The UAE is awash with dreamy hotels and fabulously fancy, five-star resorts, but there are very few that even come close to competing with the secluded desert oasis that is Anantara Qasr Al Sarab.
Offering its very own adventure along the way, a three-hour road trip from Dubai took us deep into the depths of the Empty Quarter, where we drove winding desert roads that skirted towering sand dunes and led us straight to the luxurious gates of a once-in-a-lifetime Arabian escape…
Beyond the city…
An adventurous staycation, a luxurious vacation or a romantic bae-cation: no matter what the occasion, Anantara Qasr Al Sarab delivers, particularly in a time where the luxe traveller seeks as much from surrounding experiences as they do from the resort they have chosen for their city ‘switch-off’. And these days, despite a backpacker background, I’m all for that luxe living, with a generous side of exploration and fun.
When a resort has the chameleon-like ability to blend into its surrounding landscape – without forgetting the cultural ties to its chosen location – it gets an immediate thumbs-up from me. Qasr Al Sarab has that rare ability to make you feel as though you have left the UAE, despite the UAE being at the heart of its design and destination features. When you take that left-turn from the highway and start your approach to the resort, the anticipation of your secluded hideaway starts to build, and what you are met with at the end of that road certainly does not disappoint.
Inside the Fortress walls
Ananatara Qasr Al Sarab is a sprawling Arabian fortress built across multiple levels; its walled walkways, turrets and courtyards create a lost-world feel with an air of secluded tranquility that’ll have you believing you are the only guests at the resort (once you have ventured beyond the check-in lounge), even if it’s at high-capacity. It’s as magical as it is wander-ful and nods to the country’s cultural heritage in every aspect of its design details.
From garden and terrace rooms to suites and royal pool villas, the resort offers a plethora of possibilities. We opted for the Deluxe Garden Room, which – by Qasr Al Sarab standards – is the ‘basic’ option in the resort’s accommodation hierarchy, but by normal hotel standards, it is the furtherest thing from basic you could ever imagine. We were whisked away to our ‘room’ (more like a mini, secluded villa) by a golf-cart and had a two-stairway private entrance into our hidden abode. What can you expect behind your over-sized entrance? A plush bathroom with an oversized tub, a bedroom that oozes traditional charm but offers modern amenities and a decent-sized garden that looks out over the endless dunes.
Rolling in the deep…
If you’re searching for wrap-around desert views with kaleidoscopic sunsets, stars and secluded suites, you’ve come to the right place. If you are searching for rolling sand dunes to satisfy your adventurous soul, you’ll find those in abundance, too. You do not drive deep into the Empty Quarter to just look at the golden view; getting out and traipsing to the top of the dunes is a must… just plan your trip for a winter month if you want to explore during the daytime.
We took to the ‘slopes’ just after breakfast for some morning exercise; this seems to be a good choice for anyone who wants to feel wildly alone amidst the dunes. However, the more popular thing to do is to traverse the dunes just before sunset, so if you don’t mind sharing the experience with strangers then that’s an option, too. We were a couple of sundowners deep at that stage, where we were equally rewarded by the views from the pool bar followed by our garden terrace.
Swings & swim-up pool bars
Were you even in the Empty Quarter if you didn’t stumble upon a desert swing that definitely wasn’t put there to lure in the insta-travellers who have flown halfway across the globe to pose at the ‘most instagrammable hotel in the world’?! Damn right, I took a photo of me swinging into the social frenzy. If you’re into your photography – or just your Instagram – Qasr Al Sarab is designed to deliver photo ops at every corner.
More than desert swings, the resort’s massive pool offers all the chill-out vibes that you came for. Set to the backdrop of the dunes (do you see the recurring theme of this dreamy desert location yet?!), the pool also features a swim-up bar area where you can sip cocktails until your heart is content. Not one for sharing poolside bliss? Book into a villa for your own pool instead… just expect to pay at least double the price for your privacy.
Eat & Drink Your Way Around Qasr Al Sarab
Anantara Qasr Al Sarab offers a number of dining options that range from poolside pizzas to private dinner-by-design on the dunes and bedouin-style barbecue experiences that let you taste Arabian culture under the stars. If you are staying in one of the luxurious villas, the resort can even arranged for private catering. Sunset lounge? Check. Steakhouse with wine-cellar? Check. Brunch-style breakfast with mini donuts and fresh honeycomb feature? Yup, that too… just make sure you get to breakfast early as we were slightly disappointed that the hot food was a little cold when our lazy-morning selves arrived.
Explore Qasr Al Sarab activities
Okay, okay… so, like me, spending your days on a sun-lounger does nothing for you. Fear not because the resort also offers a variety of activities including fat-biking, horse-riding, archery, camel trekking, desert drives and more. Even though the resort offers dune-bashing, you don’t have to worry about it disturbing the peace; these adventures happen far away from the oasis of the resort.
And if you’re there for the a zen-sational time instead, the opulent Anantara Spa will impress, or you could opt for a desert yoga session.
The verdict on Qasr Al Sarab…
A big statement to make, but Anantara Qasr Al Sarab is a definite feature in my ‘top 5 hotels around the world (from those I have been to so far)’ – a round-up article that I will create… soon. While you’ll likely get more affordable rates during the hotter months, I would highly recommend booking for the cooler months to enjoy perfect temperatures during the day and all the cool, wintery feels at night. For the everyday expat who is already familiar with having the desert on their doorstep, this resort is a bucket list splurge (starting from AED 1,850) that you should plan for while living in the Middle East. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
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