A PLACE TO REST NARA’S NEST

Of all the beautiful places here in Dubai, the unbelievable skyscrapers with insane views of the palm, the beaches with a backdrop of the Burj Khalifa or the Burj Al Arab, the desert is the thing that really does it for me. And it's because that is the natural habitat of this region; it's real, still, and alive, and it makes you feel grounded and awake when you're standing on its dunes.

I visited Sonara, the ultimate desert restaurant experience, a few months back for a private event. Sonara sent a car to Dubai to pick me up, and during my short, pleasant trip to the camp, I had the absolute best conversation with the Nara driver; he knew almost everything there was to know about the desert, its surroundings and culture, dune bashing, etc., he was also so polite and professional, always ready to whip out a beverage from his little fridge if needed and constantly making sure the AC temperature was perfect. I was already impressed, and I hadn't even arrived yet. And then I did arrive, and it was spectacular. The scene at the bottom of the incaved dune at the Dubai Conservation Reserve was picture perfecta beautiful long dining table surrounded by tents, bohemian carpets, and décor with the piercing bright orange sun resting on the sand behind the entire set-up. Immediately I knew this was my kind of place. The team's hospitality at Sonara was one of the best I have experienced here in Dubai –and I am not saying that lightly. The attention to detail they give every single person is incredible because the space is intimate, hosting only a set amount of people at a time; the team can really afford to focus on everything and everyone with efficiency, a light touch, and personalisation. This quality-over-quantity approach is one of the best characteristics of the camp, in my opinion.

EVERYTHING AT NARA HAS ORDER AND STRUCTURE, AND EACH POINT SEAMLESSLY CONNECTS TO THE OTHER IN A VERY LIGHT AND UNDISTURBED WAY.

During my first time at Sonara, I soaked in every sunset hour, with the view improving as the sun went down. I am more of a mental picture taker than an actual picture taker, and because the desert is so vast, I didn't struggle to find an uninterrupted spot to take as many mental pictures as I wanted.

The dinner was abundant; plates of delicious food and drinks kept coming. Everything on the table and the table itself was sustainable and raw, which I loved. The entire Sonara experience was fantastic. I must have been a good guest, too, because Sonara invited me back to experience Nara – the desert nest experience, to which I replied immediately, yes! I was excited about Nara, and I felt confident that it was going to be an extension of the incredible experience I had at Sonara. It was all that and more.

Everything at Nara has order and structure, and each point seamlessly connects to the other in a very light and undisturbed way. The lovely people at Nara showed me to my luxury nest. The structure of the nest is unique; it blends in with the desert effortlessly, each positioned in different directions to enjoy all the wonder and beauty of its natural surroundings. There are daybeds and cushions in front of the nest to chill out on. Inside the space is an open bedroom and living area elegantly styled throughout; it's simple and minimalistic, with colours that complement the shades of the sand. Little details like the fridge hidden inside the wall to ensure that it doesn't disrupt the flow of the earthy, free-spirited energy, the straw shoe rack at the entrance to avoid tracking sand in the nest, and the full-length mirror (because even in the desert we must look presentable) is very appreciated. Now for the pièce de resistance, a few steps lead to the most attractive bathroom you will ever see in the desert. Exquisitely designed with dark titles, ample windows, double sinks, artistic mirrors, and pockets of sandy accents everywhere, this open-plan design is still one of my favourite spaces in the nest. The mixing of patterns, metals, woods, materials, animal ornaments and trinkets blend to create a soothing experience that is laid-back but very intentional. It's not complex, hard to figure out, or trying too hard; it just is. The nest exists within the desert, and the desert exists within the nest, they are one, and once you arrive, you are too. Once I freshened up and soaked in everything the nest offered, an usher collected me from the camp and took me to Sonara for dinner. The first part of the dinner is a sundowner experience with some drinks and appetisers, and then a few meters away, the show begins. You are treated to a generous menu and mesmerising fire show. Sonara's dinner is cosy and spirited. When your dinner is over, you are your designated driver will collect you and take you back to your nest. Once you settle in and wind down, nothing is left to do but rest.

When you rise early enough, there's a beautiful unobstructed sunset waiting right outside your door and a breakfast spread to die for. The entire Nara desert experience and all its excellent crew is a must-try. The overnight experience is only for one night to avoid guests getting bored with nothing to do after they have done all there is to do at Nara and Sonara, and my only recommendation is that this be extended because I, for one, would absolutely love to do nothing in a nest on the desert for days on end.