“Where are the people?” resumed the little prince at last. “It’s a little lonely in the desert…” “It is lonely when you’re among people, too,” said the snake.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

There are seven Emirates in The United Arab Emirate. Last week I wrote a post all about my visit to Dubai in The UAE, while I was there I visited Ras Al Khaimah for a week because my sister, Hannah, lived there for 2 years. I thought I would share my top 4 things to do in RAK city. Ras Al Khaimah is the perfect holiday destination for anyone looking for an authentic Arabic experience. Dubai is incredible, but it is a lot more than an Arabic city, at times you wouldn’t even know you’re in The Middle east! However, if you’re looking for a true desert holiday – RAK is the place for you.

Also, contrary to popular belief, there is a lot to do in the most northern Emirate out of the seven. So, I decided I’d share my top 4 favourite things to do in Ras Al Khaimah.

1. Wander along the Al Qawassim Corniche

The Corniche in Ras Al Khaimah is full of life. It’s really the centre of all activity. It’s a long promenade by the Creek lined with restaurants and the best people-watching spots in the city. You’ll see the locals socialising, jogging, roller-blading, promenading, picnicking and you can even watch people taking part in all sorts of water sports like jet skiing – which is always fun to watch!

2. Boat to the beach restaurant in Banyan Tree

On my birthday, we went to a beautiful restaurant in the Banyan Tree Beach Resort. The Banyan Tree have two resorts in RAK – one is the beach resort in Al Hamra and the other is a sister desert resort in Al Wadi. The Beach Resort is accessible only by boat. And, as I think everyone knows at this stage, I love boats. I realised my love of boats when I was travelling in South East Asia, definitely my favourite mode of transport! So what better way to start off my birthday dinner but with a boat ride to the restaurant. It’s so beautiful because you can sit outside beside the water while you dine. It’s quite the experience, I’d definitely recommend it.

3. Relax at the Cove Rotana

While we were in Ras Al Khaimah, I stayed with my sister but my Dad stayed in The Cove Rotana which meant that I went to meet him there everyday to sunbath and swim and visit the beach. It has to be one of the most relaxing places on earth. It’s 5 star, so you genuinely don’t have to move if you don’t want to. The staff are there to help with whatever you may need – they are unbelievable. There are three different pools to choose from too – they are all divine. And the spa is out of this world. I got a massage while I was there and it was one of the best massages I’ve ever gotten.

4. Shoot it out at the shooting range

My sister and I went to the shooting club while we were there to see what it was like. It was incredible. Never in my life did I think I would shoot a pistol, but I can now say I have. It’s the strangest sensation on the planet. We went to the 50m indoor shooting range and it was insane.

I would definitely recommend visiting Ras Al Khaimah if you want a more relaxed holiday than a holiday to Dubai. You can always take a day trip to Dubai and experience some of what it has to offer, considering RAK is only about an hour and a half away. But the resorts in Ras Al Khaimah are a lot cheaper and less crowded – the perfect getaway. It’s extremely easy to get around RAK too, taxis are very cheap and it’s very easy to hail them on the street. I would recommend dressing more modestly in Ras Al Khaimah than in Dubai – it is a little bit more conservative there and because they don’t get as many tourists they aren’t used to seeing people in short shorts and string tops. So when you’re not in a resort – cover your knees and shoulders out of respect for their culture.

If you enjoyed the post or if you’re going to Ras Al Khaimah and you’re looking for some more advice, don’t hesitate to contact me any way you like. I post daily on instagram too if you want to see more of what I get up to.

Winging it,

R x