32 Feature ADVENTURE TRAVEL


Rediscovering the region


Making the most of assorted natural wonders, Middle Eastern countries are perfectly placed to offer unforgettable experiences


Today’s travellers are engaging very differently with the places they visit, as they seek out new and interesting ways to become acquainted with a country’s culture and its people. Where once tourists would get to know their chosen destination via a guidebook listing landmarks and activities, now the research starts in earnest before the holiday begins. Multiple avenues of advice, insider tips and


reviews online form the basis of a trip where trav- ellers seek out the unusual, exotic and authentic to go beyond standard itineraries. Adventure travel forms one of the main pillars of this expe- riential dynamic, which has become one of the tourism industry’s most lucrative segments. Set against this backdrop, the Middle East comes into its own as destinations capitalise on natural assets to offer an exciting proposition. With experiential travel the main theme


of this year’s Arabian Travel Market, Simon Press, Senior Exhibition Director, says: “Today’s


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travellers are seeking more than amenities and creature comforts; more than a sight-seeing tour and a picture beside a famous landmark. “The increasing trend is for an immersive


style of tourism, which encompasses different areas of local life – culinary, culture, history, shop- ping, nature, sports, halal, theme parks, wellness and spa, medical tourism and extreme luxury – and can be the basis for a holistic travel expe- rience, by connecting with a place rather than just visiting it. “This growing trend is now on the radar of the


region’s tourism chiefs. Destinations face increased competition for their share of the more traditional travel segments, and are increasingly looking to diversify into new and niche markets which require product differentiation and innovation.”


LANDS OF ADVENTURE Off the beaten track options are in abundance across the Middle East and are a major part of


the region’s adventure travel offering. One of the most exciting is the stunning desert landscape of Wadi Rum in southern Jordan. Its dramatic dunes are home to the Zalabia Bedouin people and have featured in a host of Hollywood produc- tions from Lawrence of Arabia to The Martian and Star Wars. Visitors can explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site terrain by foot or 4x4, while its sandstone mountains are also a magnet for the rock climbing community. For the ultimate overnight stay, sleep


beneath a blanket of stars in the vast desert where a choice of camping options ranges from the simple to the luxurious. Or, for a truly unique desert view, take to the skies with The Royal Aerosports Club of Jordan in a hot air balloon, microlight or two-person plane. Famed for its amazing underwater habitat,


Oman’s Musandam Peninsula is another of the region’s natural jewels. The stretch is renowned for its incredible diversity of marine life, including


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batfish, leopard sharks, corals and green turtles, and with more than 25 dive sites, it’s the ideal choice for dive enthusiasts. For a slice of Omani culture, head out onto the peninsula in a tradi- tional Arabian dhow and discover how local people once traversed the waterway, as dolphins swim alongside the vessel. Musandam also offers a challenge for would-be wilderness warriors in the form of the Bear Grylls Survival Acad- emy. Based out of a stone lodge in Dibba, the academy shows participants how to survive in extreme conditions, like the celebrity outdoors- man. Techniques taught during the 24-hour adult survival course in the mountains include coping with the desert sun, building a fire, purifying water, rope skills and dealing with wild animals. Experiential travel has gained such incred-


ible momentum that it was marked as a key area of growth in a recent UAE Hospitality Market report, which found that the income gener- ated by travel and tourism to the UAE was


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1 Parachuting in Wadi Rum 2 Desert of Wadi Rum, Jordan 3 Petra, Jordan 4 Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum 5 & 7 Mada’in Saleh, Saudi Arabia 6 Traditional dhow sailing in Oman


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