Dubai
September 19-27, 2008

Overview
Features
Itinerary

Overview (Return to top)

Nestled between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean, The United Arab Emirates has a history that spans 5,000 years and a future that seems already here. The country offers an alluring mix of Bedouin and Western cultures, and with its warm climates, beaches, coral reefs and stunning man-made islands it has become one of the world’s top tourist destinations.

Once a sleepy desert town home to pearl fishermen and Persian traders, Dubai is now a modern wonderland of fantasy architecture, glamorous shopping malls and first-class golf courses. Yet much of its old charm remains. Follow the Dubai Creek and find a whirlwind of colors, sounds, flavors and aromas amid ancient souks and covered markets.  Immerse yourself in textiles, crafts, spices, gold, and pearls, Dubai is a shopper’s paradise. Follow narrow winding alleys to vibrant art galleries, impressive mosques, and scenic parks. Dubai is truly a sparkling oasis on the sands.

Priced from $2,174
Go Next

For reservations or additional information, contact:
Jan Breitman [jbreitman@alumni.iastate.edu]
Iowa State University Alumni Association
Fisher-Nickell Hall
Ames, Iowa 50011-1370

• Six nights' first-class accommodations at the Kempinksi Hotel at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai
• Continental buffet breakfast daily
• Tour of Dubai with lunch
• Welcome gathering
• Local Taxes
• Attentive service from an experienced Go Next program manager and professional tour guides throughout
• Comprehensive pre-departure information

Airfare Program Available
$1,499  Chicago Departure. Airfare program prices are available from other cities. Airfare is per person and includes ALL airline fuel surcharges, domestic and foreign government airport/departure taxes and security fees in effect as of Dec. 1, 2007. 

Airfare Program Includes:

Itinerary (Return to top)

Day 1: Depart the U.S.A.

Day 2: Arrive and transfer to your hotel in Dubai

Day 3: Dubai – Included tour of Dubai
Travel past the magnificent Jumeirah Mosque and the modern palaces of the current ruler sprawled along the coast to arrive at the Bastakia, where you’ll be intrigued by the old wind-towered housed built by wealthy merchants years ago.  Next take an Abra-ride (water taxi) across the Dubai Creek and enjoy spectacular views of Dubai’s splendid architecture.  Then it’s on to a tour through the souks.  Breathe in the aroma of old Dubai as you walk alleys laden with spice souks and end up at the modern gold souk.  Here you’ll see some of the finest and purest gold on earth.  Continue to the unique Al Dawaar revolving restaurant, where you will enjoy lunch accompanied by stunning views of Dubai and the Arabian Gulf from 25 floors above the city.

Day 4: Dubai – Optional excursion to Abu Dhabi – A Capital Adventure
Full-Day (approximate price $135.00 per person).  En route to Abu Dhabi you’ll drive past the largest man-made port a Jebel Ali and then on past stunning coastal desert scenery.  When you arrive at the capital city of the United Arab Emirates you’ll be taken with the way the modern architecture interprets Islamic themes in today’s materials.  Shimmering skyscrapers, villas and palaces line your rout along the Riviera-styled cornice overlooking the waters of the Gulf and enticing offshore island.  Visit the Heritage Village and the ancient Al Husn Fort before moving on to the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation.  After a buffet lunch (included), see an old dhow(boat) yard and the charming Batinah harbor.  On your return journey you’ll drive past Sports City, the biggest stadium in the Middle East.  Today is an engrossing view of an Emirates that is so like Dubai and yet so different.

Day 5: Dubai – Optional Oasis Adventure – Al Ain
Full-Day (approximate price $130.00 per person). A stop on the caravan trail since time immemorial, this charming desert town is now a garden city and boasts a university.  On the way there you’ll stop at the archaeological digs at Hili, which date back some 5,000 years, before proceeding to the oasis town of Buraimi.  You’ll see its ancient irrigation system and saunter through the quaint, miniscule souk.  Continue to Al Ain and visit the Al Ain Museum next to the old fortress.  After lunch (included), stop by the Al Ain Palace Museum, the former residence of the current ruler, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.  Interesting displays, including a collection of family portraits, offer an insight into how the Sheikh’s family lived and entertained.  The day concludes with a visit to a traditional camel market before returning to Dubai.

Day 6: Dubai – Optional excursion to the East Coast – Fujairah
Full-Day (approximate price $130.00 per person).  En route to the East Coast, Drive past the Sharjah International Airport.  Designed by the ruler of Sharjah, its mosque shape is unique and eye catching.  Continue through the multihued desert landscape to the oasis of Dhaid.  Browse the local market for crafts, pottery, and carpets.  Then it’s on to a drive through Dibba, a picturesque fishing village on the way to the Bidiya mosque, the oldest and smallest in the U.A.E.  Continue along the coast through the lovely green town of Khor Fakkan.  Enjoy lunch (include) near the Indian Ocean in Fujairah.  See its 300-year-old fort before exploring the rest of Fujairah, a town abandoned when mountain dwellers moved away from oil exploration to start a fishing village.

Day 7:  Dubai – Optional Jumeirah Mosque
Half-day (approximate price $50.00 per person).  This is an opportunity to visit on of the largest and most beautiful mosques in Dubai.  Generally, non-Muslims are not permitted to enter a mosque.  However, the Jumeirah Grand Mosque is the first and only mosque in the U.A.E. to open its doors to non-Muslims, so this is a rare and fascinating experience.  This unique tour will enable participants to learn about the “five pillars” of Islam, the Emirati culture and its traditions.

Optional Desert Safari Evening
Evening (approximate price $110.00 per person).  This evening begins with an exciting four-wheel-drive ride across the desert.  Witness the skills needed to navigate through the Arabian Desert!  Your desert drive will take you through the world-class Al Maha nature reserve and includes a visit to a camel farm.  There will be a sunset photo stop before arriving at a desert camp where you will enjoy a traditional Arabian feast featuring BBQ meats and sumptuous Arabic Mezza (Arabian Hors d’oeuvres).  During this fascinating evening you will have the opportunity to ride a camel and listen to mystical Arabian music, all under a blanket of brightly shinning stars.