For years, if you wanted to take part in adrenaline-pumping, high-octane adventures, you headed to the exotic islands of New Zealand, went climbing in Yosemite National Park, or hiking in the Himalayas. Now you don’t have to travel quite so far to get your thrills, because the UAE has quickly become one of the best adventure destinations in the world. At Premier Inn, we’re close to all the action, so why not stay with us while you get your pulse racing at an F1 race track, or zip-lining through mountains? Here’s a quick look at some of the best thrill-seeker activities you can do in the UAE.
Hiking in Hatta
Just a short distance from the centre of Dubai is one of the region’s best-loved trekking and hiking regions. Hatta offers you everything from mountain bike trails to full-on hiking paths that’ll take you up mountains and down through canyons.
Jump out of a perfectly good aeroplane
Skydiving from 13,000ft is guaranteed to get the heart racing. Dubai is particularly good for skydiving experiences, and the two most popular drop zones are the Palm Jumeirah and the Dubai desert. If you’ve never jumped out of a perfectly good aeroplane for no apparent reason before, then don’t worry, you can book a tandem jump with an experienced skydiver, or go solo if you have the experience.
Not ready to take that leap of faith just yet? Keep your feet a little closer to the ground and go skydiving – indoors! Dubai has its very own indoor skydiving facility at Mirdif City Centre for those who don’t have a great head for heights, but still want to feel the skydiving rush for themselves.
Get your motor running
Always dreamed of being an F1 driver? Fulfill that ambition by climbing behind the wheel of a genuine racing car at the Yas Marina Circuit, the official venue of the annual Formula One™ Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. You can also head to the Dubai Autodrome, which is home to dozens of high-octane events all year round, and where you can notch up your own ‘hot lap’, coached by a professional racing driver.
If you’ve got the children with you then hop across the road to the Kartdrome, where you can zoom around a 1.2km track that’s challenging enough for racers of any age. Hop on our free shuttle from Premier Inn Abu Dhabi International Airport and let the race begin!
The ultimate zip line experience
Forget zip lines that run from one tree to another – in the UAE they do things in style. The world’s longest zip line runs from the top of the Jebel Jais mountain (1680m above sea level) and then swoops through the landscape for an astonishing 2.83km. It’s worth a trip to Ras Al Khaimah just to watch people’s faces as they zoom overhead!
Diving and snorkelling in the UAE
You might immediately picture deserts, deserts, and more deserts when you think of this region, but in fact it has some of the best snorkelling and scuba diving hotspots in the world. With warm, crystal-clear water and gentle currents, it’s an ideal diving destination if you’re an experienced underwater aficionado, or even if you’ve never flapped your flippers before.
The fabulous Daymaniat Islands Reserve in Oman is one of the best locations to see an underwater world you probably didn’t even know existed off the coast of the UAE, with shoals of colourful fish, turtles, and even the occasional dolphin or two. Pack an underwater camera and dive into a blue world under the waves that’s full of life and colour.
Come back to a soft bed at Premier Inn
At the end of a day’s adventures, we’ll take care of those aching muscles and tired feet with a comfortable room and a soft bed. Take a hot shower, or go for a lazy swim at one of our on-site pools. You can dine in style, and then just go the few short steps to your room and tumble into bed, tired and happy.
At Premier Inn, we’re always happy to help you make the most of your holiday to the UAE, so if you’re looking for personal recommendations for thrill-seeking adventures that’ll keep the whole family happy, just ask at reception.