Portrait of Arabia: The Emirates, Qatar & Oman

Deposit Information:

The deposit and the fees for the optional Protection Plan or Cancel Fee Waiver [CFW] coverage are due at time of booking. Your deposit is £750.

Terms and Conditions:

For additional information pertaining to our Tauck Journeys, including Cancellation Information and Booking Conditions, click here to learn more.

At the time of booking, please have the following information ready:

• Tour Name and Departure Date Desired
• Traveler Name(s):  Please have first and last names as they appear on the passport or driver's license.
• Traveler's Address(es)
• Traveler's Phone Number(s)
• Emergency Contact Information: This would be a relative or friend whom we could contact during the tour in the event of an emergency. Please provide their name and phone number(s).
• Interest in purchasing a travel protection product (US and Canada)
• Interest in extending your trip by staying in a Tauck recommended hotel before your trip begins or after it ends
• Interest in our specially negotiated airfares.

Regarding your final payment:

Final Payment is due as specified on the invoice. Bookings without full payment at this time may be subject to cancellation without notice. 

Deposit Information:

The deposit and the fees for the optional Protection Plan or Cancel Fee Waiver [CFW] coverage are due at time of booking. Your deposit is £750.

Terms and Conditions:

For additional information pertaining to our Tauck Journeys, including Cancellation Information and Booking Conditions, click here to learn more.

At the time of booking, please have the following information ready:

• Tour Name and Departure Date Desired
• Traveler Name(s):  Please have first and last names as they appear on the passport or driver's license.
• Traveler's Address(es)
• Traveler's Phone Number(s)
• Emergency Contact Information: This would be a relative or friend whom we could contact during the tour in the event of an emergency. Please provide their name and phone number(s).
• Interest in purchasing a travel protection product (US and Canada)
• Interest in extending your trip by staying in a Tauck recommended hotel before your trip begins or after it ends
• Interest in our specially negotiated airfares.

Regarding your final payment:

Final Payment is due to Tauck 60 days before departure for lands trips, and 120 days before departure for cruises and rail journeys. If your deposit was made by credit card, final payment will be automatic unless you opted out at time of booking. Bookings without full payment at this time may be subject to cancellation without notice. Failure to make payment will be a considered a cancellation by the guest and all applicable cancellation fees will apply.

If you are a U.S. citizen traveling internationally, you will need a passport valid for six months beyond the completion of your Tauck journey for entry into the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar. Visas are not required for Qatar or United Arab Emirates.  

Omani tourist visas are not required for stays up to 14 days. If your visit to Oman exceeds 14 days, a visa can be obtained upon arrival by air or maritime in Oman. It is not recommended for U.S. citizens to obtain their visas in advance.                                                                                                    

Additionally, your passport must contain at least 2 consecutive blank pages for Qatar, 1 blank page for United Arab Emirates and 1 blank page for Oman.                       

Please Note: Longer stays abroad for any purpose may require additional travel documentation.

If you are a citizen of another country traveling internationally, you should contact a consulate or embassy of the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar to determine what travel documentation is required.

You will be issued a boarding card, which you must present before embarking the ship in each port.

We recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, the date of expiration and your citizenship. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.

To facilitate Travel Requirements, destinations are increasingly utilizing online forms that require digital proof that you've successfully completed your submission (via an email, QR code, etc.) To ensure smooth travels and peace of mind, we strongly recommend all guests carry a personal smart phone and sign up for international data plans before traveling overseas.

Note: For activities marked with an asterisk (*) in day-by-day descriptions, participation is at your own risk; a signed liability waiver will be required.

TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN AS A GUARDIAN: If you are traveling as the guardian of a child/children, we strongly suggest that you carry a letter from both parents of the child authorizing emergency treatment in the event of illness or accident. For travel abroad, many foreign countries have specific entry requirements for children under 21 who are traveling internationally without BOTH parents. (These requirements are in response to the increased incidence of children being abducted and taken abroad.) PLEASE NOTE THAT TAUCK IS NOT RESPONSIBLE for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for children traveling without both parents.

AIRFARE: Airfare to and from this destination is not included in the journey cost. If purchasing your air elsewhere, it is very important to provide us with your confirmed arriving and departing flight information no later than 3 weeks before your arrival date. Flight information can be submitted to Tauck (or verified, if you've already provided it) in the My Account section of Tauck.com.

TAUCK AIRPORT TRANSFERS are included at the start and end of the journey between the airport and the Tauck hotel. Airport transfers are available for any pre tour or post tour hotel stays immediately consecutive to the tour, providing flight information is received in the Tauck office no later than three weeks in advance. Details on locating your transfer upon arrival to the tour start city will be included in your final documents.

AIRLINES and CHECKED LUGGAGE: Due to space limitations during your Tauck journey, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one average-size suitcase per person. Besides complying with the Tauck restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Tauck journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and are free to revise luggage policies without notice. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Tauck cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by the failure to research and comply with airline policies. PLEASE NOTE that if you are booked on a tour that includes on-tour flights, the checked luggage weight restrictions for these flights may be lower than the weight restrictions for your international flights.

Checked Luggage – General

Due to space restrictions, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one suitcase per person weighing no more than 50 pounds (23 kg) and with overall dimensions (length + width + height) not exceeding 62 inches (158 cm).

Besides complying with the Tauck restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Tauck journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and luggage exceeding airline standards for size or weight may result in expensive overage fees or other consequences.

Airlines are free to revise luggage policies without notice, and certain airlines have different baggage allowances for different classes of service. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Tauck cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by the failure to research and comply with airline policies.

Tauck luggage tags will be provided by your Tauck Director on Day 1 of your itinerary. Please do not attach a Tauck luggage tag to any carry-on items, as the Tauck tags designate luggage that is to be handled and transferred by ground operators and hotel staff during your journey. 

Carry-on Luggage - General

Although oversize bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.

For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and that you bring only those items you need handy during the day such as make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or on the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may be inaccessible during daytime travel.

HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS

Le Bougainville is registered in the France. Please check with your health insurance provider to determine whether you are covered while traveling. If you will not be covered under your current policy, we strongly suggest that you arrange for adequate coverage while on tour.

If you have a medical condition that might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify us as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly.

VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Some of the countries visited on this itinerary may require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against certain diseases in order to enter the country. These requirements are subject to frequent change as outbreaks occur and subside in different areas, and it is therefore crucial that you obtain the very latest information on entry requirements as you prepare for your journey.

For the most current information, please consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by clicking here and the World Health Organization (WHO) by clicking here. You may also wish to visit the web sites for the embassies of the countries you will be visiting. Besides providing details on vaccination requirements, these sites can also provide information on vaccinations that may be recommended (but aren't required) and other potential health issues for which no vaccines are available.

Any decisions relating to your health, of course, should not be based solely on information provided by a web site.  It is critically important that you consult with your personal physician prior to your journey to obtain any required vaccinations and to review any optional recommendations offered by the CDC or other sources.

Please be sure to discuss your journey with your physician at least four to six weeks in advance of your departure, as certain vaccinations take time to become fully effective.  Also, be certain to ask your physician for proof of any vaccinations you receive, and to pack this proof along with your other travel documents in your carry-on luggage (not in your checked luggage).

Researching and complying with vaccination entry requirements for the countries visited on this itinerary is the responsibility of the traveler and not Tauck. Tauck is therefore not responsible for any expenses incurred or disruptions to travel caused by improper or incomplete vaccinations, or by the failure to provide proof of required vaccinations.

If you do not obtain the necessary vaccinations and proper documentation, you may be denied entry into one or more countries, or temporarily quarantined until the necessary vaccinations are administered, or until proper documentation is provided.

MOBILITY

To enjoy this cruise, you should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances, often over unpaved and uneven, rocky and sandy terrain, as our activities include visiting national parks, biological reserves, rainforests and rustic villages. Some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot. Additionally, you must be steady and balanced aboard ship while you cruise the shores of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman.

A doctor and limited medical facilities are available onboard. However, if you take special medications, please bring an adequate supply with you; they may not be available onboard. Medical services and all medicines (except acetaminophen, aspirin and anti-nausea pills) dispensed to you by the ship's doctor will be charged to your shipboard account. If you become ill during the voyage and the physician is unable to care for your needs onboard, you will be transferred to medical facilities onshore.

Le Bourgainville has three elevators.

PLEASE NOTE:  We regret that this Tauck itinerary cannot accommodate wheelchairs or motorized scooters.  Likewise, we regret that we're unable to provide individual assistance to guests with walking difficulties or other personal needs.  The responsibility of the Tauck Director who accompanies your trip is to ensure that the larger group enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing individual assistance to any one guest.  Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it.

SPECIAL DIETARY REQUESTS

The restaurants, hotels, caterers and numerous other partners we work with all do their best to accommodate special dietary requests from Tauck guests. However, given the diverse nature of those food providers (from small wineries to grand hotels to world-famous restaurants in more than 70 countries worldwide), some of our partners are better able than others to accommodate such requests. We therefore cannot guarantee that all dietary requests can be accommodated at every meal. Also, please note that where dietary requests can be accommodated, choices will frequently be limited.

SMOKING

Smoking is not permitted on the motor coaches or inside the ship, including inside staterooms. Smoking is only permitted on the outer decks in the designated smoking areas. These regulations pertain to e-cigarettes as well.

Airline Disinsection

Please check with your carrier or refer to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) guidance letter that requires airlines and travel agents to disclose to consumers countries that require the use of insecticides by airlines. Please click here for more information.

We have compiled a reading list of recommended books to give you more information about the destinations you will be traveling to on your upcoming journey!

You can view the reading list here.

Because of the arid environments, the climate along our route is warm and has largely sunshine year round with very little rain.

Doha has a hot desert climate. Summer is very long, from May to September, when its average high temperatures surpass 38 °C (100 °F) and often approach 47 °C (117 °F). Humidity is usually the least in May and June. Dewpoints can surpass 25 °C (77 °F) in the summer. Throughout the summer, the city averages almost no precipitation, and less than 20 mm (0.79 in) during other months. Rainfall is scarce, at a total of 75 mm (2.95 in) per annum, falling on isolated days mostly between October to March. Winters are warm and the temperature rarely drops below 7 °C (45 °F).

The climate of Muscat features a hot, arid climate with long and very hot summers and warm winters. Annual rainfall in Muscat is about 100 mm (4 in), falling mostly from December to April. In general, precipitation is scarce in Muscat with several months, on average, seeing only a trace of rainfall. The climate is very hot, with temperatures reaching as high as 49°C (120°F) in the summer. For sightseeing, the best time to visit Muscat is from December to March as the temperatures are moderate and pleasant, making it easy to move around. Between mid-March and October, travel is very exhausting with the average temperature between 31° C to 38° C.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi have tropical desert climates because of its location within the Northern desert belt. Summers are extremely hot, humid and very dry, with an average high around 40 °C (104 °F) yet usually higher than 40, and overnight lows around 30 °C (86 °F). The highest recorded temperature in Dubai is 48.5 °C(119 °F) on 27 July 2012. Most days are sunny throughout the year. Winters are warm and short with an average high of 23 °C (73 °F) and overnight lows of 14 °C(57 °F). Precipitation, however, has been increasing in the last few decades with accumulated rain reaching 150 mm (5.91 in) per year. The weather in Dubai can bring short and irregular rainfall as is typical for the Middle East. Most of the rainfall occurs in the period between December to March. The weather during this time remains warm and is considered as most comfortable climatic conditions throughout the year.

To read about current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, noaa.gov, by clicking here.

Your journey through Qatar, Oman and UAE is casual. Dress for comfort and convenience with a wardrobe that is adaptable and allows for layering. Comfortable, cotton clothing is suggested. For travel in January you will need a light jacket or fleece, a light sweater and a rain poncho. No special attire is required for dining, although you may wish to dress more formally for fine a dining experience in metropolitan areas. Most importantly, bring comfortable yet sturdy walking shoes that have already been broken-in. It is important that your shoes have good ankle support, as we visit some ancient sites where paths and stairs may be uneven and unpaved.

Each country we visit on this itinerary is primarily a Muslim country. Muslim women's clothing often covers their arms, legs and hair. Western women are not subject to these customs, but very revealing clothing is never appropriate and conservative dress is advisable for women, particularly in sightseeing areas. Shorts are rarely worn by women, and would be out of place in some of the sightseeing areas visited on-tour. Topless sunbathing is prohibited and one-piece swimsuits are preferred, although two-piece swimsuits are acceptable at hotel pools and on the ship.

In the ship's main dining room, slacks and a collared shirt are acceptable for gentlemen, and for women, slacks/skirt and a blouse are appropriate. We have found, however, that the international mix of travelers on board tend to dress somewhat more formally than one might expect. Thus, you may prefer to wear a jacket and tie or a cocktail dress for special evenings like the Captain's welcome and farewell dinners aboard Le Bougainville, and for the special welcome and farewell dinners at the beginning and end of your journey. For dinner and throughout the evening, guests should refrain from wearing swimming shorts, bathing suits, t-shirts, tennis shoes or flip-flops. Additionally, this attire is not allowed in the Deck 2 restaurant at lunch.

For higher elevations and cool, breezy nights at sea, bring a windbreaker, sweater, or light jacket. Please also note that sundries, toiletries, and medications are difficult to obtain during this itinerary.

Consider packing a number of garments you can wear in different combinations over four or five days. On board the ship, next-day laundry and pressing service is available; dry cleaning services, irons and ironing boards are not available.

Beyond your normal wardrobe and personal grooming items, we suggest you also bring along:

• Comfortable walking shoes (VERY IMPORTANT!)
• Rainwear, such as a raincoat and rain hat, plus a collapsible umbrella
• Short and long-sleeved shirts/tee shirts (extra tee shirts are always a good idea)
• Pants for casual daytime wear
• Scarves for head coverage for women during visits to mosques
• Sport jacket for men (not required) and slacks/dress for women for evening wear
• Lightweight sweater
• Camera, lenses, batteries, memory cards and chargers
• Swimwear
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen and hat (baseball caps are recommended)
• Small flashlight
• Insect repellent
• Pre-moistened towelettes and/or antibacterial lotion
• Backpack for your photographic equipment or other belongings during ship-to-shore transfers
• Reuasble zipper lock bags or other waterproof bags to protect cameras and other valuables during ship-to-shore transfers
• Binoculars
• Travel alarm clock / cell phone with alarm functions (many hotels do not have clocks in the rooms)
• Prescription medicines (an adequate supply to last your entire journey), and written copies of your prescriptions from your doctor. While it may be possible to refill prescriptions during your journey, the availability of refills cannot be guaranteed. What's more, refilling prescriptions in foreign countries can be difficult and time-consuming.

We recommend that you pack any prescription medicines (an adequate supply for your entire journey) along with your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag, in order to minimize any inconvenience should your luggage be lost or delayed. We also recommend, for your peace of mind and personal security, that all expensive jewelry and other valuables be left at home.