Desert Wellness Weekend: Your Ultimate Empty Quarter Escape

This isn't your typical spa weekend. Here, wellness goes deeper than facials and massages (though those are rather exceptional too). It's about slowing down enough to embrace a more intentional way of travel learning from Bedouin traditions that understood balance centuries before wellness became a buzzword and discovering that sometimes the most profound healing happens when you're surrounded by nothing but sand and silence.

Nestled within the majestic dunes of the Liwa desert, Ezba operates around four key pillars: history, culture, nature, and immersive experiences. It champions the global slow travel movement and offers hotel guests a living connection to the traditions that shaped the UAE, where every moment, from weaving traditional crafts to sharing Arabic coffee in a vibrant majlis, brings the spirit of the desert to life.

Afternoon - Check in and cultural immersion

After the 2.5-hour drive from Abu Dhabi, settle into your villa with its private pool overlooking the dunes. Begin your wellness journey at Ezba, the resort's cultural and education centre born from a deep commitment to preserve and celebrate Emirati Bedouin heritage whilst championing environmental conservation, sustainability, and community engagement. Watch local artisans demonstrate traditional crafts such as Sadu weaving and intricate Talli embroidery, allowing you to slow down and reconnect through meaningful experiences.

More than just a cultural destination, Ezba is a living example of sustainable desert living where conservation, education, and guest experience come together. Every detail is designed to regenerate desert ecosystems, protect native species, and inspire responsible interaction with the environment. The on-site greenhouse produces over 2,000 kilograms of fresh herbs, vegetables, and dates each year, creating a genuine farm-to-table experience whilst a robust composting programme diverts more than 34,000 kilograms of organic waste annually, turning it into nutrient-rich mulch that supports the flourishing desert landscape.

Evening - Sunset camel journey and dinner

As the sun melts into the horizon, climb aboard your camel and glide through the whispering dunes. This moment suspended between earth and sky allows the desert's quiet grandeur to stir something deep within. Follow this with dinner at AMANIE, where Chef Giuseppe "Pino" Lavarra's Michelin-starred Mediterranean creations feature ingredients grown steps away in Ezba's organic garden.

Morning - Desert horseback riding and healing sand bath

Before the sun touches the dunes, experience the special ritual of connection that begins each horse ride. Horses are lovingly groomed, gently fed, and spoken to with care, building trust between animal and human – this daily rhythm of respect creates a shared experience of honour, grace, and calm companionship as you explore the Empty Quarter at sunrise.

Follow this with breakfast at Al Waha, meaning 'the Oasis' in Arabic, where vibrant international flavours and expansive desert views complement your morning's adventure. Then experience the ancient Bedouin therapy of the Rub' al Khali healing sand bath, where being cocooned in warm, mineral-rich desert sands allows tension to literally melt away whilst a cooling mask completes the treatment, restoring harmony and inner stillness.

Afternoon - Arabian desert rose ritual

This four-hour journey of renewal for both body and spirit begins with a desert sand body scrub to polish and prepare the skin, followed by a purifying rhassoul clay mask and a milky rose bath. A full-body massage and Biologique Recherche facial complete the experience, leaving guests with a profound sense of balance and inner calm.

Evening - Desert ice bath and night walk

The contrast therapy of a guided cold immersion at the Wellness Centre proves incredibly effective for muscle recovery, to stimulate circulation, calm the nervous system, and revitalise the skin. An energising reset, grounded in nature. As the air begins to cool, join expert guides for a journey into the mysteries of the Empty Quarter, where profound silence reveals hidden wildlife tracks and ancient constellations unfold above. End the evening with drinks at Suhail, the rooftop lounge and upscale grill, where elevated views complement the day's desert discoveries.

Morning - Traditional archery and royal hammam

Try your hand at a skill mastered by the Bedouins. This lesson in patience and precision invites you to channel the tenacity of Liwa tribespeople, one soaring arrow at a time.

Follow this with the signature Qasr Al Sarab royal hammam – a signature ritual rooted in centuries of Moroccan wellness designed to purify, replenish, and heal from the inside out. This private experience begins with a deeply detoxifying steam to open pores and release built-up tension, followed by a traditional exfoliation to renew the skin's texture. Mineral-rich clay is then applied to nourish the body, while a calming back massage enhances circulation and supports the lymphatic system.

Afternoon - Padel and pool contemplation

Spend your hours floating in your private pool or enjoying light bites and refreshing drinks by Ghadeer's poolside setting, watching the dunes shift colour in the afternoon light. As the day cools toward dusk, the padel court pulses with purpose against the vast desert horizon, where golden silence sharpens every move. With your in-room reusable bottle keeping you hydrated, you move with the rhythm of the desert itself – this is when the weekend's true impact settles in.

There's something transformative about healing treatments that have been shaped by centuries of desert wisdom, values inspired by the vision of the UAE's founding father, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The Bedouin understood that true wellness comes from living in harmony with your environment, not fighting against it.

At the heart lies the Anantara Spa, a serene space where Arabian rituals meet Thai wellness traditions. Floor-to-ceiling windows invite the desert in, setting the scene for slow, immersive therapies. From Moroccan hammam rituals to desert-inspired massages and the resort’s exclusive facials by French brand Biologique Recherche, the spa promises a journey into deep restoration.

Wildlife encounters are woven seamlessly into the experience. Camels, saluki dogs, and falcons are integral to the story of Bedouin survival and spirit, whilst the centre plays a vital role in conservation efforts by providing safe habitat for endangered species such as the Arabian oryx and Arabian gazelle.

The Empty Quarter might seem like nowhere, but sometimes nowhere is exactly where you need to be.