Abu Dhabi

Day 1 - Day 1 - Welcome to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
On arrival, you’ll be warmly greeted and escorted to your choice of luxury hotel: Enjoy a stylish mangrove-view balcony room at the Conrad Etihad Tower Hotel or check in to the St. Regis Abu Dhabi Corniche where a Superior Sea View guestroom awaits. The balance of this day is yours to relax, enjoy and explore as you wish.

Day 2 - Day 2 - City Tour + The Louvre
With your own private car, driver and guide, today’s sightseeing tour begins with a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Visible from all of the bridges that connect Abu Dhabi with the mainland, this is one of the world’s largest mosques – topped with 80 white marble domes that are supported by 1,000 pillars and punctuated by graceful 350-foot tall minarets.

Continue to Qasr Al Hosn, the symbolic birthplace of the Emirate. This landmark traces its origins to the middle of the 18th century when Bani Yas tribesmen built a simple coral and stone watch tower to protect their settlement and coastal trade routes. Later, succeeding generations of the ruling Al Nahayan family added imposing walls, towers, entrances and residential quarters – transforming Qasr Al Hosn into an impressive fort and finally the iconic palace it is today. On-site exhibits tell the fascinating story of Abu Dhabi and its people through the evolution of the city’s oldest building.

At the Date Market, your personal guide will tell you about the many varieties of dates imported here from all across the Middle East. It’s an unusual collection of market stalls hidden inside the lively vegetable and fruit market at Port Zayed. You’ll have free time to enjoy lunch on your own; of course, your in-the-know guide will be happy to offer suggestions. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Louvre Abu Dhabi, set in a striking waterfront building designed by the renowned French architect Jean Nouvel. This is a ground-breaking cultural partnership with the Louvre in Paris and includes the sharing of artwork and important temporary exhibitions that will range from the ancient world to the modern era.
Meals B

Day 3 - Day 3 - Day at Leisure
This entire day is yours to enjoy the luxury amenities of your urban resort or to explore more of Abu Dhabi at your own pace. If you prefer additional sightseeing, we can arrange any of these privately guided tours:

Desert Safari    : Setting out from Abu Dhabi in mid-afternoon, this exciting adventure takes you deep into the surrounding desert. A thrilling drive in a chauffeured 4WD Jeep takes you over the rolling dunes to visit a camel farm. Take in a spectacular desert sunset and continue to our stylish encampment in the dunes. You’ll have time to participate in a variety of traditional activities such as henna painting and belly dancing before dinner is served under the starlit sky. Enjoy Bedouin music and dance and fine Arabic coffee before returning to your luxury hotel in the city.

Falcon Hospital: Visit a most unique institution that provides critical care for up to 200 of these amazing birds of prey. Learn about the enduring importance of falconry in the local culture and watch as these birds are treated by specialist veterinarians and skilled technicians – including pedicurists who care for the birds’ sharp talons! A flying demonstration by healthy falcons reveals their extraordinary grace and power.

Dubai: This full-day privately-guided tour takes you across the desert landscapes to Dubai. See the iconic sail-inspired silhouette of the Burj Al Arab Hotel, and admire the impressive façade and minarets of the Jumeirah Mosque. In the historic Bastakia quarter, you’ll see homes that were built by wealthy merchants of old; their unusual wind-towers were ingeniously designed to catch lofty breezes that could cool the entire house. Inside Al Fahidi Fort, built in 1787, you’ll visit the Dubai Museum where well-curated exhibits traced Dubai’s history from a quiet village of pearl divers and fishermen to a 21st-century icon of commerce, finance and style. Then cross Dubai Creek in a traditional Arabia abra to explore the lively alleyways of the gold and spice souks. The drive back to Abu Dhabi takes you past Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower.
Meals B
 

Day 4 - Day 4 - Depart Abu Dhabi
Your private car and driver will take you to the airport today for your onward flight.