Dubai Grand Tour

With its heady mix of the traditional and the ultra modern, Dubai offers a seemingly endless list of things to see and do. But we aim to fit a lot of them into this two-day tour of this most populous city of the seven emirates.
 
Day one will see you exploring the modern part of Dubai, where everything has been built this millennium. First stop will be the Souk Madinat Jumeirah where you can enjoy the traditional Arabian bazaar feel as you wander along the interconnected waterways and lose yourself in the stalls selling perfumes, jewellery, spices and pottery. It also offers the perfect vantage point to see the iconic luxury Burj Al Arab hotel in its full splendour, so cameras at the ready! 
 
Next up is the distinctive Palm Jumeirah – a striking archipelago of man made islands reclaimed from the Arabian Gulf. There’ll be time to take photos of the island’s breathtaking hotels, including Atlantis The Palm and its new sister hotel, Atlantis The Royal. Then we’ll finish the day at the Bluewaters Island, where you can see the Ain Dubai, the world’s biggest ferris wheel.
 
Day two of the tour starts with a trip to the Jumeirah Mosque, said to be the most photographed mosque in Dubai. Take your own pictures of this architectural treasure as your guide gives you a glimpse into the daily life of practising Muslims, before we move on to the nearby Etihad Museum.
 
Built on the site where the UAE was founded in 1971, the museum’s iconic architecture pays homage to that auspicious day. The rise and fall of the pavilion roof call to mind the curves of the unification manuscript, while its seven columns represent the pens used by the nation’s founding fathers to sign the agreement. Take some time looking around the museum’s exhibits and experiences to learn more about the history of the nation.
 
Our tour will then move on to Zabeel Palace, the official residence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai. Make sure you get a shot of the palace’s unique architecture, including the gate topped with Arabian stallions.
 
From the palace, a water taxi will take you across the Dubai Creek to the souks in the business district of Deira. Let the aromas of the Spice Souk draw you in as you haggle for spices to recreate the authentic taste of Arabic cuisine at home. Then move on to the Gold Souk next door where you can browse jewellery stores old and new, dealing in gold, platinum, diamonds and sometimes silver.
 
No visit to Dubai is complete without a visit to the top of Burj Khalifa and the breathtaking view from the 124th floor, so this is where we’ll head for the final part of your two days in Dubai – with free time to wander round the nearby Dubai Mall and Dubai Fountain before we head back to Dubai Harbour and the ship. ne.