Top 5 Deira Full-Day Tours: Recommendations & What to Expect

Thinking of seeing what Deira has for you, eh? Well, actually, a full-day tour can really let you see a whole different side of Dubai, far away from those super sparkly towers that everyone snaps photos of. We are talking the heart of Old Dubai, where the vibe is, just a little, well, more traditional, more authentic. To pick which one you’re doing could be a tough call, right? Don’t worry we have created this list that should assist you in doing just that, anyway here are what we think the best tours are.

1. Deira Spice Souk & Gold Souk Adventure

So, everyone always talks about Dubai’s shiny stuff, yet this tour gets you elbow-to-elbow with spices, like the real deal spices, in the Spice Souk and also the gleaming Gold Souk. You wander through lanes that smell like you’re visiting some kind of faraway land and see gold, and lots of it. You will be able to bargain with sellers and get the stories behind those piles of fragrant herbs. This type of tour will often come as part of larger scale tour.

One time, I, basically, got lost for a little bit in the Spice Souk and a vendor shared some special saffron tea with me. Like that, it just hit the spot and smelled beautiful too! Things like that, that is what make these tours stick with you. Just a heads up, try not to get too overwhelmed by the gold; too much glitz can, you know, kind of be a bit much for some people. Read our full review: Deira Spice Souk & Gold Souk Full Review and Details

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Deira Spice & Gold Souk)

2. Dubai Creek Abra Ride with Deira Exploration

Right, instead of those fancy yachts, you could hop onto an abra, that, almost, sounds better, a little wooden boat, and go across Dubai Creek. I mean this isn’t just travel; too, it’s the way folks have gone from point A to B for ages, well more like since forever! From the abra, you catch the views of the older buildings and also just see the vibe of Deira from the water. Some tours throw in visits to local markets and, really, that’s pretty fun.

There was this one time the abra was packed, basically to the max, with locals and tourists, too, and everyone started chatting. Stories and laughter? Yep, I really feel that those experiences you can’t plan, just pop up, very magical! Don’t go thinking it’s going to be some peaceful cruise – sometimes it gets, pretty, chaotic, and noisy but that’s also part of the charm of this little activity, well actually its a large part. Read our full review: Dubai Creek Abra Ride Full Review and Details

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Dubai Creek Abra Ride)

3. Deira Food Tour: A Culinary Deep Trip

Thinking about skipping the regular sites and going for something delicious? Too it’s something lots of folks enjoy! This food tour just throws you, basically, right into the middle of Deira’s food scene. You try all kinds of dishes – from, really delicious, Arabic sweets to spicy Indian snacks, anyway there’s, potentially, something for anyone! This trip is how you, could be, exploring the place, by taking your tongue on an exploration. It’s about more than stuffing your face, it is? It’s tasting other cultures.

On my tour, this little old grandma showed us all how to eat luqaimat, those little donut ball things with date syrup, as a matter of fact those donut ball things where so yummy. Her little tips? Completely changed everything! Word of warning: show up hungry; those portions? Usually more generous, just so you know. Read our full review: Deira Food Tour Full Review and Details

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Deira Food Tour)

4. Heritage House and Al Ahmadiya School Visit

Forget about those brand-new skyscrapers just for a bit. Like seriously just for a bit, will you? These tours will usually have you wander around spots just like Heritage House, that offers up what family life looked like ‘back in the day’ – wind tower and, basically, all. You also, might be, pop into Al Ahmadiya School, that had some of Dubai’s first students way back when. This is about feeling what life was before all the, really super modern, craziness. I mean it’s not as glamourous but worth it if you appreciate that history aspect.

Visiting Al Ahmadiya, I noticed this old map on the wall, yet I still remember this to this very day! It kind of clicked in my mind that Dubai comes from a pretty old history that has been, potentially, going for a long time! FYI, these places sometimes have super limited hours, that you really might want to check, so, basically, you aren’t just staring at a locked door and a dusty handle, if you get there and its closed. Read our full review: Heritage House and Al Ahmadiya School Full Review and Details

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Heritage House & School Visit)

5. Deira Old Town Walking Tour

What if you ditched the bus and, literally, just walked? This kind of tour? Just sets you loose to just discover Deira by using your feet. I mean you go down hidden alleys, stop to check out little tea shops, and find workshops, the, almost, most interesting, filled with people who’ve done some, pretty cool, skilled work! Your tour leader tells some stories and drops a few interesting details about all this crazy history. That is something!

On one wander, that one time, this woodworker let me have a go at carving, yet my attempt? Kind of a disaster, well maybe, in some respects, a little better than a total disaster but yeah pretty bad! I got to say it gives you a whole new level of appreciation for people who can do things really really well like carpentry! Just saying! Bring comfy shoes – the stones you walk on, in general, get pretty rough. Read our full review: Deira Old Town Walking Tour Full Review and Details

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Deira Walking Tour)