Day 1:
Jan 19 (Thu) Honolulu – Seattle
2:30 PM Depart for Seattle on Hawaiian Airlines flight HA 22, meal service on the flight.
10:10 PM Arrive at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and pick up luggage. Transfer to our Seattle hotel.
Accommodations at Crowne Plaza Seattle Airport or similar
Day 2:
Jan 20 (Fri) Overnight in Seattle
Breakfast at hotel. Check out by 12:00 PM, the morning is free for a short trip into the city, you can also check out and leave your luggage at the front desk if you wish to go out.
12:00 PM Depart hotel for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
4:05 PM Depart for Dubai on Emirates flight EK 230, meal service on flight. Emirates was voted “Best Airline Worldwide” for the 9th time in a row at the Business Traveler Middle East Awards 2022.
Day 3:
Jan 21 (Sat) Arrive in the City of Gold
6:40 PM Arrive at Dubai International Airport – the busiest airport in the world by international traffic! Proceed through immigration procedures. After immigration claim your luggage and wait for your tour escort before exiting customs. Meet our local guide outside of customs and depart for our hotel by chartered bus.
Our five-star hotel on the banks of the Dubai Water Canal is centrally located near the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, and a short distance from the Dubai Mall, the world’s largest and most visited mall, which houses the world’s largest acrylic panel aquarium. It is next door to La Perle, the #1 live show in Dubai. Dinner on your own in the hotel or in one of the many neighborhood restaurants.
We’ll be arriving in Dubai just in time for the Dubai Shopping Festival - an annual month-long event during which shops offer special discounts and sales, hold raffles and prize giveaways, and there are fireworks displays, live shows and events throughout Dubai. Multiple world records have been set during the Festival: the world's longest gold chain and sofa, the biggest chair, stationary bicycle, and mattress, the largest incense burner, shopping bag, and bowl of biriyani, the largest entry visa in size was issued, the largest magazine and box of chocolates, the largest shopping cart and calendar, as well as the longest buffet in the world have all been shown at the Festival, and the Dubai Metro held the first fashion show to take place on a moving train.
Accommodations at Hilton Al Habtoor City or similar
Day 4:
Jan 22 (Sun) Safari Day – Camel Riding, Belly Dancing and BBQ Under the Stars (B, D)
Buffet breakfast at hotel, lunch on your own. Free time for shopping and exploring in the morning until about 3 PM, when we depart for our desert safari, when we leave behind the bustle of the city. Our safari guides will transport us on a thrilling journey, Dune Bashing over rolling dunes by four-wheel drive vehicles through the Dubai Desert Sands, deep into the heart of the desert. Watch the sun cast its orange glow over the vast expanse of rippling sand all round us as it sets over the dunes. Like a shimmering mirage in the distance, we will see the flickering lights of our camp where a traditional Arabian welcome awaits us. We’ll relax on comfortable low cushions in Bedouin tents and quench our thirst, have our hands painted with intricate henna designs, experience a short camel ride, or perhaps just enjoy the aromatic shisha (the molasses-based tobacco concoction smoked in a hookah). We will be entertained by a bewitching belly dancer swaying to the haunting strains of Arabian music as a feast of grilled meats, fresh salads and delectable Arab sweets is served under a galaxy of stars. We won't want this enchanting evening to end!
Accommodations at Hilton Al Habtoor City or similar
Day 5:
Jan 23 (Mon) View the City of Gold from atop the Burj Khalifa (B, D)
Buffet breakfast at hotel, lunch on your own, dinner at local restaurant.
After breakfast depart with our English-speaking local guide to discover the spectacular and lively metropolis of Dubai. The city, developed from a small fishing village at the Dubai Creek, is now a glamorous metropolis in the Arabian Gulf. Drive by Jumeirah Mosque and the Jumeirah Coastline with a stunning view of Burj Al Arab, the world’s ultimate luxury hotel, built in the shape of a sail.
Visit Madinat Souk. The Madinat Souk in Jumeirah combines traditional Middle Eastern shopping culture of stands, barrows and stalls with a mix of boutique brands, souvenir gift shops, luxury fashion and jewelry. Then continue on to visit one of new Dubai’s most prestigious areas – The Dubai Marina with its high-class boutiques, restaurants and many skyscrapers. We will drive on the world’s largest man-made Island "The Palm Jumeirah" where we will have a photo stop opposite the luxurious Atlantis the Palm Hotel: a magnificent oceanic tribute to mythological age.
Then we will head to Dubai Mall, at more than twice the size of Ala Moana Center the largest an most visited mall in the world, and visit the world’s tallest tower, the Burj Khalifah, which re-wrote the rules for supertall buildings. Our “At The Top” ticket will take us to a spectacular view of the Dubai from levels 124 & 125 of the world’s tallest building. We’ll leave the reception area aboard the 65-meter-long travelator on a trip that transports us through time - from the earliest days of Dubai to the present and pause briefly at a unique viewing point for our first close-up view of the soaring Burj Khalifa through a skylight framing its awe-inspiring height. Then we begin our vertical ascent to the observation deck in a high-speed elevator, travelling at 10 meters per second. As the doors open, floor-to-ceiling glass walls provide a breath-taking unobstructed 360-degree view of the city, desert and ocean. Special telescopes provide virtual time-travel visions of the view.
Lunch on your own at the Dubai Mall before leaving for a stop at the creek side to witness the beautiful skyline of Dubai, and then walk through the Bastakiah district as we step back in time and enjoy the atmosphere of one of the oldest traditional Emirati neighborhoods in Bur Dubai on our way to the Abra station to take a water taxi to the Spice souk, where we will discover a great selection of authentic spices, incense and traditional perfumes. Then the entrance of the adjacent Gold souk will welcome us to see for ourselves why Dubai is called the City of Gold. This is a good opportunity to bargain for gold and diamonds.
At approximately 8 PM we will leave for our Dhow Dinner Cruise. Our cruise aboard this traditional wooden sailing vessel offers a different view of the city with views of the splendid architecture of Dubai such as the house of Sheikh Saeed's house, the birthplace of Sheikh Rashid, and the Heritage village.
Accommodations at Hilton Al Habtoor City or similar
Day 6:
Jan 24 (Tue) Museum of the Future – Miracle Gardens – Global Village (B)
Buffet breakfast at hotel, lunch and dinner on your own. Our first stop of the day will be the Museum of the Future. Designed as an asymmetric torus clad in steel and glass, the Museum of the Future has been recognized by National Geographic as one of the 14 most beautiful museums in the world. The exterior is engraved with of Arabic calligraphy, which also make up the windows, composed from inspirational poetry by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Next, we will get lost in a one-of-a-kind world of wonderment at the Dubai Miracle Garden. Located in Al Barsha South, the park is home to the world’s largest natural flower garden with more than 45 million blooming flowers across 72,000 square meters, all showcased in a variety of immense sculptures and designs. Feast your eyes on blooming pyramids, stars, igloos, and hearts. Marvel at the record-breaking wall of flowers or take a stroll under a ceiling of colorful umbrellas. Bursting with vibrant displays, the park feels more like an immersive art exhibit than a tourist attraction. You'll leave knowing you've truly witnessed a miracle: a mega garden in the middle of a desert – and holder of three Guinness Book World Records.
Global Village Dubai will be our last stop of the day. Combining the cultures of more than 90 countries across the world in one place, this is the world's largest tourism, leisure, shopping and entertainment project, welcoming more than five million visitors each year and holding twenty-five Guinness Book World Records. Eat your way around the world here before we head back to our hotel tonight.
Accommodations at Hilton Al Habtoor City or similar
Day 7:
Jan 25 (Wed) Abu Dhabi – Manhattan of the Middle East (B, D)
Buffet breakfast at hotel, dinner at a local restaurant, lunch on your own. After breakfast, depart by chartered bus to Abu Dhabi, called the Manhattan of the Middle East and the Arabian Jewel. Both larger and wealthier than Dubai, Abu Dhabi is the capital of the seven emirates making up the United Arab Emirates. On our way there we will travel past the world's largest man-made port at Jebel Ali and along a coastal desert road lined with acacia trees, then past the skyscrapers, villas and palaces that line the Abu Dhabi Riviera on Corniche Road and stop at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Described by the (French) Louvre as "France’s largest cultural project abroad.", it is both the largest art museum on the Arabian Peninsula and the most visited museum in the Arab world.
After the Louvre we will transfer to YAS Island and Ferrari World Theme Park. Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is the world’s first Ferrari theme park and the largest attraction of its kind, featuring Formula Rossa, the world's fastest roller coaster. It is an intense multi-sensory experience and a must-visit for families, fans and enthusiasts. The Park offers more than 20 Ferrari-inspired rides and attractions, including a diverse array of rides for adults and children, a wide variety of Italian delicacies, and unique shopping experiences.
Afterwards return to our hotel, in the World Trade Center complex that includes the tallest building in Abu Dhabi and two shopping malls directly connected to our hotel – the Souk at World Trade Center Abu Dhabi, a modern recreation of a traditional Emirati market, and the Mall at World Trade Center, which includes Velocity, the longest and tallest stainless-steel slide in the Middle East, stretching from the top level of the mall to the bottom.
Accommodations at Courtyard By Marriott World Trade Center Abu Dhabi or similar
Day 8:
Jan 26 (Thu) Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Gold Cappucino (B, D)
Buffet breakfast at hotel, dinner at a local restaurant, lunch on your own. Our first stop this morning is a guided tour of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which is considered the greatest architectural treasure of the contemporary United Arab Emirates and was ranked 3rd on TripAdvisor’s list of the 10 best landmarks in the world – beating out both the Taj Mahal in India and St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Sheikh Zayed had the dream of creating a Mosque that embodies the Islamic message of peace, love, tolerance, and diversity represented by a harmonious blend of the different Islamic architectural styles. His creation holds more than 40,000 worshipers and has three Guinness World Records - largest handwoven carpet, biggest chandelier, and the largest dome of its kind in the world.
*Men must wear long trousers and shirts with sleeves, women must cover their arms up to the wrists with a long-sleeved shirt and cover their hair, shoulders and neck with a headscarf. Women must wear long trousers or a dress covering their ankles - no white or tight clothing.
Afterwards we will continue to the Women’s Handicraft Center for a display of local handcrafts, drive through the Corniche road with a photo stop at the breakwater and the iconic Abu Dhabi Emirates Palace Hotel and then visit the Heritage Village for a look at life in the pre-oil life era - journey to the past and experience life in Abu Dhabi before oil revenues altered the landscape. We’ll experience different aspects of desert life attractively displayed in this open-air museum, along with workshops where craftsmen demonstrate traditional skills and women sit weaving and spinning.
Next is visit to the “heart of Abu Dhabi”, the Qasr Al Hosn, the oldest building in Abu Dhabi, holding the city’s first permanent structure, the watchtower. Built in the 1790’s, this commanding structure overlooked the costal trade routes and protected the growing settlement established on the island.
Then we head to the Emirates Palace hotel, which cost more than three billion dollars to construct – making it the third most expensive hotel ever built, for a taste of the famous Gold Cappuccino. Also known as the Palace Cappuccino, this superior blend of aromatic coffee is sprinkled with gold flakes to give you a taste of royalty, making it unlike anything you have ever tried before. Served on a polished silver tray, you can enjoy the cappuccino with a special date and dark chocolate. Afterwards return to Dubai and dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodations at Hilton Al Habtoor City or similar
Day 9:
Jan 27 (Fri) Free Day in Dubai: Explore the City of Gold! (B)
Buffet breakfast at hotel, lunch and dinner on your own. There’s so much to see and do in Dubai that we just couldn’t fit everything on one tour – so today is your chance to get out and experience the rest of the city! Here are a couple of suggestions, the tour desk and concierge at our hotel can help you with these activities and many more ( you may want to make reservations ahead of time for popular times or venues):
• Enjoy the Dubai Shopping Festival. Dubai is a paradise for shopping, especially during the Festival, from the tiny shops at the local Souks to the Ibn Battuta Mall (the world’s largest theme mall), the Mall of the Emirates (the world’s first shopping resort), and the Dubai Mall, the world’s largest and most visited mall, with over 80 million visitors per year.
• Visit the Dubai Aquarium inside the Dubai Mall, the world’s largest indoor aquarium.
• Check out the water show at the Dubai Fountain fronting the Dubai Mall. Great at night!
• Visit the Ain Dubai, the world’s largest Ferris wheel (very popular at sunset).
• Visit the View at the Palm, for a spectacular view 240 meters about the Palm Jumeirah.
• Visit the AURA SkyPool Lounge - suspended 200 meters in the air, AURA is the world’s highest 360-degree infinity pool offering incredible views of the iconic Dubai skyline, and the Palm Jumeirah.
• Take a tour of the iconic sail hotel, the Burj Al Arab – 90-minute tours can be upgraded with drinks or a meal of your choice.
• Visit the Dubai Frame, the Guinness World Record largest frame in the world. In addition to spectacular views, you will also take a journey through the past, present and future of Dubai.
• Ride the world’s largest waterslide at the world’s largest waterpark, Atlantis Aquaventure.
• Go skiing at Ski Dubai – the world’s third largest indoor ski slope.
• Hit the theme parks – Legoland, the first in the Middle East, MOTIONGATE Dubai, the Middle East’s largest Hollywood theme park (with the world’s only John Wick roller coaster), or Bollywood Parks Dubai, the world’s first theme park dedicated to Bollywood.
• Dine at Dinner in the Sky, 50 meters above the ground and selected by Forbes.com in its list of the 10 most unusual restaurants in the world.
• Take in the show at La Perle – located next to our hotel, this aqua-stage based live show is the #1 show in Dubai.
• Go clubbing - the environment in Dubai is perfect for an experience that is both safe and exotic! Try White Dubai – voted #15 on the DJ Mag’s list of the top 100 clubs in the world.
Accommodations at Hilton Al Habtoor City or similar
Day 10:
Jan 28 (Sat) Departure Day – Dubai to Seattle (B)
Buffet breakfast at hotel, lunch and dinner on your own. Enjoy free time on your own until we depart by air-conditioned coach for Dubai International Airport. Leave your luggage at the front desk if you would like to go out until we depart.
9:55 AM Depart for Seattle on Emirates flight EK 229, meal service on the flight.
12:35 PM Arrive at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. After immigration inspection meet your tour escort at baggage claim then proceed to customs and transfer to our Seattle hotel. Dinner on your own. Try Din Tai Fung’s soup dumplings at the nearby Westfield Southcenter mall!
Accommodations at Crowne Plaza Seattle Airport or similar
Day 11:
Jan 29 (Sun) Home to Honolulu!
Breakfast at hotel. Bring luggage to lobby for hotel checkout.
7:00 AM Transfer to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for our flight to Honolulu.
9:15 AM Depart for Honolulu on Hawaiian Airlines flight HA 21.
1:30 PM Arrive at Arrive at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. WELCOME HOME!
Note: Air and Land Itinerary are subject to change.
Departure from Honolulu with air $4,499.00
PLEASE CONTACT MAIN OFFICE FOR TOUR DETAILS: 808-979-0111 or email us at hnl02@jtbusa.com.