Travellers experience unique and mesmerising sights as they travel across the world and explore unknown niches of natural beauty. Amongst these are soaring mountaintops that kiss the heavens, enchanting forests with lofty trees, sparkling waterways that spring from deep with the earth and unforgettable sunsets where the dying rays of the day’s sun set the sky on fire. Combine these magical moments with the culturally diverse people, unfamiliar traditions and delicious cuisines and you have a journey that will change you forever.
However, moments of tranquillity are not found solely in lofty green forests or mesmerising country sides. They lie in unlikely places; in the scorching deserts with ripples in the sand, at the thrilling edge of an inactive volcano and even in the bustling streets of a busy city. Beauty is all around us: we just need to change our perspective. The Liwa Desert is one such destination filled with surprises: unexpected but thrilling.
The Liwa Desert, also known as the Liwa Oasis is located in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, roughly south of the Persian Gulf. Its sheer extent alone is marvellous as it stretches for around one hundred kilometres and is, unsurprisingly, home to over fifty villages. While tourism has been on the rise in the past few years, the economy of the area was primarily dependent on date farming via an intricate and intelligent irrigation system and high end greenhouses. The oasis is of modern political relevance as well since the ruling family of the Emirate was originally from the Liwa Oasis. For centuries, the Bani Yas tribe lived in the oasis and made a living by diving for pearls in the ocean. Thus, it is no secret that the Liwa Oasis is full of surprises.
Such a wonderful place would surely be frequented by tourists and for those who seek luxury and comfort and are willing to invest in their holiday, the Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara is the place to reside in. This is one of the few luxury hotels Abu Dhabi located within the Liwa Desert itself, making it the ideal choice of accommodation as not many Abu Dhabi hotels can offer a similar experience.
Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.