If you’re traveling to Dubai and looking for adventurous day trip ideas or weekend getaways, then the Hatta tour is exactly what you’re looking for. Hatta has been on my UAE bucket list since I could remember for its iconic Hatta Lake and the variety of fun activities it has to offer. But since my trip didn’t go really well (I chose the wrong tour operator), I put together this guide to help you have a better trip than mine.
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About Hatta
Hatta is an inland exclave of the emirate of Dubai, located in the Hajar Mountains, 2 hours away from the city. It’s the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the big city, offering a different kind of adventure from the glitz and glam of Dubai. Instead, you’d be met with a variety of adrenaline-fueled activities like kayaking and mountain biking.
Fun Things to Include in Your Hatta Tour
Start your day at Hatta Kayak
The perfect spot to start your Hatta tour is Hatta Kayak where the famed pristine blue lake formed by the Hatta Dam is located. There you can enjoy a bunch of different water activities like riding paddle boats, donut boats, and of course, my favorite, kayaking.
- Opening hours: 7 AM – 9 PM
- Prices: Kayaks (AED 60), Paddle boats (AED 150), Donut boats (AED 300)
Spend the rest of the day at Hatta Wadi Hub
Hatta Wadi Hub is where most of the action happens so make sure to dedicate the most chunk of your day to this part of the trip. As the name suggests, it’s a hub for various adventurous activities like mountain biking archery, rock climbing, and zip-lining. There are also other fun things to do like taking a rope course, zorbing, tube sliding, water slides, and much more.
In addition to all these activities, Hatta Wadi Hub would also be the best place to eat as it houses a selection of food trucks. So, after a long, tiring day, you won’t have to look for a place to have lunch, because everything you need is there.
- Opening hours: 8 AM – 7 PM
- Hatta Wadi Hub only operates from October to May
DON’T FORGET TO DOWNLOAD AN ESIM!
Other Things to Do in Hatta
- See the Hatta Sign: It’s Hatta’s very own replica of the Hollywood sign. It’s not really worth hiking to or dedicating an entire part of your itinerary to. However, you’ll be able to see it as you’ll drive by, and you can always make a quick stop on your Hatta tour for photos.
- Horseriding: If you’re a rider, you can check out the Arabian horses in Hatta – just make sure the horses are being well-treated before booking. The places that offer horseback riding in Hatta are Hatta Fort Horses and Hatta Horses, and prices range from AED 50 to 150, depending on how long your ride is.
- Paragliding: If you have paragliding on your bucket list, you can actually do it over the scenic mountains of Hatta. You can book your flight with Birdeye Parachuting.
- Hiking: You can explore the Hajar Mountains and their canyons. For guided hiking adventures, you can book via Hatta Adventures.
Other Things to Do in Hatta (that I would personally skip)
- Hatta Heritage Village: There’s a small fort and replica of how Hatta looked like 3,000 years ago – the village showcases some aspects of life back in the day. Personally, I’m hard to impress when it comes to history as I always have very high expectations. If you’re like me, you probably won’t be impressed either.
- Swan Lake: I honestly didn’t see any swans or birds when I passed by and unfortunately, it wasn’t as picturesque as it was in the photos.
- Hatta Swano: I didn’t see any ducks as promised here either. I only saw the swan-shaped paddle boats, and I honestly find it a childish ride. So, maybe this would be interesting for families but not to solo travelers like myself.
- Hatta Hill Park: There’s also nothing impressive to see there either – it’s a very small park on a hill top. You’ll see much nicer views at the Hatta Lake (where the kayaks are). There was also another park that I visited but I can’t remember its name – it wasn’t worth the stop either.
Where to Stay in Hatta
If you wish to extend your trip to Hatta and spend the night, there are lots of accommodation options.
- Sedr Trailers at Hatta Resorts
- Damani Lodges at Hatta Resorts
- Caravans at Hatta Resorts
- Domes at Hatta Resorts
- Hatta Campsite
- JA Hatta Fort Hotel
Getting to Hatta
You have two options to get to Hatta – either by car or public transportation. If you rent a car or if your local friend is tagging along, the route is pretty easy to navigate and the ride from Dubai should take you from 1.5 – 2 hours.
On the other hand, if you opt for public transportation, you can either take a bus or a taxi. And the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) in the UAE offers both options.
Important Tips to Help You Plan Your Hatta Tour
- Before you go, double-check all the information on Visit Hatta’s official website as working hours and prices are subject to change.
- Book everything via Hatta Wadi Hub, Visit Hatta, or businesses recommended on Visit Hatta’s official website only. If you opt for another Hatta tour operator, make sure it has a lot of positive reviews or even better, is tried and recommended by someone you trust. A lot of tour operators are unfortunately unethical and have zero knowledge of customer satisfaction and quality service, so be very careful. I highly discourage people from dealing with Dubai Evening Safari – they ruined my Hatta tour which was on my birthday! I shared the whole story in my Dubai Instagram highlights.
- If you’re planning a day trip not an entire weekend, make sure to wake up and move early beat the city’s traffic and to make the most out of your day.
Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance!
Travel (solo or not) isn’t always rainbows and butterflies – things might go down south sometimes. You might fall ill or lose your luggage, and that’s when you’ll thank me for having your back covered with travel insurance.
SafetyWing offers different travel insurance packages, tailored to your needs, but their Nomad Insurance is my favorite option.
This travel medical insurance is perfect for frequent travelers. It covers lost checked luggage, travel delay, doctors, hospitals, and more. It even covers the COVID-19 emergency quarantine period if deemed necessary by a physician.
GET INSURED NOW – Nomad Insurance
Booking a trip soon? Here are some useful travel resources:
- Book your flight with Skyscanner, Kiwi, CheapOair, or WayAway.
- Book your hostel with Hostelworld.
- Book your hotel with Booking.com or Agoda.
- Get your travel insurance with SafetyWing.
- Hire a car with Skyscanner, Discover Cars, Rentalcars, or AutoEurope.
- Book your tours with Viator or Klook.
- Download an eSIM from Airalo or Jetpac.
- Check out my trip planning tools for more travel resources.
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You might also like:
- Taking a Solo Trip to Dubai: Top 4 Tips You Need to Know
- Dubai on a Budget: The 7 Ultimate Money-Saving Tips
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Nadine is an Egyptian curly-head who decided to quit the norm because it just doesn’t suit her. She ditched her 9-5 as a magazine editor to pursue her dream of becoming a full-time digital nomad and to inspire aspiring travelers to embark on their own solo adventures.
