Desert: Best for relaxing and unwinding
Escape into the dunes

Why go? For clients that don’t want to spend hours on a flight to a faraway destination and are looking for somewhere closer to home to relax and unwind, a truly luxury desert retreat such as Qasr Al Sarab provides the ultimate Eid escape.

The stunning desert retreat, run by Anatara is located amidst the golden red sand dunes of the Liwa desert. The resort was recently awarded two international awards at New York’s Hospitality Design Awards and since opening only in November last year, has been recognised with top accolades from around the world including making it into Condé Nast Traveller UK’s 2010 Hot List.

What’s it like? The resort is located in the Empty Quarter (Rub Al Khali), the world’s largest stretch of uninterrupted desert, which extends from the UAE into Oman, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

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The drive up to the resort itself cannot fail to awe any visitor. Perched on a sand dune, a winding ten kilIometre drive through the windswept dunes, its hard to imagine a more difficult place to build a hotel and there is an incredible sense of anticpation which builds as you wind your way through the dunes towards the hotel entrance.

Stretching for over a mile into the desert, the sheer scale of the development is impressive. The resort itself has been designed to resemble a traditional Arabian fort and the architects worked with staff at Al Ain museum to ensure its authenticity.

Totally isolated from the rest of civilisation the resort feels like fortress marooned in the midst of the desert.

Accomodation: Qasr Al Sarab offers the ultimate in five-star luxury. All the rooms are beautifully appointed with hand-crafted Arabian furnishings, and stunning views of the desert valley where you can watch the sun disappear behind the dunes at the end of the day.

The spacious marble bathrooms are particularly indulgent, with rain showers and enormous sunken bathtubs.

The property offers 154 rooms in varying room types, from Deluxe with balcony or terrace in two wings off the main body of the hotel. There is also a separate complex of one-, two- and three-bedroom villas with their own living and dining areas, a 24 hour butler service, rain showers, outdoor terraces and private plunge pools - a perfect way to escape the desert heat.

What’s on at Eid? This is the place to come to completely get away from it all. The Anatara Spa offers Thai massages by Thai staff. Other activities at the resort include trekking through the desert by foot, camel, or air-conditioned 4x4.

Sample packages: Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort has a Ramadan package with a room rate of AED 700 subject to 10 percent service charge and 6 percent tourism fee The offer is valid until 13th September
reservationsqas@anantara.com / +971 2 886 2088

AL MAHA DESERT RESORT
As a Dubai desert alternative Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa is surrounded by some of the region’s most spectacular desert landscape, and wildlife. The resort is also the only resort in Dubai that offers all meals and two desert-based activities per night’s stay, inclusive in the rates.

Meals can be taken in the stunning Al Diwaan restaurant overlooking the desert and the Hajar mountains, and desert activities on offer include falconry, guided nature walks, desert safaris, wildlife drives, horse riding, camel treks and archery.

After a day of discovery, guests can unwind in their Bedouin-inspired suite, each with its own private, temperature-controlled swimming pool and a sundeck.

Eid package: Al Maha is running an Eid promotion which offers guests half price on every second night of stay. The offer is valid from 8 – 30 September and includes full board and two desert-based activities per night’s stay. Tel: +971 4 303 4222 / almaha@emirates.com