Thrill-seeking in the Sand
Qsar al Sarab by Anantara is the quintessential desert resort, set in the world’s largest sand desert, known as the Empty Quarter. Just over 100km of extremely straight road takes you from Dubai and Abu Dhabi and into this incredible scenery of undulating red dunes that go on as far as the eye can see.
While you could, of course, while away your time in the decadent resort, with its scalloped pool and oversized beds and bathtubs, there are plenty of activities on offer too. These range from the relatively sedate – camel rides and falconry demonstrations – to the adventures that Expat Living reader JUSTIN SAGE indulged in during his recent stay.
Fat Biking
Get up early for a guided spin on a fat-wheeled bike in the cool of dawn. You’ll burn plenty of calories to earn that pool-side bucket of thirst-quenching beer! Plus, the only true way to get up close and personal with nature in any environment is on two wheels. Allow your guide to show you the “line” before setting your racing snake spirit free. Ride those mountainous dune waves high and enjoy the sense of freedom knowing that any pilot error will only result in a soft, sandy landing. But, be sure to also slow down and allow the guide to quietly position you close to the silhouette of an Arabian oryx or a sand gazelle – you might even encounter an Arabian red fox, if you’re extremely lucky. And, when you do take a tumble, you’ll simply be able to enjoy the flora and fauna of the oasis from an even closer angle!
Dune Bashing
Anyone who likes adrenalin cars and extreme theme-park rides gets an all-in-one with this treat. The Toyota LandCruiser is a beast of a vehicle with intimidating looks and many desert horses under the hood. However, when put to the test this mad machine turns into an elegant dune dancer and accomplishes all challenges in style. It carves the giant walls of sand in a way that a big wave surfer can only dream of, climbing high into the blue skies above, before descending down insane drops of hundreds of metres, while always in control. Perch on the highest of summits, before eyeing that roller-coaster line where your stomach jumps out of your throat. It’s all about thrill and it’s not over too quickly either. Call shotgun for the front seat and you’ll soon be offering it up to one of your fellow backseat passengers. Kudos to the highly skilled drivers – they take you to the edge of impossible and bring you back safely to a refreshing sunset tea!