With summer now fully on its way, it was time for one last hurrah—a weekend adventure on the edge of the Empty Quarter.

Hoping for slightly cooler weather, we set out despite afternoon temperatures already climbing into the early 40s°C. A small group of us took the opportunity to rent a farm villa near Al Qua and explore the area as a sweet farewell to the season.

Nestled beneath lush palm trees, the villa was the perfect retreat. With a pool and BBQ at our disposal, we enjoyed a relaxing cooldown upon arrival before heading out to discover a new area for us—Um Al Oush.

The afternoon drive started off blisteringly hot, so we wasted no time hitting the dunes with the AC blasting at full power. The sands were completely untouched, with not a single track in sight, making the landscape feel even more breathtaking. The only challenge was navigating through the many desert bushes, but that was a small price to pay for the privilege of exploring such stunning terrain.

The views were spectacular, and the bowls were enormous. As we carved our way through the sand, it felt bittersweet knowing we wouldn’t return for many months. Still, the massive grins on our faces said it all.

We covered incredible distances on this trip and discovered sights we never knew existed outside of Liwa, making the experience even more special. Winter can’t come soon enough—we’re already looking forward to returning for an epic camping adventure.

A huge thank you to Sarah, Ayah, and Darinka for an unforgettable time spent in Rub’ al Khali.

See you next season.