Other activities in Middle East
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Dizin Resort
The largest field in Iran and home to Iranian skiing, Dizin Resort, The runs aren’t difficult. Still, with a vertical drop of about 900m it should appeal to anyone feeling the need for speed. With base camp at about 2700m and the upper slopes about 3500m, skiing is usually possible from December until April. From the base, you take an antique-looking gondola to the mid-station, and another to the top. A third gondola ferries you to the eastern slopes.
reviewed
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A
Knight Tours
Knight Tours is the only operator we could find that employs Emirati guides. The company’s owner is a UAE national with Bedouin roots and his company’s philosophy of giving tourists an authentic experience can make a real difference if you want to learn about activities such as falconry and camel breeding. Half-day (adult/child Dh220/110) and full-day (adult/child Dh450/225, minimum four people) tours end up at Knight’s attractive ‘Bedouin Village’, where guests can smoke sheesha, get henna tattoos and try on traditional dress. Knight earns bonus points for ditching the belly dancing – it’s never been part of the culture in this part of the world and doesn’t…
reviewed
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University of Isfahan
This sounds like a good bet. Bob, a traveller who completed a three-month course here in 2007, reported that his US$2000 paid for 3½ hours of lessons each morning and comfortable accommodation in the university guesthouse on campus, where foreign students share a floor with views over the city. Apply about three months before you intend to arrive (longer for UK and US passport holders) and the university’s International Office looks after the rest. One-month courses cost US$1000. The final word from Bob: ‘Needless to say, learning the language takes you into new worlds you might not otherwise see (eg two nights ago I spent a day and night with nomadic shepherds on the…
reviewed
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Sandemans New Jerusalem Tours
Sandemans New Jerusalem Tours has a daily free tour of the Old City (though tips are appreciated). Meet at Jaffa Gate at 11am. The free tour is pretty basic but serves as a great introduction to the city. Try to do this on your first day in town to get better acquainted with the place. More in-depth paying tours (75NIS) go around the Old City and other parts of Jerusalem. Guides are friendly, knowledgable and are able to present history in a very objective manner. In addition to their walking tours, they have a segway tour outside the Old City walls for 180NIS.
reviewed
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B
Orient Tours
Having been around for quarter of a century, Orient is the granddaddy of the Dubai tourism industry and can be relied upon for an efficient, if predictable, whiz around the desert. It’s one of the few Dubai operators that organises trips to Liwa upon request (Dh1800 per car, minimum two cars per trip). The half-day (adult/child Dh290/205) desert safari includes the usual dune drive, camel farm, sandboarding and dinner, while every Tuesday a full-day trip (adult/child Dh310/230) includes a visit to the village of Falaj al-Mualla.
reviewed
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Sandy Beach Diving Centre
The reefs and waters between Dibba and Khor Fakkan offer some of the best diving and snorkelling in the UAE, with world-class coral and marine life. The Sandy Beach Diving Centre offers a variety of dive trips catering to experienced divers and novices, and knows the coast inside out. Tanks and weights are included in the dive price. If you have your own equipment, a trip to the reef costs Dh75 for the boat trip or Dh50 for beach entry, while a single boat dive including all equipment costs Dh250.
reviewed
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Araz Adventure Tours
This helpful outdoor tourism agency has been recommended by readers. It offers a wide range of mountaineering, climbing, horse- and camel-trekking, plus cultural tours. Director and experienced climber Mohsen Aghajani speaks English. One reader who climbed Mt Damavand with Araz wrote that ‘even the cook had made it within 45 minutes of the Mt Everest summit’. Most equipment is provided.
reviewed
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Alpha Tours
Alpha Tours is one of the few operators allowed access to the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve and its Bedouin camps are particularly well maintained. It offers half-day (adult/child Dh260/190) and overnight (adult/child Dh350/250, minimum five people) tours, which both include dune driving, a visit to a camel farm, and dinner with belly dancing, sheesha and henna painting.
reviewed
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C
Lama Tours
Lama provides the full gamut of desert tours and has access to the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. Its safari (adult/child Dh245/185) includes dune driving, camel rides, sheesha and a buffet dinner. The company also offers overnight desert safaris (adult/child Dh380/220), tours of the Hajar Mountains (adult/child Dh280/220) and East Coast trips (adult/child Dh200/100).
reviewed
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Shemshak Resort
Shemshak Resort has the slopes that will get hardcore skiers most excited. There are six lifts, the longest being about 1450m with a vertical descent of about 500m (some of it at an adrenalin-inducing 45-degree angle) and plenty of moguls. Snowboards are welcome. Boots, skis and poles can be hired for IR100,000 a day.
reviewed
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Kish Diving Center
Kish Diving Center, found on the beach outside Shayan International Hotel, charges about IR350,000 for a one-hour dive with equipment. A four-day PADI open-water course costs IR3,500,000 – and would make you one of a very small group who could say: ‘Where did I learn to dive? Iran!’
reviewed
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Kish Diving School
Kish Diving School, found on the beach outside Shayan International Hotel, charges about IR350,000 for a one-hour dive with equipment. A four-day PADI open-water course costs IR3,500,000 – and would make you one of a very small group who could say: ‘Where did I learn to dive? Iran!’
reviewed
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Tzfat Centre for Healthy Living
The Tzfat Centre for Healthy Living offers interesting courses and one-off seminars on everything from basket weaving to Chinese medicine and permaculture from their rooftop garden. They also have a movement studio for regular Tai Chi (30NIS) and yoga (35NIS) classes.
reviewed
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Kassa Mountaineering & Tourism
This private trekking agency offers a full range of trekking and climbing tours, desert expeditions and more. Mountains include Damavand, Sabalan, Zardkouh and ‘any mountain you want to climb’. It is run by Ahmad Shirmohammad, an experienced climber who speaks English.
reviewed
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D
Emirates Driving Institute
Near the Al-Bustan Center in Al-Qusais (Deira), EDI runs desert driving courses that are very thorough and offer fantastic value for money. A full-day course in one of its vehicles costs Dh500 (Dh550 on Fridays) and includes lunch. There’s a maximum of two students per vehicle.
reviewed
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Namak Abrud Cable Car
For extraordinary Caspian views take the long Namak Abrud cable car, up 1050m Mt Medovin. The ropeway station is 2km off the main Rasht highway, 14km west of Chalus. Dress up warmly and expect the unexpected from notoriously antisocial clouds.
reviewed
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Al Futtaim Training Centre
One-day desert driving courses are Dh300 per person or Dh450 for two people. Additional passengers are charged at Dh150 per person. The centre doesn’t provide training vehicles, so you’ll need your own car.
reviewed
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EcoBike
If you are serious about cycling and want a good quality, well-maintained bike, contact EcoBike, which rents out top of the line hybrids for $25 a day or $125 per week.
reviewed
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Dehkhoda Institute
The International Center for Persian Studies at the institute offers five-week and 3½-/seven-month courses. Tuition is inexpensive, but you’ll need to find your own accommodation.
reviewed
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Safa Hammam
Safa Hammam is the best known of Qazvin’s traditional subterranean bathhouses to remain active. The domed central rest area is attractive. Men only.
reviewed
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Kadosh Dairy
Tsfat is famous for its cheese and the best place to sample it is at the local dairies. The 100-year-old Kadosh Dairy lets you have more of a free nibble.
reviewed
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Hameiri
Tsfat is famous for its cheese and the best place to sample it is at the local dairies. Hameiri, established in 1840, has fantastic Bulgarian cheese.
reviewed
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Historic Hammam
Large, lovingly renovated historic hammam with newly marbled floors and attractive ceiling patterns.
reviewed
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E
Clubolympus
ClubOlympus charges JD20 for a day’s use of its gym, indoor and outdoor pools, Jacuzzi and sauna.
reviewed
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Bar-El Hospitality
Mordechai Zeller runs weekly classes on Torah and Kabbalah in this beautiful workshop space called The Womb.
reviewed