International trips are fun, but my absolute favorite is the road trips to local hidden gems of places! I’ve been lucky enough to explore some amazing places here in the UAE. At the top of my list are Al Rafisah Dam, Fujairah Old City, and Wadi Al Sheesh.
The trip to Al Rafisah Dam in 2022 was incredibly fun! We preplanned everything and kept it minimal and budget-friendly. Of course, travel comes with costs like fuel, but with proper planning, it won’t break the bank. I stumbled upon Rafisah Dam through a video while searching for a road trip destination that wasn’t heavily explored. Out of all the options, the dam seemed like a magical place!
Here’s how the trip to Al Rafisah Dam went.
Prepared lunch, water and snacks and Left early
As mentioned earlier, we pre-planned and wanted to pack food and water so we wouldn’t have to spend money in restaurants. It was around the time I started adopting a healthy lifestyle, so we prepared roti and chicken and made wraps with those for the next day. We also packed some bananas and water.
We were staying in Ras Al Khaimah, and Al Rafisah was about an hour and a half from our location. The road was mostly empty, and we could see beautiful farms along the way. Al Rafisah Dam is located on the Sharjah-Fujairah border, and it’s like a gem hidden away from the usual scenery of the Emirates.
Lunch at Roadside
By 1:00, we were just about to reach Masafi and decided to stop by the roadside to enjoy the wraps we had prepared at home. The food was delicious, and the fact that it was homemade added an extra touch of flavor.
Stopped at Masafi for Some Plant Window Shopping
Masafi!! What a place! The markets especially reminded me of Munnar in India. It would have been even better if we had traveled in the peak winter. There were rug markets and fruit markets, but our absolute favorite was the plant nurseries. We did some window shopping for plants and then continued our journey.
Miraculous Beauty of Rafisah
From Masafi to Al Rafisah, we saw the city nestled among mountains. Al Rafisah felt like another world, and what can I say—I felt as if I’d arrived in a place in Italy (though I’ve never been to Italy), with a turquoise lake surrounded by mountains and flowers. I was mesmerized by the greenery in the middle of the desert.
Enjoyed a Homemade Dinner
We decided not to eat out, so we headed back home early and managed to prepare dinner. We made a vegetable stew and served it with sourdough bread we had bought earlier.
It was so fun and satisfying going on the road trip to Rafisah and that time we felt like we went on an international getaway, and saw a beautiful lake, surrounded by greenery. We were exhausted but incredibly happy at the end of the day. We didn’t spend any money, except for fuel. Also, managed to maintain a healthy diet throughout the day.
I hope you enjoyed reading this blog and got a taste of my road trip experience. Also, feel free to check out my blog about my first international trip on a budget!
