How to hike Hatta, Shawka Wadi, Jebel Jais with kids, and other family day trips to plan from Dubai

It’s the perfect time of year to get outside and enjoy the weather in the safe, socially distanced fresh air. Here, UAE parents share their experiences and tips for some of the UAE’s most stunning and inspiring outdoor adventures…

HATTA DAY TRIP, DUBAI: Are these the placid teal fjords of Norway? Although you'd be forgiven for thinking so, these are actually the lakes of Hatta Dam, around an hour and a half’s drive from central Dubai. Hatta is an exclave of Dubai that makes for a fantastic family day trip, featuring a range of hiking and biking trails through the rugged Hajar mountains, as well as the historic Hatta heritage village, and of course the tranquil turquoise waters of Hatta Dam. Don’t let the long drive put you off, says Dubai-based American expat Megan Kelly, marketing executive and blogger at @Justtwomums, who took her three daughters (aged 1, 4 and 8 years) there recently. “This place is pure magic and worth every second in the car,” says Megan. “You hike it, ride a horse around it, kayak, or boat through it and well it’s just stunning.”

There is so much to do that you can pack in a full day’s worth of safe, socially distanced family activities in the fresh air, says Megan. “The honey bee farm is the perfect first stop and only takes about 45 minutes start to finish.”

Hatta’s Honeybee Garden features kid-friendly educational tours of the honey factory’s garden, where the whole family can don bee clothes and learn about the types of trees and plants that are involved in honey production, as well as view the types of bee hives used past and present (tickets from Dh50, Hattahoney.ae/honeybee-garden).

The Hatta Dam is about 12 minutes’ drive from the bee farm, making it the perfect next stop on your itinerary – and an ideal lunch spot. “There are loads of picnic tables set up next to the car park and there are two food trucks for anyone who didn’t pack food,” says Megan. “You then walk up about 300 stairs to get to the dam itself.”

Hatta Kayak is right at the entrance of Hatta Dam, and they have everything you would ever need - from boats, to kayaks and even water bikes - for an active family outings.

Megan says: “My preference would have been to kayak but since we had our one-year-old baby with us we went for a yellow peddle boat, as there is no way she would stay inside a kayak! We walked through a sanitization station to get into the dam and everything felt really safe.”

Kayaks can be rented from Dh60 for a single, Dh120 for a double for the day, while peddle boats are Dh150, Hattakayak.com.

After the dam why not visit the Hatta Heritage Village nearby?

This is a collection of ancient dwellings including Hatta Fort, which have been preserved and reconstructed to showcase rural living dating back centuries.

“We hiked two towers and explored all the ancient structures,” says Megan. “The towers are super cool and an easy ‘hike’ with small kids – and the views from the top are just unreal. There is also a restaurant onsite.”

Megan has advice for anyone planning to do the same day trip as a family. “Bring a backpack and dress in layers - when we left Dubai it was freezing but the afternoon was super hot. We all wore trainers and that was perfect.”

“We packed a huge cooler full of lunch and snacks for the whole day, pack more water and more snacks than you think you’ll need.”

“We left around 4.30pm and back home just after 6 and honestly this was the best day we’ve ever had as a family. I nearly want to go this weekend and do it all again.”

SHOWKA DAM FAMILY-FRIENDLY HIKE, RAK: Although this picturesque glassy lake, reflecting a craggy mountain and fringed by wild flowers, has an air of Switzerland about it, you're actually looking at Shawka Dam in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.

While there are plenty of mountainous hiking trails in RAK for intrepid walkers to investigate, families may understandably be reticent to commit to a trail with young kids in case they can’t keep up. The Showka Dam loop in RAK (in an area also known as Wadi Shawka, meaning 'powerful Wadi'), offers the perfect beginner’s hike for kids, says Dubai-based mum of three, Megan Kelly.

Located around 1 hour and 15 minutes from central Dubai, it’s got a manageable distance, a loop, and minimal elevation, with lots of dramatic views of the craggy Hajar mountain scenery. This is the route that American marketing professional and blogger at @Justtwomums Megan Kelly tried with her three children, aged 1, 4 and 8. “I was a little hesitant to try hiking if I’m honest, especially as my girls like to moan, but with a whole weekend ahead of us and me just wanting to breathe we packed up and headed to the Showka Dam,” says Megan.

Megan explains the route she took with her little ones through the mountains: “There are loads of different hiking trials here but I wanted one that would be a little challenging for me but not too hard for the girls, I also wanted one that would be easy to navigate.”

“We decided to go to the man-made steps on the front side of the mountain; a pretty serious vertical undertaking but my kids absolutely smashed it. Everyone who passed us coming down the mountain complimented them and I think it gave them both a huge boost.”

“We went down the trail on the back side of the mountain that leads you straight back to the car park, it was a little steep in parts, but overall fairy easy in comparison to the steps.

“I packed snacks and water in our backpack and I took exactly enough - 4 water bottles plus chips, apples and cookies. For the baby we picked up a hiking backpack, which I got second hand from a Facebook page.”

“My youngest hiker was 4.5 years and, although I did see a 3-year-old at the top of the mountain, I don’t think I would try this particular route with anyone smaller than her.”

“This spot is just over an hour away from Dubai so a super easy day trip and if you follow Google maps it will lead you straight to the parking.”

BUHAIS GEOLOGY PARK, SHARJAH: While you could be forgiven for thinking you’ve stumbled onto Mars, this newly opened park is actually in Sharjah, situated about an hour’s drive from central Dubai in an area of staggering geological significance.

Teeming with marine fossils, the site is based on what used to be an ancient sea bed millions of years ago and features five interconnected iron pods, which house exhibitions investigating the UAE’s rich geological history.

This unique site is the ideal day trip for little dinosaur-lovers, science buffs or fossil fans, and contains evidence of how the local landscape formed from as far back as 93 million years ago.

Aside from the fascinating information centre, there is an easy, kid-friendy outdoor trail, on which children can spot limestone and the remains of now-extinct marine life, as well as ancient archaeological burial sites from the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages.

Also possible to spot on the outdoor trail are giant Ophiolite boulders - parts of a section of the Earth’s crust that has been forced up and exposed - which make for a wonderful teaching aid to tell kids about tectonic plates and the history of the Earth.

It makes for a unique and adventurous day trip for families, says Zoe Cairns, mum of two and founder of Dubai-based homewares business Pretty Shades Parasols, who visited recently. “It’s free for children under 12 and only Dh12 for adults to visit. Inside the cool round buildings, which are designed to look like fossils, you can see models of tectonic plates, an amazingly cool cinema screen, and an awesome video about the evolution of the Earth,” says Zoe.

“There’s a 1km loop walk taking you through a gentle hill walk and you can find fossils in the rocks the whole way. Parts of the walk are paved, making it stroller friendly. We packed a picnic, but there’s also a café on site if you want lunch while you're there.”

“We also stopped off via the Sharjah Classic Car museum on the way back," says Zoe. "It was a super day out. We left Dubai at 1.30pm on a Saturday and we home by 7.30pm, and the whole day cost less than Dh100.”

SONARA CAMP, DUBAI: Sonara Camp offers unique culinary experience in the heart of the peaceful Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, which is home to hundreds of majestic oryx and gazelle.

You can choose to visit either just for a meal, or to stay overnight in one of their luxurious tents.

Dubai-based expat Edwina Viel, mum of four and blogger at @Seashellsonthepalm, visited recently with her family and says the experience was great for any age. “Everything is outdoors. There are lots of activities and my kids just loved it. From archery to camel rides, sand boarding and falcons.”

“We camped overnight and you have use of shared showers and toilets. Dinner was absolutely delicious - there is a Head French chef who creates a menu with Middle Eastern twist, while children have their own buffet.”

She also says it was an entirely stress-free way to enjoy the Dubai desert. “You drive to car park just outside the reserve. They will come pick you up and drive you 5 minutes to the camp.Your car doesn’t get sandy so no washing, tents are set up already, the food is prepared, fire and drinks at the ready. Apart from your clothes, you really don’t need anything else.”

BEAR GRYLLS’ EXPLORER CAMP: If you are serious about adventure, then look no further than Bear Grylls' survival camp in RAK, which will give intrepid kids and parents and incredible, skills-building experience, and can even include an exhilarating view from the top of Jebel Jais (pictured), depending on the itinerary you choose.

Dubai-based mum of four Edwina Viel took her older kids to the Bear Gryll’s Explorer Camp in RAK, which is suitable for children aged 8 and upwards.

Edwina says: “The team you meet for the adventure is incredible. One of them comes from the Bears Gryll’s team from the UK, and the rest are experts in their different fields."

There are 4-hour, 8-hour and 24-hour courses currently on offer, including an overnight stay, although Edwina points out, “It’s all about survival, so don’t expect anything luxurious.”

“Our family chose the 4- hour course," says Edwina. "Children will be expected to carry their own rucksacks. My children learnt to tie survival ropes, light fires, learnt knife safety using different methods, hike, climb, eat unexpected worms, and abseil down a rock face.”

This isn't for the faint-hearted, says Edwina: “The 4-hour trip is broken up into various stops, but it is tiring. I would recommend parents start with the 4-hour adventure and build up.”

Edwina says that her journey from The Palm Dubai to Jebel Jais was around a 1.5 hour - 2 hour drive, and they left at 6.45am to get there on time. “Lunch is not included so you would need to stop to feed the children - perhaps at the tallest restaurant at the top of Jebel Jais, but you would need to book.”

“We didn't miss the opportunity to drive to the top of Jebel Jais - it was much colder up there. We do recommend good hiking boots. The children were happy in trainers but for longer hikes boots would be the best option.”