SHORE EXCURSIONS CREDIT

Embrace the beauty, culture and traditions of the United Arab Emirates during an orientation tour of Abu Dhabi, and high tea at the spectacular Emirates Palace Hotel.

Enjoy an orientation drive through Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the UAE. Founded in 1761, Abu Dhabi is situated on a small peninsula surrounded by a cluster of islands. Along the way, you will pass Yas Marina, Ferrari World, Grand Mosque, Heritage Village and the famous Corniche, which offers spectacular views and photo opportunities of the city skyline, high-rise glass buildings and exquisite Emirates Palace Hotel.

Visit the Emirates Palace, the UAE's most prestigious hotel. Upon arrival, you’ll take a walking tour of the grounds and be served high tea; the highlight of this tour.

Experience scenic beauty during your full-day visit to picturesque Al Ain, the Garden City. Head to to Al Ain, located in the eastern part of Abu Dhabi. Al Ain's lush terrain is dotted with abundant groundwater springs. In the past, this oasis town served as a vital stopover on the caravan trail between the United Arab Emirates and Sultanate of Oman.

Visit the Hilli Archaeological Park, where you’ll find tombs from the 5,000-year-old Umm Al Nar Period. You’ll also visit the Al Ain Museum, built around the turn of the 20th century. It is said that Sheikh Zayed, president of the UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi, spent a part of his childhood there.

During your guided tour, you’ll see the museum's ethnographical and archaeological sections. A highlight of the tour will be a walk through a truly enchanting oasis nestled amidst palm trees. Here, you will have an opportunity to see an excellent example of falaj, the ancient irrigation system.

Stop at the Camel Market, a unique regional market in which camels are traded daily. At one of the city's star hotels, you’ll be treated to a relaxing buffet lunch.

Delve into the history, architecture and culture of the United Arab Emirates during this enriching and scenic tour of its capital city, Abu Dhabi. Acquaint yourself with this stunning capital, founded in 1761 and situated on a small peninsula surrounded by a cluster of islands. Explore Sheikh Zayed Mosque, also known as the Grand Mosque, the largest in the U.A.E. and eighth-largest mosque in the world. You’ll appreciate the approximately 1,000 columns covered by more than 20,000 panels inlaid with semi-precious stones including lapis lazuli, red agate, amethyst, abalone shell and mother-of-pearl. Delight in a leisurely drive along the spectacular Corniche, a seaside roadway replete with cycle paths, fountains and parks. Enjoy spectacular views of Abu Dhabi, known as the Manhattan of the Gulf for its ultra-modern skyscrapers and impressive skyline, and discover the Emirates Palace Hotel, dramatically rising at the end of a palm-lined promenade.

Enjoy the sites of Abu Dhabi on this scenic evening tour that includes photo stops at some of its most significant sites.

Drive to the magnificent Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque of Abu Dhabi, the most imposing religious and national landmark in Abu Dhabi to date. It is also arguably one of the most important architectural treasures of contemporary UAE society - and one of the most beautiful in the world - initiated no less by the late president HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who is fondly thought of as father of UAE. You’ll stop for a few minutes to take a photo and then continue your drive back to Abu Dhabi city center.

Along the Palace area, you’ll make another photo stop, to snap a picture of the Emirates Palace by night.

Your city drive takes you to Abu Dhabi breakwater along the Corniche, for another picturesque photo stop. Proceed with the drive to Ittihad Square. This square, often referred to as “Cultural Square” features six different symbols of Arabian hospitality & history that are all still used today. Stop for few minutes for another picture before boarding your coach and drive back to pier.

Explore Abu Dhabi on this exhilarating half-day, off-road desert adventure in the Al Khatim Desert. Start with a drive in your off-road vehicle through Abu Dhabi, and on to the Al Khatim Desert. You’ll traverse the sand dunes that rise to imposing heights of up to 934 feet, the world's tallest. Along the way, stop for refreshments between the dunes, which are surrounded by the tranquil sands of Arabia.

OVERVIEW

Gain a deeper appreciation for Abu Dhabi’s artisans by browsing some of the finest markets in the capital city. Many of their skills are so impressive that they are recognized on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. For a historical perspective of Abu Dhabi, you will explore Qasr Al Hosn, an 18th-century fortress-like building that is the city’s oldest stone structure. Once home to the ruling family, it is now a museum. In the adjacent House of Artisans, you will watch a number of Emirati crafts being practiced. Among them are sadu and khoos – both traditional forms of weaving – and talli, a type of decorative embroidery in which colorful cotton or silk threads are intertwined with gold and silver threads. You will become further immersed in local life by browsing a date market and a seafood market, where you can select a piece of fish that will be grilled for your lunch.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Browse several craft and food markets for a better understanding of local life.
• Watch highly skilled weavers and embroiderers practicing time-honored crafts.
• Meander through a bustling date market and a seafood market.
• Delve into the history of Abu Dhabi at a museum in the city’s oldest stone building.
• Enjoy a lunch of authentic Emirati cuisine at the restaurant Al Dhafra.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Dine with a local family in their home and learn about the Emirati culture and traditions firsthand. While seated in the Majlis – a carpeted sitting area with cushions that is the heart of the home – you will discover some of the rituals of Emirati hospitality, beginning with the art of preparing and serving an Arabic coffee known as gahwa. This gesture of hospitality and generosity is considered essential to any gathering and is deeply ingrained in local life. Even the scent will be mesmerizing as the gahwa is typically infused with fragrant cardamom and rose water. The aroma of bukhoor – a blend of wood chips, essential oils and spices – will also be wafting through the air. In time, your hosts will show you traditional Emirati attire, which you may try on, and teach you a few basic phrases in Arabic. In addition, they will share stories that reveal much about the Emirati culture.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Become immersed in the Emirati culture while visiting with a local family.
• Enjoy a cup of coffee prepared in a time-honored ritual that reflects the culture.
• Try on traditional Emirati clothing if you like and learn a few basic phrases in Arabic.
• Come away with a true sense of the Emirati culture from this personal experience.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Watch falcons being treated at the world’s largest hospital for these majestic birds of prey and see a different side of the natural world by kayaking through waters lined with eco-friendly mangroves. The Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital provides state-of-the art care for falcons suffering from most every injury and illness, including fractured bones and diseased eyes. Besides observing the treatments up-close, you will learn about the historical and cultural significance of falcons in the Emirati culture. You will also enjoy the rare opportunity to interact with the falcons post-treatment, an experience that will shed more light on these streamlined birds that often fly at speeds approaching 70 mph when hunting. While kayaking, you may spot water birds such as herons and flamingos wading in the shallows. You will also learn about the many ecological benefits of the mangroves along the shore, which include filtering the water and stabilizing the coast.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See falcons being cared for at the world’s largest falcon hospital.
• Interact with the falcons and learn about their cultural importance.
• Paddle a kayak through a protected waterway lined with mangroves.
• Gain an understanding of how mangroves provide numerous ecological benefits.
• Look for marine life such crabs and fish and birds that may include flamingos.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Ride into the surrounding desert in a safari-style 4x4 vehicle and engage in the unique sport of dune bashing before indulging in a barbecue dinner under the stars. To more easily drive across the desert’s towering sand dunes, the vehicle’s tires may be deflated to increase their traction. The ride will be exhilarating as you speed up and down the shifting dunes, an adventurous means of travel known as dune bashing. Once you reach the Majlis camp – which centers around Arabian-style tents – you can extend the thrills by racing down the dunes on a sandboard, a piece of sporting equipment that resembles a snowboard. A falconry show will follow, during which the prodigious skills of these birds of prey will be on full display. Once night falls, the ambiance of the camp will become even more magical, an ideal setting for the barbecue dinner.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Speed up and down the desert dunes in a 4x4 vehicle, a thrilling activity known as dune bashing.
• Race down the dunes on a sandboard, an extreme sport much like surfing and snowboarding.
• Practice archery at a desert tent camp and watch a falconry performance.
• Enjoy a sumptuous barbecue dinner at the camp, which will be radiant once night falls.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.