Five nights in Dubai with the tall-tower half and the old-town half both covered, a night in the desert camp and a full day across to Abu Dhabi.
Dubai is two cities layered on top of each other. There is the new one — Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall, the Palm and the Marina — and the older one along the Creek, where the gold and spice souks still trade and a wooden abra takes you across for a few minutes. This trip gives you both, keeps you in one hotel the whole time, and puts the long drives on the days that earn them.
You stay five nights in Dubai. Two days go to the city itself, one to the desert with dune bashing and a camp dinner, and one to Abu Dhabi for the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Ferrari World. Airport transfers, an air-conditioned coach with a driver and daily breakfast are arranged. Entry tickets and the desert safari are quoted with your enquiry so you only pay for the ones you want.
The essentials
Trip information
Package code
EH06DU001
Pickup
Dubai International Airport (DXB), Terminal 3
Drop
Dubai International Airport (DXB), Terminal 3
Night count
05 Nights, 06 Days
Travellers
6 pax
Vehicle
Air-conditioned Tourist Coach (AC)
At a glance
Itinerary highlights
Day 1Arrive in Dubai and cruise the Marina
Day 2Modern Dubai, the Palm and the top of the Burj
Day 3A slow morning, then out into the dunes
Day 4Day trip to Abu Dhabi
Day 5Old Dubai, the souks and the abra crossing
Day 6Check out and fly home
Your route, day by day
Day-by-day itinerary
Dubai Marina
A man-made canal district of high towers, with a promenade that runs the whole length of the water.
Day 1
Arrive in Dubai and cruise the Marina
You are met after immigration at Terminal 3 and driven to the hotel. Check-in is from 2 PM, so if you land early we hold the bags and you can start with the promenade. In the evening you board a dhow on the Marina for a dinner cruise — a slow loop past the lit towers, with a buffet served on the lower deck.
Starts from Dubai International Airport (DXB), ends at Hotel Marina Crest, covering around 32 km in an estimated 45m.
A traditional wooden dhow, rebuilt as a two-deck restaurant boat, doing a return loop through the Marina canal. Dinner is a buffet and the upper deck is open for the views.
Watch the towers light up from the water
Buffet dinner on board
Sit on the open upper deck
Downtown Dubai
The newest quarter of the city — the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall and the fountain lake at its foot.
Day 2
Modern Dubai, the Palm and the top of the Burj
A full day on the new side of the city. You start at the Dubai Frame for the split view — old town on one side, towers on the other — then drive out onto Palm Jumeirah for the Atlantis frontage and the monorail view of the fronds. The afternoon is at the Dubai Mall, with your Burj Khalifa slot booked for late in the day so you see the city in daylight and again lit up. The fountain show runs on the lake afterwards.
Based at Hotel Marina Crest, covering around 60 km in an estimated 8h 00m.
Sightseeing
Dubai FrameOpen 9 AM – 9 PMAllow 75 min
A 150-metre picture frame in Zabeel Park with a glass-floored sky bridge across the top. Look one way for the old districts around the Creek, the other for the Sheikh Zayed Road skyline.
Walk the glass floor of the sky bridge
Compare the old and new skylines
See the exhibition on the lower level
Palm Jumeirah & AtlantisOpen all dayAllow 90 min
The palm-shaped reclaimed island off the coast, with the Atlantis resort standing at the far end of the trunk road. The monorail runs the length of it if you want the view from above.
Drive the trunk road to Atlantis
Monorail ride over the fronds
Stop at The Pointe for the skyline view
Burj Khalifa — At The TopOpen 9 AM – 11 PMAllow 90 min
The tallest building in the world at 828 metres. The standard At The Top deck is on levels 124 and 125, reached by a lift that takes about a minute. Slots are timed and sunset fills up first, so we book yours well ahead.
Timed lift to level 124
Outdoor terrace on the observation deck
Look down on the fountain lake
Dubai Mall & the Fountain ShowOpen 10 AM – 12 AMAllow 150 min
One of the largest malls anywhere, with an aquarium tank rising through three floors and a waterfall atrium. Outside, the fountains on the lake run every half hour through the evening, set to music.
See the aquarium tunnel
Catch a fountain show from the lakeside walk
Dinner at the Souk Al Bahar bridge
Al Marmoom Desert
The red dune belt an hour inland from the city, where the evening safari camps are set up.
Day 3
A slow morning, then out into the dunes
The morning is free, or you can use it for Miracle Garden if you are travelling in the cooler months. Pick-up for the desert safari is around 3 PM in a 4x4. You cross into the dunes for dune bashing, stop at a camel farm, then reach the camp for a camel ride, henna, a falcon photograph and a BBQ dinner under the tent. You are back at the hotel by about 9:30 PM. Wear loose clothes and skip a heavy lunch — the dune drive is a rough ride.
Based at Hotel Marina Crest, covering around 120 km in an estimated 7h 00m.
Sightseeing
Dubai Miracle Garden (seasonal)Open 9 AM – 9 PM, closed for the summerAllow 90 min
A flower park in Dubailand with millions of bedding plants trained over arches, hearts and full-size aircraft shapes. It shuts through the hot months, usually mid-May to late September, so it only runs on winter departures.
A 4x4 run over the dunes, then a fixed camp for the evening. Dune bashing lasts about half an hour, and the camp has a camel ride, sandboarding, henna and a live show before the barbecue is served.
Dune bashing in a Land Cruiser
Short camel ride at the camp
Sunset over the dunes
BBQ dinner with a live show
Abu Dhabi
The UAE capital, about ninety minutes down the coast road from Dubai.
Day 4
Day trip to Abu Dhabi
An early start down the E11 to Abu Dhabi. You visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque first, while the marble is still cool underfoot, then cross to Yas Island for Ferrari World. The drive back along the Corniche gives you the capital skyline before the run home. It is a long day, so breakfast is packed if you are leaving before the restaurant opens.
Based at Hotel Marina Crest, covering around 300 km in an estimated 11h 00m.
Sightseeing
Sheikh Zayed Grand MosqueOpen 9 AM – 10 PM, closed to visitors on Friday morningAllow 120 min
The largest mosque in the UAE, finished in 2007, with 82 domes, a courtyard of inlaid floral marble and one of the biggest hand-knotted carpets ever made. Entry is free but the dress code is enforced at the gate.
Walk the marble courtyard
See the main prayer hall chandeliers
Register your visit slot in advance
Ferrari World Abu DhabiOpen 11 AM – 8 PMAllow 240 min
An indoor theme park under a red roof on Yas Island, built around the Ferrari name. Formula Rossa, the fastest roller coaster in the world, is the reason most people come; there are gentler rides and a driving simulator for everyone else.
Ride Formula Rossa
Ferrari gallery and simulators
Family rides on the lower level
Abu Dhabi CornicheOpen all dayAllow 45 min
An eight-kilometre waterfront running along the western edge of the city, with the skyline on one side and the Gulf on the other. A good last stop before the drive back.
Walk a stretch of the promenade
Photograph the skyline at dusk
Coffee stop before the return drive
Deira & Bur Dubai
The two old quarters facing each other across Dubai Creek, and the oldest part of the city still standing.
Day 5
Old Dubai, the souks and the abra crossing
Today is the quiet half of Dubai. You start in Deira at the Gold Souk, walk through to the Spice Souk, then take an abra across the Creek — a wooden ferry that has been doing the same short crossing for decades. On the Bur Dubai side you walk the lanes of Al Fahidi, where the wind-tower houses have been kept. The afternoon is free for last shopping or the hotel pool.
Based at Hotel Marina Crest, covering around 45 km in an estimated 6h 00m.
Sightseeing
Gold Souk & Spice Souk, DeiraOpen 10 AM – 10 PM, closed Friday afternoonAllow 120 min
Covered lanes of jewellers trading gold by weight, with the smaller spice market a few streets on, selling saffron, dried limes and frankincense. Prices are negotiable in both; ask for the day rate before you bargain.
Bargain in the gold lanes
Buy saffron or dried limes
See the shop windows on Sikkat Al Khail Road
Abra Crossing on Dubai CreekOpen 6 AM – 12 AMAllow 20 min
A wooden boat that seats about twenty and crosses the Creek between the Deira and Bur Dubai stations. The trip takes five minutes and the fare is paid to the boatman on board.
Cross from Deira Old Souk station
Watch the cargo dhows loading
Sit at the open side for the view
Al Fahidi Historic DistrictOpen all day, museums 8 AM – 6 PMAllow 90 min
A restored quarter of coral and gypsum houses from the early 1900s, laid out in narrow shaded lanes with wind towers over the roofs. Al Fahidi Fort at the edge of it holds the Dubai Museum.
Walk the wind-tower lanes
Coffee at the cultural centre
Look into the small art galleries
Dubai
A last morning in the city before the transfer to the airport.
Day 6
Check out and fly home
Breakfast, then check out by 12 noon. You are driven to Dubai International in time to check in — allow three hours for an international departure from Terminal 3. If your flight is late at night we can usually arrange a late check-out or hold the bags at reception; tell us when you book.
Starts from Hotel Marina Crest, ends at Dubai International Airport (DXB), covering around 32 km in an estimated 45m.
Airport pick-up and drop
× 2
Half-day modern Dubai city tour
4x4 Land Cruiser transfer for the desert safari
Full-day Abu Dhabi excursion by coach
The fine print, clearly
What’s included
Inclusions
Five nights of accommodation in the selected hotel category.
Daily breakfast at the hotel.
Airport transfers and all sightseeing by private air-conditioned coach.
Desert safari with dune bashing, a camel ride and a BBQ dinner at the camp.
Dhow cruise dinner on Dubai Marina.
Full-day Abu Dhabi excursion as per the itinerary.
Driver allowance, fuel, Salik toll and parking charges.
Exclusions
UAE visa fees and any processing or courier charges for the visa.
International airfare to and from Dubai.
Travel insurance, which we strongly recommend you buy separately.
Tourism Dirham and municipality fees, paid directly at the hotel per room per night.
Entry tickets not named in the itinerary — Burj Khalifa, Dubai Frame, Ferrari World and similar.
Lunch, dinner and anything ordered outside the stated meals.
Personal expenses such as laundry, tips, shopping and optional activities.
Good to know
Policies
Payment policy
50% of the package cost is needed at the time of booking to confirm it.
The remaining 50% must be cleared at least 21 days before departure.
Peak season (November to March, and the Christmas and New Year week) needs full payment at booking.
The booking is confirmed only once the advance payment reaches us and visa documents are submitted.
Payment by bank transfer or UPI.
Cancellation policy
0–15 days before departure: 100% of the booking amount is charged.
16–30 days before departure: 70% of the booking amount is charged.
31–45 days before departure: 30% of the booking amount is charged.
Visa fees are non-refundable once the application has been filed.
No refund for unused nights, missed tours or an early check-out.
Peak season (20 December – 5 January): no refund on cancellation.
Important information
Indian passport holders need a UAE visa before travel. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry and have two blank pages.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has a strict dress code — arms and legs fully covered, no tight or sheer clothing, and a headscarf for women. Abayas are lent free at the entrance.
June to August is extremely hot, often above 45°C. Outdoor sights are cut short in the middle of the day and Miracle Garden closes for the summer, usually from mid-May until late September.
Alcohol is served only in licensed hotels and restaurants, and public behaviour laws are enforced more strictly than in India.
Friday is a half working day and mosques close to visitors around prayer times, so the day order may be adjusted.
Hotels and the day order may shift slightly; we tell you in advance if so.
Easy Holiday
