Old World Bedouin Splendor
Satori Spa at Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa
Built in the style of a desert fortress and surrounded by gently rolling sand dunes , Bab Al Shams is an oasis in every sense of the word . Its Arabic name translates to “ gateway to the sun ,” while the infinity pools , courtyards and cushioned lounges add to the romantic Arabian Nights ambiance . A night or two here provides a wonderful contrast to the futuristic and fast-paced downtown Dubai , which is just 40-minutes away by car but feels another world away entirely thanks to its secluded location . In addition to falconry , camel rides and nature walks , guests will want to get pampered at Bab Al Shams ’ award-winning Satori Spa . For views of the surrounding landscape and a glimpse of wandering Arabian Oryx if you ’ re lucky , opt for a signature massage treatment to be performed at The Desert Escape Cabana . Body treatments , like the Aromatic Body Scrub with frankincense and coffee , which includes an all-over body exfoliation and steam , are better suited to one of the indoor treatment rooms . Guys are well catered to here with a Gentleman ’ s Facial service and special two-and-a-half-hour Satori For Him package that includes a mud mask , scalp and foot massage . Ladies will love the luxurious anti-aging mask with caviar , Asian pearl and phytoextracts , but Satori ’ s showstopper is , without doubt , the three-hour Blissful Desert Rose Experience . It begins with a full-body exfoliation and aromatherapy massage and is followed by a body wrap , facial and scalp massage using rose and frankincense oils – you ’ ll be left looking radiant and feeling light as a feather ( of Japanese origin , the word satori means enlightenment in Zen Buddhism .)
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