Dubai and Abu Dhabi – 5 Days, 4 Nights

Arrival at Dubai airport. After passport control our team meets you and transfers you to your hotel by private vehicle; the drive takes 20 to 40 minutes depending on traffic.
Once you have checked in, the rest of the day is free. If your flight lands early, walk over to the Dubai Mall for the Dubai Fountain show, which runs every half hour from dusk: it is free and best seen from the bridge across the lake. Your guide will confirm the next morning's meeting time in writing.

Breakfast at the hotel and start of the city tour. We begin in Al Fahidi, the only district that preserves pre-oil Dubai, with its coral-stone houses, wind towers and narrow shaded lanes. We then cross the creek on a traditional abra to Deira and walk through the Gold Souk and the Spice Souk.
Lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon we continue along the Jumeirah coast with photo stops at Jumeirah Mosque and opposite the Burj Al Arab, then drive along Palm Jumeirah to Atlantis.
The day ends at the Burj Khalifa: with your timed ticket you go up to the observation decks on levels 124 and 125, with an open-air terrace and 360-degree views over the Gulf and the desert. Afterwards you have free time in the Dubai Mall, where you can have dinner on your own and watch the fountain show.

After breakfast we set off early: Dubai and Abu Dhabi are about an hour and a half apart by motorway. The first stop is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the country's most impressive building, with 82 domes, the world's largest hand-knotted carpet and chandeliers set with Swarovski crystal. The dress code is strictly enforced: women must cover their hair and all visitors need loose clothing covering arms and ankles. Women without suitable clothing are lent an abaya free of charge at the entrance; shorts and tight trousers are not accepted for men.
We continue to Qasr Al Watan, the presidential palace open to visitors: the state reception halls, the Great Hall with its 37-metre dome, and the palace library with its historic manuscripts. Lunch is taken in a local restaurant.
In the afternoon we drive along the Corniche, pass the Emirates Palace and stop on Yas Island, home to the Formula 1 circuit and Ferrari World, for photographs. Guests who wish can add Louvre Abu Dhabi entry as a supplement. We return to Dubai in the early evening, reaching the hotel between 19:00 and 20:00.

The morning is free. You can visit the aquarium in the Dubai Mall, the Museum of the Future or the Dubai Frame, walk along JBR beach or simply stay by the hotel pool. Your guide gives you a list of suggestions with distances and rough taxi fares; in summer we recommend keeping the morning for indoor visits.
Around 15:00 (14:30 in winter) you are collected from the hotel in a 4x4 Land Cruiser. After about 45 minutes on the road the dune bashing begins over the red dunes of Lahbab. At the stop among the dunes you can try sandboarding, take a short camel ride and watch the sun go down.
The evening is spent at a Bedouin-style camp: Arabic coffee and dates on arrival, henna, shisha, a buffet barbecue dinner and a show with tanoura dance, belly dance and fire performance. Soft drinks are unlimited. You are back at the hotel between 21:30 and 22:00.

Breakfast at the hotel and check-out. Standard check-out is at 12:00; if your flight is in the evening we can request a late check-out subject to availability, or you can leave your luggage at the hotel and use the time for last-minute shopping.
Private transfer to the airport according to your flight time. Dubai airport is extremely busy, so we recommend being at the terminal at least three hours before departure. Check that any spices and dates you bought comply with hand-luggage rules.