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Guide · From the episode

Top 5 Hikes in the UAE

Paris asked Fadi, founder and lead guide at Adventurati Outdoor, for his top five hikes in the UAE. Here is his countdown, in the order he gave it.

On this page: 5. White Wadi · 4. Jebel Jais, south side · 3. Wonderwall. Who it's for: first-timers and residents planning what to do next.

Black-and-white photo of Paris in a fur trapper hat grinning and holding a model Emirates A380 plane

In the episode, Paris spends a five-to-six-hour day in the Hajar Mountains of Ras Al Khaimah with Fadi and Adventurati guides Paige and Shoug, scrambling, abseiling and passing old Bedouin settlements. On the way down, he puts the question: What are your top five hikes in the UAE?

5. White Wadi

Fadi's opener: White Wadi is really one of my favorites. He does not give more detail in the video, so check route, length and access with a licensed guide before you go.

4. Jebel Jais, south side

Number four is scaling Jabel Jais South side, on the UAE's highest mountain. For the rest of what Jebel Jais offers, see our pages on the Jebel Jais zipline and hiking in Ras Al Khaimah.

3. Wonderwall

The trail Paris actually did. Fadi: There's a lot of scrambling, a lot of bouldering. It's wall after wall. Shoug calls it her favourite: There's always a surprise around the corner, every time you pass a rock obstacle there's another one waiting for you. Watch it in the Hajar Mountains episode.

2. Leopard Canyon

Also on Jebel Jais, just close to the Wadi Bih dam, according to Fadi. Canyon routes like this mean scrambling and sometimes ropes: read our canyoning in the UAE page first.

1. Wonderland

Fadi's number one, the add-on Paris did after Wonderwall: It's the right amount of excitement for those who are more on a medium level ... a lot of people who do this trail come back wanting more. Paris's verdict on the day: Wanting more is what I was left with.

Before you hike

Paige warns about what lives in these mountains: snakes, plenty of scorpions and camel spiders, mostly out at night. As Paris put it: If I didn't kill myself falling down this canyon, I had to worry about poisonous snakes, scorpions and camel spiders. Go in the cooler months, start early, carry plenty of water and use a licensed guide for anything with abseiling. More routes: hiking in the UAE and Wadi Shawka.

FAQ

Who chose these hikes?

Fadi, founder and lead guide of Adventurati Outdoor, named them on camera in the Guy in Dubai Hajar Mountains episode. The order is his.

Which of the five did Paris do?

Wonderwall and Wonderland, as one long day with abseiling, in Ras Al Khaimah.

Sources

Facts checked October 2026. Opening times, age limits and seasons change, so confirm with the operator before you go.

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