Arabian Peninsula: United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Oman
October 15-November 1, 2008 (preceeds Ethiopia tour)and February 2-19, 2009 (folows Ethiopia tour)
The Arabian Peninsula is located south of Jordan, Iraq and Iran and northeast of East Africa; with coastlines on the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf. Huge expanses of desert cover much of the Arabian Peninula, limiting settlements to oases, mountains along the Red Sea and coastal belts. The most populous area is the fertile highlands of Yemen. Yemen and Oman are the least developed of the Arabian states, with large rural populations.
We will start with arrival in Dubai, United Arab Emirates UAE) where we will spend two days touring and enjoying the natural beauty of the coast and cultural highlights. We will visit three additional Emirates: Sharjah, Ajman and Al Fujayrah enroute to Sohar, Oman. After 7 days touring the cities as well as small villages of Oman from the wadis to the desert and mountains, we circle around overland back to Dubai via Al Ain. We then fly from Dubai to Sanaa, Yemen.
This tour allows a glimpse of the very authentic Arab culture few outside visitors have as of yet had the opportunity to observe.
You may join us for Oman or Yemen separately. If time and interest allow, continue on with us to Ethiopia.
United Arab Emirates
Day 1 Arrival in Dubai. Met at airport and transfer to Arabian Courtyard hotel, located in Bur Dubai, next to Dubai Museum and walking distance to the Dubai Creek, Bastakiya Heritage Area, Souk Al Kabeer (Meena Bazaar), Textile Market.
Day 2 Dubai
Morning Optional (extra cost) excursion to Abu Dhabi. Visit the Cultural Foundation, Qasr al-Husn, Women's Handicraft Center. Return to hotel for lunch on your own. The hotel has several restaurants including a fabulous rooftop Chinese/Thai fusion cuisine as well as many other traditional restaurants within walking distance.NOTE: This excursion is offered as optional for two reasons. First, frankly Abu Dhabi is not all that interesting. It is a recreated Òheritage villageÓ where the small unimpressive museum and handicraft center are side by side with tourist vendors. Granted it is nicely landscaped and pleasant surroundings on the Gulf. Second, we recognize most travelers like to have the first morning free to recover from the long flight. Having said that, we are aware some travelers like to add more countries to their Ôlist.Õ The cost of this extension will depend on how many people decide to go.
Afternoon, 2 pm start half day sightseeing tour (4 hrs): The route takes you to some of Dubai's beautiful landmarks. We start with visit to fascinating underground Dubai Museum near our hotel.
Next we walk through the old souk and cross the Dubai Creek by water taxi (abra), landing at the spice market.
The souks are the place to observe local people in daily life. We recognize that some people may find shopping to be a highlight while others are not interested, therefore these walk throughs will serve to orient those who wish to return later to shop at leisure. The souks are open in the evening and that is also when itÕs most lively with local character.
Afterwards we will visit modern Dubai, stopping for photo opps at the Jumeirah mosque and in front of Burj Al Arab, the 7 star hotel and tallest tower hotel in the world. Last leg of the tour is to drive by the camel race track located in Nad Al Shiba, on the way back to hotel we pass the Zabeel Palace, Shaikh Palace, ( not open to public).
In the evening, you may like to walk about Bastakiya Heritage Area to see the wind towered houses (just 10 meters from your hotel) or go back to the souks for some serious shopping.
Day 3 Sharjah - Ajman - Al Fujayrah
9 am start for a 30 minute drive to The Emirates of Sharjah. We pass by Sharjah Lagoon and start our journey at blue souq (central market) located in the Union Square, where more than 600 shops sell carpets, gold, silver, antiques, perfumes, clothes and many other goods. The traditional items are upstairs, so donÕt worry when you walk in and see contemporary western wear! Afterwards, a short walk to majestic King Faisal Mosque and the Pearl Monument, symbol of the UAE.Next stop is Old town of Sharjah, visiting the heritage museum and the souk al torath. Refreshments can be had in the local juice shop. Drive along side the Sharjah creek where the old dhows are busy loading and off-loading the goods like 100 years ago.
Continue to Ajman (20-30 min). Visit Ajman's enchanting museum - housed in an ancient fort and giving intriguing insights into lifestyles before changes brought by oil. Also see Majahrah souq with its intricate mosaics and golden dome; 150-year old of Al Naboodah House.
Lunch in Ajman and continue to Al Fujayrah ( 30 min) .
OMAN
Day 4 - Al Fujayra-Sohar
Morning visit Al Fujayrah: ?AL Bediya Mosque, the oldest mosque built in U.A.E. and the old forts surrounding the Mosque.Drive to the border post Khatmat Milahah where your Omani driver will meet you at the Oman side at 2 pm to continue to Sohar, The Sultant of Oman (1.5 hr). Overnight Sohar Beach Hotel.
Day 5 Sohar-Muscat
Morning enjoy relaxing time in Sohar. Then drive 2.5 hrs to Muscat. Rest of afternoon/evening independent. Overnight Crown Plaza or Muscat Inter-ContinentalDay 6 Muscat
Morning : Muscat City Tour: Our tour will take you through the seaside residential area of Qurum to the Bait Al Zubair and Bait Al Oud Museums.Next, a scenic drive along the Corniche water front to visit the Muttrah souq (market place) probably the oldest in Oman with charm & choice. Here you will be left on your own to wander around in the narrow lanes and admire the goods on sale & enjoy the thrill of discovery.
After visiting the souq, drive through the old city to the Al Alam Palace an architectural marvel for both the design & location between the twin forts of Jalali & Mirani. The Jalali fort was built in 1558 AD during the presence of the Portuguese in the Sultanate. This fort was Muscat's main prison for many years, a sinister & awesome building. The Mirani Fort located at the end of the Western wall of old Muscat, facing the sea was built on top of a mountain to be a governing center.
Drive back to the hotel. Afternoon independent.
Day 7 Quriyat/Tiwi/Fins Beach/Wadi Shaab/Sur
A full day excursion starting at 8 am. First we proceed to Grand Mosque ( ladies have to cover their head with scarf, long sleeve top covering shoulders and arms to the wrist; dark colorsÑno white ).Afterwards, we embark on our 4 wheel drive soft adventure program. This tour along the coast line to Sur offers glimpses of the blue waters of the Gulf of Oman offset by pristine beaches. The adventure starts from Quriyat, a very large fishing village between the lagoon and the sea. We will arrive by 9 am to watch the fisherman coming back with their morning catch to seel at the fish market. The port of Quiriyat is still guarded by a watch tower dating back to 1635. Continue on the sometimes bumpy track, touching the sea, following a creek or overlooking white beaches hundreds of metres long. Arrive at Fins beach (white beach) stop for a swim in the clear gentle waters or just laze under the sun. We will enjoy a picnic lunch here. Afterwards we continue to Sur. Check in at Sur Plaza Hotel.
Day 8 Sur/Wadi Bani Khalid/Wahiba Sands
After breakfast, a tour of Sur town visiting the dhow building yard before proceeding to Wadi Bani Khalid, which stands out like an oasis in the desert with clear green natural spring water pools, a stark contrast to Wahiba Sands. the great desert of Oman. Wear your swim suits under your clothes; you will regret it if you donÕt. This lovely wadi has clear, warm waters in an idyllic setting. You may just like to splash around in the large pool or the more active-minded can swim a bit down the narrow channel.After a relaxing time enjoying the wadi, continue to 'Wahiba Sands, often described as a perfect example of a sand sea. It consists of large ranges of dunes running from North to South, some attaining a height of about 100 mts and orange in colour. The Wahiba Sands is the home of the traditional bedouin tribe who are known for their hospitality and their knowledge of the sands. Our experienced driver will take you on a drive through the undulating sand dunes to experience the thrills of dune driving. There is a possibility of meeting one of the Bedouin families to enjoy a cup of coffee with them & know about their living style. Overnight at Desert Nights Deluxe Camp (tents with ac, western private attached bathrooms).
Sunset activities at Desert Nights Camp.
Day 9 Wahiba Sands Ð Sinaw- Tiwi-Nizwa
Sunrise desert activities. After early breakfast, drive to the quaint village of Sinaw in time for the camel market (ends at approx 9 am). Here weÕll see a true slice of traditional life. Walk around the market place and areas surrounding the town square Great people photo opps, just be aware that photographing women without permission is against the law.Pass thru Tiwi, a sleepy picturesque fishing village with pastel colored houses and brightly painted store fronts. Here is another opportunity to catch a glimpse of traditional lifestyle. We can have a brief walk about the village independently.
We will also pass by Qalhat, the ruins of the Bibi Miriam shrine
Continue drive to Nizwa (approx 1 hr).
On arrival check in at Falaj Daris hotel or Golden Tulip. Lunch on your own. Evening at leisure.Day 10 Nizwa/Bahla/Jabreen/Al Hamra/Nizwa
Morning tour of the Oasis city of Nizwa, which was once the capital of Julanda Dynasty in the 6th & 7th Century AD. Today it remains a popular attraction with its historical buildings & imposing fort.The first stop is the colorful souq which is renowned for its intricately hand-carved "Khanjar" and ornately designed silver jewelry. Also visit the other traditional shops before proceeding to the Nizwa fort with its enormous round tower, built in the 17th century by the great Imam Sultan Bin Seif to safeguard the route to the interiors. The fort dominates the entire area, with the town having grown around the edifice. Access to the top is only by means of a narrow, twisting staircase barred by heavy wooden doors, studded with metal. From the top of the tower one can get a bird's eye view of the Nizwa city.
Next, we visit the old walled town Al Hamara (30 min drive from Nizwa). The mornings are best time to catch local activity. All the villages and souqs go dead between 1-4 pm.
From here we drive just about 15 minutes north of Al Hamara to the mountain village of Masfah. We park our vehicle and walk into the village. We have time to wander about individually and observe daily life activities. The people here are called Shawny and are mainly animal caretakers. We can enjoy a picnic lunch here.
Afterwards, a quick stop at the Bahla Fort (photo stop) now on UNESCO list of heritage sites. Continue to Jabrin Fort to visit the castle, the finest of Oman's castle built in the late 17th century, which became a seat of Omani learning. This castle has extremely well planned layouts with room for the wali, the ladies room, the kitchen, the majlis etc. Most of the ceilings are decorated with beautiful paintings with Islamic motifs. The view from the top of the castle is really mesmerising.
Day 11 Al Ain-Dubai
Drive 3 hrs to Al Ain (on the UAE side of the border). We meet our UAE guide at the City Seasons hotel where we stop briefly for refreshments. A tour of Al Ain including: a visit to the national museum (impressive archaeological section), Al Ain Palce Museum which was the House of the late Sheikh Zayed the founder of United Arab Emirates, Souk Al Mawashi,( animal market) and the camel market.Continue to Dubai (1.5-2 hrs) for overnight Palm Beach Hotel, 15 minute drive from airport.
YEMEN
Day 12 Sana'a
Morning transfer to airport for flight to Sana'a EK 961, dep 710 am, arr 900 am.. Fly from Muscat to Saana. Met at airport and transfer to Hotel Taj Sheba.Sana'a was founded by Shem son of Noah's and is one of the first sites of human settlement. Legend says that Shem came to Yemen from the north seeking somewhere to settle and chose the place shown to him by a bird. The legend still flourishes in Sana'a and the town bears the nickname "Sam City."
Our representative will meet you on arrival and we will proceed to Wadi Dhahr for a sightseeing tour through the Green Valley, a fertile and very pleasant valley of small villages and clan- walled orchards, green all year round and growing all kinds of Mediterranean fruits. Visit Imam Palace Dar Al-Hajar (Rock Palace) former Imam Summer Residence.
Lunch at the tent restaurant andtransfer to the hotel for check in and some relaxation time.
Late afternoon walking tour in the old Sana'a city, 'Bab Al Yemen ' and the medieval “Souq” market, where you can soak up the atmosphere of the old Sana'a city by night. Dinner at Arabia Felix Funduk in old Sana'a , enjoying traditional ambiance and cuisine.
Day 11 Sana'a - Kawkaban - Shibam - Thula - Sana'a
Drive to Wadi Dhahr to visit the rock palace " Dar Al Hajjar" the Summer Palace of Imam Yahy. Continue to Kawkaban, a village built on the most inaccessible mountainside. After a walk about the village, a 10 min drive down to Shibam (or one can walk down 11/2 hr and see the old caves which were built into the mountain rocks).A typical Yemeni lunch will be provided in guest house in Shibam. Shibam was an inhabited area well before Islam came to Yemen. During the 1st century AD it served as a capital, not of Yemen but of a small and short-lived independent state; these states were common in the highlands when the kingdom of Sheba was weakening and the Himyarite state, with its capital, Dhafar, was rising. Both Sabaean and Himyarite inscriptions can be found on stones reused in the city gate of Shibam, in the mosque and in other older constructions; you may be able to spot a few. Some stone pillars in the old market area are of Sabaen origin. From 845 to 1004 AD Shibam was again the capital, this time of much of the highlands, when the Bani Ya'fur dynasty ruled here. Shibam is the name of one of the old Yemeni king's and this name was given to many villages , the famous one is Shibam Hadhramaut, also called the "Manhattan of the Desert." It would be 4 days round-trip to visit Shibam Hadhramaut.
Drive to Hababah, walking tour in the village and c ontinue drive to Thula. Thula is a rare example of an almost perfectly preserved highland town of stone tower houses, it has always been a free town. During the Turkish occupation in the 16th century, it remained unconquered, with Imam Muttahar Sharaf ad-Din leading the successful battle against aggressors equipped with firearms.
Day 12 Sana'a - Manakha - al Hajjrah - Hodeidah
After early breakfast drive to Manakha the urban capital of the reunion to al Hajjrah. Yemeni typical lunch will be provided at Al- Hajjrah Funduk with folkloric dances. After lunch drive on to Al-Hoteib the famous pilgrimage center for the Dawoudi Bohra (Ismaili Muslims of India). Continue to Hodeidah. Overnight at Ambassador Hotel, 3 star. (in Hodeidah there are only 3 star hotels. )Day 13 Hodeidah - Zabid - Taiz
Early morning visit fish market. Afterwards, visit to Bait Al Faqih, the 18th century coffee-trading center. Currently its one of the biggest weekly market(Souq/Fri ). We can also see can also see the handcraft shops where they make cloths,Drive on to Zabid UNESCO world heritage site. Lunch at local restaurant. Continue to Taiz. Overnight at Sofitel 5 StarDay 14 Taiz
Drive to Yafrus to visit the mosque and the tomb of Ahmed Bin Alwan, one of the most famous Sufis of the 16th century. Continue to Saber Mountain for a great view of Taiz City. In afternoon explore Taiz:. visit the Ashrafia mosque ( photo from outside ), and walk through the Sunday souq, one of the most interesting in Taiz. Overnight at Sofitel .Day 15 Taiz - Jiblah - Ibb - Sana'a
Depart via Jiblah to see the great mosque with its column prayer hall, and the finely decorated tomb of the Queen. Continue to Ibb. Visit of the old town of Ibb, lunch en route. Continue to Sana'a passing through Sumarah Mountain. Visit the old city of Sana'a and Bab Al-Yemen medieval souq-market. Overnight at Taj Sherba.Day 16 Transfer to airport for flight home on continue with us to Ethiopia.
PRICES based on min 6 people
$TBA per person based on min 6 people;, single room TBA
Plus airfares: Dubai-Sana'a (prices TBA)
UAE Includes: 3 nights Dubai,1 night in Al Fujayrah, breakfasts, lunch in Ajman, arrival/dep transfers, land transport, ?land transport, accompanying escort, all activities with entrance fees.
Oman Includes: 7 nights-Sohar, Muscat & Sur 5 star, Wahiba Sands Deluxe Camp Nizwa, 4 star (best avail); breakfasts, all meals at Desert Nights Camp/ Wahiba Sands, 1 picnic lunch in Masfah Village and 1 at Fins Beach, ?arrival and departure transfers by ac vehicle (Nissan), tours with private guide/driver, entrance fees, ac 4wd vehicle rest of tour after departing Muscat.
Yemen Includes: 6 nights- Sana & Taiz 4/5 star, Hodeidah 3 star (best avail), arrival and departure transfers, land transport- 4w drive/mini bus, private guide/driver, entrance fees, all meals.
Not Included: intl flight, flights between countries in Arabian Penninsula, visa fees, departure taxes, insurance, tips, meals not listed
*hotels are based on availability.
United Emirates no visa required for US citizens
Oman visa on arrival, approx $ 20.00 per person; though on my recent trip they gave free visa when coming from Dubai.
Yemen visa on arrival, approx $60 per person
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P.O. Box 446 Mill Valley, CA 94941all text & photos © 1997-08, Barbara Sansone
