Hatta seems to be the new place to be! Less than 2 hours drive away from Dubai, this mountain resort offers breathtaking views and activities 🙌

Many of you probably heard about kayaking on the lake next to the Hatta dam. In fact, there is much more than "just" kayaking, from water bikes to large boats!

We visited the Hatta dam a couple of weeks ago with friends. Having young kids with us, we couldn't go on a kayak and even donut boats turned out to have a dangerously inviting opening on the water... which is why we ended up deciding to rent the largest boat, the VIP boat for 25 people with driver.

It's a solar boat silently gliding through the waters, perfect for this tranquil setting...

While kayaks and other small boats can be rented for an unlimited time, the larger boats are limited to 25 minutes to 1 hour. In our case, 25 minutes was just perfect - it was long enough to cover most of the lake and soak in the serenity but also short enough for the kids to behave before they lost patience!

Priced at 950 dhs, it is not a cheap experience even though we split it up in between 4 families. It's one to remember though!

Make sure to have a look at the colorful fish on the pier before you leave - just another attraction for the kids!

A few things to consider before you visit:

- The scenic viewpoint and access to the boats is at the top of a hill. It's allowed to drop off people at the top, but cars have to be parked down the hill. It's a steep walk back up which is potentially difficult for seniors, people of determination or young children. I wouldn't recommend attempting it with a stroller.

- Snacks and beverages can be bought in a small store next to the ticket counter, but they're not allowed on the boats.

- When calculating the number of people allowed on a boat, make sure to include the children (e. g. on the tour boat 11 people are allowed including children which need their own seat).

Next to the main parking is an area with coffee shops, picnic benches, restrooms and kids' swings - perfect for a picnic or coffee break before driving back to Dubai... or to the next Hatta adventure 💫