Three days in the dunes
October 23, 2023 - For anyone seeking winter sun, Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea opens on November 1 offering innovation, adventure, and heritage. Easily accessible from the newly opened Red Sea International Airport, here’s what you can pack into three days.
If you’re looking to experience somewhere a little different this winter, Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea is the first resort to open as part of The Red Sea Development Project on Saudi Arabia’s west coast.
The 36 guest rooms and suites and 40 private pool villas are inspired by the region’s Bedouin heritage. Dotted in strategic locations, you’ll get lost in the expansive views of the desert dunes and the Wadi. As beautiful on the inside as the outside, the soft furnishings draw from the rich colors and patterns of traditional Bedouin dress.
Arrive hungry
After a dip to cool off in your villa pool or the main resort pool, spend a little time on your terrace to watch the birds swoop as the sun sets to a blaze of burned orange hues. If you’re hungry, follow the delicious aromas to the Oasis, the heart of our resort. Here, you’ll find Bariya, our all-day dining restaurant, where you can taste regional Arabic dishes from live-themed stations. Across the Oasis there’s our Merkaz Brew Bar, which is also the location for our interactive Chef’s Table and dinner degustation menus. The night sky in the desert offers a blanket of stars, so stay and gaze a while, join us around the firepit, or watch the stars on the silver screen at our outdoor cinema.
A morning of culture
Breakfast is a feast of Arabic and international cuisine, so fuel up as you have a busy day ahead. A great place to explore the diversity of Saudi hospitality and heritage is at our Artisan Pods, where you’ll meet our sadu weavers. Sadu weaving holds great historical significance as it is deeply rooted in the nomadic lifestyle of the Arabian Peninsula and represents a cherished tradition passed down through generations. Make sure you’ve left room in your luggage for their handiwork, which depicts the dunes and palms in vibrant hues.
Foodies can learn local gastronomy secrets at our cooking classes. Of course, you can sample what you have mastered for lunch! We also introduce our younger guests to the joy of picking herbs from our herb garden and preparing their food during afternoon workshops. Don’t forget our Gelato Pod is open all day too.
Afternoon adventures
Throughout the history of civilization, Saudi Arabia has been a cradle of culture, tradition, and heritage; and the same is true of the Kingdom today. We will be offering a range of excursions for you to seek new experiences that are deeply connected with our natural desert and marine surroundings.
Overland, the region is crisscrossed with historic trading routes, which you can follow on hiking trails or by gravel or electric bike. At sea, snorkeling and diving trips enable you to experience the world’s fourth largest – and least explored – barrier reef system.
Time to spa-ah!
No visit is complete without spending time at Six Senses Spa. As you descend, the honeycomb walls mirror the familiar undulating patterns of the dunes, guiding you to a salon, barber, biohacking recovery lounge, and onwards to three single and two double treatment rooms (the Frankincense Suite offers Rasul treatments), and a hammam. You’ll also find our Alchemy Bar, where you can learn how to make clean skincare products using the rich spices and fragrances once traded by the Nabateans.
The Desert Bliss treatment melts away tension and stress as you relax down into the warmth of our quartz sand treatment bed to enjoy cranio-sacral techniques that restore balance and harmony.
Dine in style
Whether it is a private barbecue under the stars or a set dinner menu in the privacy of your villa, we can prepare your menu and venue to your individual preferences (and proposals)!
Now for something really special. The pinnacle of our resort, Al Sarab will take you to new culinary heights, serving authentic dishes from the Middle East as part of our à-la-carte fine dining menu. Al Sarab’s bar features Arabic tapas, and a vast selection of mocktails, shaken and stirred by our talented bartenders.
Up with the dawn chorus
If you’re an early bird, why not head to our fitness area? As well as a fully equipped gym, there’s a separate spin studio and suite for yoga and aerial yoga, all with golden views to help you take your mind off your work out. Each changing area offers various saunas, cold plunge pool, steam room, and relaxation room.
See sustainability in action
Aiming to be the first LEED Platinum resort in Saudi Arabia, our electricity is completely run by our own solar energy farm. We bottle still and sparkling water at our water plant and follow a plastic-free policy. Come to our Earth Lab to see how we are working to preserve our planet and its resources and take part in a range of workshops including making beeswax wraps with a sadu motif print or upcycling glass into jewelry. You’ll notice the sadu scarf worn by our resort mascot Duney, named after the Arabian Red Fox, which is native to the Hajar and Dhofar Mountains around us but is vulnerable due to habitat degradation. All proceeds from soft toy sales go to rewilding projects in collaboration with local partners.
Final dip and sip
Before you head off, there’s just time for a few lengths in our pool, where you can also lunch on ceviche and crisp salads at our Pool Bar & Grill. The pizza oven is also working overtime to offer freshly baked favorites.
How to find us
The 45-minute transfer route from the new Red Sea International Airport will take you southeast along the coastal highway before turning east inland through serene desert mountains and narrow wadis and on to the resort. Alternatively, you can opt for a domestic flight from Yanbu Airport followed by a two-hour transfer to the resort.
Offers
Lose yourself in the magic of the desert, and discover our offers. For more information, please contact reservations-southerndunes@sixsenses.com.