The Palm Islands- A Detailed Travel Guide

Dubai is one of the most stylish and glamorous cities in the world. With all the glitz and glamour, it’s bound to exceed your expectations in every way possible by offering the most exquisite experiences. It’s a wonderful blend of traditional and modern architecture that come together to give you the best of both worlds along with its picture-perfect backdrops.

One of the biggest megaprojects in the world is the archipelago of 3 manmade islands, known as the Palm Islands. This is the brain baby of prime minister Sheikh Mohammed who along with the world-famous architect Nakheel put together this beautiful work of art. The palm islands are a set of 3 carefully crafted islands namely, Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali and Palm Deira. The main idea behind this architectural beauty was to turn this city into a tourist mecca that can survive without the petrodollars which was projected to depreciate in the years to come. Adding hundreds of miles of coastline in the middle of the Persian Gulf is very challenging and Dubai has been decently successful in making this happen and turning it into a buzzing tourist destination.

Palm Jebel Ali and Palm Deira

Palm Jebel Ali and Palm Deira are still under construction despite it being over a decade since the project was installed. With the 2008 recession, Nakheel declared these two islands as long term projects due to financial constraints given they are much larger than the currently functioning Palm Jumeirah.  Various resorts and hotels are still being built and are on sale but the overall picture is still a little hazy.

Palm Jumeirah

The first and the smallest of the Palm islands, Palm Jumeirah is home to about 2000 residential complexes, 8 hotels, and a ton of restaurants and malls. It comprises of 17 fronds and a surrounding crescent which gives it its shape of a palm tree. It’s only a 12 km drive from the mainland and the activities on this island will keep you engaged for a good couple of days. It is also home to the first successfully run monorail in the UAE.

Where to stay

With tourism being the focal point of this island, it is no surprise that it houses some of the best world-class hotels to ensure you soak in all the glamour this island has to offer. Palm Jumeirah screams luxury and relaxation so if these are two things that top your list, you’re in for a treat.

Atlantis The Palm

This themed majestic beauty is all about giving you that 5-star experience you came to Dubai for. It has some of the best world-renowned restaurants, an aquarium that has a diverse marine life, it’s own almost Disney like amusement park and so much more. It cuts you off from your everyday life and puts you in the most fun environment possible.

Apart from Atlantis, there are so many hotels such as W, the palm, 5 Palm Jumeirah resort, Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort just to name a few. These hotels are an experience in itself so depending on your budget you can pick one that caters to your needs. 

Things to do

1. Palm Jumeirah Monorail

Experience stunning views of the island on this elevated monorail that gives you a bird’s eye view of the Palm, Burj Al Arab, and various other nearby attractions. Get a ticket on the fully automatic train for a thrilling ride. 

2. Aquaventure waterpark

The Atlantis is definitely one of the most recognized landmarks on the entire island and with its own waterpark, you get to unleash the inner child in you by riding on record-breaking waterslides and many other fun rides. You could also choose to relax by the private beach with your favorite cocktail and call it a day. 

3. Dolphin Bay

Atlantis is full of surprises and you will be engaged throughout without any doubt. You can swim with the dolphins, go snorkeling or drive through lagoons. Getting up close and personal with the dolphins is going to be worth your time.

4. Skydive Dubai

Awaken the adrenaline junkie in you by skydiving over this beautiful island for that picture-perfect postcard moment. Skydive Dubai offers a variety of activities to choose from with its premium packages to tandem skydiving packages. Jumping off a plane when you’re right over this beautiful island is undoubtedly going to be one of your top vacation moments.

5. Boozy Brunch

The Friday brunch is taken very seriously on this island. Kick start your weekend, which yes, begins on a Friday by heading to one of the best-known restaurants for an awesome brunch experience. With world-famous chefs running these places, your tummy and soul with thank you in heaps. 

With all this glitz and glamour, the Palm islands can be called a perfect destination if not for the environmental damage that it has caused. With artificial reefs formed by dropping two American jet fighter jets to causing erosion and destruction of marine life over a whole square mile, it is kind of sad that it is known to be 5 times more unsustainable than any other country in the world

Despite its many challenges and roadblocks, the Palm islands are still considered one of the best architectural projects in the world and the services on this island are hands down groundbreaking. Head over to Pickyourtrail.com and check out Dubai travel packages and book your favorite itinerary and avail the best deals.