Hatta

Hatta is the side of Dubai that surprises almost everyone: a small town in the Hajar Mountains, part of the emirate of Dubai but separated from the city by more than an hour of desert driving, with jagged brown peaks, date palms, stone watchtowers and a dam lake of startling turquoise water. It has been developed carefully as an adventure and heritage destination, and most of it is free to explore, with paid activities layered on top. The centrepiece is Hatta Dam, where the reservoir is held between steep rock walls; you can rent a kayak, a pedal boat or a paddleboard and glide between the cliffs, which is the photograph everyone comes home with. Above the town, Hatta Heritage Village gathers more than thirty restored mud-brick and stone buildings showing traditional mountain life, from houses and a mosque to a fort, and entry is free. Close by, the Hatta Watchtower, a former military tower dating to 1880, now stands at the village's high point with wide views, and the old falaj, a traditional water channel from the 1800s, runs shaded behind the village. For a short hike, walk up to the Hatta Sign on a ridge above the town for the panorama; families can feed the birds at Swan Lake or take a swan-shaped pedal boat, and the Honey Bee Discovery Centre explains how the valley's honey is made. Hatta Wadi Hub adds mountain biking, climbing and other adventure activities. Fit: active couples, families, hikers and photographers, and anyone who has done the big sights and wants a completely different landscape.

Why Hatta matters: for centuries this was a mountain oasis on the route between the coast and the interior, defended by forts and towers and watered by the falaj system that still runs through the village. Today it is a protected showcase of how Dubai once lived beyond the Creek, and a weekend escape for residents, which is worth knowing: Fridays and Saturdays in the cool season are busy, and weekdays are calm. The cooler months from October to April are the time to go; summer temperatures in the mountains are still very high.

How to do it well: leave Dubai early, around an hour and a half's drive depending on traffic, and start at the dam before the sun is high. Book kayaks or boats at the dam itself, then drive up to the heritage village and watchtower, have lunch in town or at the Wadi Hub, and finish with the walk to the Hatta Sign or the Honey Bee Discovery Centre. Bring proper shoes, sun protection and plenty of water; there is little shade on the trails. Swimming in the dam is not permitted, and the activity providers set their own age and weight rules. If you want to stay overnight, the Damani Lodges and other Hatta Resorts accommodations sit in the hills above the Wadi Hub.

Getting there: most visitors drive or take a tour, since public transport options are limited; an intercity bus service runs from the city but is slow. Hatta is part of Dubai and the town and attractions are operating normally, but some governments currently advise caution or reconsidering travel to the UAE, so check your own government's advice and your insurance before any remote trip. Allow a full day, and pair it with a quiet evening back in the city.