Day Trips

Sightseeing Tour of Al Wathba with Round-Trip Hotel Transfers

The sun shining through a curved gap in a fossil dune at Al Wathba

A lady walking along the shore of Al Wathba Salt Lake

Get round-trip transfers from Abu Dhabi and explore the geological wonders of Al Wathba, including its fossil dunes, diverse wetlands, and crystalline salt lake.

Highlights

Embark on a 4-hour tour exploring Abu Dhabi's natural wonders at Al Wathba, inclusive of convenient hotel transfers.
Commence your day by exploring the fossil dunes, a mesmerizing site shaped over 4 million years and featuring 1,700+ fossil dunes.
The tour then whisks you to the wetland reserve, home to 250+ bird species, including a population of 4,000 flamingos in autumn and spring.
The day concludes at the stunning man-made Al Wathba Long Salt Lake, showcasing crystalline salt pads formed from local sabkha.
Fun fact: Flamingos owe their iconic pink color to their diet high in carotenoids; they aren't born pink!

Inclusions

4-hr tour of Al Wathba
Round-trip hotel transfers by AC vehicle
Expert driver
Water bottle

Cancellation policy

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Your Experience

Breathtaking Beginnings: Al Wathba Fossil Dunes

Kickstart your experience with efficient air-conditioned hotel transfers. Step into an ancient world as your journey begins at the mesmerizing Al Wathba Fossil Dunes. With over 1,700 fossil dunes, it's like strolling through a natural art gallery, meticulously crafted over 4 million years. Your self-guided tour along well-lit trails reveals fascinating sand formations, bearing witness to millennia of geological history. With benches dotting the trails, pause to soak in this timeless spectacle.

Vibrant Vitality: Al Wathba Wetland Reserve

Next, journey into Abu Dhabi’s first legally protected reserve. Once a mere coastal salt flat, it now thrives with natural and man-made lakes teeming with over 250 bird species, including the striking Greater Flamingos. Engage with a live lesson in evolution as you explore the 2 walking trails, the perfect place for bird-watching. Spot these pink-hued birds and their color, a quirky result of a diet high in pigmented carotenoids at the reserve that hosts over 4,000 flamingos during autumn and spring!

Crystalline Glory: Al Wathba Long Salt Lake

Finally, marvel at the salt lake, a surreal blend of nature and human engineering. Here, water fed by underground pipes from the local sabkha interacts mysteriously with ancient salt deposits, spawning ethereal salt pads. Imagine stepping onto the crystalline pads of salt, a sight so unusual it seems to emerge from a mirage. A fitting end to a tour that beautifully encapsulates the harmony between nature, history, and human curiosity.

Know Before You Go

Restrictions

To book this experience, you must book tickets for a minimum of 4 guests.
Wetland visit is not accessible during the summer season.
The experience is not accessible for pregnant women and people with heart issues and other sensitive ailments.
Note that the following is not allowed on this tour: photography of military and police installations, government agencies, and local ladies.

My tickets

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.
Please display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID during the pick-up.

Hotel Transfers

This ticket includes hotel pick-ups and drop-offs.
Pick-up service is available from all hotels in Abu Dhabi as well as major shopping malls.
While booking, please provide the name of your hotel.
If your hotel is not in the pick-up zone, you will be provided with the nearest pick-up location.
On the day of your tour, please arrive at your hotel lobby 10-15 minutes prior to the scheduled pick-up time.
If your hotel does not have a lobby, please wait at the entrance of your hotel.