City tours
Boat tours
Coastline Leisure offers a one-hour dhow tour of Dubai Creek three times a day at 11.30am, 3.30pm and 5.30pm, dinner tours (Tue and Sun) and the option of chartering larger boats. All boats leave from Deira.
Arabian Adventures organizes a variety of tours on Dubai Creek. An alternative option is to rent an abra from Dubai Creek and take a 60-90 minute tour. The length and price of the tour should be agreed in advance, otherwise visitors can simply cross over to the other side of the creek (travel time: 5 minutes).
Phone: (04) 398 48 67 (Coastline Leisure); (04) 303 48 88 (Arabian Adventures)
website: http://www.arabian-adventures.com
Bus tours
Half-day city tours are offered by several companies, including Arabian Adventures and Columbus Tours. The tours differ slightly depending on the provider, but most lead to the old and new souks in Dubai, the Jumeirah Mosque, the thriving business area and include a crossing over Dubai Creek with a traditional Abra (water taxi). Nightly tours of the mosques, palaces and souks are also offered and often end with a dinner in one of Dubai’s many restaurants.
Phone: (04) 303 48 88 (Arabian Adventures); (04) 224 25 55 (Columbus Tours)
website: http://www.arabian-adventures.com
Tours
Dubai is an extensive city and is not suitable for exploration on foot; there are also no official tours or signposted tours. However, the highlights of the city can be discovered on a walk through the old town of Deira and Bur Dubai, where you can explore the traditional souks and accidentally come across hidden mosques and wind towers.
Trips
Camel rides
Arabian Adventures organizes half-day camel trips. When you ride on one of the original ‘desert ships’ you get a completely different perspective on the desert landscapes of Dubai. As a stopover is made on every excursion in a simulated Bedouin village, this experience also gives insights into the traditional way of life. You can also book a ‘ride and slide’ tour that combines a camel ride with sand skiing. This half-day tour is held on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays.
Telephone: (04) 303 48 88
Website: http://www.arabian-adventures.com
Hajar mountains
The Hajar Mountains are 100 km from Dubai City and run along the border with Oman. Four-wheel drive vehicles are best suited to explore the rugged, mountainous terrain. The highlights include the wadis (pools of water that form at low tide), which offer an opportunity to cool off, and the village of Hatta, built in the traditional style in a mountain oasis .
Telephone: (04) 303 48 88 (Arabian Adventures) and (04) 294 98 88 (Alpha Tours)
Website: http://www.arabian-adventures.com
Dune bashing
The so-called ‘dune bashing’ is an increasing activity, in which you drive in an all-terrain jeep into the desert and roam up and down the sand dunes. However, visitors should not rent a vehicle themselves, as driving in the desert can be dangerous for inexperienced users. Arabian Adventures and Alpha Tours regularly offer tours that combine dune bashing with dinner in the desert in a replica Bedouin village.
Phone: (04) 303 48 88 (Arabian Adventures) and (04) 294 98 88 (Alpha Tours) and (04) 268 68 26 (Oasis Palm Dubai)
Website: http://www.alphatoursdubai.com