Hotel Review: Desert Rock at The Red Sea
A desert escape right out of your dreams…
They say money talks and wealth whispers; if this is true, you can actually hear it in the silence at Desert Rock The Red Sea. You can hear it when the water droplets make their way down your skin from one of the two showers (three if you count one by the incredible luxe bath), you can hear it in the intimate music room that features the incredibly unique Bang & Olufsen speakers, and you can hear it as the excellent massage therapist lathers oil all over your worn-out body.
Luxury in its truest form, the quiet kind, oozes all over the property; blink, and you might just miss the 800-thread-count sheets, the glorious design elements, or even the thoughtfully curated restaurants.
The effort that’s gone into the construction of this property is truly remarkable, and while the Red Sea has some pretty stunning resorts that are worthy of the name, if you find yourself booking a trip to the giga project, please let it be this one.
Location
Just a 20-minute drive from RSI, this glorious resort allows guests to immerse themselves in a natural scenic escape. And the drive up is hardly a chore when you’re marvelling at the rugged landscape before you (personally, I was blasting music on my headphones and pretending like I’m in a movie, but that’s just me though). The Red Sea is located 500 kilometres north of Jeddah, between the towns of Al Wajh and Umluj and 375 kilometres northwest of Madinah.
Look and feel
Guests will follow a trail of lanterns to the arrival hub to be welcomed by the voice of Rashed Hamed Aljohani, a village elder from around the area set against beautiful Arabian music, into a stay right out of your dreams. Spread over 30,0000 square kilometres, the resort is dramatically situated within the craggy rocks of The Red Sea. Rather than just being built on a mountainside, some of the Desert Rock villas are actually carved directly into the ancient rock to preserve the striking silhouette of the surrounding environment. Designed by Oppenheim Architecture, the firm set out to create buildings that disappear right into the desert landscape. Walk into the space, and you’ll feel like you’re in the presence of history. The resort echoes ancient Nabatean civilizations that once lived in the region.
Rooms
Desert Rock offers 64 keys, 54 villas and 10 suites, some carved right into the mountains and some built over the rocks, all equally enviable. The interiors by Studio Paolo Ferrari perfectly complement the exteriors, using elemental materials like stone and sand inspired by the surroundings. Each of the resort’s 64 villas seamlessly incorporates itself into the glorious landscape and comes with its own private pool, double showers, and bathtub with gorgeous views of the resort.
Villas are divided into three kinds: Wadi, Cliff-Hanging, Mountain Cave Suites, Mountain Crevice, and the Royal Villa. Wadi villas come in one- or two-bedrooms, each equipped with private pools with gorgeous views of the entire resort. The Cliff-Hanging villas come in one- to two bedrooms, and are located dramatically at the edge of the mountain, offering glorious views of the scenic desert landscape.
Soaring high above the rest of the accommodations are the ten one-bedroom Mountain Cave Suites carved directly into the desert rocks (see what I did there), featuring cliffside plunge pools, far-reaching views, and complete privacy.
Then come the one- or two-bedroom Mountain Crevice Villas that appear to defy gravity, offering up unmatched views of the surrounding desertscapes from swimming pools that seemingly hang midair.
Then there’s ultimate luxury stored stunningly in all three bedrooms of the royal villa: offering family-friendly fun at its finest. Complete with an infinity pool, a pool deck, and an outdoor shower. This particular escape is ideal for families and celebrations.
Facilities
The facilities fall nothing short of pure brilliance. Featuring an exquisite spa, gym, kid’s club, and outdoor pool (and these are going to sound more basic in a minute when I tell you about the rest), the escape promises the perfect blend between relaxation and adventure.
Walk into the arrival hub, and you’ll instantly find something that sets the property apart. I’m of course talking about the analogue room (a Bang & Olufsen collaboration). If you’re anything like me, you love your music; and what if I told you the room is dedicated to just that? At the centre of the two-seater room is the USD80,000 Bang & Olufsen speaker system that’s connected to a vinyl player. Take your pick from a growing collection of over 400 vinyl records, featuring everything from The Beatles and Elvis Presley to Taylor Swift and The Weeknd (spoiler alert: I picked a special edition of Taylor Swift’s Midnights, because of course I did).
Another facility to distinguish the resort is the Akun Adventure Centre. Here you can spend your mornings abseiling, mountain climbing, ziplining, and the via ferrata. And for SAR700, you can enjoy four experiences, including ziplining, climbing, the via ferrata, and abseiling.
After you’ve spent your mornings tiring your body out, you can find sanctuary in the spa that use products all the way from the UK and Switzerland which are AMRA and the Swiss Dr. Burgener . Featured treatments include the signature 75-minute cellular gold rejuvenation hammam, the 60-minute moonlight meteorite massage, and the 180-minute Desert Rock signature ritual. Amenities at the spa also include a sauna, steam room, vitality pools, and massage jets.
Food and Drink
Complete with six unique F&B outlets, each more out there than the last, Desert Rock is the perfect stay for the eyes, the heart, and the tummy. Start your mornings right with a hearty breakfast at Basalt; sample comfort dishes and local flavours in a warm setting. Throughout the day, the all-day dining venue transforms into a haven for contemporary Indian dining too.
Relax by the pool at the Wadi Pool Bar and Grill, and tuck into Peruvian flavours, live DJ sets, and a chill vibe. Then there’s MICA, an avant-garde non-alcoholic bar, where mixologists craft mocktails right out of your imagination through their expertise. The shining jewel when it comes to food is the resort’s best-kept secret, NYRA. Helmed by acclaimed chef Osman Sezener, a pioneer of the farm-to-table movement and Michelin-starred restaurateur, the venue offers wood-fired cooking of delicious seasonal ingredients and delicacies.
The next two outlets are completely unique to the resort; these are The Library and The Observatory. The Library focuses on tea and coffee with spectacular mountain views, evolving into a smoky mocktails and jazzy spot come nighttime.
Then there’s the jaw-dropping Observatory. Home to the highest point in the Red Sea, this venue can only be accessed by a major climb, a 630-step climb to be exact (brace yourself, and maybe even play The Climb by Miley Cyrus in your head, I know I did), and a 120-metre suspension bridge. But it was well-worth it for the views you savour after (and if I’m saying that, you know it’s true).
Room rates
Rooms are now available for booking, with villa rates starting from SAR8,500 per night.
Verdict
To me, Desert Rock presents one of the most unique escapes in the world and is ushering in a new era of quiet luxury in the world of vacations and stays.
Desert Rock Resort, Red Sea. desertrock.sa.