Arabian nights & desert delights

Wake up to the dream-like vision of Atlantis The Royal and you’ll soon find that there’s so much going on, there's almost no need to venture beyond The Palm's fronds. Wander over to the cove-like depths of The Lost Chambers Aquarium at sister hotel Atlantis, The Palm, before riding the thrills and spills of the world’s largest waterpark, Aquaventure. Test your nerve on the iconic Leap of Faith and find your family favourite across the 100-snaking slides and attractions. By nightfall, dine at a plethora of celebrity chef restaurants, including the cutting-edge Dinner by Heston Blumenthal Dubai where illusions are the norm and culinary timelines are rewound – chicken liver parfait masquerades as a mandarin and a recipe from the 1500s takes several days and three chefs to whip up.

Next up, amalgamate the old and new at The Ritz-Carlton, Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert. In its villas that blend traditional Bedouin architecture with modern amenities, it’ll come as no surprise that you can enjoy anything from archery to hydrotherapy in this family hot-spot. Like the sands to a dune, you’ll be stacking new life skills, with anything from camel rides and equestrian lessons to falconry and outdoor survival classes. Each thrill, in turn, has been leading to this moment, as you swoop the jagged mountain peaks and face the world’s longest zipline at Jais Flight. Watch the stars come up during evening meals and grab for a pair of binoculars, in a bid to find the biggest and the brightest of planets.

The final stop is a tantalising transition of Arabian-excellence via 4x4 or a paraglide to Zighy Bay. Days are best spent in the secluded four-bedroom beachfront enclave at The Private Reserve, built with an exclusive open court in the style of traditional Omani architecture with a splash of chic in it’s private infinity pool, or the two beachfront villas at The Retreat. The mountains call all-hikers and rock climbers, while the village of Sabatyn unearths the lives of local people who share their customs. Welcome nightfall with a campfire picnic and from here, you might just see the horizon that will later become your sun set, on the spectacular cruise of the Haffa Bay.