Last month, international hiking association HIGHLANDER launched its first GCC-based adventure on Ras Al Khaimah’s Jebel Jais mountain trails. The addition of HIGHLANDER’s specially designed two-and three-day hikes around Jebel Jais in November 2021 reinforces Ras Al Khaimah’s commitment to developing more nature-inspired adventures for its outdoor and adventure enthusiasts and fans.
The emirate is set to host the first ever HIGHLANDER hiking experience in the GCC this year. HIGHLANDER, the only certified international hiking association in the world, is widely renowned for its one-of-a-kind curated hiking experiences. Currently there are 20 thrilling, life-enhancing adventures taking place annually in 15 countries worldwide. Ras Al Khaimah will join the ranks of iconic locations such as Austria, Bosnia, Croatia, Egypt, Greece, Russia and Portugal, all of which have played host to HIGHLANDER hikes viewed as the most significant events to take place within the global hiking community.
The emirate has long been committed to driving nature tourism making this partnership with HIGHLANDER all the more significant. HIGHLANDER’s vision and its global community’s ethos follow the principles of sustainable tourism through its ‘Leave No Trace’ Policy, which aligns closely with Ras Al Khaimah’s focus on environmental preservation.
Running from Wadi Ghalilah to Shimal, the inaugural edition of the self-guided event will lead international visitors and local hikers along clearly flagged routes with more than half situated off-trail. Intrepid adventurers have two options based on experience and fitness levels: HIGHLANDER55 (55km hike over three days) and HIGHLANDER Experience (30km hike over two days) carrying everything they need for the trip to be self-sufficient.
Fadi Hachicho, Managing Director of HIGHLANDER UAE and Founder of Adventurati Outdoor, added: “Bringing the HIGHLANDER experience to Ras Al Khaimah is something we are immensely proud of as the rugged mountain terrain and the emirate’s commitment to sustainable tourism aligns so well with the HIGHLANDER ethos. We are building the HIGHLANDER community internationally to embody the philosophy of ‘Take only pictures and leave only footprints’ and see the addition of Ras Al Khaimah as the perfect new partner. We are already looking into the possibility of expanding the experience to two or even three times a year, each on a new trail; there is so much potential here in the emirate.”
* Find Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority on stand ME3512