‘Soft Adventure’ activities allow every traveller to get involved and make lasting memories. If exploring the world’s fourth largest coral reef with diving brand Galaxea, seems too daunting, over-water activity brand, WAMA, offers a selection of aquatic activities including kayaking through mangrove forests, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, foiling, kite surfing and sailing the Red Sea’s soft swells. The newly announced WAMA Sailing Club will allow guests to enjoy sailing, crewing, trapezing and windsurfing, all guided by expert instructors. The brand’s ‘Respect for the Sea’ programme will also help guests to develop a deeper understanding of staying safe on the water and sailing responsibly.
The Red Sea zone boasts sweeping desert dunes, mountain canyons, dormant volcanoes, and ancient cultural and heritage sites. With land-based activity brand, AKUN, guests can traverse different landscapes and immerse themselves in the rich nature and culture of the area. Activities on offer include exploring caves, hiking, e-biking, wildlife photography, e-buggy safaris, birdwatching, stargazing and much more. For hikers interested in history, routes can be arranged to encounter cultural treasures such as Al Marzouqui, a rock formation etched with 4,000-year-old pictograms as well as dinosaur fossilised teeth found in the Hijaz Mountains.
AKUN, which means ‘to be’, is centred on living in the moment and seizing the natural world through exploration and adventure. The brand is closely connected to the local communities, working to develop conservation and cultural trails and share the incredible stories of the ancient land and its people. Many of the guides that will be leading hikes are local Saudis that descend from the Jihana tribe, armed with knowledge and ancient stories from the area. Guests can also learn from falcon trainers about this age-old pastime and develop survival skills taught by Saudi Arabia’s Bedouin tribes.
Travellers can find endless possibilities for adventure in this unexplored region of Saudi Arabia and relax and reset in world-class hotels. The first hotel opening this year welcomed guests to Six Senses Southern Dunes The Red Sea in November, with The St. Regis Red Sea Resort, and Nujuma A Ritz-Carlton Reserve following suit in 2024. With luxury hotel and spa facilities surrounded by undiscovered terrain, adventure and relaxation come together at The Red Sea in an all-encompassing approach to wellbeing. Travellers will leave feeling invigorated and restored, and itching to return.
