A Weekend of Hiking, Chaos & Stars in Ras Al Khaimah

So here’s the thing, I thought this trip would just be “a simple school hike.”

Spoiler: It was NOT.

It was dusty, chaotic, hilarious, exhausting, magical… basically everything all at once.

We reached Ras Al Khaimah around noon, the sun already giving main-character lighting. The moment I stepped out, it felt like we’d landed on Mars, rocky mountains, desert trees, and a silence so loud it felt unreal.

The Hike That Humbled All of Us

The trail started off super harmless… flat, sandy, almost cute. But then the real RAK terrain showed up like,

“Hi. Welcome. Good luck.”

We crossed rocky stretches where every step felt like a trust fall with nature, climbed uneven paths, walked next to highways, and hiked uphill-downhill-sideways like the mountains were testing our balance for fun.

At one point, a whole squad of goats casually trotted past us. No fear. No hesitation. Just vibes. Meanwhile, we were struggling to breathe.

And then... the sunset hit.

Everything turned golden and soft and dramatic, and suddenly the whole tiring hike felt worth it.

⛺ Camping: The Fun + The Struggle

Setting up tents in the middle of nowhere felt like we were on some survival reality show.

By the time night fell, it got COLD.

Not “Dubai winter cold.”Like… mountain, desert, who turned the temperature to zero cold.

But the campfire saved us.

We roasted marshmallows, cooked dinner on a tiny stove (which somehow tasted amazing), and just sat around laughing at literally everything because tiredness + firelight = instant comedy.

🌌 THE STARS.

No words.Just… wow.

Like someone dusted glitter across the entire sky. You don’t get that kind of stargazing in Dubai unless DEWA shuts down for a week.

I swear half of us were lying on the ground just staring at the sky, thinking about life, friendships, exams, future, and why we didn’t bring an extra jacket.

🌞 Morning Mood & Mountain Views

Woke up freezing, hungry, tired, but the morning scenery was so pretty it felt illegal.

Mountains glowing under the sunrise. A giant tree gives the perfect shade break. Us sitting on rocks pretending we’re nature influencers.

In every direction you looked, it felt like wallpaper.

✨ Final Thoughts (aka what this trip taught me)

• Hiking is NO joke

• Food tastes 100× better when you’re tired

• Stars look different when you’re away from city lights

• Nature is the best place to reset your brain

• And honestly? Sometimes you need a little chaos to feel alive

Would I do it again? Yes. But next time, I’m bringing two jackets, more snacks, and maybe a portable heater.