Compare Luxury Dubai: beach & desert by Audley Travel vs United Arab Emirates & Maldives in 8 days - Emirate City & All-Inclusive Paradise - LUXURY by Exoticca

Day 1: Dubai

Accommodation: Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa

On arrival at Dubai’s airport, you’ll be met by our representatives, who’ll drive you to your hotel in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, on the outskirts of the Arabian Desert. Here, you can settle into your private villa and perhaps enjoy the sunset over the dunes from the hotel’s terrace bar.

Day 2: Dubai

Accommodation: Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa

Speak with your private concierge and field guide about which activities you could do today to make the most of your time in the desert. You may want to try your hand at archery, take an exhilarating 4x4 drive out among the deep-orange dunes, or ride a horse through the palmed oasis.

Day 3: Dubai

Accommodation: Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa

This morning you could take a guided walk around the reserve to learn about the flora and fauna that thrives in this arid environment. Wildlife you might see includes camels, gazelles and Arabian oryx, which were once thought to be extinct, but now roam the reserve in large herds. This evening, take a guided camel trek out to the crest of a dune to watch the sunset while sipping on Champagne and enjoying local snacks.

Day 4: Dubai

Accommodation: One&Only The Palm

Today you’ll be driven back through the city of Dubai and across to the Palm Jumeirah peninsula along the coast. Here, you’ll stay for four nights at the One&Only The Palm, a lavish resort with sparkling pools and its own private stretch of beach. Spend the rest of the day relaxing and choose from one of the resort’s handful of fine restaurants for dinner, taking in views over the city’s growing skyline.

Day 5: Dubai

Accommodation: One&Only The Palm

Wake up this morning and enjoy a mouth-watering breakfast alfresco. You could then relax on a daybed beside the pool, taking a dip to cool off in the sun-dappled water, or stretch out on the beach to the sound of gentle waves lapping the shore. You might also like to visit the Guerlain Spa for a pampering treatment that leaves you completely rejuvenated.

Day 6: Dubai

Accommodation: One&Only The Palm

Today you could venture into the city, perhaps taking a taxi or private vehicle to the historic side of Dubai, where skyscrapers are replaced with traditional low-rise stone buildings. Wander the souqs, laden with spices, textiles and gold, taste traditional Middle Eastern dishes that you won’t find on the menus of the city’s fine-dining restaurants, or take an evening dhow boat cruise along the tranquil Dubai Creek.

Day 7: Dubai

Accommodation: One&Only The Palm

You might like to rise early this morning to join a yoga session on the beach. Then, enjoy the final day of your trip however you please: you could try some water sports in the marina, soak up the sights of Downtown Dubai, where you could head to the Burj Khalifa’s exclusive 148th floor, or simply enjoy further relaxation within your resort’s opulent surroundings.

Day 8: Return home

You’ll be driven back to the airport today in time for your flight home.

Day 1: US - Night on board

Arrive at your US departure airport ready to check-in for a flight* to the luxurious city of Dubai. Night on board. * If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.

Day 2: Dubai

Arrive in Dubai and transfer to the hotel.* The remainder of the day is free to discover this modern Emirati metropolis at your leisure. We recommend visiting the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world and a symbol of the city of 828 meters and 160 floors. Since its inauguration in 2010, it offers the best views of the desert and the city. Underneath is the largest shopping center in the world, the Dubai Mall where 1200 stores of all kinds are located. A shopping paradise! Overnight stay in Dubai. * You will have the option to add early check-in on arrival in Dubai (before 3:00 p.m.) in the next step of the booking process.

Day 3: Dubai

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the morning at your leisure, exploring the old town or sunning yourself on Dubai's idyllic beaches. We recommend an optional excursion to explore the older parts of the city.* At dusk, take an exciting 4x4 excursion to the desert. Pass through camel farms and spectacular desert landscapes, as the sand dunes are illuminated at sunset until arriving at a traditional camp. Here, enjoy a delicious barbeque dinner under the stars with traditional entertainment including Belly Dancing,* waterpipes and camel rides. Return to the hotel and overnight stay in Dubai. * Optional Half-Day Classic Dubai Tour: Visit the Bastakia neighbourhood, home to old merchant houses and cafes, and learn about Dubai's history with included entrance to the Dubai Museum. Take a traditional river taxi, known as an 'Abra' across Dubai Creek to the aromatic souks of Old Dubai, filled with stalls selling exotic spices and golden wares. Please note: this optional excursion operates on Friday afternoons and Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday mornings only.

Day 4: Dubai

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the day at your leisure, enjoying a shopping spree in Dubai's fabulous malls or relaxing at your leisure on the beach. We recommend an optional tour of the city's modern attractions.* Overnight stay in Dubai. * Optional Half-Day Modern Dubai Tour: Visit the most emblematic sights in the city including the Jumeirah Mosque and the Burj Al Arab, the world's most luxurious hotel. Travel to the man-made palm-shaped island of Palm Jumeirah to see the amazing Atlantis Hotel before heading back to the city on the monorail. Afterwards, explore glittering Dubai Marina, the Mall of Emirates, to see the impressive Ski Dubai, and the jaw-dropping Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. Please note: this optional excursion operates on Mondays and Fridays only.

Day 5: Dubai - Maldives

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the day exploring the city at your leisure. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport to board your flight to Malé, the capital of the Maldives. Touch down in Malé, the capital of the Maldives. From here, take an exciting speedboat transfer to your resort, situated on an island in the pristine Indian Ocean. Arrive, get settled in and begin your All-inclusive stay. Overnight stay in the Maldives. * You will have the option to add late check-out in Dubai in the next step of the booking process.

Day 6: Maldives

All-inclusive. Enjoy a day at your leisure in the Maldives, soaking up the breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean from the comforts of a white-sand beach or exploring the abundant sea life on a snorkeling excursion. The facilities at the resort are there to make your stay as blissful as possible, so make the most of them as you begin to unwind from the stresses of daily life. Overnight stay in the Maldives.

Day 7: Maldives

All-inclusive. Enjoy the day at your leisure. We recommend a diving excursion, whether you're a first-timer or already accustomed to the underwater world. The Maldives is considered one of the world's best diving destinations as the waters surrounding its atolls are inhabited by thousands of species of whales, dolphins, turtles and fish, so don't miss out on the opportunity to explore for yourself. Overnight stay in the Maldives.

Day 8: Maldives

All-inclusive. Enjoy your final day in the Maldives at your leisure. Make the most of your last moments in paradise by exploring the island and finding the most perfect stretch of beach in which to contemplate the picture-perfect ocean views. Arrange a romantic meal or enjoy the resort entertainment to bring a memorable close to your idyllic escape. Overnight stay in the Maldives.

Day 9: Maldives - Night on board

Breakfast* at the hotel. Sadly, it's time to bid farewell to the paradise shores of the Maldives. At the indicated time, take a speedboat transfer to Malé to catch a flight back to the US. Night on board. * Depending on the return flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day.

Day 10: US

Arrive in the US and end your trip.