Raffles Dubai Sand dunes? Tick. Camel rides? Tick. Private pools? Tick. The Banyan Tree Al Wadi at Ras Al Khaimah — tucked into the desert and less than an hour’s drive from Dubai — is a daydreamer’s oasis. Set on 250 acres, 150 of which are a nature preserve, 101 villas blend regional design elements (bedouin-style tented ceilings) with Far Eastern service touches (the spa specialises in Thai massages). Once you are there, rise early for a tour of the honey-coloured landscape and return to dine at the resort’s Al Waha restaurant while spotting wild gazelles through the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows. The resort has much to offer wildlife enthusiasts. Popular outdoor activities include horse riding, guided nature walks, archery, desert safaris and a wide range of water activities on the beach side. Hike the demanding but oh-so-worth-it Wadi Ghalilah, also known as the Stairway to Heaven.
At Banyan Tree Al Wadi, guests can take a falconry course or interact and learn more about the birds during the daily falconry display. It’s exhilarating to witness these birds of prey swoop in and take a piece of meat from your gloved hand!
Nestled between sand dunes, draped with fluid canopies, and filled with curated antiques and Arabic art, the Al Sahari Tented Pool Villa is the perfect intimate escape. Run a lavender oil bath in the spa room, or slip into the private pool.
If you are looking to be pampered, head to the Banyan Tree Spa, with six spa pavilions at the Beach Club, as well as 10 treatment rooms and The Rainforest — imagine an experiential journey of stirring tropical showers, gushing water jets, and a relaxing hammam session, all this inside a desert resort!
You can dine at Saffron, the Thai restaurant, overlooking the nature reserve’s watering hole where the wildlife gathers during sunset. Al Waha, (oasis in Arabic), serves popular international fare and local Arabic specialties. A spectacular display of modern yet Arabseque interior design, diners can choose to dine indoors where floor-to-ceiling windows set the stage for metres-high sand dunes, or on the outdoor terrace where an Arabic grill and spit-roast holds court. Located at the main swimming pool at the Beach Resort, Sands restaurant has Mexican and international signature dishes.
Destination dining is something special. Set atop vast sand dunes, this unique experience offers a night of desert dining under the vast Arabian sky. In true Bedouin-style, sit across a brilliant campfire while enjoying the traditional dishes, song and dance — all in all a memorable dinner.
Amid stretches of desert sand in tranquil Wadi Khadeja, under the protected enclave of the evergreen ghaf tree, if you want to take in the dramatic sights and sounds of Ras Al Khaimah, head to Banyan Tree Al Wadi.