Fujairah - A weekend Getaway

A long weekend was around the corner and nothing but a relaxing holiday was all we could think of. Recently I had heard from a couple of people of that Fujairah seemed to be a nice place to spend a couple of days incase one wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of Dubai. We immediately went to take help from our trusted hotel booking websites (Booking.com and Hotels.com). Thankfully, Booking.com gave us a perfect deal and we spent the two days in engulfed in the mountainous terrain. If you are visiting the UAE anytime soon then do spend a day or two here.

Reasons to visit Fujairah:

• Fujairah is the only city that has a coastline which is different from the other emirates in the UAE. It has a coastline along the Persian gulf. As you drive towards Snoopy Island from Fujairah you will be able to catch a glimpse of Oman from the bridge. It reminded me of a dialogue from one of my favourite films, "Being in two places at the same time"

• The Hajjar mountains that create the beautiful scenery on the way to Fujairah from Dubai is breathtaking. They are a never ending and transport you to a different period. I remembered the "Alchemist" as we drove away. You could sometimes be lucky enough to spot camels here. We did so !

• Bull Fighting is another major reason why you cannot just stop yourself from visiting this place. This isn't gory and ruthless like the ones that happen in Spain. Each bull is allowed to fight with it's opponent for a minute and the one that manager to push the other one out of the circle is declared as the winner. This takes place every Friday between 4.00pm to 6.00pm
• Snorkeling and Scuba diving is available on the beaches in Fujairah. 

    MASAFI MARKET

• Masafi Friday Market: Just like an oasis soothes the thirst of desert travellers, the Masafi Friday Market is a treat for people interested in earthenware, plants and carpets. A market set in the desert along the edges of a huge road is worth a visit. Even though this place is called a friday market, it is open on all the days of the week. 

FORTS IN FUJAIRAH

• Forts - Fujairah has a number of forts built inside and on the outskirts of the city. If you wish to delve into heritage, this is a place where you will find it.
• Quieter roads, good food, relaxed life! If that is something you wish for a weekend then Fujairah is a must see. 

A Fujairah "3 Day Itinerary"

Day	Itinerary
Day 1	Drive from Dubai to Fujairah(takes about 2 hours to reach by car) From Fujairah drive to Wadi Wurrayah(The Wadi Wurrayah Wild life sanctuary is closed now as of October 2015), you can drive to the dam close by.  From Wadi Wurrayah, drive to Snoopy Island which is on the way towards Dibba. You can carry some beach wear as this is a place where you would want to jump into the waters and take a swim On the way back to Fujairah, visit the Al Badiyah Mosque.
Day 2	Take a drive to Masafi Village and have a feel of the local villages in the middle east, desert roads and small houses which are rare to find.  Drive to the Masafi Friday Market and empty your wallets by buying some earthenware pots or plants. Do not forget to drink the water from a king cocunut. It is extremely refreshing. On the way to Fujairah, visit the Al Bithnah Fort. It is a 200 year old fort which was later used as an army base camp. Visit this fort after 4.00 pm or before 12.00 pm or else you may find the entrance closed.  Come back to Fujairah and drive to the Fujairah Museum and Fujairah Fort. Climb to the top of the fort and enjoy a view of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. (I personally loved the view of the mosque. It is closed for non-muslims. This mosque is different in it's architecture from the Grand mosque in Abu Dhabi.) Have some lunch :) and drive to Corniche to witness the Bull Fight.  Spend the evening in enjoying the waters near Corniche.
Day 3	Drive to Dibba and spend a day there. We spent some time in Fujairah Heritage village where there used to be hot water springs seen. Unfortunately, these springs are no longer visible.

If you liked my travel Itinerary and wish to get one prepared for your travel do write to me!