DUBAI ITINERARY
DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY
Day 1
Depart home city.
Day 2
Arrive in Dubai and transfer to your hotel.
Day 3
Included Tour of Dubai.
Day 4
Optional Abu Dhabi Tour: A Capital Adventure.* Today is an engrossing view of an Emirates that is so like Dubai and yet so different. En route to Abu Dhabi you’ll drive past the largest man-made port at Jebel Ali and then on past stunning coastal desert scenery. When you arrive at the capital city of the United Arab Emirates you’ll be taken with the way the modern architecture interprets Islamic themes in today’s materials. Shimmering skyscrapers, villas and palaces line your route along the Riviera-styled cornice overlooking the waters of the Gulf and enticing offshore islands. Visit the Heritage Village and the ancient Al Husn Fort before moving on to the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation. After a buffet lunch (included), see an old dhow (boat) yard and the charming Batinah harbor. On your return journey you’ll drive past Sports City, the biggest stadium in the Middle East.
Day 5
Optional Oasis Adventure: Al Ain.* A stop on the caravan trail since time immemorial, this charming desert town is now a garden city and boasts a university. On the way there you’ll stop at the archaeological digs at Hili, which date back some 5,000 years, before proceeding to the oasis town of Buraimi. You’ll see its ancient irrigation system and saunter through the quaint, minuscule souk. Continue to Al Ain and visit the Al Ain Museum next to the old fortress. After lunch (included), stop by the Al Ain Palace Museum, the former residence of the current ruler, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Interesting displays, including a collection of family portraits, offer an insight into how the sheikh’s family lived and entertained. The day concludes with a visit to a traditional camel market before returning to Dubai.
Day 6
Optional East Coast Tour: Fujairah.* En route to the East Coast, drive past the Sharjah International Airport. Designed by the ruler of Sharjah, its mosque shape is unique and eye catching. Continue through the multihued desert landscape to the oasis of Dhaid. Browse the local market for crafts, pottery and carpets. Then it’s on to a drive through Dibba, a picturesque fishing village on the way to the Bidiya mosque, the oldest and smallest in the U.A.E. Continue along the coast through the lovely green town of Khor Fakkan. Enjoy lunch (included) near the Indian Ocean in Fujairah. See its 300-year-old fort before exploring the rest of Fujairah, a town abandoned when mountain dwellers moved away from oil exploration to start a fishing village.
Day 7
Optional Jumeirah Mosque Tour.* This is an opportunity to visit one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in Dubai. Generally, non-Muslims are not permitted to enter a mosque. However, the Jumeirah Grand Mosque is the first and only mosque in the U.A.E. to open its doors to non-Muslims, so this is a rare and fascinating experience. This unique tour will enable participants to learn about the “five pillars” of Islam, the Emirati culture and its traditions.
Optional Desert Safari Evening.* The evening begins with an exciting four-wheel-drive ride across the desert. Witness the skills needed to navigate through the Arabian Desert! Your desert drive will take you through the world-class Al Maha nature reserve and includes a visit to a camel farm. There will be a sunset photo stop before arriving at a desert camp where you will enjoy a traditional Arabian feast featuring BBQ meats and sumptuous Arabic Mezza (Arabian hors d'oeuvres). During this fascinating evening you will have the opportunity to ride a camel and listen to mystical Arabian music, all under a blanket of brightly shining stars.
Day 8
Transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
Day 9
Arrive in the U.S.A.
*Excursions are optional, at an additional cost, and subject to change.
