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Tours
By Region |
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 THE
ARAB SHEIKDOMS
A cultural tour of Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and all of the Emirates of the UAE
This journey provides us with a rare and fascinating glimpse of the traditional life style of the Arab Sheikhs, as well as of the contemporary oil-producing Arabia. We wander through fragrant souqs, explore exotic gardens, flourishing in the desert and visit museums filled with treasures. We explore Kuwait, a decade after the Gulf War and travel through the heart of the Arab Gulf States, with visits to all seven of the United Arab Emirates, along with the sheikdoms of Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.
Day
01, (FRI): Arrive Muscat (Oman)
Merhaba! (Welcome) We arrive at Seeb International Airport
and are warmly welcomed
and transferred to our hotel.
Overnight: Radisson SAS Hotel, Muscat (3 nights)
Day 02, (SAT): Muscat
The Sultanate of Oman has a history that dates
back to almost 3000 BC, in an era known as
Magan. The Samaritans inhabited the country
around 4000 BC followed by the Phoenicians,
Assyrians, Babylonians, Shabeans and finally
the Persians. At this time, Oman became famous
for its trade of copper and frankincense throughout
the Arabian world. By the year 630 AD Islam
was established in Oman and the religion quickly
spread. This morning is free to relax, and
in the afternoon we take the Muscat Discovery
tour, which includes the Oman Museum, the Natural
History Museum, the Ministries Area in Al Khuwair,
the Aalam Palace, the Corniche and a unique
traditional fish market. (B, D)
 Day
03, (SUN): Muscat
Today we enjoy a day excursion to Nizwa, built
by the great Imam Sultan Bin Seif. In the 17th
Century Nizwa was chosen as the capital, due
to its well-protected position and construction.
Even today it remains one of Oman’s most
impressive towns. We begin our tour with a
visit to the massive circular fort, surrounded
by vast mud walls. We explore Jabrin Castle
and the World Heritage Site of Bahla Fort.
The ruins of the immense fort, with walls and
towers of earthen brick and foundations of
stone, provide a remarkable example of this
type of fortification. Jabrin Castle, built
by Imam Bilarab in 1675 AD, is an edifice surpassing
all other forts in Oman, both in size and magnificence.
One cannot help but admire the extraordinary
carved wood paneling and friezes painted on
the walls. Verses from the Koran and poems
engraved in the walls celebrate the beauty
of this grand castle. Moving on, we arrive
at the Nizwa Souq where a unique goat and cattle
auction is held. On our return to Muscat, we
enjoy a visit to the aromatic Amouage perfume
factory. (B, D)
Day 04, (MON): Muscat / Kuwait
(Flight)
Our next stop is Kuwait, the country
that changed the face of the Middle
East to what it is today. Kuwait
is an archetypical oil-rich state
that founded only 300 years ago
by the Al Sabah Family, whose descendants
still rule the country. By the
18th century Kuwait was a prospering
Dhow Trading Port and a stopover
point of the great caravans bound
for Mesopotamia, the Indian Ocean
and beyond. Kuwait means Òsmall
fortress and this small settlement
grew quickly; Ottomans and Persians
influenced its history for nearly
200 years before it formally became
a British Protectorate at the end
of 19th century. The first oil
wells were found in 1936. The 50’s
and 60’s were the magical
era of the oil boom. We will be
welcomed and transferred to our
hotel.
Overnight: J. W. Marriott Hotel,
Kuwait (2 nights) (B, D)
Day 05, (TUE): Kuwait
Kuwait is a cosmopolitan city-state
with a population that has more
non-Kuwaiti residents than locals.
Our morning tour of Kuwait includes
the Kuwait Towers, Seif Palace,
the Imir’s Headquarters,
Jahra Gate, the Dhow Village, the
National Museum and Al Bader House.
The afternoon is free to explore
the many souqs. (B, D)
Day 06, (WED): Kuwait/Bahrain
(Flight)
Our next destination
is Bahrain; we are
met and transferred
to our hotel. Since
the dawn of history,
Bahrain was known as
the Pearl of the Gulf
as it has been a strategic
trading post of the
great trade routes
linking the Indus Valley
and Mesopotamia. It
exudes old-world charm,
courtesy and dignity
as befits a nation
whose history goes
back more than 4000
years. Bahrain was
the first place in
the Arabian Gulf where
oil was discovered
in 1925 and it continues
to enjoy oil wealth
to this day.
Overnight: Novotel
Al Dana Resort, Bahrain
(2 nights) (B, D)
Day 07, (THU):
Bahrain
Our tour
of this
Sheikdom
includes
Bait Al
Quran,
the Al
Fateh Mosque,
the Ola
Palace,
the Guest
Palace,
Island
Muharraq,
the Old
Souq, a
traditional
village,
camel farm
and a visit
to the
pottery
makers
at Ali
Village.
(B, D)
 Day
08, (FRI):
Bahrain/Doha
(Flight)
(Qatar)
In the
morning
we take
a short
flight
to Doha,
the capital
of Qatar.
We are
welcomed
and
transferred
to our
hotel.
Qatar was
a relatively
unknown
country
until recently.
Records
indicate
that the
Qatar Peninsula
was inhabited
during
the Stone
Age; however
there is
little
evidence
of habitation
between
the most
ancient
times and
now. Oil
was struck
in 1939
and the
country
has one
of the
largest
natural
gas fields
in the
world.
Our afternoon
tour includes
the National
Museum,
the Equestrian
Club and
the Camel
Racetrack.
Overnight:
Mercure
Grand Hotel,
Doha (2
nights)
(B, D)
Day
09, (SAT): Doha
After
breakfast we take an excursion
into the desert. The desert
of Qatar offers the traditional
nomadic
lifestyle of the
Arab World. We witness
the
oasis lifestyle, the mirages
in the desert, animal preservation
efforts and a lot more.
We
also have the opportunity
to meet the local Bedouins.
(B,
D)
Day
10, (SUN): Doha/Abu
Dhabi/Dubai (Flight)
This
morning we fly
to the richest
of the United
Arab Emirates,
Abu Dhabi. We
are welcomed
and tour the
traditional Iranian
Market, the Abu
Dhabi Corniche
and Fountain,
the Petroleum
Exhibition Center,
the Women’s
Handicraft Center
and the Al Hisn
Fort. Before
sunset we proceed
for Dubai on
a comfortable
highway trip.
Overnight:
Ascot Hotel,
Dubai (4 nights)
(B, D)
 Day
11, (MON): Dubai/Sharjah/Ajman
Our
morning city
tour of Dubai
includes the
Jumeirah Mosque,
the Museum, as
well as the Spice
and Gold Souqs.
Our next stop
is the Emirate
of Sharjah, including
a visit to the
Natural History
Museum, the Discovery
Center, the Aviation
Museum and the
Cultural Center.
We then take
a short drive
to the Emirate
of Ajman, where
we will visit
the Ajman Museum,
the Dhow building
yard, the Pearl
Monument, the
King Faizal Mosque,
the Bird & Animal
Market, the Al
Arsah Souq, Al
Hisn Fort, Bait
Al Naboodah and
the Islamic & Art
Museum. (B, D)
Day
12, (TUE):
Fujairah
Our
next
two
days
are
spent
in
discovering
the
remaining
Emirates
and
Sheikdoms
in
the
UAE.
We
start
with
a
full
day
tour
to
the
East
Coast,
which
includes
visit
to
Fujairah,
Khorfakkan,
a
typical
Arabian
fishing
village
in
Dibba,
Masafi,
the
market,
the
Al
Bitnah
Mosque
(oldest
in
the
UAE),
Kalba
Fort
and
the
natural
springs
in
Masafi.
The
evening
is
free
for
you
to
enjoy
the
nightlife
of
Dubai.
(B,
D)
Day
13,
(WED):
Umm
Al
Quwain/Ras
Al
Khaimah
In
the
morning
we
visit
the
last
of
the
Emirates,
Umm
Al
Quwain & Ras
Al
Khaimah.
This
includes
the
well-preserved
Ras
Al
Khaimah
Museum,
followed
by
a
visit
to
the
old
city,
the
fish
market,
the
dhow
building
yards
and
Al
Khatt
springs.
The
evening
is
free
to
enjoy
the
many
other
attractions
that
Dubai
has
to
offer.
(B,
D)
Day
14,
(THU): Depart
Dubai
After
witnessing
the
lifestyles
of
the
rich
desert
people
of
these
magic
sheikdoms,
we
bid
farewell
as
we
take
our
departure
flight
from
the
majestic
Dubai
Airport. (B)
 Departure Dates | | 2008
English Speaking Departures
Jan 18, Mar 28, May 16, Oct 10
| Inclusions |
| Tour
Price Includes |
Tour
Price Does Not Include |
- Accommodation
as mentioned or similar, including
hotel taxes
- Meals
as mentioned (Breakfast, Dinner)
- All sightseeing and transfers
- Services of local English speaking
driver/guide
- Entrance fees to museums and sites
included in the itinerary
- Domestic
and regional air tickets Muscat/Kuwait/Bahrain/Doha/Abu
Dhabi
|
-
International Airfares
- Border/Departure/Airport
taxes
- Insurance & Visas
- Beverages & Tips
|
| Tour Price | | We accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA $ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for clients outside North America). Bestway Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received, and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please download  Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf
Note: to read this file you must have Adobe Acrobat. |
| Departure |
Double
Occupancy |
Single
Room Supplement |
| 2008 |
US
$ 7105 • CA $ 7105 |
US
$ 1920 • CA $ 1920 |
| Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is NOT included in this tour | | Canada - West Coast | CA $ 1800 | USA - West Coast | US $ 1400 | | Canada - East Coast | CA $ 1600 | USA - East Coast | US $ 1200 | | Participants | | This tour operates on a minimum of 02 and a maximum of 15 participants. | Notes | Customised Itinerary
If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you.
Foreign Language Departures
Please contact us for information on French, German, Italian and Spanish speaking departures.
You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844. |
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| © Copyright 1999-2008 Bestway
Tours & Safaris |
Site last updated May 02,
2008 |
| Photographs by Peter
Langer & Mahmood
Poonja |
Site by antoinette |
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