So one lazy weekend with nothing to do on that day, I shoved the whole family to the car early in the morning to explore Al Qudra lake in Dubai. It was in the first week of March and although the weather was still cooler in morning and evening, midday temperature was starting to get hot because summer is slowly starting. I thought going outdoor and visiting Al Qudra lakes will be a very good way to cap off the winter months.
How to Get There
Going to Al Qudra lake is pretty straightforward and is very easy to navigate. From Sheik Zayed Mohammed Bin Zayed Rd (E311) heading to Abu Dhabi, take the Exit 30 or Al Qudra Exit/Arabian Ranches exit. Keep in mind that once you enter the service road make sure that you follow the road leading to Al Qudra road and not to make U turn going to Arabian Ranches. From here it's a straight drive of about 30-45 minutes to reach Al Qudra Lake.
Al Qudra road is also known area for cycling enthusiasts. RTA (Road and Transport Authority) completed a cycling tracking running a parallel to the road.
The road ends at the small run about where there is a huge parking lot, cafeterias and a Trek Store cycling shop. When we reached the place around 10 am, there were already a lot of cars in the parking area and the area was very busy.
If you have any plans of camping, you can pick your supplies from here. There is also a cycling loop and you can rent a bike from Trek store. If you bring your own bike you can park your car and you can use the cycling loop around the lake.
I reckoned, that there were several lakes. But we followed one sign the said, Oasis.
 |
| a family of ducks swimming together |
Al Qudra lake is a manmade lake but has become a home to several swans, flamingos, ducks, birds and other migratory birds. As soon as we reached the oasis, we were welcomed by a cluster of lakes with several campers around the lake. The good thing about the lake is that you don't need a 4x4 car navigate around it. Just follow the small dirt road around the lake.
You can just find a perfect spot where you can a park your car or beside a tree to get little shade, set up the tent, pull the chair and enjoy the scenery.
There is no fee to enter the lake. The only letdown I can think of is that, there is no toilet facilities in the lake. When you plan to camp overnight, it will be a nightmare since there are no lights. But who cares, this is nature at its best.
Al Qudra lake is becoming a popular quick get away because of its accessibility from the city coupled with a biking facilities nearby. Given a few years probably, I hope the management will add more facilities like toilets, camping areas and barbecues sites.
The best time to explore Al Qudra lake is early in the morning before it gets hot in summer. And the best time to camp overnight is during the winter months.
 |
| campers beside the lake |
How to get there by RTA Bus:
RTA Bus Route 67
No comments:
Post a Comment