A charming desert oasis that has been an important stop on the caravan trail since time immemorial, today Al Ain is a verdant garden city. Travelling through striking desert scenery, our first stop is the archaeological digs at Hili, a settlement that dates back some 5,000 years.  

We arrive at Al Ain Museum, with its adjoining fortress, before taking a short walk through the oasis with its ancient falaj irrigation system. 

After lunch, we stop at the Al Ain Palace Museum, which was home to the UAE's late ruler Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan from 1927 until the early 1970s. Our final stop before returning to Dubai is at the traditional and highly colourful, camel market.