Excitement in Dubai Desert: the Bedouin Day Package at Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa
Overview
If there’s one thing the UAE knows how to do well, it’s luxurious desert resorts and spas. Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa is no exception. Situated just one hour drive from Dubai, this verdant palm oasis is nestled deep within the wondrous landscape of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. With its traditional Bedouin architecture and opulent aesthetics, it carries with it both a sense of extreme serenity intertwined with a lingering air of adventure, for those individuals brave enough to chase it. The great news is that the team at Al Maha have included all of their very best resort features and combined them into one thrilling and pampering day package.
I’ve covered a few different luxury resorts and spas in the UAE, so if you’re an avid desert-dweller, then see my write ups on:
Al Wathba Desert Resort & Spa: a luxury experience in Abu Dhabi
A Private Luxury Resort in the UAE Desert: Qasr Al Sarab by Anantara
Sir Bani Yas Island & Safari Escape
Zaya Nurai Island Resort Escape
Location
Al Maha Luxury Desert Resort & Spa is located in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, a 60 minute drive from Dubai International Airport.
How to get there
Guests who have selected the Bedouin Day Package will have the convenience of return transfers to and from any hotel in Dubai. This is a fantastic way to avoid the chaos of driving through Dubai traffic! For those who are staying at Al Maha Resort, then access is easiest via private car, vehicle hire or taxi. There are multiple car hire options from Dubai International Airport. Note that for taxi bookings, hotel concierge will need an hour pre-warning to arrange your return trip.
Accommodation
You just can’t fault the accommodation in luxury UAE desert resorts and Al Maha rises to the occasion with its private huts each showcasing a 5 x 4 metre temperature controlled outside personal pool with surrounding decking. There is considerable distance between each suite so you’ll feel a true sense of intimacy and seclusion from neighbouring guests.
Restaurants & Facilities
Al Maha has one main restaurant: Al Diwaan. There is also Hajar Terrace Bar, an upstairs open air rooftop lounge for that much needed end-of-day cocktail. Upon request, Al Maha can arrange private meals in the desert for your special occasion.
Cost
At the time of writing:
AED 1350 pp on weekends, inclusive of taxes and charges
AED 1150 pp on weekdays
Should I stay overnight or do the day trip?
Personally I would recommend the Bedouin Day Package to Al Maha rather than an extended in-house stay. For a third of the cost of an overnight visit, you’ll experience the major highlights at this beautiful desert resort. It also includes return transfers which is a big bonus for those wishing to avoid driving in Dubai. Compared to other desert resorts I have visited and stayed at (listed above), Al Maha is lacking in its restaurant offerings. Al Diwaan Restaurant is beautifully laid out, with views across the desert but it is the sole choice for dining.
Final word:
Al Maha is a stellar day trip including many traditional desert activities, sumptuous meals and access to a beautiful infinity pool and day spa. It’s a punchy way to see the desert in a day while also being pampered to the max. However for overnight stays, I’d recommend other desert resorts which have a greater selection of restaurants and facilities compared to Al Maha, many at either the same or lesser price point.
For those visiting Dubai or who live in the UAE and are keen to experience an INCREDIBLE desert day trip to Al Maha, read on!
Other UAE Options
But first, here are some other great options to consider during your time in the UAE:
Dazzling Dubai in 4 Days
Abu Dhabi highlights in 4 days
A day trip to Al Ain and Jebel Hafeet
Saadiyat Island Beach Staycation
Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa Bedouin Day Package Itinerary
Pick up from Dubai Hotel
Breakfast at Al Diwaan Restaurant
Relax by the Timeless Spa Infinity Pool
Activity: Archery
Indulge at Timeless Spa: Sauna, Steam Room, Cold Plunge Pool, Jacuzzi
Enjoy a 3 course lunch at Al Diwaan Restaurant
Activity: Wildlife Drive
Activity: Camel trek with sundowners
Evening canapes and drinks at Hajar Terrace Bar
Transfer back to Dubai Hotel
Pick up from Dubai Hotel
It goes without saying that this is a major perk of the Bedouin Day Trip. We were collected from Jumeirah Creekside Hotel in Dubai at 08h30 in a vintage 4×4 landcruiser and transported in style to Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa. Along the way we were fortunate to pass by Ras al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, where we had views of thousands of flamingos in this protected area. Al Maha vehicles collect guests from any hotel in the city of Dubai. Click here for my recommended hotels close to Dubai International Airport.
After passing some Arabian oryx along the private road to the resort, transport takes you right to the intricate carved-wood entrance of Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa. This is just the beginning of the royal treatment you will encounter!
Breakfast at Al Diwaan Restaurant
As I walked through the traditional interior of the resort lobby and lounge, down the steps outside and onto the wooden decking and terrace below, I couldn’t help but feel transported back to my time in Africa. The warm breeze in December was not overbearing and the vast desert dunes and scrubland stretched out before us beyond the wide terrace of Al Diwaan Restaurant. Seating is indoor or outdoor and we sat at one of the outdoor tables on the very edge of the decking to soak up all that was before us.
Suddenly, we realised we had some non-human company! A very inquisitive and brave gazelle decided to investigate the humans which had descended upon its space. This made for some fantastic up close photography!
The breakfast menu is extensive and offers some great options for ‘foodies’. It offers a range of eggs (from florentine to shakshuka), sausages, crepes, waffles, brioche french toast, four types of pancakes, tropical granola, spelt sour bread with guacamole and parmesan and even petit fillet mignon! Additional to this, is a complete buffet of hot and cold items indoors.
People seem relaxed and the staff were extremely attentive and helpful. Moreoever, they were aware of our schedule during the day on the Bedouin Day Package and made every attempt to provide prompt service.
Relax by the Timeless Spa Infinity Pool
A short meandering walk after breakfast took us past some of the accommodation chalets (and more gazelles!) and down to the Timeless Spa Inifinity Pool. The facilities include a large heated infinity pool open to all in-house and day package guests, as well as a private Spa. There are luxurious male and female change rooms and lockers within. Each locker is fitted with treats such as a silky soft white bathrobe, slippers, a towel and coat hangers. The lighting is dim, lavendar is infused through the air and gentle Arabic music is playing in the background.
We spent 45 minutes here relaxing in the sunshine on a sunbed before commencing our first activity: archery!
Activity: Archery
Most desert resorts offer a standard list of activities and archery is almost always amongst them. Despite this, we had never opted to give it a go! What a fun surprise! We again had private access to their two target boards with full equipment provided.
I’d like to say I scored a few bullseyes but I’d be lying. Our helpful guide was coaching us in the right technique but despite this my form was variable during the session. That’s what practice is for, right?! After all, it was Einstein who said, ‘Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new‘!
Indulge at Timeless Spa: Sauna, Steam Room, Cold Plunge Pool, Jacuzzi
We had prebooked an hour timeslot at the Timeless Spa. At the time I had little idea of what this entailed but I was only all too keen to find out. We were greeted at the Spa reception and informed we had the use of a sauna, steam room, cold plunge pool and jacuzzi.
The Timeless Spa is a truly intimate experience. During your booked time, no one else will enter the spa facilities, allowing complete privacy.
It was the perfect way to relax and recharge after a vigorous bow and arrow session. We wandered in and out of the sauna and steam rooms, with intermittent brave dips into the plunge pool. (Don’t worry, it’s not that cold!)
The jacuzzi could more aptly be described as a large pool, with floor to ceiling glass windows that looked out upon a closed courtyard of sand and scrub.
Enjoy a 3 course lunch at Al Diwaan Restaurant
Back to Al Diwaan Restaurant for lunch and we were still quite full from breakfast so decided to share some plates. The package however allows for an entree, main and dessert each, with soft drinks and coffee/tea included but alcohol additional.
Due to the persistent flies outside we decided to sit inside and soon had devoured a delicious lunch, including
- Burrata with heirloom tomato and balsamic reduction
- Persian feta and asian leaves with pomegranate, pistachio and caramelised banana shallots
- Grilled mahe mahe fish with sauteed spinach and garden greens
Activity: Wildlife Drive
The diverse team at Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa Dubai also includes a full time group of researchers (assisted by universities) who constantly monitor the conservation and scientific projects around Dubai Desert Reserve! The Wildlife Drive will introduce you to some of these projects whilst also taking you off the beaten track and onto the exhilirating and undulating desert dunes!
Expect to see a plethora of indigenous Arabian species on this journey, most notably the stately Arabian oryx! There are also gazelles aplenty. Strangely enough we also saw a white swan serenely swimming along a man made lake adjacent one of the sand dunes. The mind-bending thing about Dubai is that nothing is impossible and so even though Al Maha’s prime focus is on conserving the native habitat, there are also some introduced species as well!
Activity: Camel trek with sundowners
If you’ve never been on a camel trek during the desert at sunset, then I implore you: don’t miss out!
There’s something about the stillness, rugged dunes and eery echoing silence that penetrates deep within to leave you feeling a million miles from the city. The staccato up and down motion atop the camel whilst watching the sun fall and explode into bright pink and orange colours is transcending.
On top of this, Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa Dubai treats is guests to a glass of bubbles from a private bar in the desert after the camel trek! Camels transport 2 riders at a time and can be a bit grumpy on standing up but are very well behaved during the excursion.
Evening canapes and drinks at Hajar Terrace Bar
With an hour to spare at the conclusion of the camel trek, we could not bypass the Hajar Terrace Bar. It has indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the desert below. It was also a prime opportunity to witness the beautiful lighting and dinner set up of the nearby Al Diwaan Restaurant.
The friendly bar tender at Hajar offered us some delicious canapes to accompany our drinks as we remenisced our amazing day.
Transfer back to Dubai Hotel
Sadly 7pm heralded the end of our illustrious day at Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa and we were back en route to our Dubai hotel.
