

The farm is located within the Al Marmoom Reserve near Al Qudra. It’s a quaint and cozy place to get up close and personal with the desert’s most beloved animals. Activities include camel and small farm animal feeding, camel rides, camel cuddle therapy and Bedouin camel rides in the surrounding desert. Kids can also see animals like goats, rabbits, deer and birds including chickens and turkeys.

If you want to show your kids critically endangered Arabian leopards and hyenas, take them to the Al Hefaiyah Conservation Center in Khor Kalba, Sharjah. The facility is set in the pristine landscape of Khor Kalba, home to 30 native mountain and desert species. It is also one of the few parks in Sharjah with indoor exhibits including snakes, lizards, hedgehogs and scorpions.

Endangered animals such as the Arabian leopard, wolf, tahr and caracal or desert lynx have dedicated enclosures that replicate their natural habitat. The indoor park houses smaller animals such as hedgehogs, lizards, snakes and large scorpions.

Al Noor Island is a scenic spot in Sharjah’s Khalid Lagoon, home to more than 70,000 native and exotic trees and plants.

One of the island’s main attractions is the Butterfly Pavilion, where you can see hundreds of exotic butterflies, including more than 20 different species from various East Asian and South American countries.

The island’s recently launched Nurturing Nature program allows children to experience and learn about the fascinating joys of gardening, the wonders of growing their own fruit and the beauty of growing their own flowers and shrubs.