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Cultural gay group tour of Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates. The Middle East is living, breathing proof of an old maxim: you don’t know, until you go. Forget the headlines and the hyperbole; this is the cradle of civilisations, an ancient land emerging as a modern power, with the money, culture and panache to back it up. We have tailored this unique 12-day journey to provide you with a rare and fascinating glimpse of the best places in the Gulf to experience the sharp contrast between traditional and ultra-modern Arabia in Oman, UAE, Bahrain and Qatar.

Wander through mud-brick villages with exotic bazaars and gardens, explore quiet stretches of coast lined with palm trees, travel through beautiful desert and mountain landscapes featuring venerable forts and visit numerous World Heritage Sites. Visit United Arab Emirates, which over the past few decades have become some one of the world’s most glamorous, spectacular and futuristic urban destinations and are providing the Islamic world with a model of political stability and religious tolerance.

Day 0 - Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Depart USA, Canada on regularly scheduled flight to Doha, Qatar.
Day 1 - Wednesday, November 27, 2019
• Afternoon introductions to this burgeoning megalopolis!
• Welcome Dinner.
Meals: Dinner
Hotel: The Ritz Carlton Doha Hotel, Doha, Qatar, 5*

Day 2 - Thursday, November 28, 2019
• Museum of Islamic Arts
• Souq Waqif & Falcon Shops
• Panoramic drive, passing-through sea-front Corniche promenade (photo stop) / West Bay district
• The Pearl-Qatar / Porto Arabia Boardwalk & Marina
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: The Ritz Carlton Doha Hotel, Doha, Qatar, 5*

Day 3 - Fiday, November 29, 2019
• Fly to Muscat, Oman.
• Transfer to the hotel.
• Remainder of day at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: The Chedi Muscat Hotel, Muscat, Oman, 5*
Day 4 - Saturday, November 30, 2019
• Grand Mosque
• Panoramic drive
• Al Aalam Palace
• Bait Al Zubair Museum
• Muttrah Souq
• Omani dinner at a local restaurant
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: The Chedi Muscat Hotel, Muscat, Oman, 5*
Day 5 - Sunday, December 1, 2019
• Nizwa, Oman’s ancient capital
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: The Chedi Muscat Hotel, Muscat, Oman, 5*

Day 6 - Monday, December 2, 2019
• Fly to Bahrain.
• Transfer to the hotel.
• Remainder of day at leisure.
• Dinner in a local restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: The Ritz Carlton Bahrain Hotel, Manama, Bahrain, 5*
Day 7 - Tuesday, December 3, 2019
• Fateh Grand Mosque
• Bahrain National Museum
• Muharraq City
• Shaikh Isa Bin Ali House
• Camel Farm
• Qal’at al-Bahrain – Ancient Harbor and Capital of Dilmun, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Hotel: The Ritz Carlton Bahrain Hotel, Manama, Bahrain, 5*

Day 8 - Wednesday, December 4, 2019
• An early morning flight to Abu Dhabi.
• Refreshment stop on Yas Island, close to the Yas Marina F1 Circuit
• Abu Dhabi Corniche
• Drive past the Emirates Palace Hotel
• Lunch stop Al Raha Beach Resort and Spa
• Tour of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
• Tour of Louvre Museum
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: The Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi Hotel, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 5*
Day 9 - Thursday, December 5, 2019
• Jumeirah Mosque
• Photo stops by the Burj Al Arab and Burj Khalifa buildings
• Drive on the palm to visit the Atlantis Aquarium.
• Pass the palaces of the ruling family of Dubai, visit the Museum, as well as the Spice and Gold Souqs
• Private Desert Safari
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Address Downtown Hotel, Dubai, UAE, 5*

Day 10 - Friday, December 6, 2019
• The UAE comprises of 7 Emirates. These include Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras al Khaimah and Fujairah. These were independent sheikhdoms which unified as the United Arab Emirates in December of 1971. Though a political union, the individual emirates still have their own kings and local rules. The Arab Sheikhdoms Tour will help us explore all the emirates.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Address Downtown Hotel, Dubai, UAE, 5*

Day 11 - Saturday, December 7, 2019
• Full day to design your own tour:
A few Ideas are below:
• High Tea in Burj Al Arab
• High Tea in Burj Khalifa
• Sea Wings Scenic Tours
• Helicopter tours
• Walking Street Tour
• Dhow Cruise Dinner
• Bateaux Dubai Cruise with Dinner
• Farewell Dinner together.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Address Downtown Hotel, Dubai, UAE, 5*
Day 12 - Sunday, December 8, 2019
• After witnessing the lifestyles of the rich desert people of these remarkable sheikhdoms, we are transferred to the airport for our departure.
Meals: Breakfast
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• 11 nights accommodations as per itinerary:
- 2 nights at The Ritz Carlton Doha Hotel in Doha, Qatar;
- 3 nights at The Chedi Muscat Hotel in Muscat, Oman;
- 2 nights at The Ritz Carlton Bahrain Hotel in Manama, Bahrain;
- 1 night at The Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi Hotel in Abu Dhabi, UAE;
- 3 nights at Address Downtown Hotel in Dubai, UAE
• Tours and sightseeing as mentioned in the itinerary
• Coda representative on minimum participation
• Transfers as per the itinerary. One group arrival/departure transfer will be designated and included. Arrivals/departures outside the group designation are private transfers and charged separately
• Meals as per the itinerary (beverages are not included)
• Hotel porterage – 1 bag per person
• Pre-departure assistance and Coda Travel Portfolio
Intra-Tour Airfare
Intra-tour flights are additional. The cost is currently approx. $600 in coach class. Coda Tours will book the intra-tour flights. Rates are subject to change until ticketed.

• International Airfare Home/DOHA (DOH) | DUBAI (DBX)/Home
• Visa fees.
• Gratuities to guides & drivers;
• Items of personal nature, phone calls laundry, WiFi;
• Beverages during meals;
• Excess luggage charges.
• Trip Cancellation & Interruption insurance (recommended);
• Any other item not mentioned in Inclusions.

Travel Documents
A valid passport is required for international travel and must be valid for 6 months after the return date.
QATAR: When traveling on a U.S. passport, the Government of Qatar does not require prior visa arrangements and travelers may obtain a free visa waiver upon arrival. The waiver is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance and entitles the holder to spend up to 30 days in Qatar, or multiple entries during the 30-day validity. Passports must have a minimum validity of six months. More information can be found on the Government of Qatar website.
OMAN: U.S. citizens should apply for tourist visas in advance via the Royal Oman Police E-Visa website. Tourist visas (including 2-year multiple entry visitor visas) are also available upon arrival at airports and land crossings.
BAHRAIN: Apply for two-week tourist visas online on the Bahraini government website or upon arrival in the country.
UAE: A U.S. citizen with a regular passport may obtain a no fee visitor visa upon arrival.
Be sure you have enough empty pages in your passport.
International Airfare
Due to the existing embargo in place between UAE and QATAR, flying into Qatar and out of UAE is limited. Please check with us for the best routing from your home city. We recommend booking at least 7 months in advance if you want to use Frequent Flyer Miles or the American Express Platinum card 2-4-1 program.
Health
No immunizations are required for travel on this tour. However, the Center for Disease Control suggests that all travelers make sure they are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot.
Minimums
All departures are guaranteed on a minimum number of participants. A Coda Tour Manager will accompany a tour also based on a minimum number of participants. This tour can be operated as a Private Tour, can be customized and repriced based on a final itinerary.

The Ritz Carlton Doha Hotel, Doha, Qatar
This property is a 6-minute walk from the beach. Nestled on the shores of the Arabian Sea, the Ritz-Carlton Doha resort features a private beach with a free shuttle to and from the hotel. It also features a world-class spa, modern fitness center and elegant restaurants and bars. The property also features indoor and outdoor swimming pools and lush landscaped gardens.
The scenic views from the guest rooms take in Qatar peninsula and Doha’s skyline. Each of the rooms and suites are elegantly appointed in a contemporary style and feature opulent fabrics and striking calligraphy pieces adorning the walls.
The Lagoon restaurant, with its open kitchen, features a varied all-day buffet dining, combining Continental, Arabic and Far Eastern flavors. Flamingo offers panoramic sea views by the pool and serves snacks and light meals. STK Doha, a steakhouse, is opening soon and will be located on the 23rd floor. Afternoon tea can be enjoyed in the Lobby Lounge while La Dolce Vita and Habana offer live entertainment, evening cocktails and cigars.
The Chedi Muscat Hotel, Muscat, Oman
This property is a 5-minute walk from the beach. This 5-star beachfront resort in Muscat is a 15-minute drive from Muscat International Airport. It has a spa with massage services, swimming pools. Free WiFi is available throughout the entire property.
The air-conditioned rooms at The Chedi Muscat Hotel have a flat-screen TV, a private espresso machine and a spacious work desk. Some rooms have a seating area.
The Chedi Muscat also features 6 restaurants where guests can enjoy Arabic, Asian, International and fusion cuisine. The restaurants have indoor and outdoor dining areas.
The Chedi Muscat’s spa specializes in Balinese therapies, but also features therapies based on aromatherapy, Ayurveda and herbalism. This property also has one of the top-rated locations in Muscat!
The Ritz Carlton Bahrain Hotel, Manama, Bahrain
This property is 3 minutes walk from the beach. Located on the Manama seafront, this luxury hotel features an air-conditioned squash court and flood-lit tennis courts on the beach. It has an on-site shopping section with 6 designer boutiques.
Ritz-Carlton Bahrain's spa offers variety of beauty treatments including its signature massages. Guests can stretch their muscles using the fitness center’s cardio-vascular stations and resistance machines.
Each room at The Ritz-Carlton features 600-threadcount linen and offers 3 different types of pillows. Each room features interactive flat-screen TV with access to multilingual satellite channels.
Overlooking the landscaped gardens, Primavera serves light Italian dishes which include fine appetizers and gourmet dishes. Burlington Club features a well-stocked cigar collection as well as vintage wines and cognacs.
The Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi Hotel, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Set amid the landscaped gardens with its private beach overlooking the Grand Canal, Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi is inspired by renaissance architecture. It offers an outdoor pool, a gym and 8 restaurants.
Guests can enjoy an eclectic dining experience at Ritz-Carlton with the availability of 8 restaurants offering from Middle Eastern, Mediterranean to Pan-Asian cuisines. Room service is available 24 hours a day.
All rooms open onto lush gardens with direct views of the pool, gardens or Grand Canal. Each room offers a satellite TV, a Nespresso machine, a mini-bar and ironing facilities. The villa includes a terrace and a spacious living room complete with dining area.
Espa Spa features a steam room, a Hammam, a hair and beauty salon and 15 treatment rooms offering relaxing massages. The health club is fitted with a range of cardiovascular and weight equipment.
Address Downtown Hotel, Dubai, UAE
Towering high at 303 m across 63 levels, Address Downtown Hotel is a veritable landmark of luxury, located in the very center of Downtown Dubai. The hotel directly overlooks Burj Khalifa, offers uninterrupted views of the daily Dubai fountain show (the world’s tallest water-music spectacle) and is connected to The Dubai Mall (the world’s largest shopping mall) by a pathway-bridge.
Guests can choose among 9 unique restaurant concepts, serving a variety of cuisines from Asian to Latino, as well as local Middle Eastern specialties. The in house Neos Bar is located on the 63rd floor and overlooks the ever-changing Dubai skyline and Dubai Fountain View.
The 220 guest rooms and suites are equipped with high-speed wireless Internet, interactive TVs with Apple AirPlay devices, an entertainment interface, dressing areas with Hollywood mirrors and L-shaped sofa seating area. The marble bathrooms are fitted with dual sinks, a bathtub and a rain shower.
As a a wellness destination with state-of-the-art Technogym center, Address Downtown also offers an exclusive spa with 9 treatment rooms. The hotel is located next to Souk Al Bahar. Popular nearby attractions include the notorious Burj Khalifa skyscraper, the Dubai Fountain and the Dubai Mall, the greatest in the world.

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