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Some hotels are just that, functional places with a room and facilities. No matter what level of luxury is involved the opportunities to explore are often limited to spas, gyms, restaurants, bars and pools. The Banyan Tree Al Wadi, in Ras Al-Khaimah, is no such place. It is not so much a hotel as a life experience.
Imagine waking up in a tented Arabesque villa to your own private pool, which over- looks a 500-hectare nature reserve in the middle of the desert - complete with its own watering hole. Oryx, gazelles, camels and birds ourish and feed before your eyes on the vegetation dotted along the endless sand dunes. Peace and tranquillity is all around, punctuated only by the sounds of nature. And in the evening, you can sit under the stars to take in the crystal clear night sky.
If you are lucky, you might even see a shooting star. This is what sets the Banyan Tree apart from its iconic hotel peers. It is about the 'get away from it all' experience. The immersive element makes a welcome change from those establishments simply focussed on a design aesthetic or food and beverage offering built...