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DAY 1 - DUBAI
- Welcome to Emirates! Arrival at the airport and transfer to the hotel. At the end of the afternoon, we will be transferred to visit the impressive city of DUBAI that shines in the night. We will go to witness the show of "Dubai Fountain", where the water dances to the rhythm of music and light; we are at the foot of Burj Khalifa which with its 828 meters is the tallest tower in the world; free time to walk and dine (dinner not included) in the immense Dubai Mall. Return to the hotel.
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DAY 2 - :DUBAI
- Today we have a spectacular day getting to know Dubai. We will make a panoramic visit in which we will pass in front of the great mosque of Jumeirah. We include going up the spectacular tower "Dubai Frame" with its spectacular bridge shape and its view at 150 meters high. Afterwards we continue passing by Burj Al Arab, a spectacular hotel in the form of a sail; the island of "Palm Jumeirah" in the shape of a palm tree. We will take the very modern monorail. After that we go to the old part of Dubai, a walk through the souk of Bur Dubai and the spice souk. We will take an Abra (traditional boat of the Emirates) to move to the historic neighborhood of Al Fahidi and the center for cultural understanding (with its motto "open minds, open doors"), in this area we will include in a traditional building, a typical meal of the country; if the group is more than 15 travelers they will give us an explanation to get to know better the gastronomy of the Emirates. In the afternoon we will have time in Madinat Jumeirah, which offers us a contemporary version of a traditional Arab village with its souk, its canals, and its colorful villas. Later in the afternoon we have free time next to the most popular and active beach in Dubai: JBR beach. You can stroll along the beach or have a drink in one of its many restaurants and cafes.
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DAY 3 - DUBAI - SHARJAH - KHOR FAKKAN - AL BADIYAH - FUJAIRAH
- We will leave for the neighboring EMIRATE OF SHARJAH, its capital has been named by UNESCO as "Cultural Capital of the Arab World". In a magnificent location, next to the lagoon, we stop at the mosque of Al Noor , considered the most beautiful of the 600 mosques that exist in Sharjah; from the outside we admire its architecture of Ottoman design, walking around it we photograph (without entering) the green island of Al Noor which is accessed by bridge. Later we visit (entrance included) the Fort of Sharjah, an interesting fortress that today is a museum about the sovereign family. We cross the colorful bird market. We will then visit the Museum of Islamic Civilization, an excellent museum that offers us an insight about the religion and culture of the Arab and Islamic world. After the museum, and before leaving the city, we will discover the "Rain Room", inside which we walk through artificial rain without getting wet! We then travel to the Gulf of Oman, with beautiful mountain landscapes. KHOR FAKKAN is a very nice city. We will have a relaxing time on the beach where you can have lunch in one of its pleasant restaurants and -if you wish- bathe in the warm Gulf Sea (dressing rooms and showers available). Already in the afternoon we will stop next to the ruins of the old Portuguese castle, we will walk next to the artificial waterfall that will refresh us and we will be able to photograph the immense amphitheater built overlooking at the sea. In the middle of the afternoon, we will leave for BADIYAH, a short distance from Khor Fakkan, the oldest mosque in the country -from the fifteenth century-, built in adobe at the foot of a fortress overlooking the sea.We continue our route to the EMIRATE OF FUJAIRA. Dinner included and accommodation.
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DAY 4 - FUJAIRAH - AL HAYL - AL AIN
- In the morning we will visit FUJAIRAH, capital of the Emirate very close to the border with Oman. The great Sheik Zayed mosque, the second largest in the country with its 100 meters high minarets; its adobe fortress, and the Fujairah Museum that tells us about the origin of the city. A time to stroll before taking our lunch (included); in the afternoon we leave for the fortress of Al Hayl, next to a small oasis in a valley between mountains. We continue our route to the fantastic oasis of AL AIN, declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. Entering the city we meet Qasr de Al Muwaiji, fortress/museum where Sheikh Zayed was born, the first president of the Emirates (who died in 2022). Dinner included.
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DAY 5 - AL AIN - ABU DHABI
- We continue to visit Al Ain, undoubtedly the city with the greatest historical heritage of the Emirates. First thing in the morning we go to the Camel Market, we will be surprised by its activity (it is a cattle market in general, sheep, goats, horses, but above all camels). Later we visit the fortress of Al Jhaili, considered one of the most representative adobe fortifications in the world. The museum of Sheik Zayed allows us to appreciate what life was like a century ago in this city. After that, we enter the great Oasis of Al Ain, a world heritage site, we include a ride in small electric vehicles that allow us to appreciate its gardens, palm plantations, its irrigation systems. Lunch included.After lunch we will continue our route to ABU DHABI, the most important Emirate and capital of the country. Before entering the city, we will stop at Ferrari World, a theme park dedicated to Ferrari racing cars (stop to see outdoor areas). After that we visit the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, a beautiful white mosque, the largest in the Emirates, with an area of more than 12 hectares, a point that seeks the encounter with other cultures and people of other religions. We will pass in front of Capital Gate, a 160-meter-high building known for being the steepest skyscraper in the world. From the beautiful "Corniche", by the sea, we will get a great panoramic view of the city. Already, after dark we will go to The Founders Memorial, built in memory of Zayed, the first sultan of the Emirates. The Constellation stands out, with its magnificent night lighting.
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DAY 6 - ABU DHABI - AL DHANNAH CITY
- In the morning we continue our visit of the city. We will visit (entrance included) the Heritage Village, this place allows us to understand the traditional life in the Emirates, we enjoy its views, we can buy in its craft shops and visit its small museums that illustrate us about the history of the Emirates. After that we include a visit and entry into Qasr Al Watan, the presidential palace of the Emirates, magnificent construction of white granite profusely decorated, highlights its dome of 37 meters and its chandelier lamp of 350,000 pieces of glass.After that we go to the "cultural district" where there are several museums, highlights The Louvre, with its spectacular architecture by the sea and an incredible collection. You have the opportunity if you wish to visit one of the museums or enjoy your free time in the area. Lunch included.In the afternoon we continue our route, we cross oil-producing regions to DHANNAH CITY. We will be staying in a nice hotel-resort next to the warm waters of the Persian Gulf. Dinner included.
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DAY 7 - AL DHANNAH CITY - AL HOFUF
- Free time to relax in the hotel, you can enjoy its white sand beach, its pool or snorkel in the waters of the Persian Gulf. Lunch included. After lunch we enter a country that until very recently has been closed to tourism. Only 130 km separate us from the border of SAUDI ARABIA (Al Batha). Border procedures and continuation of our route through the desert to the oasis of AL-AHSA, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Arrival at AL-HOFUF, the main city of the oasis. We will take a night walk through the King Abdullah Park, a pleasant park where its artificial lake and the fountains that dance to the rhythm of the music stand out.
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DAY 8 - AL HOFUF - RIYADH
- We visit the Oasis of AL-AHSA, with its gardens, canals, wells. Inhabited since the Neolithic; it is considered the largest oasis in the world with its almost 3 million date palms. In the center of Al-Hofuf we visit the Ibrahim Palace, historical fortress (World Heritage Site) dominated by its white mosque, built in 1556 by the Ottomans. After that we visit the "House of Allegiance" that shows us a small palace characteristic of the oasis. We will stroll through the elegant souk of Al Qaisariya, one of the oldest markets in Arabia, reflecting the commercial tradition of the region. We will approach the lively area where the Muhaires Palace stands, with its many restaurants, shops and parks where the local population goes.Later we travel through the oasis, we go to AL QARA , a spectacular landscape area, labyrinth of mini-gorges-caves in the mountain, and a historical site; it will seem that "you penetrate the mountain", all year round the temperature is around 25 degrees. We also visit its museum "land of civilizations" that describes the history of the area. Note: At the time of writing this itinerary, the Ibrahim Palace was closed for restoration. During the period when it is closed, the palace will be visited from the outside.In the afternoon we take a modern high-speed train, in two hours and 20 minutes we travel almost 350 kilometers of desert that separate us from Riyadh.- RIYADH, arrival. To end the day we will include transfer and entrance to the Boulevard Riyadh, you will be surprised by its life and activity, the attractions, the numerous restaurants with specialties from numerous countries, its live shows, and -above all- the spectacle of colorful fountains. Time to stroll, dine (dinner not included) and enjoy this place. Return to the hotel.
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DAY 9 - RIYADH
- Today (the order of activities may vary depending on the time of year) we will visit the impressive capital of Saudi Arabia. We will include the climb to the tower of just over 300 m high, the "Kingdom Centre", with its beautiful design and its "bridge-shaped" viewpoint that offers spectacular views over the city. We will also visit, surrounded by a beautiful park, the National Museum, the largest museum in the country, where we will learn about the history, culture, and art of the Kingdom. After that we will visit the Masmak Fortress, the ancient fortress of the city, whose interior allows us to understand the incredible change that took place in this city during the last century. Afterwards, we will have time to stroll through the neighborhood, with its souks and commercial life.Free time for lunch in a shopping center- Mall- where you can choose from the various restaurants and types of food offered there.In the afternoon we will also visit the district of Al Turaif DIRIYA, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This place - on the outskirts of Riyadh - was formerly the first capital of the Saudi dynasty, which we will be able to discover thanks to the vestiges of its numerous palaces and the urban complex at the edge of the oasis of Ad-Diriya. At the end of the day, we will visit the Al Rajhi Mosque, the largest mosque in Riyadh with its Andalusian style architecture, where we will witness a prayer and have an introduction to Islam that will surely make us learn something about this religion. Return to hotel.
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DAY 10 - RIYADH
- After breakfast, transfer to the airport and end of our services.