An enjoyable road trip is the best cure for a serious case of cabin fever. And with the scorching summer heat, here are a few tips to make sure everything’s going to be a smooth drive.

          Musandam           Ras al Khaimah           Al Ain Musandam

Musandam

Visitors call the Musandam Peninsula the ‘Fjords of the Middle East,’ and rightly so. The rocky mountains shrouded by mist and shaped by the wind and waves are breathtakingly beautiful. After your scenic drive, take a dhow trip (AED250 and up) along the coast. Swim, kayak, snorkel or simply savor the view. Scuba divers are in for a treat – it’s whale shark season and you might see one or two of those endangered creatures on a good day. And at Musandam this summer, that’s probably every day.

The drive. Musandam is approximately two hours away from Dubai. Drive up north, just past the emirate of Fujairah. Watch the landscape transform from desert dunes to mountains hugging the coastline. Stop over for fruits, plants, carpets and other tidbits at the Friday Market. As Musandam is in Omani waters, a passport or labour card is required at the Dibba border.

Ras Al Khaimah

There’s more to Ras Al Khaimah than ceramic tiles. Wadi Bih, the emirate’s version of The Grand Canyon, offers one of the best views in the UAE. Walk along deserted villages, small wadis, fantastic rock cliffs, greenery and just be in awe of the great outdoors. The souq, set between the Ras Al Khaimah Museum and the sea, is filled with stalls in the mornings and late afternoons selling everything from fabric to gold. Fishing boats and dhows anchored along the coast, along with friendly locals, are good subjects for photography enthusiasts.

Discover what life used to be like in Ras Al Khaimah before the discovery of oil at Jazirat Al-Hamra (Red Island), reputedly the last traditional town in the UAE. Explore traditional forts, mosques and coral stone structures of old.

The drive. Emirates Road (also known as the E311 Highway) passes through Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah. Travel time is a breezy 45 minutes. Once in the emirate, Ras Al Khaimah’s kitschy themed roundabouts are equally interesting.

Al Ain

Just south of Dubai and east of Abu Dhabi is Al Ain, another popular weekend destination. After trips to Al Ain Zoo, Al Ain National Museum and the Hili archaeological site that dates back to the Bronze Age, watch the sun set on top of Jebel Hafeet mountain.

The drive. Al Ain is roughly 140 kilometers, or an hour and a half drive away from Dubai, passing through the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi. Al Ain’s green, tree-lined roads are a refreshing contrast to the desert.

Wherever you decide to explore, drive safely and enjoy!

Road Trip Tips

Check your ride - Don’t get stuck in the middle of nowhere. Make sure your tires are in good shape and have enough air; all breaks are working; the gas tank’s full and registration stickers are up to date. Have it serviced if needed, well in advance of the trip. And every car should have these basics: a flashlight, jumper cables, a jack, a first aid kit and emergency flares.

Map it out - Detailed travel guides of the different emirates are readily available in bookshops and petrol stations and are great to have on any trip. Tech savvy road trippers might want to set up a GPS device in their cars.

Crossing over ... to Oman for the weekend? Have your passport, labour card or Emirates ID ready for the routine check at the border. Make sure you have extra cash for the visa too. Oh and yes, make sure your car tint is not more than 30% or you’ll be heading back sooner than expected.

Just in case - Provide friends and family staying behind with a copy of your itinerary and mobile phone number, and do keep your phone battery fully charged at all times.

Are we there yet? - When traveling with toddlers and small children avoid the dreaded question by packing a small cooler filled with drinks and snacks; books; portable video games and an extensive music selection to keep your little ones occupied.

Snap it up - Road trips make for great vacation stories. Make sure you have pictures to back them up, so don’t forget the camera!

Be up for anything - Some unforeseen events may happen along the way, so don’t forget to keep an open mind and be ready for a bit of adventure. Remember, the fun is not in reaching the destination - it’s the journey that counts.

By Des Arellano 

August-September 2009