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Tours - Excursions |
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Walking
Tours
This sprawling city along with the desert heat can make it difficult
to walk around. Even though there are no official guided or signposted
tours, a self-guided stroll around the older central parts of Deira
and Bur Dubai is a good way to discover Dubai.
Bus tours
Many companies offer half-day city tours. Contact Arabian
Adventures (telephone: (04) 303 4888) or Columbus Tours (tel:
(04) 224 2555). Tours depend on the operator but most go to the
old and new Dubai Souks, Jumeirah Mosque, the commercial
areas and a creek crossing by abra or local water taxi. Prices
begin at Dh100.
Dubai by night is another option. These tours usually cover the
mosques, palaces and Souks and end for dinner at one
of the more popular restaurants. The tours are well organised and
provide pick up service from all main hotels.
Other
tours
Coastline Leisure (telephone: (04)
398 4867) offers one-hour guided tours of Dubai Creek by dhow. The
tours operate 3 times a day, at 11:30 am, 3:30 pm and 5:30 pm, costing
Dh35. The company also has a dinner cruise on Sundays and Tuesdays,
costing Dh240. Large boat charters are available. Boats leave from
Deira.
Arabian
Adventures (telephone: (04) 303 4888), offer a choice of cruises
on Dubai Creek with prices starting at around Dh150.
Other options include a visit to Dubai Creek and charter a traditional
abra (water taxi), which costs Dh40-60 for a short river tour lasting
60-90 minutes. The length of the tour and price should be agreed
in advance. Otherwise, you can just ride across the creek to the
other side in about5 minutes for Dh0.50.
Excursions
for half day
Dune bashing
A popular activity is dune bashing. This involves driving
out into the surrounding desert sand dunes in a 4X4 and thrashing
up and down the dunes. Visitors should not hire their own vehicles.
Desert driving can be dangerous for the uninitiated. Arabian
Adventures (telephone: (04) 303 4888) and Alpha
Tours (telephone: (04) 294 9888. Both run scheduled tours and
combine dune bashing with desert dinners in recreated Bedouin camps.
Prices start at Dh245, including dinner.
Camel rides
Arabian
Adventures (telephone: (04) 303 4888) offers their ‘Rides
and Slides’ tour combining camel rides with sand
skiing. Travel on the original ‘ships of the desert’
provide a totally different perspective on Dubai’s desert
landscapes. A half-hour journey in a traditional camel caravan offers
tourists the Dubai’s traditional way of life before throwing
them back into the 21st century with the exciting new sport of sand
skiing.
Whole Day Excursions
Hajar Mountains
The Hajar Mountains are located about 100km (62 miles) from Dubai
and run along the border with Oman. The best way for visitors to
explore the rugged mountainous terrain is by four wheel drive vehicles.
Highlights are the wadis or rock pools that provide a chance to
cool off, and the hill town of Hatta that has been recreated into
a mountain oasis. Arabian
Adventures (telephone: (04) 303 4888) and Alpha
Tours (telephone: (04) 294 9888) both schedule tours to this
region. Cost about Dh320 and Dh285 respectively. |
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