Are you longing for a tropical escape? A place where the mountains meet the sea? Did you know that there’s a semi-tropical town on the East Coast of the UAE? Yes, there is. Khorfakkan is a great out-of-town destination from Dubai. The sleepy town has a tropical vibe and it’s surrounded by the rocky Hajjar Mountains. It is also near the Indian Ocean, giving way for the town’s tropical feel and views. Once you reach the place, you can easily feel that you’ve been whisked away from the bustling city of Dubai to a secret tropical island in just a couple of hours. Palm trees stand tall and proud on the beach, lush mangoes trees are dotted all over the town and you can smell the scent of a sleepy, fishing village. Just like on a tropical island. The best thing is, it is an easy road trip from Dubai and you don’t need a 4WD car to reach there. A hidden gem, worth discovering and exploring whilst the weather is great.

 Here are the top things you can do that don’t cost a cent in this sleepy town:

First, you can have a wintry picnic at Sheesh Park

Sheesh Park is an amazing desert park with mountain views. From December to February, you can enjoy a wintry weather while enjoying a scrumptious picnic on the mountain. There are also various recreational facilities that will entertain the little ones. If you love photography, you can take selfies in front of the park’s man-made 25-meter high waterfall. Or enjoy a cuppa from the cafe with beautiful views. There are several barbecue pits for grilling too. Just be sure to come early as it gets crowded in the weekend. Sheesh park is an ideal and easy out-of-town trip from Dubai. With free entry to the parks as well as beautiful mountain views, who can’t resist not to visit this place? So, you should get the time to visit it.

Other activities you can do at Sheesh Park:

• Have a “leg workout”. Climb the mountain walkways.
• Check out the kids playground and let your kids have a go.
• Sip a cup of coffee and enjoy the mountain views
• Take pictures of the sceneries

Next, go swimming or Kayaking at Khorfakkan Public Beach

Khorfakkan’s public beach is perhaps the closest picture of what “tropical” means in the East Coast of the UAE. It has an idyllic tropical image. A beach with fine, white sand and palm trees, overlooking a rocky mountain. It’s also easy to drive there, due to different access roads from Sharjah and Dubai, making it a perfect out-of-town destination for your family. This lovely place allows you to travel and see something different without spending loads of cash on plane tickets.

Khorfakkan’s public beach is great for families. Here, you get to swim on the Indian Ocean and feel the soft, white sand with your toes. Your kids will enjoy building sandcastles while you marvel at the exotic view. Moreover, there are several restaurants and cafes on the beach. So, if you’re feeling hungry and have not packed lunch, you can opt to dine in one of these restaurants or treat your kids with ice cream. There’s also a little playground on the beach. Moreover, you can also rent a kayak. But the best attraction in this place is the Khorfakkan waterfalls. Just a few meters away from the beach, you can see a man-made, 45-meter waterfall, beautifully cascading from a natural cliff. Cementing Khorfakkan’s reputation as a beautiful, interesting, and easy family get-away fit for any age.

Lastly, check out Khorfakkan’s Waterfall

The stunning man-made 45- meter long waterfall is an attractive and exciting destination within the town that you can visit for free. If you’re coming from Khorfakkan beach you can park your car in one of the paid parking areas ( P2 or P1) and walk for about ten minutes towards the falls. However, you can also drive straight and park opposite the falls.

You will get a picturesque shot of the artificial waterfalls from the bottom of the cliff whilst enjoying this moment with your family. For kids, it is an entertaining and fun activity. So, save a date and head down there while the weather is cool and breezy.

Khorfakkan is an amazing out-of-town destination because of its scenery and proximity to Dubai. This is also the best option for a tropical but budget-friendly get-away by road!