Dubai Insider

With an ever-growing roster of
mind-boggling attractions to
get to grips with, Dubai lures
intrepid travellers to embrace
its out-of-this-world experiences.
Slather on the suncream and head out
into the desert dunes to discover a
side of the emirate that’s far removed
from the city’s gloss. Arabian
Adventures is your go-to for a thrilling
desert safari. We rate the Private
Starlight Safari, which will whisk
you away in a four-wheel drive to the
idyllic setting of the Dubai Desert
Conservation Reserve where you can
ride a camel across the sand and tuck
into a barbecue dinner around the
glowing campfire.
If you’ve a head for heights, another
great way to admire the desert in all
its glory is by taking flight in a hot air
balloon with Balloon Adventures.
Spread your wings, get a bird’s eye
view of the rolling red sands, rising
sun, grazing gazelle and majestic
Hajar Mountains as you float overhead.
You’ll also get to see a falcon fly and
44 Activities
“BRACE YOURSELF FOR THE
MOTHER OF ALL
THINGS ADVENTUROUS”
dip through the air, before returning to
its perch on its trainer’s glove.
The adventures in the clouds don’t
end there, however. Brace yourself for
the mother of all things adventurous
and follow in the footsteps of actor
Will Smith by leaping out of a plane
over Palm Jumeirah while tethered to
a professional with Skydive Dubai.
Sign up for the video footage, as a
permanent record of your bravery.
If you’re looking for a slightly less
daring way to discover the city from
above, the Seawings Signature
Tour will whizz you up and over the
skyscraper-laden skyline, between
Palm Jumeirah and Burj Khalifa, in a
classic seaplane.
Once you’re done soaring to
new heights, the emirate’s water
worlds beckon. The Lost Chambers
Aquarium is an Atlantis-style kingdom
of fluttering rays, dancing jellyfish and
giant groupers. Home to over 65,000
marine animals, this maze of halls and
enclosures houses over 20 themed
exhibits and offers you the chance to
tick diving with sharks off the bucket
list. Keep splashing the day away at
Aquaventure Waterpark, where you’ll
get to enjoy 30 slides and attractions,
float along Dubai’s longest lazy river,
and relax on the 500-metre stretch
of private beach. Another major
contender on the scene is Wild Wadi
Waterpark. From its kid-friendly slides
to the terrifying Jumeirah Sceirah
(which propels you to speeds of 80
km/h), it’s wet and wild all the way.
Over at Laguna Waterpark at La Mer,
you can also earn the bargaining rights
of tackling the competition-level wave
on a body board or stand-up board.
Back on dry land, the world’s
largest indoor park, IMG Worlds of
Adventure, lures thrill-seekers for a
scream-your-lungs-out extravaganza.