Dubai: If you’re seeking to discover Abu Dhabi, however choose to take action at your individual tempo, you’ll be able to make the most of a particular characteristic supplied by Abu Dhabi’s official tourism web site – visitabudhabi.ae. The free self-guided audio excursions let you go to the situation and discover out extra in regards to the historical past and tradition of the Emirate, whereas following the tour’s route, guided by your telephone’s GPS. You don’t even want an lively web connection to have the ability to use this characteristic to find Abu Dhabi. Learn on to seek out out extra.
The excursions are supplied by Go to Abu Dhabi by means of the ‘VoiceMap Audio Excursions’ app. You possibly can obtain any of the guided excursions accessible for Abu Dhabi in your telephone and go about discovering completely different websites just like the Al Wathba fossil dunes, Abu Dhabi’s Urban Treasures or the Liwa desert oasis. The tour is linked to your telephone’s GPS, so you’ll be able to take heed to tales about what you might be seeing proper at that second.
How does it work?
1. Obtain the ‘VoiceMap Audio Excursions’ app, which is offered for Apple and Android units.
2. Join an account by offering your electronic mail deal with and setting a password.
3. Click on on ‘Discover’, which is the primary possibility on the menu on the backside.
4. Sort in ‘Abu Dhabi’ within the search bar on high and it is possible for you to to see an inventory of all of the audio excursions accessible to you.
Easy methods to use the tour with out web connection
The characteristic can be accessible to guests who might not have an lively web connection on the time of visiting the websites. Here’s what you want to do:
1. Click on on the tour you want to take.
2. On the backside proper of your display you will note a obtain signal, in addition to the file measurement. Understanding the file measurement will let you liberate adequate area in your telephone, if wanted.
As soon as you might be on the location, merely choose the tour and begin exploring. The audio and the offline map will likely be accessible to you.
1. Al Wathba Fossils Protected Space
The place is it?
Situated 45 kilometres to the east of Abu Dhabi, the Al Wathba Fossils are a part of the bigger Al Wathba space.
What’s it?
The protected space includes of greater than 1,700 fossil dunes, unfold over seven sq. kilometres, making it one of many largest numbers of fossil dunes concentrated in a single location within the Emirate.
In line with Go to Abu Dhabi, geologists estimate the age of fossil formations throughout the protected location at over 4 million years. On the reserve you’ll be able to stroll the well-lit trails, which lengthen to a few kilometres each methods and are surrounded by benches and shades for enjoyable.
You can even get pleasure from music and lightweight reveals which occur all through opening hours and may be considered from the amphitheatre, which holds as much as 200 guests. The location additionally options varied meals and beverage vans in devoted areas. There’s additionally a customer centre, together with the viewing space and the gallery nook, together with extra seating preparations.
The audio tour will take half-hour and require you to stroll for about 1.3kilometres
Opening hours
Sunday to Thursday – 8am to 4pm
Friday – 8am to 10pm
Closed on Sundays
2. Abu Dhabi City Treasures
The place is it?
Al Zahiya/Vacationer Membership Space
What’s it?
Yearly, Abu Dhabi’s Division of Tradition and Tourism recognises long-standing institutions within the Emirate which have performed a task in shaping its city tradition and contributed to town’s financial system. These hidden gems are thought of traditionally important within the collective reminiscence of the area people.
The audio tour titled ‘Abu Dhabi City Treasures Meals Tour’ focuses on the City Treasures which might be positioned within the Al Zahiyah neighbourhood, recognized regionally because the Vacationer Membership Space. It is likely one of the metropolis’s oldest communities, that includes iconic buildings from the Nineteen Seventies and 80s and quiet backstreets that come alive at evening. On this strolling tour, you will note 4 eateries which were acknowledged as City Treasures.
The audio tour will take 45 minutes and require you to cowl round 2.2kilometres.
3. Abu Dhabi Skyline
The place is it?
This tour takes place within the widespread corniche space, subsequent to the Emirates Palace lodge.
What’s it?
This tour begins on the promenade on King Salman bin Abdulaziz Road, overlooking town and the landmarks that will likely be coated. You’ll make your solution to the Marina space earlier than strolling a bit of the Corniche Road.
Whilst you stroll, you may hear tales about how the skyline was reworked in just a few a long time and what its future would possibly appear like. You’ll additionally discover out in regards to the area’s early nomadic tribes, the fast growth of Corniche Highway, how the land you stroll on was reclaimed from the ocean, structure that’s designed to fight the desert warmth and the way oil reworked the financial system.
The audio tour will take 60 minutes and require you to cowl round 2.5kilometres.
4. Al Ain nature and historical past
The place is it?
It’s nestled between the Rub al Khali, the world’s largest steady sand desert, and the Jebel Hafit mountain.
What’s it?
Do you know that Al Ain is likely one of the world’s oldest frequently inhabited settlements with archaeological websites relationship again about 4,000 years?
On this strolling tour, you’ll absorb a few of its must-see UNESCO World Heritage websites, discover out the place to see different cultural points of interest, and listen to the tales behind the landmarks. The tour begins with a stroll by means of certainly one of Al Ain’s most iconic buildings, Al Jahili Fort, passes by means of Capital Park and features a cease amongst the shady palms of the Al Ain Oasis. Right here you will see out how the early inhabitants of the world ingeniously used the accessible water to create lush gardens, that are nonetheless being cultivated to this present day. Alongside the way in which, you’ll move by the fascinating Al Ain Palace Museum, a group of jewelry shops generally known as Al Ain’s Gold Souk, and plenty of native eateries.
The audio tour will take 75 minutes and require you to cowl round 4.2kilometres.
5. The Historic Coronary heart of Abu Dhabi
The place is it?
Qasar Al Hosn and its surrounding space
What’s it?
This strolling tour begins with Qasr Al Hosn, town’s oldest stone constructing. Whilst you stroll, you’ll find out how Qasr Al Hosn performed a key function within the growth of Abu Dhabi’s historical past. See the place the primary tentative steps in direction of nationhood had been taken, town’s first everlasting construction, and the palatial residence constructed round an impenetrable fortress. Additionally, you will get to discover town’s cultural and creative hub, the Cultural Basis, in addition to the Home of Artisans.
Alongside the way in which, you’ll hear about how a legendary gazelle led to the primary settlement within the space, how the granting of the primary oil concessions paved the way in which for Abu Dhabi’s dramatic transformation, the varied architectural strategies seen on the positioning, the significance of Qasr Al Hosn to town’s heritage and the lives of the ladies within the palace.
The audio tour will take 75 minutes and require you to cowl round 4.2kilometres.
6. Uncover Liwa (Driving Tour)
The place is it?
Liwa Oasis – which is positioned within the western area of Abu Dhabi, 220 kilometres southwest of Abu Dhabi Island. It stretches about 120 kilometres within the northern a part of the huge Empty Quarter desert and types a crescent that extends from the southwest to the southeast within the coronary heart of Al Dhafra Area.
You possibly can attain the Liwa Oasis – which is the most important oasis of its form within the Arabian Peninsula – after a three-hour drive from Abu Dhabi metropolis.
What’s it?
On this driving tour, it is possible for you to to find the 52 villages and oases in Liwa, whereas visiting among the historic buildings extending on the Liwa crescent, and be taught in regards to the historical past of the world and in regards to the Emirati tribes that lived in these oases, defending themselves by the various forts and watchtowers extending throughout Liwa.
The driving tour begins at Al Yabbana Fort, positioned within the far east of Liwa, and can finish on the Umm Hisn Tower, positioned within the far west of Liwa.
The audio tour will take 90 minutes and require you to drive for round 92kilometres.
7. Fashionable Heritage Tour of Downtown Abu Dhabi
The place is it?
Zayed the First Road, in central Abu Dhabi Metropolis
What’s it?
On this strolling tour, it is possible for you to to take a deep dive into the tales of Abu Dhabi metropolis’s streets and buildings and uncover lesser-known and fascinating details in regards to the metropolis.
You should have the chance to find out about our system of heritage buildings, exploring the design and aesthetics, historical past and symbolism, expertise and innovation, and social and financial affect. You’ll duck into downtown’s backstreets and listen to anecdotes of Abu Dhabi’s fast rise and continued growth. Alongside the way in which, you’ll hear about how a few of these buildings and websites are being inventoried and labeled as fashionable heritage to protect the nation’s latest historical past, what impressed town planners, who had been the influential architects and designers of the time and the way town catered to its residents.
The audio tour will take 60 minutes and require you to cowl 1.9kilometres.
