10 places
Clear, shallow water winding through coastal mangroves and past small islands, with barely anyone there on weekdays.
Ajman's mangrove reserve, about 1 million square metres of mangroves with some 60 bird species including flamingos, egrets and herons.
The protected heart of the Khor Kalba mangroves, home to the rare Arabian collared kingfisher and nesting hawksbill and green turtles.
A trail through 300-year-old mangroves with turtles, crustaceans and birds, and the Bird of Prey Centre next door.
The 2 km boardwalk sits just above the water, so you walk through the mangroves rather than past them.
Underwater LED lights on the kayak show the fish and roots beneath you as you paddle the channels after dark.
The sunrise departure at 5am puts you in the mangroves behind Reem's towers before the heat and the jet skis.
A shaded 3.5 km promenade with viewing platforms runs right along the edge of Mangrove National Park, free and open around the clock.
The protected park holds most of the emirate's mangrove forest, and from the promenade you can watch herons and flamingos 15 minutes from downtown for free.
A guide takes you deep into the channels of the national park that you cannot see from the promenade, with a stop for photos.