Day 1 – Arrive Dubai

There are direct flights to/from Dubai, UAE from USA cities, including Atlanta, Houston, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle. Emirates Airline offers efficient direct routes, excellent in-flight entertainment and friendly arrival and departure process at Dubai International Airport. At the airport, we are greeted by our private driver scheduled by our resort and transfer to our resort in Jumeirah.  

Day 2 – Jumeirah

The golden beaches, picturesque Arabian Gulf and luxurious Madinat Jumeirah resorts enchant visitors to Jumeirah, coastal district in Dubai. A lovely Abra boat along the canals connecting the Madinat Jumeirah resorts guides to wonderful restaurants serving Arabic breakfast buffet. We spend a relaxing beach day surrounded by the exotic Arabian architecture and tropical vegetation. We sunbathe in the sun, swim in the warm sea and enjoy lunch at the beach. A dinner at Burj Al-Arab Hotel, the world’s only seven star hotel, reveals high-end cuisine, opulent architecture and illuminated scenery of the Arabian Gulf.

Day 3 – Ski Dubai, Mall of the Emirates

The indoor skiing extravaganza at the Ski Dubai reflects Dubai’s innovative spirit. Situated in an upscale retail complex of the Mall of the Emirates, Ski Dubai offers a memorable winter experience with multi-level ski slopes and children’s snow activities. We pause at the mountain lodge café to relax and enjoy warm beverages. An afternoon at the Mall of the Emirates offers a shopping paradise with exclusive boutiques, restaurants and cafes. An elegant Kempinski Hotel, situated in the Mall of the Emirates, offers an excellent dinner venue with relaxing atmosphere.

Day 4 – Dubai Desert

The golden sands dunes, desert wildlife and traditional Bedouin camps describe the desert landscape of Dubai. A guided tour to Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve offers a sand dunes bashing adventure, desert exploration, camel rides and Arabic culinary feast at the traditional Bedouin camp. In the evening, we enjoy a delicious feast of traditional appetizers, grilled meats and Arabic desserts. We spend a wonderful time at the outdoor nomadic camp with Arabic style décor, romantic star-studded sky and traditional Narguileh water pipe before we transfer back to our hotel.

Day 5 – Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Souk Al Bahar

The stunning structure of Burj Khalifa, extravagant shops of Dubai Mall and Arabic traditions at Souk Al Bahar present the modern Dubai. We drive to the Burj Khalifa Park and walk along Dubai Lake and Dubai Fountain. We proceed to the observation deck of Burj Khalifa and admire astounding views. The advance tickets need to be purchased for the observation deck. We shop at the Dubai Mall featuring over 1,000 shops, Dubai Aquarium, waterfall and Dubai Ice Rink. A scenic outdoor pathway from Dubai Mall leads to the Arabic style Souk Al Bahar displaying high-end boutiques, upscale restaurants and exquisite Arabic interior décor. We have dinner at the Lebanese restaurant and observe the illuminated fountain show.  

Day 6 – Jumeirah Mosque, Dubai Creek, Wild Wadi Waterpark

Jumeirah Mosque, historic Dubai Creek and Arabian bazaar are important symbols of Dubai. A guided tour to Jumeirah Mosque educates about its symbolism, architecture and history. We drive to the Dubai Creek to take a scenic boats ride on the traditional wooden dhow. The visit to Dubai Souqs reveals an authentic Arabic bazaar with narrow alleys and trade stalls displaying an array of products. We return to our hotel and browse for souvenirs in the Souk Madinat Jumeirah. We spend an afternoon at Wild Wadi Waterpark that offers relaxing floating slides, lounging areas, casual outdoor restaurants and thrilling adventure at Jumeirah Sceirah fast waterslide.

Day 7 – The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina

The Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina exemplify an impressive transformation of Dubai’s landscape. A 15 minutes’ drive from our hotel leads to the artificial palm shaped island of the Palm Jumeirah with luxurious hotels, stylish villas, apartments, waterpark adventures, shopping and dining outlets. The visit to the luxurious Atlantis hotel offers amazing water activities for families at the Atlantic Aquaventure Waterpark. The short drive from the Palm Jumeirah to Dubai Marina reveals luxurious waterfront residences, upscale shopping malls, dining venues, parks, landscaped gardens and walking pathways.    

Day 8 – Dubai Departure

Our relaxing morning is filled with swimming in the calm sea, appreciating Arabian breakfast buffet and lounging at the beach. At noon, we depart our hotel and transfer to Dubai International Airport for our international flight.

Jumeirah – The endless golden beaches, luxurious resorts, extravagant mansions and glittering waters of Arabian Gulf describe the natural beauty of Jumeirah. Fisherman and pearl divers represent the original residents of Jumeirah. Dubai’s rapid development transformed Jumeirah from fishing village to glamorous destination of today. Jumeirah hosts the world’s only seven-star hotel Burj Al-Arab Hotel (in Arabic: Tower of the Arabs) erected offshore on a man-made island. This luxurious resort may be explored by having dinner or dessert at the high-priced restaurants and lounge in the hotel. Jumeirah coastline is blessed with strikingly clear waters, golden sand beaches and recreated Arabian architecture. The luxurious Madinat Jumeirah consists of opulent resorts, romantic restaurants, nightclub entertainment and traditional Arabian bazaar at Souk Madinat Jumeirah. An expansive Wild Wadi Waterpark, fee-free for guests of Madinat Jumeirah resorts, offers thrilling adventure at Jumeirah Sceirah fast waterslide, relaxing floating slides, lounging areas and casual outdoor restaurants. The discovery of Jumeirah’s cultural and religious treasures leads to Jumeirah Mosque, best explored through an organized tour for non-Muslim visitors. The exterior white stone architecture, central dome structure and decorated twin minarets reflect Islamic symbols and traditions.                     

Ski Dubai & Mall of the Emirates – In the tropical climate of Dubai, we experience an extravagant indoor skiing experience at the Ski Dubai. Situated in an upscale retail complex of the Mall of the Emirates, Ski Dubai is the world’s largest indoor ski park with inclusive skiing packages on multi-level slopes, including challenging black run. During our summer visit, the outdoor temperature reaches over 40 degrees Celsius while indoor temperature at Ski Dubai reaches minus 5 degrees Celsius. In the mall, we browse for skiing accessories and pause at the mountain lodge café offering relaxing space, warm beverages and snacks. The Mall of the Emirates contains exclusive boutiques, upscale stores, bountiful restaurants, cinema, children’s play area and the nearby restaurants of the elegant Kempinski Hotel.

Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve – The surreal desert landscape of golden sand dunes, desert vegetation and protected wildlife describe Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. The Arabian Adventure Tours offers wonderful desert exploration tours, including transfer from our hotel to the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. The caravan of experienced drivers using 4-wheel drive SUVs follows along the desert landscape. The exciting sand dunes bashing involves rapid descends and ascend along the sand dunes pathways glittering in the warm sun. As the sunset approaches, we observe in the distance the majestic Arabian Oryx defined by its white colored silhouette and long horns. As the day lights disappear, we drive to the Bedouin Style Camp for camel rides and Arabic culinary feast. The Bedouin camp displays open air sitting area with colorful carpets, tables, Arabic pillows and performance stage in the center. Our visit coincides with Islamic month of Ramadan; hence the traditional Middle Eastern music and dance performances are not part of our tour’s repertoire. Our Arabic culinary feast consists of traditional Middle Eastern appetizers, fresh salads, freshly grilled meats (including recommended lamb) and desserts. After dinner, the camp lights are turned off for few minutes and we gaze in awe at the magnificent star-studded sky. An alluring desert, star-studded sky, charming Arabic décor and the scent of traditional Narguileh (shisha water pipe) create enchanting atmosphere reminding us about the tales of Arabian Nights.

Burj Khalifa & Dubai Mall – The magnificent structure of Burj Khalifa represents an impressive symbol of Dubai. At Dubai Mall, the lower ground level elevators guide to level 124 elevators leading to Burj Khalifa’s observation deck. The impressive complex consists of luxurious homes, offices, hotel and 11 hectares Park. The Burj Khalifa Park offers a livable natural space with promenade along Dubai Lake, water terraces, spacious gardens and an impressive Dubai Fountain design. A dusk, visitors may observe an illuminated fountain show while listening to the musical tunes. Dubai Mall represents an immense shopping complex with over 1,000 shops, Dubai Aquarium, imposing waterfall and Dubai Ice Rink. The scenic pathway from Dubai Mall guides to an opulent Arabic style shopping complex at Souk Al Bahar. A collection of over 100 high-end shops and upscale restaurants encircled by an exquisite Arabic design and décor, create an awe-inspiring experience.

Dubai Creek & Traditional Souqs – The picturesque Dubai Creek flows through the middle of Dubai displaying a distinct contrast between historic port and modern architecture. The Abra (water taxi) offers convenient transfer between the north and the south of Dubai. The boat rides in the wooden dhows offer traditional Arabic experience and appealing scenery. The walk to the nearby souqs reveals an authentic bazaar and bustling local life. As we stroll along the narrow alleys we observe the colorful fabrics, glittering gold, artisan creations and fragrant spices.

The Palm Jumeirah & Dubai Marina – The artificial island of the Palm Jumeirah resonates surreal dream of perfect beaches, picturesque marinas, seaside villas and apartments facing the sea. The palm shaped island is the result of Dubai’s vision for land expansion and consists of luxurious hotels, stylish villas, apartments, waterpark parks, shopping and dining outlets. The luxurious Atlantis, The Palm hotel displays a striking architecture and offers bountiful water activities for families at the Atlantic Aquaventure Waterpark. A short distance from the Palm Jumeirah, an artificial Dubai Marina represents another example of Dubai’s ingenuity and innovation. Dubai Marina incorporates an array of luxurious waterfront residences, upscale shopping malls, dining venues, parks, landscaped gardens and walking pathways. The seaside and waterfront residential projects offer relaxation and space to better balance Dubai’s fast life.

Emirates’ Evolution – The luxurious Arabic architecture, astounding sky scraper, lavish shopping malls and vibrant entertainment outlets reflect Dubai’s evolution, innovation and thriving tourism industry. In 1971, the country of the United Arab Emirates was established by the consolidation of seven autonomous emirates. Abu Dhabi emirate has a wealth of natural oil reserves while Dubai’s dominance is reflected in finance, trade, tourism and entertainment. The landscape of Dubai displays clear contrast between preserved Arabic culture and innovative architecture and modern life. Along the busy highway, we observe the desert landscape and the image of Bedouin Arabs walking their camels on the sideways. The Arab women’s black burqa attire, at times decorated with gold edges and colorful accessories, reflects the preserved tradition. The western visitors to Dubai enjoy western style freedom at the resorts but are expected to respect modest attire tradition while exploring the country. Emirates developed its own ideal balance between the old Arabian traditions and western modern life.

Iftar –During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslim families gather together to break their fasting with an extravagant sunset meal called Iftar. Throughout the Middle East, Ramadan celebration offers a chance to sample the best quality and most traditional cuisine and desserts. Located in the Dubai Mall, the selected Lebanese restaurant Al Hallab features classical Lebanese and Middle Eastern cuisine. The Lebanese Mezze includes marvelous selection of small cold dishes served with freshly baked traditional bread, fresh vegetables, and is followed by the main course of strewed meat and rice. The presented mezze reveals a medley of colors, flavors, textures and aromas. We eagerly taste all dishes: lentil soup, creamy labneh, spiced hummus, silky baba ganoush, pickled vegetables, marinated olives, raw kibbeh, fresh vegetables and freshly baked warm Lebanese bread. Iftar preserves the religious traditions and reflects a lavish feast serving the best Arabic cuisine and unique desserts.

Madinat Jumeirah – The scenic coastline of Arabian Gulf, tropical vegetation, golden beaches and exotic Arabian architecture recreate the feeling of the ancient Arabia. The Madinat Jumeirah complex consists of boutique hotels: Al Qasr and Mina A’ Salam, Arabian Courthouse Summer Houses of Dar Al Masyaf, over 40 restaurants and Arabian Souk. Along the water canals, the traditional Abra boat provides convenient and charming transfer between resorts and restaurants. The restaurants offer exceptional breakfast buffets featuring Arabic and continental selections. Madinat Jumeirah delivers opulence, spaciousness and serenity. The selected Mina A’Salam overlooks the peaceful waters of the Arabian Gulf and the surrounding water channels. At sunrise, we admire the immaculate beach, crystal clear water and natural sand drawings on the beach. The complementary access to the nearby Wild Wadi Waterpark offers thrilling water slides and relaxing space. The Souk Madinat Jumeirah represents an upscale bazaar with narrow alleys, specialty shops and restaurants.