Decided to escape the bright lights of the city and now curious about the best things to do in Hatta?

The mountain enclave, which is about an hour and a half drive from Dubai, has been used as a summer home by many Dubaians over the years to escape the heat and hustle and bustle of the city (but it still gets hot so be sure to bring water and sun cream).

And with amazing, undisturbed scenery that was born for Instagram as well as a leisure and entertainment hub, there has never been a better time to visit.

Plus, there’s a free festival taking place in the area until Sunday December 31 where you can take part in workshops and see fireworks.

Excited? Here are the best things to do in Hatta.

Camp beneath the stars

Want an authentic wild experience in Hatta? Bring your tent (or caravan) and set up shop with the Hajar Mountains as your backdrop. The grounds are the perfect spot to reconnect with nature and get away from the comforts of modern living. There are barbecue areas for those who want to do their own cooking but if you’re feeling lazy, food trucks are located at the Hatta Wadi Hub.
Prices vary. Hatta, Dubai, www.visithatta.com/en.

Conquer the mountains on bike

Dubai is no stranger to thrilling activities like dune bashing or zip-lining but this thing to do in Hatta takes it up a level with a heart-pumping and adrenaline flowing ride through the Hajar Mountains. There are different trials to choose from depending on your ability. Need a map? Visit visithatta.com/en/play/mountain-biking.
From Dhs65. Open daily 6am-6pm. Sufayri, Hatta, www.hattamt.ae.

Dip your toes in Hatta’s rock pools

You’ll have to bring your Emirates ID (or passport for non-residents) for this next thing to do in Hatta. Situated across the border in neighbouring Oman, Hatta’s rock pools are natural freshwater springs and waterfalls through which visitors can wander. A stunning 80-mile drive that takes you through vast swathes of desert is the only way to reach it from Dubai and when you have arrived, the rock pools become an oasis of rocky crevices and water pools. The best time to visit the pools is during the early morning or late afternoon when the sun isn’t at its most powerful as a misty light casts over the peaks, allowing for deep shadows between the crevices. Visitors can wade through the crystal clear water, but watch out for an unexpected dip as the pools can become very deep very quickly. Don’t forget to bring the phone for pictures of fish swimming among your tootsies.
Oman.

Enjoy a paddle around Hatta Dam

Hatta Dam is the iconic image of the area. Piercing blue waters contrast with rugged, orange mountains leaving you with a site that will need no filter when uploaded to the socials (or the picture-perfect postcard look in old money). One of the top things to do in Hatta, kayaking will set visitors back Dhs60 with Hatta Kayak. However, if you are looking for something easier, venture out onto the water in a pedal boat for Dhs120.
From Dhs60. Hatta Kayak, Hatta Dam, Hatta www.hattakayak.com.

Explore the town

Between kayaking, hiking, mountain biking and more, it can be easy to forget that one of the best things to do in Hatta is discovering the little town. Home to the 16th century Hatta Fort and the Juma mosque, constructed in 1780, there are some cool pics to be snapped and that is before taking a trip into a life gone by at Hatta Heritage Village.
Hatta.

Go back in time to Hatta Heritage Village

Forget about your fancy, modern skyscrapers of Dubai. Mud, reed and stone buildings are where it’s at in this reconstructed mountain village. Have a nosy in the folklore house that displays examples of Nabatoi folk poetry or wander the streets of the old market where there are six shops and a restaurant. Hatta Heritage Village gives you a chance to see what life was like in the Hajar Mountains and UAE before the economic oil boom of the 1960s. A pretty cool thing to do in Hatta if we say so ourselves.
Free. Sat-Fri 7.30am-8.30pm. Hatta.

Grab a coffee at Wild Hatta Café

Need a caffeine kick before your next activity of the day? Of course, you do. How else are you going to tackle Hatta? Get the energy boost you need at this cute, frontier-style joint. Offering guests Instagrammable cups of chow, the café uses only ingredients produced in local farms and serves up dishes reflecting local tastes. A true bite of Hatta.
Open Sun-Thu 7am-10pm, Fri-Sat 7am-11pm. Sufayri, Hatta (056 828 2252).

Live your best life at Hatta Wadi Hub

If there was a title for the best thing to do in Hatta, Hatta Wadi Hub would arguably be everyone’s biggest contender. Get a need for speed at the Hatta Drop-in where you can reach speeds of 80km/h on the water slide (helmets are necessary), show off your Call of Duty skills in gel ball (paintball without the mess) or just roll around in the in a big plastic ball (you know we’re talking about zorbing), Hatta Wadi Hub will be one of the reasons you return to Hatta again and again. You can stay over in one of the various accommodations provided on-site.
Prices vary. Sun-Thu 8am-6pm, Fri-Sat 8am-8pm (closed for summer). Sufayri, Hatta visithatta.com (04 852 2200).

Pound the less-beaten track

You can’t come to Hatta and not test out your mountain walking boots. There is a total of 32.6km over five routes to cover. Hikers can trek along winding wadis at the foothills of the mountains and test the calves’ endurance on gradual inclines, sandy paths and sharp rocks. Free to explore and free in price, those who have ever hiked one of the five routes in the Hajar Mountains, know it is one of the best things to do in Hatta.
Hatta.

Show the Hatta sign the star treatment

What do Hollywood and Hatta have in common? They are both super cool places and have iconic signs which you must get your picture with. The landmark can be reached via the red, blue or green hiking routes which are around 6 to 7km in distance. And when you reach the top make sure to strike a pose for the camera because you know it’s what all the stars would do in Los Angeles.
Hatta.

Try the lamb at Tanoor Restaurant

Feeling hungry? Always? We hear you. It’s always important to refuel after a long day of sightseeing, hiking, biking and well, just all round enjoying yourself. For those looking for a hearty meal (and have hungry tummies), Tanoor Restaurant specialises in traditional Emirati fare including the likes of the tanor lamb meal and lamb kebab. Sheepish about lamb? Tuck into other dishes such as chicken and camel so that a rumbling tummy won’t disturb your night’s sleep.
Dhs45 (lamb kebab), Dhs50 (tanor lamb). Open daily 1pm-1am. Dubai-Hatta Road, next to EPPCO Station (050 230 6800).