oFF the Beaten track

Fun in The prisTine deserT

OK, the weather is still not too bad to be out. We guess getting some fresh air before we get caged into our air-conditioned environs for the next six to eight months will certainly be good for our well-being. Get into some dune or wadi bashing this weekend.

There are numerous ways you could reach the wadis around the UAE. For the uninitiated, a Wadi is a dried up river bed, that has seasonal flowing water and is surrounded by it’s own flora and fauna offering plenty of photo opps.

For first timers, it’s advisable to tag along with a friend who’s been there and done that umpteen times before. Or, you could simply go online and hire the professional services of an experienced ‘desert drive’ company. The advantage of having a ‘track-worn’ driver is, he knows the routes and tracks well. On an organised trip, let’s say to a wadi in Hatta, make it a point to include dune bashing in your itinerary. A trip across mountains of sand offers an exhilarating experience. The roller-coaster, heart-pounding trip across the dunes offers a thrill like no other. Some of the gravity defying drops are done from heights of 25 feet and above (how exciting!).

Following this, you break off for refreshments and continue your journey onwards to the wadis. The UAE also has desert adventurers’ groups that get together on weekends for some off-road fun. If you own a 4X4, you could join one of these groups.