Duration
6 days / 5 nights
Price Per Person
Interests
Destinations

Known for its riches, the skyline of Dubai shines like the wealth contained within. Sky-scraping unfathomable buildings, man-made beaches and a city that lives to excess in all that it does. Shop, dine and discover the history that makes up Emirati culture and the juxtaposition between the old and new. Travel Dubai to Sharjah and watch the Arabic world unfold with traditional markets, over 600 dome-topped mosques and 20 or more museums, learning the ways of the old and discovering how the Emirati world came to be. From the flash and expense of Dubai to the traditional and authenticity of Al Maha, it is hard to believe they are but half an hour from each other. Sand dunes as far as the eye can see, lush flora, endless fauna and a peek into what Emirati life was like back in the day. 

This itinerary is an example. It’s designed to inspire you and provide you with thoughtfully curated ideas. You can choose to do this exact itinerary or completely personalize it. All trips are 100% bespoke.

Highlights

  • Shopping: Dubai is as known for its gargantuan shopping malls, flashing all manner of designer labels and luxuries, but also for its traditional souks, where locals bargain and travelers can pick up authentic souvenirs.
  • Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve: The UAE's first national park, this protected area conserves 50 plant species, 120 birds, plus 43 mammals and reptiles.
  • Sharjah: The third-largest Emirate, Sharjah is home to 600 mosques, 20 museums, and intricate Arabian carpets found in the Blue Souq.

Day-by-Day

Day 1

Dubai

Arriving in Dubai and greeted by a skyline of epic proportions, there are modern luxuries at every turn and palm-frond beaches on which to relax. Once you’re chauffeured to your hotel and with so many fabulous accommodation options to choose, the options are endless. 

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: Only a 15-minute drive from the airport, yet strategically situated in the pulsing heart of downtown Dubai, proximity to the city’s main attractions as well as the property’s breathtaking views make the Address Downtown the ultimate address for a Dubai stay.

Accolades: The Address Downtown took home the award for the World’s Best Hotel Spa Suites at the World Spa Awards. A stay in the hotel’s Spa Suites or Signature Spa Suites includes a private terrace with an outdoor jacuzzi – the perfect place to enjoy the view.

Service: The Address family is known for contemporary design, excellent locations, elegant details and impeccable service. Address Downtown, being the brand’s flagship property, sets the bar high for exceptional hospitality and service standards.

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Address Downtown Dubai Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: One couldn’t possibly ask for a more superlative and exciting location for a hotel, with the Armani Hotel nestled into the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, overlooking downtown Dubai.

History: One of the world’s most fascinating construction projects, the Burj Khalifa was inaugurated in 2010, and is today known as a vertical city that rises into the sky.

Service: Everything in the hotel bears Armani’s signature touch, including the warm Italian-style hospitality and fine service shown to its guests.

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Armani Hotel Dubai Preferred Hotel

Day 2

Dubai

Wake up to this bustling city and discover museums, forts, Emirati life and of course shopping! Stopping first at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding offering insight into the local culture before heading to explore the 19th Century Bastakiya area. Abuzz with museums, galleries and restaurants, take a tour of the Dubai Museum giving a glimpse into life many centuries ago. Shopping is on the agenda next with a stop at the Meena Bazar, Spice Souk and Gold Souk, where local produce and products are on display then visit the Mall of the Emirates, one of the largest malls in the world with over 560 outlets! Head back the hotel for a night of relaxation before the next days’ adventure.

Dubai
Dubai

Day 3

Dubai

Day three sees a journey to Sharjah, the third-largest Emirate in the UAE rich with culture and tradition. A number of well-known museums and over 600 mosques can be found within the Heritage Area including the incredible Turkish inspired Al Noor Mosque, the most famous of its mosques. With over 20 museums to explore, stop by the Museum of Islamic Civilization; an impressive collection of Islamic artifacts stretching back 1,400 years. To end the day, a spot of shopping at the Blue Souk is in order, boasting traditional goods such as gold and intricate Arabian carpets.

Day 4

Al Maha

Traveling to Al Maha only 25 miles from Dubai and taking only a mere 35 minutes, the city disappears and the sand dunes become the landscape as far as the eye can see. Located within the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, Al Maha is brimming with flora and fauna - a true desert oasis. With endless activities available, choose to trek through the desert with an experienced guide or perhaps discover the magical world of Falconry, learning about these majestic creatures steeped in Emirati culture and watch them soar through the skies. For the more adventurous, a 4x4 desert ride through the dunes observing indigenous wildlife whilst experiencing the thrill of the ride. A night’s rest is well-deserved with a stay overnight in this beautiful city.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: Set on a sandy canopy amongst a shady palm oasis in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, the Al Maha resort is the epitome of Bedouin luxury.

Service: Guests will be welcomed with warm Arabian hospitality upon arrival to Al Maha and will receive a personalized and attentive service throughout their stay, right up until the moment they leave.

History: According to legend, Al Maha was a wondrous oasis lost in the desert. A curious wanderer stumbled upon a protruding twig after following his falcon and returned the next day to unearth the spring hidden here and brought life back to the barren desert.

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Al Maha Preferred Hotel
Al Maha
Al Maha

Day 5

Al Maha

The day is open to any chosen activities of which there are plenty. Perhaps relax and be pampered in one of the many luxurious spas on offer, peruse the streets to observe local life and discover Emirati cuisine with a long leisurely lunch at many authentic restaurants or fine-dining establishments. For a romantic and thrilling activity, go horseback riding through the picturesque sand dunes on beautiful Arabian horses and watch the sunset in the distance before heading back to the hotel for an evening of relaxation.

Day 6

Departure

Awaken to leave the magical city of Al Maha and be taken to Dubai airport ready to head home or perhaps another adventure.

Suggested Hotels For Days 1–3

Address Downtown Dubai
Preferred Hotel

Address Downtown Dubai

The award-winning and flagship Address Downtown hotel in Dubai is the epitome of ultra-luxe. Perfectly located to offer views of the Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Fountain, the Souk Al Bahar and the wider skyline, this refined and superlative property offers a wide range of accommodation styles, dining options and luxury facilities. Rooms and suites are generous with space (the Signature Royal Suite extends over an incredible 5,059 square feet), with options of views depending on your mood, as well as choices for Club Lounge access and terrace areas, some of which feature a jacuzzi. Dining ranges from Mediterranean to a New-York-style steakhouse, drinking ranges from chic rooftop cocktails to sophisticated afternoon tea, while facilities range from a five-tiered outdoor swimming pool to a state-of-the-art fitness center.
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Armani Hotel Dubai
Preferred Hotel

Armani Hotel Dubai

Designed with typical Armani flair and set in the heart of downtown Dubai, The Armani Hotel Dubai is one of the city’s most chic addresses and a must for fashion-conscious travelers. The hotel has 160 beautifully designed rooms and suites, some designed by Giorgio Armani himself and many offering incredible views of the city, with personal Lifestyle Managers on hand to make sure your stay goes smoothly. The hotel also has as many as seven restaurants and lounges offering Asian, Indian, Mediterranean and Italian cuisine and lavish cocktails, the opulent Armani Spa & Fitness Centre, and an ultra-luxe retail area.

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Suggested Hotel For Days 4–5

Al Maha
Preferred Hotel

Al Maha

With a fiery-red backdrop of rippled sand dunes that clash against the opal-blue sky, Al Maha resort is an exotic oasis set within the 16-square-mile Conservation Wildlife Reserve of Dubai. Named after the majestic horned Arabian Oryx, the destination rids itself of usual desolate-and-stark desert connotations and is inhabited by unique ecosystems, where both endangered and indigenous animals roam freely and undisturbed. A rich diversity of elusive animal species can be spotted from the resort, giving the feeling of living on safari and escaping to the animal kingdom. Guests can watch the living desert from their magnificent Bedouin suites, where luxury comfort and spectacular Arabian decor provide an indulgent atmosphere. They are a combination of two worlds - one of transcendent, elegant living, reflecting the cosmopolitan vibe of Dubai and one of simpler, Bedouin values from which Arabian traditions stem from. An airy and polished theme runs throughout the resort and to a host of exceptional restaurants. Organic dishes are meticulously prepared by culinary masters and served on outdoor terraces or on top of a pristine sand dune. Balmy days can be enjoyed poolside while drinking in the mesmerising scenery or exploring the mysterious desert where lost tales and secrets remain buried within the layers of time . 

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Why Remote Lands?

Exclusively Asia

With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.

Travelogues

An Asia-focused magazine brought to you by Remote Lands - a platform for adventure, luxury, and authenticity from experts and explorers around the continent.

Sands of Time: In Search of the Old UAE

Author
Jay Tindall
After spending some time in the most infamous of UAE cities, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, I felt it time to take a better look at what lays outside these soaring modern landscapes and see if I could discover some worlds of old.
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The UAE: A Tale of Two Cities

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Jay Tindall
On my recent trip to UAE trip, I wanted to visit Dubai & Abu Dhabi, but I really wanted to reach far beyond them to discover the true essence of UAE and appreciate its rich history and cultural significance
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