GETAWAY R

AS Al Khaimah. It’s the Arabian gulf coast emirate you’ve probably never heard of. But probably should – before the rest of the world wakes up to it.

Stepping out onto my balcony at 7.30am and taking a moment to embrace a wall of heat while looking over the pearl white beach was something I won’t forget.

I had to remind myself I wasn’t dreaming, I really had woken up on a paradise island. Or at least in a five-star luxury resort where the morning temperature was warming towards 30 degrees.

I had a packed day ahead, I would be heading off to a traditional Bedouin Oasis Camp with several adventures en route.

The trek would give me a unique insight into a traditional Bedouin lifestyle, but there was a slight catch.

If I wanted to get there, I would have to drive through the desert.

And this wasn’t just a casual trundle through the dunes, it was an adrenaline-fuelled thrill ride through the wind-sculpted landscape.

When the heart-in-your-mouth trackless dune bashing of our 4x4 came to a halt, we found ourselves in a sea of peace and quiet.

We stopped to take advantage of the momentary silence to appreciate our surroundings and watch the sun begin to set before driving on a little further into the endless sands, devoid of buildings, landmarks or roads.

As the car came to a stop, we spotted a traditional Arabian dining area had been created in the middle of the dunes, complete with rugs and cushions.

We all took our seats and poured ourselves a drink, enjoying high tea in silence as the sun went down behind us.

This was an experience I will never forget. I’d found the ultimate retreat from the outside world.

But it’s not all an oasis of calm. With the glitzy lure of Dubai’s skyline only a stone’s throw away, Ras Al Khaimah – RAK to those in the know, attracts visitors from across the Persian Gulf but has yet to see western tourists swarm to the area. That means the cost of staying in the area is relatively low.

One thing that does attract the visitors is the Jebel Jais – a 2,000m-high peak which is the highest in the UAE.

There’s plenty to do here. You can, of course, climb it. Or, if you’ve got the stomach for it, you could hire a fast car and make use of the corkscrew roads leading to the top.

Almost hidden in this vast mountain range is the crowning glory of the region – the world’s longest zipline.

Jabel Jais Flight is an almost 3km-long wire that descends from the highest point in the UAE.

Those brave enough to try it are strapped into a harness, facing forwards before hurtling towards the valley below at speeds of 120kph (75mph). The idea is that you have the sensation of flying like a falcon, the UAE’s national bird.

If, you’re like me, and flying like a falcon isn’t really your thing, you