The Hatta Dam is nestled in the Hajar Mountains, where visitors can canoe, kayak or paddleboard.

In the middle of the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve, my tour guide wants to turn me into an Instagram star. I had only met this guy about an hour ago, and already he’s mistaken me for someone who’s here for my reels.

How about I stand on top of the Bronco, which is perched precariously atop a sand dune? Do I want to spin around and blow kisses at the desert sky? Maybe a big jump for the camera? I don’t have the heart to tell him I’m not on Instagram, and besides, I have bigger problems right now. For starters, I’m fairly certain the blazing sun is burning through my liberally applied SPF 50, and some sort of insect is buzzing in my ear. In the distance I spot something moving among

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