Step up on UAE’s highest mountain
The UAE’s highest mountain, Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah, will begin welcoming visitors to the region’s first commercial Via Ferrata, or Iron Road, later this month. The Via Ferrata is a 470-metre-long protected climbing route up and across steep sections of rock up to 120 metres high. Climbers are aided by metal rungs embedded in the rock, and these can be clipped to a cable, which acts like a rope. There are also three zip-lines, the longest measuring 300 metres in length.
Visitors can choose from three different routes in twice-daily supervised tours, starting at 8am and 1pm. The standard course, the Ledge Walk, will take an average group of eight adventurers about four hours. The middle, technical route – the Middle Path – will take about three-and-a-half hours; the higher, vertical route – Julphar Scare – will take about one-and-a-half hours.
Minimum age and weight restrictions apply: climbers must be at least 12 years old and weigh at least 41 kilograms and no more than 95kg. Those over 65 years of age may be asked for a doctor’s clearance before being accepted.
“It’s a unique opportunity to experience the dramatic Jebel Jais scenery at just under 400 feet – that’s the height of a 30-storey building,” said Haitham Mattar, chief executive of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority.
The trips being operated by Absolute Adventure, are four hours long and include pick up and drop off at Manar Mall in downtown RAK. The first public groups are due on November 23 and trips are expected to cost from Dh400 per person. For more information, visit www.jebeljais.ae/via-ferrata.
Anantara opens second luxury resort in Oman
Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara opened its doors this week. It's the latest luxury beach resort to open in Salalah, in southern Oman, and is the hotel group's second property in the country, after the Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar opened last month. Al Baleed Resort is Salalah's first pool villa resort. Located 15km from Salalah's new International Airport, it offers 136 rooms and villas, including 88 one- and two-bedroom pool villas and 40 rooms, along with three restaurants, a fitness centre, watersports centre, infinity pool, diving centre, spa and beach. Double rooms currently cost from Dh1,311 per night, including taxes For more information, visit www.salalah.anantara.com.
