Life
On the northwest coast of Saudi Arabia, the Red Sea’s craggy mountains, dramatic desert and crystalline waters have remained under the radar – until recently. The awakening of The Red Sea project – and its string of dazzling hotels – puts this natural wonder front and centre for ultra-luxury regional travel infused with culture and heritage. While global icons will front many of the resorts, Red Sea Hospitality was created to operate two otherworldly properties – a secluded island resort, Shebara; and Desert Rock, an inland boutique resort carved into the rocks. Between them, they offer the perfect duality: one a majestic desert escape, the other an alluring island retreat that oozes exclusivity.
Oppenheim Architecture-designed Desert Rock is beautifully intentional. Spaces meld into one another, and rather than building onto the weathered cliffs, the resort is carved into them. Nabatean-inspired villas gaze out over the local landscape, while show-stopping cave suites cut out of the massif are arguably among the world’s most unique hotel rooms. Each of the 60 villas and suites are calm and minimal in aesthetic, inviting total disconnection. Private pools, enormous freestanding tubs and crisp Frette linens are luxurious standards. But it’s the little extras that make this stay special. A complimentary mini bar of gourmet snacks, Palatino hats and beach bags to take away, and eye patches left at turn down.
In contrast, Shebara, the brainchild of acclaimed Killa Design, is strikingly futuristic, its overwater villas a collection of hypnotising orbs dancing on the impossibly blue water. The resort’s beach villas are the option to book for seclusion, discreetly nestled on their own private beach and encased in lush landscaping, while the Maldives-style overwater villas offer all-out glamour. Inside, spaces are just as spectacular. Soft and soothing, a crescent-shaped curtain glides away in the living room to reveal an infinity pool and sunken seating area, while back inside, everything is ergonomically designed so that the practical is neatly concealed, letting the design wow-factor shine.
Despite its boutique size, dining at Desert Rock is varied and impressive. One night, guests can sip non-alcoholic wine and listen to chilled sunset DJ sets at The Observatory, perched high atop the mountain and reachable via a 630-step climb. Another, they can dine at the hands of Michelin-pedigree chef Osman Sezenger, the man at the helm of Nyra. This hilltop restaurant that fuses ingredients from his garden in Turkey with local flavours to create dishes like the fresh lobster with sujuk gnocchi and wood-grilled octopus with a sweet pomegranate sauce.
At Shebara, drinks at Solera, adjacent to the chic adults-only pool, are unmissable, with alcohol-free twists on mojitos and martinis shaken up to sorbet-hued sunsets. A short stroll away, overwater dining is best enjoyed at the upscale Japanese restaurant, Iki.Roe, where diners can either watch the chefs at work in the open kitchen with a table indoors, or spot rays gliding by with a seat on the alfresco terrace. Guests unable to tear themselves away from the spoils of their villa can enjoy 24-hour room service.
Both resorts are deliberately designed to invite immediate disconnection, whether you’re cycling around Desert Rock’s craggy peaks or strolling barefoot on the beach at Shebara.
To further encourage reflection and rejuvenation, the Desert Rock spa is a haven of calm, inspired by the wadi it’s located in. Inside, seven treatment rooms combine traditional local therapies powered by Amara skincare products with more unique treatments, including a specialised waterbed therapy. Outside, a vitality pool lined with plush loungers and a rooftop yoga pavilion are blissful alfresco sanctuaries.
You know you’ve arrived at the spa at Shebara when you’re greeted with a 400-year-old olive tree. Inside, it’s all dramatic lines and neutral soothing hues, from a sumptuous couples treatment room to a cavernous hammam that leads outside to a bubbling vitality pool and sun-kissed massage cabanas dotted across the sugary beach.
If your idea of self-care is exhilarating experiences, then the Akun Adventure Centre at Desert Rock is where to head. Thrilling hikes, ziplines and a via ferrata take adventure to new heights, while guided fat bike and ATV tours across the rugged desert terrain invite you to star in your own blockbuster.
With its impossibly clear waters and rainbow-hued coral reef, snorkelling is a must at Shebara. Simply descend the stairs from your overwater villa and explore the vibrant underwater world below, or embark on a sailing trip with WAMA, the team in charge of Shebara’s extensive water adventures.
