Nature and thrills in Ras el Khaimah

What brought me to Ras el Khaimah initially was the fact that I wanted to do the Xline in Dubai Marina, supposedly the best urban zipline. Unfortunately or fortunately, the Xline was closed the very week of my visit and instead I considered to do the Jabal Jais Zipline, the longest in the world at 2.83 km. 

Reserving online is rather confusing and you need to make sure you are booked for the zipline itself and not other (equally thrilling) activities around. We went early in the morning when the sun was not too high so that we could also take a hike in the gorgeous mountains nearby. These are the highest in the UAE. 

Getting to the zipline platform, your heart drops. Especially when you see that those before you are hanging on a thread in push up position, head first - and you can't see the arrival. I took the GoPro camera that hangs on to your helmet at an additional cost. But I don't recommend it. All you end up filming is your scared face or your nose in a weird close up angle instead of the breathtaking landscape. Better to ask someone there to film your departure flight on a phone and in turn film their arrival to the platform. 

The flight takes a mere 2 minutes (depending on your weight) and I was surprised, I only screamed before I was released, the rest is an enjoyable ride. Don't close your eyes. Despite the horrific warnings and waivers they make you sign at the reception, the whole thing is secrure and more than 100,000 persons had done it by the time I was there. 

A number of hiking tracks appear from the parking lot and you can take any of them for a good half hour or a longer hike at the top of the mountains. The views are unlike anywhere you have seen before and in some places you can also see the coast. 

Don't forget to get a well-deserved brunch at the cafe. Do reserve a table outside before going on the hike as the ones that come with a view can get busy fast. 

Tips: The zipline flight costs about 90USD per person. To go there, best is to hire a car. There's a checkpoint as you get to the top of the mountain and your car won't be let through unless one of the passengers has a ticket to the zipline. However, if you only want to hike you will see plenty of places to stop on the way, recognizable to the parking lots and hiking maps on the main roads. The road to Jabal Jais Mountain is an endless maze of winding roads, keep focused and enjoy the scenery.