Cruising the Arabian Coast – with Smithsonian

Vertiginous, excessive, immoderate… Dubai, the largest city in the United Arab Emirates, stands out for its architectural follies. Home to the world’s tallest skyscraper, the Burj Kahlifa, with a total height of 828 metres, almost three times that of the Eiffel Tower, the city is also famous for the gigantic scale of the Palm Islands, its artificial islands in the form of a palm tree. You can explore more traditional districts not far away, with visits of the souks of Deira or the Gold Souk. Or perhaps you would prefer to discover Dubai Museum: located in an 18th-century fort, it tells the city’s history from Antiquity to the present day.

Vertiginous, excessive, immoderate… Dubai, the largest city in the United Arab Emirates, stands out for its architectural follies. Home to the world’s tallest skyscraper, the Burj Kahlifa, with a total height of 828 metres, almost three times that of the Eiffel Tower, the city is also famous for the gigantic scale of the Palm Islands, its artificial islands in the form of a palm tree. You can explore more traditional districts not far away, with visits of the souks of Deira or the Gold Souk. Or perhaps you would prefer to discover Dubai Museum: located in an 18th-century fort, it tells the city’s history from Antiquity to the present day.

A pearl in the desert, Doha is the capital of Qatar and manages to harmonise modern life with ancient traditions. You will have an opportunity to enjoy a 4×4 trip across the Arabian dunes to an inland sea of sand and breathtaking scenery.

A pearl in the desert, Doha is the capital of Qatar and manages to harmonise modern life with ancient traditions. You will have an opportunity to enjoy a 4×4 trip across the Arabian dunes to an inland sea of sand and breathtaking scenery.

Often referred to as the “Manhattan of the Emirates”, Abu Dhabi is today one of the wealthiest cities in the world. Be sure to take time to visit the Heritage Village, an amazing reconstruction of the way of life, traditions and culture of Bedouin camps in the desert.

In the heart of the Musandam “fjords” opening into the Ormuz Strait and Gulf of Oman, Khasab is known as the Arabian Norway. This picturesque fishing village of old houses, souks and a lively market also has a fort built by the Portuguese in the 16th century.

With its wild unspoiled coastline, hidden valleys and perched villages, Fujairah is a truly authentic emirate in the image of the tough Sharqiyin tribe of the Emirates’ east coast. You can explore the old city, the Al Juma souk and the imposing Fujairah fort, or head out ihttp://testshop.traveltek.net/system/cruises.pl?action=itineraryitem_addedit&itemid=21334nto the desert in a 4×4 to see the magnificent red dunes of shifting sands.

Unlike neighbouring metropolises, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman has chosen to ban towers and skyscrapers and to cultivate the peninsula’s traditional and refined architectural style: low houses, domes, moucharaby windows, and wooden balconies. This authenticity adds to the charm of this small former maritime city protected by mountains and the forts constructed by the Portuguese in the 16th century. There is no doubt that you will fall under the charm of the treasures of Omani craftsmanship: the souk in the old district of Mutrah is a perfect example of this, as is the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.