DUBAI … a city of contrasts 6 Day Program

DUBAI … a city of contrasts
6 Day Program
A land where the old and the new, traditional and modern, East and West blend seamlessly to produce a
fascinating, mysterious, exciting place with a distinct personality all its own. It's a welcoming city with a
seductive ambience rooted in traditional Arabic hospitality and topped with an ultra-modern flourish. It has
also been voted one of the safest cities in the modern world.
The amazing variety of activities and virtually year-round guaranteed good weather makes Dubai an
attractive choice for incentive and business event programmes – water sports, cruises, desert safaris, seatrips, fishing and snorkeling, championship golf courses and horse races. World-class Spa facilities and
some of the world’s best shopping. With a discerning multi-national population, this region is a diners
delight, from the street-side stall to the sophisticated fine-dining restaurant.
Day 1 Welcome to Dubai
Early arrival at Dubai International Airport - Guests'
"experience of a lifetime" begins the moment they arrive in
Dubai and are welcomed by uniformed airport representatives
who assist guests swiftly and efficiently through the arrival
formalities and onto their deluxe coach.
Our warm reception continues on board with hot or cold towels
for each member of your group and a seasonal flower for the
ladies. There they can sit back for fleeting glimpses of Dubai as
they transfer to their hotel.
On arrival at the hotel, they are offered cocktails or a non-alcoholic welcome drink in an exclusive area
while their check-in formalities are completed. Guests Room Pre-Registration
has already been taken care of, all they have to do is sign in and relax.
A buffet breakfast has been arranged at the hotel; guests have the opportunity to
enjoy a leisurely breakfast, after freshening up after their flight, and then depart
for a fascinating three-and-a-half-hour historical excursion into Dubai on our
Dubai City Tour. Our route takes us to the magnificent Jumeirah mosque and
past modern palaces sprawled along the coast.
In the intriguing district of Bastakia (the old town) with its labyrinthine
pedestrian lanes, we stop for a while to admire the splendid architecture of the
old wind-towered houses, built by wealthy merchants in the early to mid 1900's.
Close by stands the 150-year-old Al Fahidi Fort. Here, the Dubai Museum
records the city's past as an important pearl diving and trading centre.
We cross the Dubai Creek by abra - a local water taxi - and make for the bustling alleys of our next
destination, the spice souks. We then round off the tour with a stop at the brilliantly illuminated gold souk
where more than 200 gold shops display dazzling jewellery varying from traditional to the latest designs at
amazingly affordable prices.
We return to the hotel for an afternoon at leisure.
In the evening, guests are transported to the
marvellously evocative Pyramids Club Sphinx restaurant, for an opulent fine dining experience. Here the
'global village' concept comes alive through the cuisine, an exotic blend drawing on cultural influences and
flavours from around the world - a delicious and colourful gastronomic melange, enjoyed within the setting
of a luxurious Egyptian palace. After feasting like Pharaohs, guests return to their hotel for the night.
Day 2
A hearty buffet breakfast at the hotel starts the day off - we leave the choice of activity to you! For the
purposes of this sample itinerary, we include three suggestions; however, you may select from our diverse
range of activities, depending on your group's requirements.
Treasure Hunt
Imagine stumbling on some weather-beaten pages of a diary, uncovered
by the shifting sands. The owner's name is barely legible… one of the
wealthiest travellers in days gone by. His dairy describes his life as a
trader and declares that if he leaves no heirs then the finder of the diary
will be the sole inheritor of his fabulous wealth.
Treasure hunters have come from far and wide on this quest for the riches
of Arabia; many souls have been lost to the treacherous desert sands.
Over the years the legend has faded and the treasure forgotten, until now...
Deep into the desert your group travels on their quest, escorted by our experienced safari drivers who, while
not assisting them in their hunt, ensure they do not run into trouble. But the trip is not without surprises...
Shopping in Dubai
After breakfast, your guests depart for a shopping tour around the city and bargains galore! Come with us
through a maze of alleyways and modern malls that contain some of the most thrilling shopping in the
world.
The first stop is Karama - a haven for bargain hunters, then on to one of our many modern air-conditioned
shopping malls famous for designer goods. Another option is the Al Fahidi Street, where there is an
enormous choice of electronics, video tapes and watches. A short stroll
from Al Fahidi Street brings us to the textile souk. Next we visit Dubai's
famous gold souk where you can buy some of the finest and purest gold on
earth - at some of the best prices in the world.
This tour can also be extended and incorporated with a visit to the famous
Sharjah Blue Souk, known for its Persian, Kashmiri and Turkish carpets,
antiques, handicrafts and souvenirs. Here bargaining is a must and you can
get as much as 30 to 40 percent off your purchases.
Depending on your clients' chosen activity, lunch and afternoon are at your leisure.
In the evening, your group is transferred to the Creek where they are welcomed for an enchanting evening
aboard an old 'dhow', the traditional wooden sailing vessel of Arabia. Your guests can enjoy a view of
traditional Arabian architecture contrasting with modern day structures - a perfect blend of old and new. As
the dhow glides smoothly through the water, its surface alive with the reflected lights of the city, your
guests are treated to cocktails and canapés.
The cruise ends when they disembark at the striking Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club for dinner at the
Aquarium, a restaurant featuring an enormous circular aquarium stocked with exotic fish and coral from the
region. As they enjoy their dinner, the group also has a chance to sense the more tranquil aspect of the city
prior to the return to the hotel.
Day 3
A day in the mountains and desert starts with a wonderful buffet
breakfast at the hotel, after which your guests board their
powerful Arabian Adventures four-wheel drive vehicles for an
adventure not to be missed.
This is the Wadi Hatta safari, featuring thrilling off-road driving
by our expert guides. Our route takes us through the Hajar
Mountains and wadis - dried up river beds - and natural ravines carved through millennia by the action of
wind and water. Along the way, guests may even stop and take a cool, refreshing dip in a wadi pool.
Toward noon we arrive at the Hatta Fort hotel, an oasis of luxury nestled at the foothills of the Hajar
Mountains. Here guests enjoy a sumptuous buffet lunch and a few hours of leisure by the hotel's
temperature-controlled swimming pool, or test their marksmanship on the shooting and archery ranges.
Later in the afternoon, the group departs for a dune safari and an exhilarating ride from the mountains into
the desert. When the drivers stop to deflate the tyres of the four-wheel drive vehicles for sand driving, it
provides an ideal opportunity to photograph camel camps and enjoy the scenery. The journey continues into
the heart of the desert as the vehicles thread their way carefully through the dunes.
There is a surprise stop atop the high dunes, where a table is set up and waiters dressed in traditional attire,
await with refreshing glasses of champagne. While sipping the 'bubbly', your guests can enjoy an
unforgettable desert sunset. As the setting sun casts its orange and red hues from the horizon, over the vast
expanses of dunes - a magical moment.
After dusk, the group continues into the desert where a short distance away they arrive at our camp amid the
dunes. Here your guests settle down on cushions and carpets under the shelter of a goat-hair Bedouin tent.
The aromatic smoke of the shisha - hubbly-bubbly water pipes - wafts in from one corner while in another,
the henna lady offers her skills in drawing intricate traditional patterns on guests' palms. Camels are tethered
nearby for those who want to take a romantic ride in the twilight and experience the tranquillity and serenity
of the desert. An enticing buffet of Arabic delicacies is laid out for your guests.
Under the desert night sky, studded by a million stars, appears a flamboyantly dressed belly dancer, veiled
in chiffon - to perform the exotic movements of the dance to the beat of the enthralling music. Captivated,
your guests applaud - and before this true Arabian experience comes to an end, it has ensured that your
guests have plenty to talk about on their way back to the hotel for the night.
Day 4
After a buffet breakfast at the hotel, the rest of the day will be at leisure perhaps a round of golf, watersports, or just relaxing poolside or at the beach
or those last purchases.
In the evening, guests meet to indulge in one of the worlds most famous
landmarks the ‘Burj Al Arab’ for a gala dinner.
Day 5
After a buffet breakfast at the hotel, guests transfer to the airport. Our local representatives have already
transferred luggage and undertaken initial check in formalities Once inside the airport concourse, guests
will have plenty of time to indulge themselves in some last-minute buying at the world-renowned Dubai
Duty Free - fully renovated and housing all the local artefacts and international brands - an award-winner in
its own right. Heading for home, the memories of you Arabian adventure will continue to linger in the
minds of all.
Day 6 – Arrive New Zealand
This itinerary is a ‘snapshot’ of a suggested 6 day program to Dubai - we are happy
to send a comprehensive itinerary, with costings, hotel recommendations, extended
range of activities and dining options.
Dining
Few places in the world offer such an enormous choice of excellent food. With a discerning multinational
population, the region is a diner's delight. Whether your group chooses a quality restaurant or a special
theme evening, we'll be happy to accommodate your group's specific requirements.
You'll find a whole range of cuisines, including Polynesian, Tex-Mex, Japanese and French as well as
traditional Middle Eastern dishes, such as the shawarma, the kibbe, hommous, kofta, warak enab, umm ali,
ouzi and mezze - some of the recipes are included at the end of this section. Apart from the wide range of
styles of cooking, there is an equally large choice of types of restaurants - from the extremely sophisticated
to the street-corner stalls. Some of the World’s Best Shopping
Dubai is one of the best value places to shop in the world. Find anything from electronic products to the
latest haute couture and jewellery trends from Europe and America. For ease of reference, we have divided
the Shopping experience between the traditional souks and the malls, along with a brief description of the
internationally renowned Shopping festivals here. The Gold Souk
Deservedly famous for the range of styles and the quality of
workmanship on offer. You can bargain for intricately worked
pieces, but the price between shops will remain much the same
as the basic cost of the gold itself is set by weight daily.
The other Souks
You can bargain for just about anything, from exotic perfumes
to domestic appliances, exquisitely worked dresses and
materials to children's toys. We can arrange special visits to
Karama, where you can find a wide range of goods at amazingly
low prices.
A must-see includes the spice souk in Deira, the textile and electronics market in Bur Dubai, the Karama
Shopping centre where you will find "designer" at bargain prices - all located in close proximity to one
another. Sharjah, a mere 20 minutes away, also offers traditional Shopping areas including the Al Arsah
Souk and Al Majarrah - where you can bargain for just about anything, from ethnic artefacts and
handicrafts, exotic perfumes to domestic appliances, exquisitely worked dresses and materials to children's
toys.
In the Malls you'll find everything from top quality designer names to High Street labels in the large, airconditioned Shopping malls, which also house restaurants, coffee shops, food courts and child-play areas. Deira City Centre
Deira City Centre is the largest mall in Dubai. Here you'll find the Magic Planet activity area for children,
alongside the French hypermarket chain Carrefour, IKEA and Woolworth's. Bur Juman Centre
This four-floor mall features top designer shops and the intriguing fountains at the base level which amuse
onlookers. Wafi City
The distinctive pyramid-roofed Wafi Shopping mall is part of a complex that includes restaurants, a spa, and
a family entertainment centre called the Encounter Zone - a real test of physical and mental skills, and
available for private corporate hire. Lamcy Plaza
The nearby Lamcy Plaza, set in open plan concession-style, draws shoppers with its wide range of
competitively priced goods. For further entertainment, the Lamcy Cinema is attached to the Plaza. Dubai's
reputation for exceptional Shopping has been enhanced by the annual Dubai Shopping Festival, a joint
initiative between the government and the private sector, and usually held in March/April.