iExplore Dubai Experience

Tour Description

Dubai is the quintessential home of sand, sun and shopping. A century ago, it was a tranquil town whose coral-and-gypsum huts housed Bedouin traders and pearl divers. Today the merchants have gone international and science-fiction skyscrapers stand alongside the mosques and wind towers of Old Dubai.

Itinerary

Day 01: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Arrive Dubai International Airport, and meet your local airport representative prior to the Immigration Hall. Once through immigration, our staff will assist you in identifying your luggage and transfer you to your hotel for check in.

A unique blend of contemporary design and urban chic, The Fairmont Dubai is an icon in the heart of the city. The hotel is just minutes from Dubai's main attractions, shopping facilities, golf courses and beaches.

In the early evening your local representative will pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to the Dubai Creek for an 'Evening of Elegance' while cruising aboard a special glass boat called Bateau Dubai. This enchanting two-and-a-half hour dinner cruise combines the best of sightseeing, fine dining and live music for entertainment. On board you have a 6,000-square-foot window to Dubai's creek side view, a rich contrast of traditional architecture and modern skyscrapers.

Dinner

The Fairmont Hotel

Day 02: Dubai

After breakfast at the hotel, depart for a half-day 'City of Merchants' Dubai City Tour.

A fascinating historical excursion, the route takes you to the magnificent Jumeirah Mosque and past modern palaces sprawled along the coast. In Bastakia, stop for a while to admire the old wind-tower houses built by wealthy merchants. Close by, stands the 150-year old Al Fahidi Fort. Here, the Dubai Museum records the city's past as an important pearl diving and trading center. Continue your journey by Abra - local water taxi. Cross the creek to see the modern metropolis with its splendid architecture dwarfing the bustling alleys of our next destination, the gold and spice souks.

Breakfast

The Fairmont Hotel

Day 03:Dubai

Enjoy the morning at leisure.

Take a scenic drive in the desert to Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa located within part of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve - a large protected desert reserve and home to the wild Oryx - an endangered native 'antelope' of the UAE that roams freely around the resort.

Arrive in time to enjoy lunch and then check in to your private desert retreat of only 52 luxurious villas with tented ceilings. Relax in your private plunge pool, take a guided nature walk or an enthralling dune drive, a horseback ride through the dunes or a sunset camel safari with a glass of champagne on route. Archery lessons are also available along with falconry demonstrations - a tradition in the region with the techniques preserved at Al Maha.

All meals are included at this resort along with two complimentary activities each day. The resort guest relation's officers will assist you in planning your activities and relaxation time!

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa

Day 04: Dubai

Early morning activity per your choice such as a fun filled dune drive or a relaxing nature walk with one of the specialist safari guides.

In the early afternoon enjoy your second activity of the day. For dinner why not make special arrangements with the resort chef to have dinner at your villa?

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa

Day 05: Dubai

Check out from the resort in the morning and depart at around 8:30 a.m. for 'A New Dawn'- experience the future of Dubai. Our journey begins at a location near the Burj Al Arab, a great photo opportunity for pictures of the world's first seven-star hotel. Our next destination is the Palm Jumeirah. Driving across the trunk, we take a closer look at developments in the area. We then drive to the new marina for a photostop at the Marina walk. Our next stop is the Gold and Diamond Park, a new complex of jewelry workshops and showrooms that is also a favored shopping destination for visitors seeking a quick turnaround on custom-made jewelry. We then visit the Information Center of Dubailand, where guests get a preview of the dynamic upcoming projects. Dubailand - conceived as the largest destination for family- orientated tourism and entertainment in the Middle East will cover an area of three billion square feet. It will feature several attractions "The Restless Planet", a dinosaur theme park. Sport City featuring large state-of-the-art stadium, the Great Dubai Wheel, the Islamic Culture and Science World and the Mall of Arabia, set to become on of the largest shopping centers in the world. Once completed Dubailand expects a footfall of 40.000 visitors a day and will contribute to attracting 15 million visitors to Dubai by the year 2015. Our final stop is the Souq Al Bahar, located at Old Town in the vicinity of the Burj Dubai. Themed as a traditional Arabian marketplace, it offers a range of shopping dining choices. It is and ideal vantage point to capture dramatic shots of the Burj Dubai soaring into the skies above.

Breakfast

Hilton Dubai Jumeirah

Day 06: Dubai

We depart from Dubai in the morning and drive towards the East Coast of the United Arab Emirates. On the way we take a diversion from the Sharjah - Al Dhaid high way, to drive through a modern Bedouin village and a couple of camels farms behind the village. Leaving the farm, we head towards the oasis town of Masafi where we stop at the colorful Friday market for half an hour. We then continue to drive along the shores of the Indian Ocean and reach the quaint and tranquil town of Dibba where we have a short stop at the fish and vegetable market. Our off-road adventure through the steep passes of the rugged Hajar range starts here. For the next two hours the journey takes us through a wild landscape of dramatic canyons, deep gorges and rocky valleys. Amidst these impressive natural sights lie small mud-walled villages where crops are cultivated. After pausing for la picnic lunch, in the 'Grand Canyons' we drive back to Dibba village from where we take another turn into Wadi Bassam for a short photo stop before returning to Dubai by evening.

Breakfast, Lunch

Hilton Dubai Jumeirah

Day 07: Dubai - Depart

Check out of the hotel and depart for Dubai International Airport for your flight home or to your next destination.

Breakfast

Departures

Depart any day! Contact an iExplore Adventure Consultant for details.

Pricing Information

2011 Prices:

$4,179 per person double occupancy.

$7,889 Solo traveler.

Prices for your dates of travel may vary- please contact iExplore for an exact quote. Quoted prices are based on current rates of exchange, tariffs and taxes as of November, 2010. iExplore reserves the right to increase tour prices to cover increased costs, tariffs and taxes received after prices are published, and to reflect fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. iExplore is under no obligation to give breakdown costs involved in any package.

Inclusions:

Meet and assistance at airport upon arrival, and assistance at airport upon departure

2 nights accommodation at the Fairmont Hotel (Fairmont Room)

2 nights accommodation at Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa (Bedouin Suite)

2 nights accommodation at the The Hilton Dubai Jumeirah (Deluxe Walk View Room)

Meals as indicated (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

All transfers and excursions in private air-conditioned car with English-speaking driver

Sightseeing as indicated including the services of a private English-speaking guide

Activities & excursions at Al Maha Resort are conducted by lodge staff on an non-exclusive basis

All entrance fees

Taxes and service fees

Exclusions:

International airfare and airport taxes

Meals, unless otherwise indicated

Items of a personal nature

Gratuities and porterage

Holiday surcharges

Travel insurance

Visas (if required)

Holiday or Peak Season surcharges

All prices are in US dollars and do not include international airfare, unless otherwise noted.

Prices displayed are based on the lowest season base price and assume double occupancy. Prices are shown in U.S. dollars and may or may not include administrative fees, taxes, meals, airfare (where applicable) and Single Supplements. Cancellation penalties, blackout dates and other restrictions may apply.

Options and Extras

Tour Notes