Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Sharjah

The tiny Bastakiya quarter is Dubai’s most engaging neighborhood. Established at the end of the 19th century by well-to-do textile and pearl traders from Bastak, Iran, its labyrinthine lanes are lined with restored merchant’s houses, art galleries, cafés, and boutique hotels. The Bastakiya is a picturesque step into Dubai’s past. It’s big on atmosphere and a delight to wander.

Visit Sharjah, the UNESCO-designated “Cultural capital of the Arab world.” Visit the Museum of Islamic Civilization, held in a former Souk with ancient writings, scientific findings, architecture, ceramics, and other artifacts from the Islamic world. Next, visit the Sharjah Art Gallery, which displays art and handicrafts made all over the Arabic peninsula. Spend an afternoon at the Blue Souk, followed by Heritage village where you will discover the way of life from the past. Before you head back to your hotel, walk along the Corniche, Sharjah’s iconic seaside greenway, and pass by the American University in Sharjah.

Witness a stunning juxtaposition of old and new in Dubai. Take in the history and culture of the Gold Souk, the Spice Souk, the Dubai Museum (in the Al Fahidi Fort), and the Jumeirah Mosque. Then head to the prominent architectural feats of the iconic Dubai skyline, including the Burj Al Arab, Madinat Souk, and the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. Top it all off with a visit to the spectacular Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping mall, equipped with an Olympic-sized ice rink, a SEGA theme park, and an aquarium.

Ascend 828 meters in the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, via high-speed elevators that reach the 124th floor in under a minute. Gaze across Dubai from the “At the Top” observation decks on floors 124, 125, and 148, with the highest offering views from 555 meters above ground. Explore the tower’s elegant design inspired by the desert flower Hymenocallis and enjoy nearby attractions like the Dubai Fountain and Armani Hotel.

Take an afternoon to enjoy a desert safari tour, then finish your adventure with a scenic sunset overlooking the desert. After your safari, continue to our Bedouin campsite, where you will enjoy a barbecue buffet. Available activities include camel riding and sand bashing (off-roading on sand dunes). A belly dancer will perform on Arabic rhythms.

Explore the Dubai desert as you ride a camel, an ancient mode of transportation. For safety reasons, weight restrictions apply to this activity.

Discover Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Start by the Abu Dhabi Mosque, the third largest in the world. Continue your tour along the Corniche, a 6-kilometer seaside road lined with lush gardens and luxurious waterfront hotels, and take advantage of the beautiful scenery for a photo stop. Delve into the area’s history with a visit to the Heritage Village, a reconstruction of a traditional desert village where you will learn about Bedouin culture, tools and handicrafts. According to authentic UAE tradition, visit the Falcon Hospital, the first veterinary hospital in the UAE exclusively for falcons. On your way back, stop on Saadiyat Island and an expert will tell you more about the new projects coming up soon, especially the new Guggenheim and Louvre museum projects.

Al Ain, meaning “the source” in Arabic, is an oasis located in the Northeast region of the Abu Dhabi Emirate. This garden city is well known by the Emiratis as a university city and is the birthplace of the first president of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. On your way back to Dubai, stop at the camel market, a trading post for these humpbacked livestock and a lingering remnant of ancient Arab culture.

Drive by the mosque-shaped Sharjah International Airport, commissioned by His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the ruler of Sharjah. Continue through a multi-hued desert landscape to the oasis of Dhaid, before journeying through spectacular mountain scenery. Just before Masafi, you can shop at the local craft, pottery and carpet market. In the mountains, stop for a stunning view of the canyon and the wadis (valleys) showing tracks used by nomads in early days. Then drive to Dibba, a picturesque fishing village. After lunch, we continue to the Bidiyah Mosque, the oldest and smallest in the United Arab Emirates, before following the coast to the lovely green town of Khor Fakkan. Visit a 300-year-old fort there before proceeding to the village of Fujairah, abandoned when mountain dwellers moved away from oil exploration to start a fishing village. Our last stop before the return journey is the Bithnah Oasis. Here you may photograph (from a distance) the impressive fort still guarding the mountain pass, once the only accessible route to Fujairah.

Enjoy a full day at Ferrari World Park in Abu Dhabi, the world's largest theme park. Also the world's first Ferrari theme park, Ferrari World hosts more than 20 state-of-the-art attractions, each designed to bring various facets of the Ferrari story to life. It features the Formula Rossa, the world's fastest roller coaster, reaching speeds of up to 240 km/h, emulating the feeling of being in a Ferrari F1 car. Also featured are the the G-force, the Cinema Maranello, and the “Junior Grand Prix,” where children get to simulate the experience of Grand Prix racing in miniature stylized Ferraris.

You may fly home late on Day 9 or early on Day 10