Day 30 – Qasr Al Sarab desert resort

Empty Quarter

Tuesday, 15 October 2013

This was truly the most unique experience of our whole holiday because of the location, level of service and our sunset desert walk in the Liwa desert.

We slept well in our very comfortable bed to wake to a desert panorama outside our door – unbelievable!

Our breakfast in the La Waha restaurant was sumptuous with international as well as Arabic offerings. We particularly enjoyed the bread, plain with zaatar and another with cheese which was cooked over a domed hot plate.

 

We saw more of the camel milk and date drink, and lots more date products including a variety of date jams.

 

After exploring on our own,

 

 

we were returning to our room, when Anthony had a mishap trying to avoid being in a photo, and fell over and grazed his left knee and left arm and elbow. A call to concierge that was redirected to cleaning, got us some antiseptic cream and gauze to patch him up.

This was an excuse, if we needed one, to take it easy for the rest of the day, with lots of resting, reading inside and outside, and iced water and Arabic coffee in Al Liwan (lobby lounge) and much savouring of our surroundings.

 

Luckily a cancellation meant that we could go on the desert sunset walk and we were so glad that we did. It was just breathtaking. There were only 6 of us on the tour and the 4-wheel drive vehicle went off road, up and down sand dunes, till we got to a point where the walk started.

Just amazing, so many different colours and contours, I lost track of the number of photos I took.

 

 

 

Climbing was a bit challenging, particularly on one very difficult climb where I had to be helped by our guide – it was like climbing through fudge, just sinking and not being able to get a grip to climb. But all worth it when, at the top of a particularly mountain high peek, we waited for sunset.

 

The way down was even more spectacular as we had to descend a near vertical huge drop, in sand up to our knees, playing “the song of the sand” (sound that you make as as you’re pushing through the sand) as we went. The first step over was the scariest!

 

Then another similar descent before we stopped at our base camp for refreshments of water, coffee or mint tea and small filled rolls and croissants.

 

So much of the desert in our shoes!

Back in our room we tried valiantly to stop too much sand coming into our room by taking off our shoes and socks and leaving these outside on our terrace for more shoe shaking in the morning. Then a shower and soak/swim in the huge bath, before heading out for a quiet drink and snack on the balcony outside Al Liwan.

Would we recommend the resort? YES because of the following:

 

Luxuriously furnished room

Exclusive

Beautifully themed (like a scene from the Arabian nights or Lawrence of Arabia)

 

Offers local activities – desert walks, dune bashing, camel rides, archery, falconry

Extensive food offerings

Happy hour from 4pm to midnight every day

Attention to detail

Friendly and attentive staff

Catered well for families with children

 

Dates, dates and more dates (welcome drink of camel milk and dates, dates served with Arabic coffee, breakfast drink, breakfast jams)

Service – come by car or helicopter from Abu Dhabi

Stunning desert scenery – the resort is located in the Liwa desert in an area called the Empty Quarter, a desert the size of France

Off the beaten track – 2 hours from Abu Dhabi and on its own private road

High staff to guest ratio (500 staff live on site and only 206 rooms)

Environmental credentials (buildings blended with environment, water recycling)

Sand, sand and more sand

Rooms are luxuriously furnished with luxury fibres and earthy hues

“Stylish desert castle decor”

 

http://qasralsarab.anantara.com/deluxe-garden-room/

 

 

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