|
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, is situated on a small peninsula surrounded by a cluster of islands. It was founded in 1761 and named after a breed of gazelle by a sheikh of the Bani Yas tribe. This tour offers an ideal introduction to the city. After leaving the pier, the first photo stop will be at Ittihad Square (Ittihad means Union). Next you will visit Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, a delightful modern building in Islamic style with arching white colonnades, cool courtyards and peaceful gardens. It is considered the cultural heart of the city, with a library, theatre and lecture halls, and hosts weekly art exhibitions. A drive around Al Bateen District where UAE Federal Bank located, district with official Palaces are located a side of the schools neighborhood. On the way to the Heritage Village you will pass the Presidential Palace after a photo stop of the impressive skyline from the Marina Café. The Heritage Village features houses and a small museum illustrating the daily activities of the Arab community prior to the discovery of oil. Next you will drive along the spectacular Corniche and through the city of Abu Dhabi - popularly referred to as the "Manhattan of Arabia" for its profusion of ultramodern glass skyscrapers, gleaming white mosques and elegant high-rise apartments - to the edge of the breakwater for a superb view of the city's magnificent skyline.
Dubai, UAE Dubai is the second largest of the seven Emirates and is considered the business capital of the UAE and the Middle East. The city is popularly known as the "City of Merchants" due to its long history of trade. Dubai is a unique blend of East and West: a fascinating pot-pourri of oriental charm and western modernity. Your tour will take you past the world-renowned 7-star Burj Al Arab hotel, offering excellent photo opportunities. Next you will drive to the Jumeirah Mosque(photo stop), a magnificent example of modern Islamic architecture, followed by the World Trade Centre, the city's leading landmark and one of the tallest buildings in the region. Then, in complete contrast, you will drive to the old Al-Bastakia area of Dubai, where you will be able to admire the old houses with their characteristic wind towers. These structures were designed to cool the buildings in the days before air conditioning. Your journey through the city will allow you to visit popular landmarks, such as the eighteenth-century Al Fahidi Fort, which now houses a museum. It will follow a creek crossing with a typical boat Abra and a visit at the spice market. Finally you will visit the huge gold souk, which offers exquisite gold jewellery at prices lower than anywhere else in the world.
Fujairah, UAE
Admire the landscape along the east coast of Fujairah and Khor Fakkan, situated on the shores of the Gulf of Oman, with beautiful unspoilt beaches and rugged mountains. The tour will start with a visit of Fujairah Museum to see the local archaeological artefacts. The museum has a unique collection of Fujairah's coins used before the UAE was formed in 1971. There will then be a photo stop at the 300-year-old Fujairah fort, which is currently preparing to become the Fujairah National Musuem. We will continue on to Heritage Village, where we will take a dive into the past, discovering the lifestyles of the ancient residents including characteristics such as work tools, typical irrigation systems and the work characteristics of many years ago. Following this we will arrive at the Fujairah fish, fruit and vegetable market for a brief visit with a short section of free time. The market is interesting to see and compare the typical local products.The coastal road will lead you to Al Badiya, the oldest mosque in the UAE. Two Portuguese watch towers overlook both the mosque and the oasis of Al Badiya Village dating back to 1498. En route to the port of Fujairah you will pass Khor Fakkan, the port town of Sharjah Emirate, with its impressive Container Terminal.
Bahrain, Bahrain
A mixture of ancient and modern, our tours enable you to acquaint yourself with the historical development of Bahrain, from ancient times to the present day. Visit the National Museum, the Portuguese Fort, the Al-Jazra craft center, the A'Ali cemeteries and the King Fahad Causeway, a masterpiece of engineering which since 1986 has linked Bahrain with Saudi Arabia, 25 kilometers across the water.
Muscat, Oman
Muscat is the capital of Oman and one of the oldest cities in the Middle East, dating back to the 2nd century. In antiquity it was the hub of the frankincense trade between southern Arabia and Greece, Rome and the whole of the Mediterranean. The centre of this trade was a place called Khour Rouri, which the Greeks called Muscat. The first foreigner of the modern age to reach it was the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, who landed in Oman on his way to India.
The capital has a special charm, for it does not have the somewhat artificial atmosphere that characterises some of the region's other cities. Muscat, Mutrah and Ruwi are the central districts. Muscat is the old port area where the Sultan's main palace is situated, along with the luxurious Al-Alam Palace surrounded by amazing gardens, and the Grand Mosque, the symbol of the country's rebirth, with its refined marble architecture.
Mutrah, 3 kilometres northwest of Muscat, is the largest commercial and residential district of the port area and home to the multicoloured souk, one of the oldest in the country, a labyrinth of ancient narrow streets covered with palm roofs and lit with lanterns, where tourists can enjoy hunting for silverware, fabrics and all kinds of souvenirs.
There are also the famous fish, spice and fruit markets. A few kilometres inland lies Ruwi, the modern commercial area. To retrace the whole history of the Sultanate, you can visit the collections in the Oman Museum, which also contains an interesting collection of Islamic art and displays various documents on shipyards, Islam and the architecture of the city's forts.
Muscat also boasts the finest aquarium in the Gulf. In Ruwi the National Museum offers a look at local Omani arts and crafts, while the Sultan's Armed Forces Museum illustrates the main events in the country's history. The Omani Traditional Music Centre is also worth a visit.
|
