Mysk Kingfisher Retreat

★★★★★Kalba, SharjahSpecialist pick

Overview

Mysk Kingfisher Retreat is a 20-tent glamping lodge set on a private island off Kalba, on Sharjah's east coast, reached by a short boat crossing across a mangrove creek. It suits couples wanting something different from a city hotel and families happy to trade pools and buffets for beach, wildlife and quiet. It is not a resort in the Dubai sense.

Each tent has its own plunge pool, a deck facing either the sea or the mountains, and comes as a one-bedroom or three-bedroom layout. The island itself is a working conservation area, so days involve kayaking the mangroves, watching for turtles and gazelles, cycling, and evenings around a fire pit or a private in-tent barbecue. Al Qurm restaurant handles all-day dining, and there's an outdoor kids' area with a playground and organised activities. Service is personal rather than polished-hotel slick, and it is genuinely quiet - no traffic, no other resorts, just the tide.

Sharjah is dry, so there is no alcohol anywhere on the property - worth knowing before you book if that matters to your weekend. Summer heat on the exposed island is serious, so outdoor activities like paddleboarding and cycling are really a winter and shoulder-season thing; go October to April for the full experience. It's also a one or two-night proposition rather than a longer stay - lovely for a change of scene, but there isn't the range of facilities to fill a week.

private island access by boat
20 tents with private plunge pools
one and three-bedroom tent options
private beach on the Indian Ocean
mangrove and turtle conservation area
kayaking and paddleboarding
spa treatments
kids' outdoor playground and activities
in-tent private barbecue option
alcohol-free property

Rooms

Good to know

Meal plans: Room only · Bed & breakfast · Full board
Paid at the hotel: The tourism dirham fee and any security deposit
Cancelling: Each room shows its own terms; cancel online from My trips while they allow

Eating and drinking

Al Qurm — The retreat's all-day dining restaurant, with indoor and outdoor seating facing the sea for around 80 guests. The menu runs organic, international and local dishes, buffet and à la carte, and covers breakfast through dinner. Works fine for children, no alcohol served.
Beach Cabana Dinner — A private four-course dinner set up on the beach for two, away from the main restaurant. More of a couples experience than a family one - book it for an anniversary or the one big dinner of the stay.
In-Tent Barbecue — A private barbecue set up on your own tent's terrace, with a choice of meat or fish and seafood sourced from the local market. Good for families who want dinner without leaving the tent, kids included.

Getting there

It's roughly a 90-minute drive from Dubai across the mountains to Kalba, and about the same or a little less from Abu Dhabi depending on route; Fujairah International Airport is the closest, around 20 minutes away. You leave your car on the mainland and the retreat brings you across to the island by boat, so there's no need for a transfer company - just allow time for the crossing at check-in and check-out.

Ask about Mysk Kingfisher Retreat

Another room type, more than one room, or a date that is not showing — send it over and a specialist replies with what is available and what it costs, usually the same working day.