A relaxed south-to-north drive down the Hajar coast: waterfalls, forts, hidden coves and a cave dinner, never more than a few stops a day. Roughly 1h45 from Dubai to the first stop. Rent a car, you'll want the freedom.
Day 1 — Kalba: mangroves, mountains and a tented night
A gentle start in the quiet south. Cross the mountains from Dubai, drop into Kalba, and ease into the trip with a garden, a mangrove and a wildlife reserve before a beachfront tented night.
09:30 — Depart Dubai (scenic drive via Sharjah and the mountain road)
11:30 — Hanging Garden Kalba
13:30 — Kingfisher Retreat by Sharjah Collection — lunch and check-in
15:30 — Khor Kalba Mangrove Nature Park
17:00 — Al Hefaiyah Mountain Conservation Park (arrive before the 6 PM close)
19:30 — Dinner at the retreat
Kingfisher Retreat by Sharjah Collection — hotel
Day 2 — Fujairah city and the inland forts
A heritage day. Roll south into Fujairah city for the fort, museum and grand mosque, a green lunch, then a slow afternoon drive into the mountains to two quiet forts before a city night.
09:30 — Fujairah Fort and Fujairah Museum
11:30 — Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Fujairah
13:00 — Madhab Park — lunch and a green break
15:00 — Al-Bithnah Fort
16:30 — Al Hail Fort (a thrilling little mountain drive in)
18:30 — Royal M Hotel by Gewan Fujairah — check-in and dinner
Royal M Hotel by Gewan Fujairah — hotel
Day 3 — Khor Fakkan: the hero day
The coast's showpiece. Drive north to Khor Fakkan, kayak the dam, settle in by the beach, and time the waterfalls and amphitheatre for sunset before dinner inside a cave.
10:00 — Al Rafisah Dam (kayak or donut boat)
12:30 — The View By Wave — lunch with a bay view
14:00 — Oceanic Khorfakkan Resort & Spa — check-in
15:00 — Khor Fakkan Beach (swim, optional boat to Shark Island)
17:30 — Khorfakkan Waterfalls and Khorfakkan Amphitheatre (sunset)
20:00 — Habib Beirut Khorfakkan — dinner in the waterfall cave
Oceanic Khorfakkan Resort & Spa — hotel
Day 4 — Peaks and quiet beaches
A slow mountain-and-sea day. Catch sunrise from the cliff viewpoint, a long breakfast, the green of Wadi Shees, then a quiet beach afternoon and a beachfront Thai dinner.
06:00 — Al Suhub Rest Area (sunrise)
08:30 — The Coffee Address — breakfast
10:30 — Wadi Shees (terraced park and valley views)
13:30 — Easy lunch back near the coast
15:30 — Luluyah Beach (relax, swim)
19:30 — Thai Gate Restaurant — dinner on the beach walk
Oceanic Khorfakkan Resort & Spa — hotel
Day 5 — North coast finale: Snoopy Island and Dibba
Drift north on the final morning: the oldest mosque in the country, a quirky car museum, snorkelling off Snoopy Island, a last beach, and a long beachfront lunch at Dibba before the drive home.
09:00 — Al Bidya Mosque (the UAE's oldest, circa 1599)
10:00 — Classic Cars Museum (Al Aqah)
11:00 — Snoopy Island (snorkelling)
13:00 — Al Aqah Beach (last swim)
14:30 — Turtle Beach Restaurant & Bar — lunch at Dibba
16:30 — Drive back to Dubai (about 2 hours)
