Why Dubai Should Be Your Next Vacation
Just a quick scroll of Instagram will tell you that Dubai is one of THE hottest destinations right now! It appears every other blogger and Insta-star is jetting off for a sun-drenched holiday in Dubai, and who could blame them? It’s a party paradise, but there’s more to Dubai than just shopping, parties and pools…
After a long, hard year, it’s more than tempting to spend your break sprawled on a sun lounger, but this corner of the world is packed full of adrenaline-charged activities. There are outdoor adventures to be had in the sand, sea and snow (yes, snow!) and all are within a short taxi ride of each other. If what you’re after is a more active holiday so you come home totally refreshed and full of energy having experienced something new and different – then Dubai is the place for you.
Sandboarding
Beyond the city’s skyscrapers are vast desert dunes. Stunt riders head out to Big Red, an area packed with thousands of sandy mounds. There you can watch pro quadbikers, 4×4 drivers and sandboarders launching themselves from peaks and ledges. If you fancy a go yourself, there are various adventure companies that will drive you to suitably high dunes, strap you to a board and send you hurtling down the slopes. It doesn’t hurt if you fall into the soft sands, but be prepared to get a workout climbing back up the sandy hills. After the session, be sure to hang around to watch the unbeatable desert sunset, where bright pinks, oranges, yellows and mauves combine, as gazelles dart off into the horizon.
Tennis
If tennis is your thing then you can’t get better than Dubai, with luxury hotels such as the Jumeirah and Westin Beach specializing in tailor-made tennis holidays suitable for all ages and abilities. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to enhance your game, tennis is a great way to get the blood pumping through your veins. Both hotels have fantastic tennis facilities, where you’ll meet professional coaches who will put you through your paces. After spending your day burning off those calories and having fun doing it, you can reward yourself with exquisite fine dining and a treatment or two at the on-site spa.
Skiing and snowboarding
Right in the centre of Dubai there’s a huge refrigerator, containing one of the largest man-made ski slopes on earth. Inside Ski Dubai, you’ll find 6000 tons of powdery snow and a 400-metre slope. With temperatures between -2°C and -9°C, you’ll think you’re in the Swiss Alps rather than a scorching desert. It’s not somewhere to try speed skiing, but it’s ideal for beginners or to hone your technique. Other snow-based activities include riding an indoor sub-zero zip line and a meeting a small penguin colony.
Wakeboarding
Zooming across the water at speeds of 40mph, with the warm air in your face, wakeboarding gives you the same rush as snowboarding without the pain of falling off! In Dubai’s Jebel Ali area, daredevils will find the perfect secluded spot, with optimum conditions for this sport. Wakeboarding is best done in calm conditions when the water is glassy and still. Just offshore from the Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa, the crest of the nearby Palm Jebel Ali creates a tranquil lagoon where visitors can slice through the crystal blue water, while holding onto a cable attached to a 150 break horse power boat. Whether you are a beginner, learning to do your first jump or can expertly land 360s and backflips, the adrenaline factor never wears off.
Aquaventure Waterpark
Whizz down 1.6m of rapids, catapult yourself past a shark tank at 60mph or stand on a 75ft high trapdoor that opens under your feet and sends you hurtling through a double looped flume – just another day at Aquaventure at Atlantis, The Palm. Rides shoot out from ancient Middle Eastern themed buildings and the views from the waterpark, over the Palm Jumeirah are of the calm turquoise sea with the city’s skyscrapers as a backdrop. It’s nothing short of stunning. Other activities on site include meeting sea lions, swimming with dolphins and the longest zip-line circuit in the Middle East.
Have you ever been to Dubai? Is it a destination you would consider?
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Image credits.
Flickr . Dubai Safari World. 5 Star Tennis Holidays. Xtreme Wake UAE.
