Ras Al Khaimah

Travelling to Ras Al Khaimah is like a mini adventure involving a long, sandy route through the desert heading for a fertile mountainous horizon. Very Lawrence of Arabia. Arriving into town might be a little disappointing - Ras Al Khaimah is dusty and a bit run down, hardly up to the UAE's slightly glamorous reputation. But that lack of over-development pays off when you see the unspoiled beaches and views of the Hajar Mountains. It does make finding the best places to stay in Ras Al Khaimah a little bit trickier though, but there are a couple of very nice resorts nearby.

Many people travel to Ras Al Khaimah on the way to Oman's Musandam Peninsula, a particularly spectacular coastline of deep, rocky inlets, dotted with small villages. But it might be worth spending a couple of days here before or afterwards to relax and maybe do a spot of birdwatching, some diving, or try out a new watersport or two.

What Not To Miss

• Once you've unwound on the beach and marvelled at the dramatic desert dunes you might care for a day trip or two?
• The National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah is housed in an 18th Century castle-fort, so as well as getting to look around inside the fort you also learn a bit more about the area.
• Ras Al Khaimah also has a pearl museum, charting the region's relationship with the treasures and the men who dived for them.
• If you're interested in the UAE of pre-oil days you'll probably find the abandoned fishing village of Jazirat Al Hamra fascinating. This spot was first settled in the 14th century with the inhabitants surviving on fishing and pearl diving, but the entire population upped sticks in 1968 leaving everything spookily empty but well preserved.
• On your way to or from Musandam you might also want to stop in Sha'am for its interesting old Wadi settlements and rock engravings.

Our selection of the best places to stay in Ras Al Khaimah allow guests to enjoy absolute luxury with no shortage of activities.