Dubai — Five Nights: Souks, Skylines & Desert Sands

Arrival transfer, meet and greet

You are met on arrival at Dubai International Airport by our representative and accompanied to your hotel, where check-in is handled for you.

The remainder of the day is yours. Rest, or step out into the city as you please.

Overnight: Dubai

Full-day city tour

9:30 AM — Hotel pick-up. Your vehicle collects you for the drive into old Dubai.

Al Shindagha Heritage District — One of the city's oldest neighbourhoods, carefully restored. The Shindagha Museum traces Dubai's pearl-diving and trading history, and the Perfume House introduces the traditions of Emirati scent and Arabic perfumery.

Dubai Creek & abra crossing — Down to the creek, the trading artery around which the city grew. You cross to Deira aboard a traditional wooden abra, as merchants have for generations.

Gold Souk — Among the largest concentrations of gold anywhere in the world, including the Guinness World Record holder for the largest gold ring. Gold, diamonds and fine jewellery, displayed by the window-full.

Spice Souk — Narrow lanes of saffron, cardamom and cinnamon. Oud perfumes, dried fruits and traditional souvenirs. Pause for local dates and Arabic coffee. A note: bargaining is expected in the souks, and part of the pleasure.

Jumeirah Mosque — A photo stop at one of the city's most photographed buildings.

Burj Al Arab & Jumeirah Beach — Time on the white sand at Jumeirah Beach, with the sail of the Burj Al Arab across the water.

Palm Jumeirah & Atlantis — A drive along the world's largest man-made island, with a stop at The Pointe for waterfront views of Atlantis, The Palm.

Dubai Marina & Bluewaters Island — A walk along the marina beneath the towers and yachts, and on to Bluewaters Island, home to Ain Dubai.

Evening — Return transfer to your hotel.

Overnight: Dubai

Dubai Mall — Transfer to one of the largest retail destinations in the world. Two to three hours to explore — international fashion houses, and The Souk section for Arabian jewellery and perfumes.

Burj Khalifa — At the Top, Level 124 — One of the fastest elevators in the world carries you to the 124th floor. Panoramic views across the city, the coast and the desert beyond, with telescopes for closer detail. Timed where possible for the late-afternoon light.

Dubai Fountain — From the Burj Lake boardwalk, the world's largest choreographed fountain — water, light and music, performed every half hour through the evening. Optional, at additional cost: view the fountain from an abra on the lake.

Return transfer to your hotel.

Overnight: Dubai

Morning at leisure.

Afternoon — Departure for the desert. Collected mid-afternoon and driven roughly forty-five minutes to the red dunes of Lahbab, with a stop en route for refreshments. Quad biking available at additional cost.

Dune bashing — Tyres deflated, your driver takes the 4x4 across the dunes — twenty to thirty minutes of climbing and descending the ridges, with photo stops at the high points.

Camel ride & sandboarding — A short trek by camel in the Bedouin manner, and the option to sandboard down the slopes. The light at this hour is the reason people come.

The camp — Arrival to Arabic coffee, dates and soft drinks. A Bedouin-style camp of low seating, carpets and lanterns. Henna, shisha and traditional Emirati dress available for photographs.

Dinner & performances — A BBQ buffet with vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, served alongside live performance — Tanoura whirling, a fire show, belly dance, and Arabic drumming. Soft drinks, water, tea and coffee included. Alcohol at own expense.

Return to Dubai — Time beneath the stars before the drive back, arriving at your hotel around 9:30–10:00 PM.

What to bring: comfortable, breathable clothing and a light jacket in winter; sunglasses, hat and sunscreen; closed shoes or sandals for the dunes.

Overnight: Dubai

12:00 PM — Hotel pick-up.

Dubai Frame — At Zabeel Park, a 150-metre structure that literally frames old Dubai on one side and new on the other. The ground-floor museum traces the city's transformation from fishing village to metropolis through multimedia exhibits and immersive projection. A glass-panelled elevator rises to the Sky Deck in 75 seconds — 360-degree views north to Deira, the creek and the old souks, south to the Burj Khalifa and Sheikh Zayed Road. A section of the floor turns transparent as you step onto it. Descending, the Future Dubai Gallery presents the city's vision for the next fifty years through holograms and digital projection.

Dubai Miracle Garden — Transfer to the largest natural flower garden in the world. Two to three hours among the floral castle, the heart tunnel, the Emirates A380 in bloom, the umbrella tunnel and the sunflower field. Shaded seating and garden cafés throughout. Dubai Butterfly Garden adjoins the site and may be visited at additional cost.

Evening — Global Village — Pavilions representing more than ninety countries, arranged as a single walkable world. Handicrafts, textiles, perfumes and spices from India, Turkey, Egypt, Iran and Morocco. Street food at the Floating Market — Turkish kebabs, Japanese takoyaki, Emirati luqaimat, Syrian kunafa. Live performance, stunt shows and cultural dance through the evening, with fireworks on selected dates. Carnival rides, games and Ripley's Believe It or Not! at additional cost. Food and beverage at own expense.

Private transfer returns you to your hotel.

Overnight: Dubai

Check out at your leisure. Your transfer will be waiting to take you to Dubai International Airport for your onward flight.