Visiting the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, which is situated at the tip of the coast of the Arabian Gulf, and then continues to face onto the Indian Ocean, is an experience of great charm, to be had dedicating the right amount of time, since there are many places to see which are a must, and the landscapes are diverse (not just sea, but also the hills, mountains and desert) and therefore the natural environment, the colours and the atmosphere.
The panorama opens with history and culture, with a not to be missed visit to the national Museum of Ras Al Khaimah. This is a place of dual significance, since once it was a fort and thereafter the residence of the Sovereign of the Emirate. Being there means really getting to know the history of the country, through archaeological finds of considerable historical and scientific importance, which trace the history of this ancient land.
Yet the page dedicated to the history and culture of Ras Al Khaimah has still more to offer, with the old fortresses and control towers ranging across the territory and along its splendid coastline. Of particular significance among these there is the Fortress of Dhayah (built in the 19th century on the foundations of preceding defensive structures) located on a hill in an area which was already fertile in ancient times and therefore inhabited since three thousand years before Christ. Visiting it also offers the opportunity to enjoy an incomparable view of the Arabian Gulf on one side and the Hajjar Mountains on the other.
Still within the sphere of history, there is the ancient town of Jazirat Al Hamra. Once a little island, the inhabitants of which based their existence exclusively on trade in pearls and on fishing, it was abandoned halfway through the last century, when the discovery of oil completely changed the economy and the lives of the inhabitants of the entire Arabian peninsula, where a process of modernisation and progress began, which laid the basis for the development of today’s prodigious tourism industry. There are very many testimonies to the history and culture of life in the past, thanks to the numerous fortresses, watch towers, houses and mosques, which are also great examples of Arab architecture, which is particularly prized today and often also reproduced in the construction of hotels and shopping centres.
The Palace of the Queen of Sheba in the village of Shimal, although built in the medieval period (around 2,000 years after her death), carries her name because her fame was so immense that palaces and fortresses have also been dedicated to her in periods subsequent to that in which she lived. The ruins of the palace can be reached after a long but comfortable ascent and these are the remains of the most ancient Islamic palace known today in the Emirates.
At the foot of the mountains, the oasis-city of Khatt, with its Hot Springs (three hot mineral water springs at temperatures reaching 40°C) incarnates every travelers dream of finding relief and relaxation in the hot waters of the therapeutic baths and of discovering the benefits of Wellbeing thanks to the excellent modern equipment and facilities available, in a superb natural environment, rich in luxuriant vegetation and date plantations, all surrounded by the impressive Hajjar Mountains.
In an area in which landscapes abound, an excursion to the Grand Canyon of the Emirates, the Wadi Bih, is an absolute must. By bike, motorcycle or off the road vehicle, the view on offer is extremely evocative both at dawn and at dusk. Tours are organised to do this which last for two or more days, normally arranged with the use of tents, so as to be able to appreciate the natural surroundings and visit the entire area, which is very extensive, and in which sports competitions for running or walking are organised, and these have become events capable of attracting athletes and audience from all continents. It is advisable to carry a passport, in that Wadi Bih also extends into the territory of Oman, which offers to the visitor desert villages, ravines and canyons of the most various sizes and depths, extraordinary vegetation and the sculpted rock profiles of the mountain ranges.
The richness of the landscape does not end here, however. The Emirates, and more specifically, Ras Al Khaimah even have fjords to boast of! Here we are talking about Mussandam, the peninsula which is in fact nick-named The Fjords of the Middle East thanks to its characteristic jagged coastline. It brings together extremely evocative features: high rocky peaks with sudden, vertical drops down to the Straits of Hormuz, plains of crushed stone, stretches of desert, ancient settlements, multitudinous engravings in the stones... The opportunity of also enjoying the splendid view from the sea from on board the characteristic dhows (the characteristic Arab boats) offers the chance to appreciate this amazing territory also from a completely new perspective, which is frequently enriched by the sighting of dolphins. It is a good idea also on these occasions to carry a passport, since Oman governs a good part of the Fjords of the Middle East.
As in all of the Emirates, also at Ras Al Khaimah do the souks represent an attractive stopping off point. Characteristic clothing and valuable fabrics, gold and metals, objects ancient and new for the home, fresh and dried local fruit, jewellery and everything else that Arab art is capable of creating constitute an irresistible lure for the visitor. As are the typical camel rides, which take place on the edge of the desert.
Parks, gardens, sumptuous fountains, restaurants, cafes, pure white sandy beaches and crystalline seawater make this most northerly Emirate even more charming, contributing to make it one of the most appreciated destinations for tourists from all over the world or a must stop off on a multi-destination tour.