Dubai, Desert & Abu DhabiDubai & Abu Dhabi in 6 nights

Six nights in five-star stays, with a night in the dunes between the two cities. Three nights in Dubai give you a private dhow, Burj Khalifa at sunset and a free day; the desert resort brings quiet, falconry and a sky full of stars; Abu Dhabi ends the trip with its mosque, palace and Louvre, and you fly home from there. It suits couples marking an occasion and families who want comfort over checklists.

Day 1

Arrive in Dubai (3 Nights)

About 25–35 km · 30–45 minutes by road

Your driver meets you at arrivals and takes you to your hotel; check-in is usually from 3 pm, and we request early check-in for morning arrivals. In the evening you board a private dhow, just your party, for a two-hour dinner cruise around Dubai Marina, past the lit-up towers of JBR and the Marina skyline. We agree the menu with you before you travel, vegetarian or Jain as you prefer. Your car brings you back to the hotel afterwards. Overnight in Dubai.

• Private dhow dinner on Dubai Marina
• Marina and JBR skyline

• Note: For an anniversary or birthday, tell us in advance and we arrange a cake and flowers on board.

Prafull’s tipAsk the crew to slow down off Bluewaters Island and the JBR beachfront; it's the best stretch for photos.

Dinner

Day 2

Dubai: City Tour and Burj Khalifa

A private tour of Old Dubai with your guide and car: the wind-tower lanes of Al Fahidi, an abra ride across Dubai Creek, and the Spice and Gold Souks in Deira. Then Jumeirah Mosque from outside, the Burj Al Arab and a drive along the Palm Jumeirah, before you return to the hotel to rest. In the evening you go up Burj Khalifa with an 'At the Top SKY' ticket, which takes you to the lounge on level 148 as well as levels 124 and 125, timed for sunset. The Dubai Fountain show follows below. Overnight in Dubai.

• Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
• Abra ride on Dubai Creek
• Gold and Spice Souks
• Burj Al Arab
• Burj Khalifa At the Top SKY
• Dubai Fountain

• Note: The Dubai Fountain runs every 30 minutes in the evening, roughly from 6 pm to 11 pm.

Prafull’s tipThe SKY lounge on level 148 is calmer than the lower decks at sunset, which is why we choose it for this journey.

Breakfast

Day 3

Dubai at Leisure

A slow start, then the Museum of the Future, the silver ring on Sheikh Zayed Road covered in Arabic calligraphy, with immersive floors on space travel, ecology and wellbeing; allow about two hours. The afternoon is yours for the hotel beach, a spa or the pool, and your car is on hand if you'd rather shop. In the evening, Souk Madinat Jumeirah, with its canals, wind towers and views of the Burj Al Arab, is a lovely place to walk and have dinner. Pack an overnight bag for the desert tomorrow. Overnight in Dubai.

• Museum of the Future
• Jumeirah Beach
• Souk Madinat Jumeirah

• Note: The Museum of the Future runs on timed tickets that sell out at weekends; we book the first slot of the day for you.

Prafull’s tipTake an abra ride on the Madinat canals at dusk; it's short, inexpensive and lovely for photos.

Breakfast

Day 4

Dubai – Desert Resort (1 Night)

About 50–70 km · 45 minutes–1 hour by road

A slow breakfast and a late check-out, then your driver takes you out of the city and into the dunes to your desert resort. After settling in and a light lunch at leisure, the resort's guides take you on a gentle dune drive in the late-afternoon light, followed by a falconry display where you can hold a falcon on a gloved arm. You watch the sun set over the sand from the resort, and dinner is served under the stars, far from city lights. Overnight at the desert resort.

• Dune drive
• Falconry display
• Desert sunset
• Dinner under the stars

• Note: Activities vary a little by resort; camel treks, archery and nature walks are often offered too.
• Note: The desert drive here is gentler than a safari-camp dune bash; tell us if you'd like it skipped.

Prafull’s tipStep outside an hour after dinner; with so little light around, the stars are something to see.

Breakfast & Dinner

Day 5

Desert Resort – Abu Dhabi (2 Nights)

About 130–170 km · 1.5–2 hours by road

Up early for sunrise over the dunes, then breakfast, and a camel walk if the resort is running one. Your driver takes you towards Abu Dhabi, stopping at the BAPS Hindu Mandir at Abu Mureikha, the hand-carved stone temple near the highway, with its pillars of scenes from the epics. You check in at your Abu Dhabi hotel and rest. In the late afternoon you visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, timed so you see the white marble turn gold at sunset and the lights come on. Overnight in Abu Dhabi.

• Desert sunrise
• BAPS Hindu Mandir, Abu Mureikha
• Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

• Note: The BAPS Mandir is closed on Mondays and needs free online registration; carry your original passport. We plan the route around both.
• Note: The Grand Mosque is closed to visitors on Friday mornings. Women need an abaya and headscarf, men full-length trousers.

Prafull’s tipKeep a scarf and long sleeves in your day bag; you'll need them at both the Mandir and the mosque.

Breakfast

Day 6

Abu Dhabi

The morning is for the Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island, where the great dome casts a 'rain of light' over galleries that run from early civilisations to modern art. After lunch at leisure, you visit Qasr Al Watan, the working presidential palace, with its vast domed Great Hall, its library and its displays on how the country is governed; allow about two hours. The evening is free for a walk on the Corniche, or a quiet dinner at your hotel overlooking the water. Overnight in Abu Dhabi.

• Louvre Abu Dhabi
• Qasr Al Watan
• Abu Dhabi Corniche

• Note: The Louvre Abu Dhabi is closed on Mondays; we fix your Abu Dhabi days around that when we book.
• Note: Optional: the 'Palace in Motion' light show at Qasr Al Watan in the evening, paid locally.

Prafull’s tipAt Qasr Al Watan, stand in the centre of the Great Hall and look straight up at the dome.

Breakfast

Day 7

Abu Dhabi – Departure

About 30 km · 30 minutes by road

Breakfast at the hotel and a slow morning: a swim, a spa treatment or a last walk by the sea. Check-out is usually by noon, and we request a late check-out for evening flights. Your driver collects you about three hours before departure for the short drive to Zayed International Airport. Flying home from Abu Dhabi saves you a 1.5-hour drive back to Dubai on your last day, so the holiday ends as calmly as it began. Your holiday ends here.

• Abu Dhabi Corniche

Prafull’s tipAbu Dhabi's Terminal A is large; allow extra time to walk to your gate.

Breakfast

Tour details

Accommodation

Choose the hotel category. The same route and sightseeing in every category.

Hotels are confirmed when you book. If a hotel is full, we give you one of the same category in the same area, and tell you before you pay.

Optional add-ons

Not in the price. Prafull can book them for you or you can pay locally.

Tour information

Read this to prepare for your holiday.

Good to know

• The UAE tourist visa is included. Send us a clear passport scan (six months' validity) and a photo about two weeks before travel.
• At the Grand Mosque, women need an abaya and headscarf and men full-length trousers; cover shoulders and knees at the BAPS Mandir too.
• Desert nights from December to February can drop to around 12–15°C; pack a warm layer for the resort.
• Indian, pure-veg and Jain food is easy to find; the desert resort cooks vegetarian with notice.
• Dress smart-casual for hotel restaurants in the evening; beachwear stays at the beach and pool.
• The UAE dirham (AED) is the currency; cards work almost everywhere. The UAE is 1.5 hours behind India; sockets are the three-pin UK type.

When to go

November to March. Warm, sunny days and pleasant evenings, ideal for the desert and outdoor attractions. June to September is very hot, though hotels are cheaper.

Our favourite months

Cancellation policy & payment terms

• Cancellations must be sent in writing, on email or WhatsApp; the date we receive it is the cancellation date.
• Flights, trains, visa fees and non-refundable hotel or activity bookings are refunded only as their own rules allow.
• Date changes are free when made 30 days or more before travel, subject to hotel availability and any difference in price.
• Refunds are paid within 14 working days of us receiving them from the hotels and suppliers.
• No refund is possible for services not used during the holiday.
• Hotels may ask for a refundable security deposit at check-in, paid directly to the hotel.

Questions about this holiday