Tour 9
Coast and Desert
5 nights, 6 days
- Length
- 5 nights, 6 days including 1 night in the air
- Shape
- Abu Dhabi first, then Atlantis, the desert and the Jumeirah coast, with a new hotel each night.
- Overnights
- Emirates Palace 1, Atlantis The Palm 1, Al Maha 1, Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab 1
Every itinerary runs at two paces. Full: three or four stops a day, most meals booked, early starts. Relaxed keeps the same length, the same hotels and the same arrival and departure, and books less into each day: one anchor per half day, later starts, lunch mostly at leisure, and a free afternoon or evening every second day. Either pace can run from the same booking, because the rooms do not change. What changes is tickets, meals and guide hours.
The program at a glance
- Day 1Dubai
- Day 2Dubai - Abu Dhabi - Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque - Louvre Abu Dhabi - check in at the Emirates Palace, dinner in the hotelEmirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
- Day 3Qasr Al Watan Presidential Palace - Dubai - Bluewaters Island, photo stop at the Ain Dubai observation wheelAtlantis
- Day 4The View at The Palm - Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort and Spa, with a desert adventureAl Maha
- Day 5Al Maha Desert Resort - Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai - photo stop at the Burj Al Arab - check in at Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, dinner in the hotelJumeirah Marsa Al Arab
- Day 6photo stop at the Dubai Frame - abra water taxi, Gold Souk, Spice Souk - photo stop at the Museum of the Future - The Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa At The Top on level 124, the Dubai Fountain - airport
Coast and Desert
- Day 1Dubai
Dubai
Today you fly to Dubai, the brightest star of the United Arab Emirates. It is the second largest city in the UAE and a modern metropolis with a culture all its own. East meets West here, old customs live alongside new, and ancient tradition stands in sharp contrast to modern life. Gentle sunshine, romantic beaches, desert without end and the quiet mystery of Arabia together make one beautiful scene after another.
Night of day 2
Abu Dhabi- Day 2Abu Dhabi
Dubai - Abu Dhabi - Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque - Louvre Abu Dhabi - check in at the Emirates Palace, dinner in the hotel
After breakfast we visit
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is the largest mosque in the Arab world and one of the most beautiful anywhere. Its clean white exterior is built from marble imported from Italy. In the main prayer hall you can see the world's largest carpet, designed by Iranian artists, and chandeliers imported from Germany. It is a remarkable sight.
The full day
Louvre Abu Dhabi. This landmark building is the first museum in the Arab world to open itself to the whole world, and it fully expresses a spirit of cultural openness. As a leading cultural building at the heart of the Saadiyat Cultural District, it exhibits works of major historical, cultural and social importance from ancient times to the present. It is a dream destination for anyone who loves art.
The Emirates Palace. Built with tens of tons of gold across 100 hectares, it was originally built for the heads of state of the Gulf countries to hold their meetings. From the moment you step into the high, elegant lobby, everything in sight is gilded and magnificent and you feel the sheer scale of the place. The fine detailing in Arabian gold tones gives every corner the dreamlike air of aristocratic luxury.
A friendly reminder
A friendly reminder
Dress for the mosque visit: men, long trousers and a shirt with sleeves. Women, long sleeves and long trousers or a long skirt, not see-through. Tight clothing is not allowed, and hair must be covered with a headscarf, which you need to bring yourself. Do not wear clothing with animal motifs or images of people inside the mosque. The mosque no longer lends robes to group guests, so please follow the clothing advice given by your guide and tour leader.
Night of day 3
Palm Jumeirah- Day 3Abu Dhabi – Dubai Marina & JBR – Palm Jumeirah
Qasr Al Watan Presidential Palace - Dubai - Bluewaters Island, photo stop at the Ain Dubai observation wheel
Qasr Al Watan, the Presidential Palace, has become one of the must-see stops in Abu Dhabi. It is where the UAE officially receives foreign dignitaries today and where state visits by heads of state take place. It uses the pointed arches and great domes of sixteenth to eighteenth century Mughal Islamic architecture, blended cleverly with the ornate building traditions of India, for a visual impact and a grandeur you will not have seen before. That includes the main halls and the rooms holding the treasures presented to the UAE president by countries around the world, where the interiors use white, yellow and blue to stand for the landscape of the region. The west wing explains how the country was formed and how it is governed, while the east wing displays a large collection of artifacts and precious manuscripts and explains what the Arab world has contributed to science, art, the humanities and literature. There is also a library holding more than fifty thousand books and resources.
The full day
Bluewaters is Dubai's famous man-made island, the one everyone photographs, and it sits next to Dubai Marina. It is divided into residential, retail and leisure districts with hotels and beach clubs, and it brings dining, accommodation and entertainment together in one place, a paradise for shoppers. The most famous thing on the island is Dubai's landmark giant observation wheel, Ain Dubai. At 250 meters it is the tallest observation wheel in the world. Bluewaters is surrounded by charming views of the Arabian Gulf, Dubai Marina, Ain Dubai and the Dubai coastline, and it gives you a taste of a completely new kind of waterfront city living.
Atlantis The Palm takes the legendary lost undersea city of Atlantis as its model. It stands at the most important point on the outer crescent of Palm Jumeirah, which speaks to a standing no other property can take. The lavishly designed reception hall and its sculptures tell a legend of limitless imagination, and the ancient myth appears again, real, in front of you.
Night of day 4
Al Maha desert- Day 4Palm Jumeirah – Al Maha desert
The View at The Palm - Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort and Spa, with a desert adventure
The View at The Palm, new in 2020. Take the elevator to the observation deck on the 52nd floor and look down over the whole of Palm Jumeirah. You can photograph the full frond pattern of the island, with the skyline laid out in front of you.
The full day
On to Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa, the only hotel in the world built inside a desert wildlife reserve. It covers 27 square kilometers, every unit is a free-standing tented suite, and every suite has its own private pool and outdoor garden.
Guests receive one complimentary afternoon desert activity from the resort. The choices include a camel ride, sunset drinks and a nature drive.
Night of day 5
Jumeirah- Day 5Jumeirah – Al Maha desert – Jumeirah
Al Maha Desert Resort - Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai - photo stop at the Burj Al Arab - check in at Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, dinner in the hotel
Guests receive one complimentary morning desert activity from the resort: a falconry display, a nature walk or archery. Dune driving and horse riding can be added as optional extras.
The full day
Souk Madinat Jumeirah is designed in imitation of a traditional open-air market and sits inside a large resort. Among all the high-end retail in the city it has the most atmosphere, and it became a popular destination the moment it opened. Wind towers stand out above the lower buildings of the souk, and when they light up at night the whole area is bathed in a romantic glow. Winding waterways and excellent outdoor dining sit nearby. It is no surprise at all that the souk draws visitors like a magnet.
A photo stop at the Burj Al Arab, the sail-shaped hotel on its own island off Jumeirah Beach, for the photograph everyone wants.
Check in at Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, Jumeirah's newest resort, on the headland beside the Burj Al Arab. The resort has 386 rooms and suites, its own marina and two private beaches, and Souk Madinat Jumeirah is a few minutes away. Dinner in the hotel.
- Day 6Dubai
photo stop at the Dubai Frame - abra water taxi, Gold Souk, Spice Souk - photo stop at the Museum of the Future - The Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa At The Top on level 124, the Dubai Fountain - airport
Mornings like this are rare: warm sun on your face, sunlight burning off the last of your sleep. Wake naturally, then use the hotel facilities as you please, including the gym and the indoor and outdoor pools.
The full day
The Dubai Frame. After the Burj Khalifa, this is another work built at great expense, a surrealist piece of architecture whose outer surface is covered in gold patterning. The frame stands about 50 stories high inside Zabeel Park and became Dubai's most eye-catching new landmark in 2018. It took four years to complete.
The Gold Souk, where shop windows hang full of dazzling gold work: necklaces, rings, bangles, earrings and brooches, all of it astonishing to look at. And nearby,
the Spice Souk, where you find imported spices of every kind. It is the best place to feel the character of the place.
The abra water taxi, the oldest and simplest form of transport local people use on Dubai Creek.
The Museum of the Future shows people the direction technology will take over the next twenty years. Most importantly, technology can help us rebuild our imagination and see what climate change will bring by 2050. Be ready to witness the world's greatest inventions and prototype ideas, presented in a way no traditional museum uses. The design of this museum breaks new ground, and visitors experience technological change first hand through interactive displays. Watch for the advanced courses, workshops and seminars here, which apply existing advanced technology and scientific solutions to explore what innovation might look like in the future. Here you can examine the three great problems of climate change: fresh water supply, food security, and building or rebuilding cities. This landmark development aims to steer human society in a better direction and bring about a stronger global economy.
The Dubai Mall is the largest shopping and entertainment complex in the world by floor area. It holds more than 1,200 retail stores, more than 150 places to eat and leisure facilities beyond counting. Inside is the world's largest indoor aquarium, so you can shop and look at the undersea world at the same time. There is also an indoor theme park, an ice rink, a cinema and the world's largest indoor gold market. It is the biggest and the most distinctive modern mall in the Middle East.
In Downtown Dubai you see the tallest performing fountain in the world. The Dubai Fountain gives you a rare chance to lose yourself in a captivating show of water, music and light. Then we have arranged for you to go up
the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. At 828 meters it is the first structure in human history to pass 800 meters, and from the top the magnificent view over Dubai is all yours.
After that a private coach takes you to Dubai airport to check in.
- All hotel accommodation as listed, with partner-rate benefits.
- All transfers in chauffeured vehicles. Vehicle class scales to pax count.
- Mandarin-, English- and Arabic-capable guide on every operating day.
- All entrance tickets named in the itinerary.
- Meals as listed (B / L / D).
- Bottled water on coach. 24/7 on-call dispatch.
- International flights to and from Dubai.
- UAE visa support (verified third-party processor, per-program).
- Optional desert add-ons — dune-bashing, camel/horse.
- Personal expenses, alcohol outside listed meals.
- Gratuities for driver and guide.
What this itinerary does well
Best for
Groups that want the landmark hotels as well as the landmark sights in six days.
Why it sells
Four of the best-known addresses in the country in four nights, with the capital, the desert and the coast all covered.
Send us the brief
Group size, target dates, preferred hotel tier and any non-negotiables are enough for us to start. A costed proposal follows within two working days.