Travelling in the Arabian Peninsula
It may seem in the days of mass tourism and cheap worldwide
flights that no stone has been left unturned in our pursuit of
the unexplored. However, Arabia still offers much in the way of
mystery and exoticism.
If you are brave enough to venture into this unknown, a feast of
surprises await the senses. The scenery is the first to strike.
The picture-postcard desert is home to an astonishing array of
mountain landscapes, deep and rich forests, bursting and
colourful coral reefs, endless date plantations and lush green
wadis, plus of course miles and miles of undiscovered, untouched
and truly breathtaking beaches.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of this fascinating region is
its ascension from a 3rd world barren landscape to a series of
prosperous, emerging nations in a little under 30 years.
The Peninsula is far from a large plateau of sand and sun. The
cultural legacy of the great civilisations can be seen and felt
everywhere in the ancient cities, temples and fortifications
such as the Beit Sheikh Isa bin Ali on Bahrain's Muharraq
Island, or the Madain Saleh embedded in a rock face deep in the
heart of the Saudi Arabian desert.
So what activities might one engage in? Truly world-class golf
resorts such as the Montgomery in Dubai, thrilling
'dune-bashing' (4x4s driven expertly over dunes at high-speed),
wildlife safaris such as watching green turtles invade a beach
at dawn to lay their eggs, snorkelling and scuba diving some of
the planets most breathtaking and undisturbed coral reefs, or
perhaps mountain trekking or desert safaris, meeting the
indigenous Bedouin people for a cup of steaming arabic coffee
with dates along the way.