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Arrive: Sun 03 December 2017 / Depart: Sun 03 December 2017 at 17:00
Known as the City of Merchants, Dubai is the second largest of the seven Emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In the entire Gulf, there is no place quite like Dubai. Its history began in the 1830s when the city broke away from Abu Dhabi and became a centre of commerce and trading in its own right. In fact, Dubai's wealth is founded on trade, not oil. When oil was discovered in 1966, it merely contributed to the city's prosperity and sped up modernization. Modern development began at the turn of the last century with heavy import-export trading, mainly in gold. What opium was to the growth of Hong Kong, gold was to Dubai. As the leading centre for business and tourism in the Middle East, Dubai offers a fascinating kaleidoscope of contrasts in a distinctive blend of modern city and timeless desert, east and west, old and new. As an exotic destination with a cosmopolitan lifestyle, Dubai combines the comfort and conveniences of the Western world with the unique charm of Arabia. Even with a high degree of tolerance for different lifestyles, Dubai remains close to its heritage. Dubai's souqs and shopping malls are crammed with goods - at some of the world's best prices. But there is more to the city than shopping. Visitors find an outstanding museum and superb recreational facilities, ranging from golf and water sports to desert safaris and dhow cruises. As the sports capital of the Middle East, Dubai boasts four championship golf courses. It is a regular fixture on the European and Asian PGA circuits and hosts the Dubai World Cup - known as the world's richest horse race. An endless array of restaurants and nightspots offers a wide choice of cuisine and entertainment.
Arrive: Mon 04 December 2017 at 08:00 / Depart: Mon 04 December 2017 at 18:00
Just a few decades ago, Abu Dhabi, the island capital of the United Arab Emirates, was a small fishing village with houses made of mud-brick and palm fronds. Today, as a result of revenue from oil, Abu Dhabi is one of the world's richest cities, with wide tree-lined boulevards, lush green parks, gushing fountains and imposing skyscrapers. Somewhat of a dichotomy, Abu Dhabi is a combination of ultra-modern sophistication and Arab mystique.
Arrive: Tue 05 December 2017 at 08:00 / Depart: Tue 05 December 2017 at 17:00
Arrive: Wed 06 December 2017 at 13:00 / Depart: Wed 06 December 2017 at 18:00
Fujairah, one of the seven emirates that constitute the United Arab Emirates, lies on the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, alongside the Indian Ocean and thus outside the Gulf. With a stunning setting of wide sandy beaches set against a backdrop of the rugged Haijar mountains, Fujairah is an emirate of contrasts, attracting slowly a growing number of visitors, especially those in search of a different kind of “sun, sea and sand” vacation. Economically, Fujairah experienced considerable development in recent years, thanks to its strategic location at the crossroads between east and west. Today, the emirate has a bustling economy based on its natural resources, a strong industrial and commercial base as well as thriving international port, airport and free trade zone. Significant international investment is now seeing the building of luxury hotels and associated tourism facilities. Careful planning ensures the preservation and protection of the town's rich cultural heritage and natural beauty. Despite several new luxury hotels and resorts along the picturesque coastline, the charm and tranquility, which characterized the town in times gone by, remain largely unchanged. In addition to ancient fortresses perched on rocky hilltops, there are date palm groves that grow to the sea's edge, abundant marine life and beautiful beaches that invite exploration. Please Note: Our call falls during the time of Ramadan, when Moslems fast from daybreak until sunset each day. Non-Moslems are requested to avoid eating, drinking or smoking in the presence of a Moslem during this period. Some hotel restaurants remain open during this time, but will not serve alcohol. Alcohol is only served after sunset.
Arrive: Thu 07 December 2017 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 07 December 2017 at 16:00
Surrounded by striking mountains on one side and soft sandy shores along the coast, Muscat was already a thriving port in ancient times. As the capital of modern Oman with wide avenues and architecture that features both contemporary and traditional design, parts of the city still retain their medieval appearance, including two ancient Portuguese forts flanking the rocky cove around which the city is built. During the 14th and 15th centuries, Muscat was an important outpost for the powerful kings of Hormuz. In the 16th century, the Portuguese took possession of Muscat, but lost their dominance in the Gulf when the city came again under Omani rule in 1650. Since the mid-18th century, members of the Al-Busaidy dynasty have been the rulers of Oman. From the time of Sultan Qaboos Bin Said's accession to the throne in 1970, the Sultanate has gone from an underdeveloped country to a modern state with imposing government buildings, hospitals, new roads, a university and a sport complex. Muscat's picturesque old buildings still co-exist with modern commercial and residential quarters, giving the city an ambiance all its own. The seaside palace of His Majesty, Sultan Qaboos, offers a spectacular sight, as it stands between steep rocky hills. Greater Muscat covers a huge area divided into three sections: the old port area, the main trading and residential area, and the modern Central Banking District. Sumptuous villas and deluxe hotels are part of an ongoing building boom. Strong development in tourism has gained Oman a new role as an intriguing, fascinating and safe destination. Oman is full of treasures - from historic palaces and traditional buildings to captivating landscapes and gracious people. Its advent into modern age has managed beautifully to blend age-old mystique with a taste of the 21st century.
Arrive: Sun 10 December 2017 at 08:00 / Depart: Sun 10 December 2017 at 17:00
Mumbai, or Bombay as it is more commonly known, is India's business capital. In the 500 years since its “discovery” by the Portuguese, Mumbai has been transformed from an aboriginal fishing village into a sprawling metropolis of some 14 million people. It is the money capital of India, a magnet for entrepreneurs, the home of India's stock exchange, and headquarters for many national and international companies.
Arrive: Tue 12 December 2017 at 08:00
Cochin (also known as Kochi) is the great, old Keralan spice city. It consists of mainland Ernakulam, the islands of Willingdon, Bolgatty and Gundu in the harbor, Fort Cochin and Mattancheri on the southern peninsula and Vypeen Island north of Cochin. Because of the area's dense tropical forests, extensive ridges and ravines, it has been sheltered from invaders and the rest of India. This encouraged Keralites to welcome maritime contact, and therefore influence from the outside world. Cochin still has a small community of descendants from Jewish settlers who fled Palestine centuries ago. When the Portuguese arrived here during the Middle Ages, they were surprised to find Christianity already established along this coast. Traders from far-off lands have been coming to Kerala since ancient times in search of spices, sandalwood and ivory. Such long contact with people from overseas has resulted in the blending of various cultures and has given Keralites a cosmopolitan outlook. The present-day State of Kerala was created in 1956 as a result of combining Travancore, Cochin and Malabar. The latter was at one time part of Madras State, while both Travancore and Cochin were princely states ruled by a rajah. Unlike some rajahs in other parts of India who exploited their people and squandered the proceeds on high living, the rajahs of both Travancore and Cochin made efforts to provide basic services and education for their subjects. This resulted in the post-independence state being one of the most progressive, literate and highly educated of all the states in India.
Depart: Wed 13 December 2017
Cochin (also known as Kochi) is the great, old Keralan spice city. It consists of mainland Ernakulam, the islands of Willingdon, Bolgatty and Gundu in the harbor, Fort Cochin and Mattancheri on the southern peninsula and Vypeen Island north of Cochin. Because of the area's dense tropical forests, extensive ridges and ravines, it has been sheltered from invaders and the rest of India. This encouraged Keralites to welcome maritime contact, and therefore influence from the outside world. Cochin still has a small community of descendants from Jewish settlers who fled Palestine centuries ago. When the Portuguese arrived here during the Middle Ages, they were surprised to find Christianity already established along this coast. Traders from far-off lands have been coming to Kerala since ancient times in search of spices, sandalwood and ivory. Such long contact with people from overseas has resulted in the blending of various cultures and has given Keralites a cosmopolitan outlook. The present-day State of Kerala was created in 1956 as a result of combining Travancore, Cochin and Malabar. The latter was at one time part of Madras State, while both Travancore and Cochin were princely states ruled by a rajah. Unlike some rajahs in other parts of India who exploited their people and squandered the proceeds on high living, the rajahs of both Travancore and Cochin made efforts to provide basic services and education for their subjects. This resulted in the post-independence state being one of the most progressive, literate and highly educated of all the states in India.
Arrive: Thu 14 December 2017 at 14:00 / Depart: Thu 14 December 2017 at 19:00
The Maldives encompass a chain of more than a thousand small, low-lying coral islands. Created by the peaks of an ancient submerged volcanic mountain range, the islands are protected from the open ocean by barrier reefs that enclose crystal-clear lagoons and brilliant white beaches. The atoll stretches across the equator in a thin strip 452 miles long and 70 miles wide. There are no hills or rivers in the Maldives and none of the islands rise more than nine feet above sea level. It is feared that the whole archipelago could be submerged within 30 years because of the rising sea level caused by the greenhouse effect. The history of the Maldives can be divided into two stages - before and after the conversion to Islam in 1153. According to a theory by Kon-Tiki explorer Thor Heyerdahl, the islands lying at the trading crossroads of several ancient maritime nations date from around 2000 BC. The first settlers are thought to have arrived from Ceylon and southern India at around 500 BC. While there is no concrete information of the pre-Muslim period, the second stage is well documented through a series of sultanic dynasties to the recent birth and rebirth of the republic. In the long history of the Maldives little interference was experienced from colonial powers except for a 15-year occupation by the Portuguese in the mid-16th century; it was a British protectorate from 1887 to 1965.
Arrive: Mon 18 December 2017 at 08:00 / Depart: Mon 18 December 2017
Like jade-colored jewels in the Indian Ocean, the more than 100 Seychelles Islands are often regarded as the Garden of Eden. Lying just four degrees south of the equator, the Seychelles are some 1,000 miles from the nearest mainland Africa. Little more than 200 years ago, all 115 islands were uninhabited.Then in 1742 a French ship dispatched from Mauritius sailed into one of the small bays. Captain Lazare Picault was the first to explore these unnamed islands. He encountered breathtaking vistas of rugged mountains, lagoons, coral atolls, splendid beaches and secluded coves. After Picault sailed away, the islands remained untouched for the next 14 years. Then France took possession of the seven islands in the Mahé group. During an expedition Captain Morphey named them the Sechelles, in honor of Vicomte Moreau de Sechelles.This name was later anglicized to Seychelles. The first settlers arrived at St. Anne's Island in 1770; 15 years later the population of Mahé consisted of seven Europeans and 123 slaves. Today there are about 80,000 Seychellois, the majority of whom live on Mahé; the rest are scattered in small communities throughout the archipelago.The people are a fusion of three continents — Africa, Asia and Europe.This has created a unique culture and the use of three languages — Creole, French and English. Mahé is the largest island in the archipelago and the location of the capital,Victoria. Ringed by steep, magnificent mountains, few capitals can claim a more beautiful backdrop.The town features a mixture of modern and indigenous architecture; it is the center of business and commerce thanks to the extensive port facilities. Noteworthy sites in Victoria are the museum, cathedral, government house, clock tower, botanical gardens and an open-air market.
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