SAS Fall 2021 Bucket List
SAS Fall 2021 Bucket List
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Port of Amsterdam
Location: Amsterdam is located in the Western Netherlands, in the Province of North Holland.
Size: 84.68 mi²
Population: 1,149,000
Language(s): The official language is Dutch but many residents speak English
Currency: Euro
Capital: Amsterdam
Top Things to See
- Head inside Westerkerk
- Walk through Rijksmuseum
- Explore The Van Gogh Museum
- Amsterdam Red Light District
- Explore Jordaan
- The Nine Streets
- The Royal Palace
- The port canals of Amsterdam
- Reflect at The Anne Frank House
- The National Monument/Dam Square
- Rembrandt House Museum
- Amsterdam Canal Ring
Top Things to Do
- Watch the sunset at Pllek
- Day trip to Giethoorn
- Windmills Day Tour
- The Hague
- Rotterdam
- Dinner/sunset Canal Cruise
- Volendam and Marken Day Trip
- Jewish Quarter Walking Tour
- Dordrecht
- Leeuwarden
Top Hostels & Hotels
Top Foods to Try
- Bitterballen
- Pannenkoeken (pancakes)
- Broodje Haring (Herring Sandwich)
- Stroopwaffels
- Proffertjes (Mini Pancakes)
- Stamppot (Mash Pot)
- Rijsttafel (Rice Table)
- Kaas (Dutch Cheese)
- Friets (Fried Potatoes)
- Appeltaart (Apple Pie)
Additional Information:
This is the start of your SAS adventure!! Amsterdam is a beautiful country with so much to offer. If you get to Amsterdam a few days before embarkation there is enough to do in the city to keep you busy. The best and cheapest way yo get around the city is by walking. If you prefer other options, boat, bike, train, tram or bus will do the trick. Read more about transportation in Amsterdam here!
Reykjavik, Iceland
Port of Reykjavik
Location: Europe; North Atlantic Ocean
Size: 39,769 mi²
Population: 356,991
Language(s): Icelandic
Religion: Lutheran State Church
Currency: Icelandic króna
Capital: Reykjavik
Top Things to See
- Blue Lagoon
- Gullfoss Falls
- Thingvellir National Park
- Geysir
- Goðafoss Waterfall
- Seljavallalaug Pool
- Jökulsárlón
- Skógafoss
- Seljalandsfoss
- Hallgrimskirkja
- Kerid Crater
- Lake Myvatn Geothermal
Top Things to Do
- Go on a Whale Watching Tour
- Go Horseback Riding
- See Dettifoss Waterfall in North Iceland
- Enjoy Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
- Travel along the Golden Circle
- Go Glacier Hiking and Ice Caving
- Check out the animals on Puffin Island
- Visit Lake Mývatn in North Iceland
- Relax in The Blue Lagoon
- Visit the West Fjords
- Take a Dip in a Natural Hot Pool
- Witness the Northern Lights
- Have a Night Out in Reykjavik
- Ride a skidoo at Langjokull Glacier
Top Hostels & Hotels
Top Airbnb’s
Top Foods to Try
- Skyr (Icelandic Yogurt)
- Slow Roasted Lamb
- Hákarl (fermented shark)
- Icelandic Fish
- Ein með öllu (Icelandic Hot Dog)
- Rúgbrauð (Rye bread from hot springs)
- Kjötsúpa (Lamb soup)
- Kaas (Dutch Cheese)
- Lakkrís (Licorice)
- Icelandic Icecream
Additional Information:
I highly recommend staying on the ship while in port in Reykjavik. Iceland is a very expensive country and is fairly small so traveling from the ship should be no problem at all. If you are looking to experience the Blue Lagoon, I also recommend booking that in advance as spots will fill fast. Public transportation is the best option to get around Iceland. Bus transportation is easy, cheap, and gets you to the best spots in the city. The price for a regular bus ticket is 480 kr (3.30 USD) during the day and 960 kr (6.55 USD) at night.
Gdansk, Poland
Port of Gdansk
Location: Central Europe, east of Germany
Size: 120,726 mi²
Population: 37.97 million
Language(s): Polish, Silesian
Religion: Roman Catholicism
Currency: Polish złoty
Capital: Warsaw
Top Things to See
- Basilica of St. Mary
- Long Market
- Westerplatte
- Neptune’s Fountain
- Artus Court
- Dlugie Pobrzeze
- Ulica Długa
- Green Gate
- Oliwa Cathedral
- Golden House
- Main Town Hall
- Gdańsk Crane
Top Things to Do
- Walk along Dlugi Targ
- Trakt Królewski (Royal Way)
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Camps, Oswiecim
- Morskie Oko Lake, Tatra National Park
- Visit Museum of the Second World War
- Relax on Jelitkowo Beach
- Warsaw Old Market Place, Warsaw
- Kraków Cloth Hall, Krakow
Top Hostels & Hotels
Top Airbnb’s
Top Foods to Try
- Zurek (Egg soup)
- Flaki (Beef tripe soup)
- Bigos (Polish stew)
- Pierogi (Filled Dumplings)
- Czernina (Duck blood soup)
- Makowiec (Poppy seed bread)
- Oscypek (Smoked cheese)
- Tatar (Minced meat)
- Kotlet Schabowy (Pork Cutlet)
- Silesian kluski (Potato dumpling)
- Kaszanka (Pig’s blood sausage)
- Racuchy (sweet pancakes)
- Placki ziemniaczane (Potato pancakes)
- Pączki (Doughnuts)
Additional Information:
Although there is plenty to do in Gdansk to keep you busy, I highly recommend traveling around to different cities in Poland. Warsaw is a great option if you’d like to see more history. There are many ways to get to Warsaw from Gdansk (bus, train, taxi, etc.) but the best option is train. The train takes about 2h 38m and costs 45 zł – 90 zł (11.78 – 23.55 USD). You can buy tickets HERE!
Stockholm, Sweden
Port of Stockholm
Location: Scandinavian Peninsula in northern Europe
Size: 173,860 mi²
Population: 10.23 million
Language(s): Swedish
Religion: Church of Sweden (57.7%), Unaffiliated (33.5%)
Currency: Swedish Krona
Capital: Stockholm
Top Things to See
- The Royal Palace
- Skansen and Djurgården
- Drottningholm Palace
- Stockholm City Hall
- Gröna Lund Themepark
- Vasa Museum
- Skansen
- Stockholm Old Town
- Gamla Stan, Stockholm
- Drottningholm Palace, Lovö
- Lund Cathedral
- ABBA The Museum
Top Things to Do
- Kiruna and the Ice Hotel, Lapland
- The Göta Canal, Gothenburg to Stockholm
- Explore medieval history in Visby, Gotland
- Stockholm Archipelago, Stromma Boat Tours
- Stay in a Treehotel in Boden N, Sweden
- Ride the rails along an underground art gallery
- Chase the northern lights in Abisko National Park, Lapland
- Run around Liseberg Theme Park, Gothenburg
- Explore Sweden’s first town, Sigtuna
- Spend a night at the subzero ICEBAR
- Sleep in an airplane hotel (Jumbo Stay)
Top Hostels & Hotels
Top Airbnb’s
Top Foods to Try
- Kanelbulle (cinnamon bun)
- Oat milk latte
- Filmjölk (kinda like yogurt)
- Toast Skagen (prawn cocktail)
- Foraged berries
- Herring
- Godis (pick ‘n’ mix)
- köttbullar (meatballs)
- Prinsesstårta (green sponge cake)
- Lingonberries (tart berries)
- Knäckebröd (crisp bread)
- Gubbröra (egg-anchovy salad)
Additional Information:
Stockholm is such a fun city with so much to do! Since Stockholm is fairly small, and easy to get around, I recommend staying on the ship for most (or all) of the nights you will be in port. It is always a good idea to save some money when you can and be more prepared for the more expensive ports! The best way to get around Stockholm is by the transportation system. There are several bus lines, metro, commuter rails, trams, and ferries at a reasonable price. Biking is another option if you don’t have far to go. Taxis are expensive so I do recommend staying away from those.
Dublin, Ireland
Port of Dublin
Location: Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
Size: 32,595 mi²
Population: 4.904 million
Language(s): English, Irish
Religion: Catholic Church
Currency: Euro
Capital:Dublin
Top Things to See
- Jameson Distillery Bow St.
- Trinity College Dublin
- National Museum of Ireland
- Kilmainham Gaol
- Guinness Storehouse
- Grafton Street
- Dublin Castle
- Pheonix Park
- Cliffs of Moher
- Dublin Zoo
- St. Patrick’s Cathederal
- Temple Bar
Top Things to Do
- Walk through the Irish Whiskey Museum
- Explore the Guinness Storehouse
- Take a day trip to kiss the Blarney Stone
- Go on a pub tour through Dublin
- Glendalough day trip from Dublin
- Belfast Day Trip from Dublin
- Game of Thrones Tour from Dublin
- Kilkenny Day trip from Dublin
- Walk along the Cliffs of Moher
- Participate in a delicious Dublin food tour
- Northern Ireland Rail Tour from Dublin
- Galway City Day Tour from Dublin
Top Hostels & Hotels
Top Airbnb’s
Top Foods to Try
- Soda bread
- Shellfish
- Irish stew
- Colcannon and champ (mash of potatoes and veggies)
- Boxty (potato dumpling)
- Boiled bacon and cabbage
- Bangers and mash
- Smoked salmon
- Black and white pudding
- Coddle (one-pot stew)
- Barmbrack (fruity tea loaf)
- Shepherd’s pie
- Reuben Nachos
- Irish coffee
- Banoffee Pie
Additional Information:
If you like to travel around, Ireland is the perfect place to visit different cities while in port. Some of my favorites are Kilkenny, Killarney, and Cork. You can take day trips from Dublin to many different places, so if you don’t want to travel and spend the night in different cities that is a great option! Traveling around Ireland isn’t the easiest but if you decide to hop around, bus will be your best option. I recommend hiring a company for day trips as it will make your travels so much easier!
Leixões, Portugal
Port of Leixões
Location: Southwestern Europe, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, and Spain to the north and east
Size: 35,603 mi²
Population: 10.28 million
Language(s): Portuguese
Religion: Christianity, mainly Catholicism
Currency: Euro
Capital: Lisbon
Top Things to See
- Livraria Lello
- Piscina das Mares
- Bom Jesus de Matosinhos Church
- Matosinhos Beach
- Parque da Cidade do Porto
- Oceanario de Lisboa
- Alfama, Lisbon
- Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, Lisbon
- Praca do Comercio, Lisbon
- Miradouro da Senhora do Monte
- Bairro Alto, Lisbon
- Sintra
Top Things to Do
- Wander around Braga
- Explore the town Amarante
- Grab a tipple in Porto
- Visit the Medieval village in Sortelha
- See the village built around a rock
- Explore the beauty of Sintra
- Take surfing lessons
- Discover Cascais
- See the waterfalls of the Azores
- Visit the island of Madeira
- Walk around the cliffs of Lagos
- Take a bike tours around Lisbon
- Portuguese food and wine tour
- Go on a sailing boat tour
Top Hostels & Hotels
Top Airbnb’s
Top Foods to Try
- Caldo Verde (Portuguese soup)
- Bacalhau (cod)
- Sardines
- Bifanas (pork sandwich)
- Francesinha Sandwich (meat sandwich)
- Chicken Piri-Piri (chicken dish)
- Polvo a la Lagareiro (octopus)
- Porco Preto (cured ham)
- Pastel de Nata (egg tart dessert)
- Conventual Treats (pastries)
Additional Information:
This is another port where you may want to travel away from the port city. Although there are things to see and do in Leixões, traveling to the capital of Lisbon could be an option. There are many ways to get from Leixões to Lisbon (plane, bus, car, etc.). This website is awesome! It will map out the route from Leixões to Lisbon and Lisbon to Leixões with prices and travel time. When is Lisbon, the best way to get around is by foot. For the most part everything is in walking distance but if you aren’t a fan of walking, buses, trams, the metro are great options!
Casablanca, Morocco
Port of Casablanca
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara
Size: 172,414 mi²
Population: 36.47 million
Language(s): Arabic, Tamazight, Tachelhit, Tarifit, French
Religion: Islam
Currency: Moroccan dirham
Capital: Rabat
Top Things to See
- Hassan II Mosque
- Sacred Heart Cathedral
- Quartier Habous
- Old Medina of Casablanca
- Jardin Majorelle
- Palacio da Bahia
- Medina of Marrakesh
- Jemaa el-Fnaa (souks)
- Koutoibia Mosque
- Medina of Fez
Top Things to Do
- Take a trip to the Atlas Mountains
- Ride a hot air balloon in Marrakech
- Explore the Blue City of Fez (Chefchaouen)
- Wonder through the souks in Marrakech
- Tour to Rabat
- Camel Trek through the Sahara
- Go on a food tour through the souks
- Camp in the Sahara Desert
- Spend a day with village locals
- Experience a traditional Hammam
- See the Fez tanneries
- Spot the tree goats of Morocco
Top Hostels & Hotels
Top Airbnb’s
Top Foods to Try
- B’ssara (dried broad bean soup)
- Tagine
- Fish chermoula
- Harira (veggie and lamb soup)
- Kefta tagine
- Couscous
- Meskouta (orange cake)
- Makouda (street food)
- Zaalouk (veggie salad)
- B’stilla (pigeon meat pastry)
- Mint tea
- Rfissa
- Moroccan style samosa
- Khobz (bread)
Additional Information:
Morocco is such a fun country, and to ensure that you see everything during the time you are here I highly recommend participating in an overnight field program. Yes, they can be expensive but I believe this is one of the countries that SAS offers the best programs for. Two of the most popular are the camel trekking and the blue city adventure, which I signed up for (they are around $700 each for 4 days including food and hotel). If you decide to travel morocco yourself, you can either stay in Casablanca and take day trips (best option in my opinion) or travel and spend the night in different cities.
By taking day trips you will save money for some of the more expensive ports since since you can sleep on the ship. If you decide to overnight travel, plane will be your best option as it is the safest and fastest. Check out this website for some other options though! Also make sure yo travel in groups while in Morocco.
Barcelona, Spain
Port of Barcelona
Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, and Pyrenees Mountains; southwest of France
Size: 195,364 mi²
Population: 46.94 million
Language(s): Castillian Spanish, Catalan, Galician, Basque, Aranese
Religion: Catholicism
Currency: Euro
Capital: Madrid
Top Things to See
- Basilica of the Sagrada Familia
- Park Güell
- Casa Milà
- La Rambla, Barcelona
- Casa Batlló
- Montjuïc
- Cathedral of Barcelona
- Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotic)
- Mercat de la Boqueria
- Palacio Real in Madrid
- Aqueduct of Segovia
- Alhambra in southern Spain
Top Things to Do
- Catch a game at Camp Nou
- Day trip to Montserrat and Sitges
- Ride a hot-air balloon over Catalonia
- Experience a Flamenco show
- Sail along the coast of Barcelona
- Walk through Provincia de Toledo
- Party in Ibiza
- Experience the Running of the Bulls
- Relax on the Balearic Islands
- Visit the Canary Islands
- Take a food tour through Madrid
- Go on a tapas crawl through Madrid
Top Hostels & Hotels
Top Airbnb’s
Top Foods to Try
- Gazpacho (tomato blend)
- Paella (rice dish)
- Tortilla Española (Spanish Omelette)
- Gambas al ajillo (prawns)
- Tostas de tomate y jamón (ham)
- Patatas bravas (fried potato)
- Pollo al ajillo (garlic chicken)
- Cochinillo asado (roasted pig or lamb)
- Pisto (Spanish version of ratatouille)
- Turrón (almond nougat)
- Crema Catalana (Spanish crème brûlée)
- Queso Manchego (Spanish sheep cheese)
Additional Information:
Spain is one of my favorite countries when it comes to food! I highly highly recommend a food tour since they are so much fun and it will allow you to try all the delicious food this country has to offer. There is so much to do in Barcelona so if you choose not to travel to another city, there will be enough in the port city to keep you busy! However, if you do decide to travel to the capital city of Madrid, here are different routes and prices to consider. But again, this could be another port where you sleep on the ship to save some money!
Bubrovink, Croatia
Port of Dubrovink
Location: Europe; located in the northwestern part of the Balkan Peninsula
Size: 21,851 mi²
Population: 4.076 million
Language(s): Croatian
Religion(s): Roman-Catholic, Orthodox Christians
Currency: Kuna
Capital: Zagreb
Top Things to See
- Walls of Dubrovnik
- Lokrum Island
- Stradun
- Rector’s Palace
- Fort Lovrijenac
- Old City of Dubrovnik
- Mount Srd
- Lopud Island
- Pile Gate
- The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Top Things to Do
- Ride on the Dubrovink Cable Car
- Take an Elaphite Island Cruise
- Kayake and snorkel around the fort
- Go on a Game of Thrones Tour
- Visit Mostar and Kravice Waterfalls
- Montenegro day trip from Dubrovink
- Go Parasailing odd the coast
- Visit Hvar Town on Dalmatian islands
- Relax in Plitvice Lakes National Park
- Sail around Kornati National Park
- Take a dip on Zlatni Rat Beach
- Explore Trogir
- Visit the Blue Cave on Bisevo Island
- Go Rafting on the Cetina rRiver
Top Hostels & Hotels
Top Airbnb’s
Top Foods to Try
- Black risotto
- Boškarin (oxen)
- Brodetto (fisherman’s stew)
- Buzara (mussels)
- Fritule (donut-like fried pastries)
- Istrian ham
- Malvazija and Teran (wine)
- Peka (meat and vegetable dish)
- Truffles
- Raw seafood
- Strukli (pasta dish)
- Madjarica (Croatian layered cake)
Additional Information:
Dubrovink is beautiful!! With so much to do in the port city that I would recommend staying in Dubrovink during all of your days in port. Dubrovink is full of many fun tours and day trips that you can take and because of that I think this may be one of the favorite ports on your voyage. The best way to get around Dubrovink is by ferry or taxi. Taxis range from 10-30 euros (11.8 – 36.8 USD) depending on destination.
Piraeus, Greece
Port of Piraeus
Location: Southern Europe, bordering the Ionian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
Size: 50,949 mi²
Population: 10.72 million
Language(s): Greek
Religion(s): Orthodox Christianity
Currency: Euro
Capital: Athens
Top Things to See
- Bay of Zea (Paşalimanı)
- Mikrolimano
- Athens
- Kastella
- Acropolis of Athens
- Corfu
- Temple of Olympian Zeus
- Acropolis Museum
- Meteora
- Parthenon
- Delphi
- Metéora Monasteries
Top Things to Do
- Take the ferry from Piraeus to more than 20 different Greek islands
- Visit the Delphi
- Visit the monasteries of Meteora
- Go spelunking at Melissani Cave
- Admire the Parthenon in Athens
- Walk through the streets of Rhodes Town
- Tour the Acropolis in Athens
- Climb Mount Olympus in Litochoro
- Admire the architecture in Santorini
- Marvel at the Epidaurus Theater
- Relax on Balos Beach
- Explore Mykonos
- Explore Olympic Village in Athens
Top Hostels & Hotels
Top Airbnb’s
Top Foods to Try
- Taramasalata (classic greek dips)
- Olives and olive oil
- Dolmades (minced meat with rice)
- Moussaka (lamb dish)
- Grilled meat
- Amygdalota (almond cookie)
- Galaktoboureko (phyllo with melted butter)
- Fresh fish
- Kolokythokeftedes (courgette balls)
- Octopus
- Feta & cheeses
- Honey & baklava
- Tomatokeftedes (tomato fritters)
- Gyros
Additional Information:
Here is where all those nights sleeping on the ship while in port will come in handy! Island hoping in Greece is a bucket list experience so I highly recommend going all out and traveling around. You only have about 4 days in Greece so get ready to make the most of it. From Piraeus I would travel to Athens where you would catch a flight to Mykonos followed by Santorino before making your way back to Athens then the ship. It will be a lot of traveling in a short amount of days but it will be so so worth it.
You can travel by ferry between islands but it is much slower than flying. Here is some helpful information of getting from Athens to Mykonos, Mykonos to Santorini, Santorini to Athens, and Athens to Piraeus. Athens is only about 20 minutes away from Piraeus so keep that in mind when traveling! There will also probably be some really cool field programs here so look out for those.
Haifa, Israel
Port of Haifa
Location: Middle east, eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea in Western Asia
Size: 8,550 mi²
Population: 9.053 million
Language(s): Hebrew
Religion(s): Jewish, Arab, Muslim
Currency: Israeli new shekel
Capital: Jerusalem
Top Things to See
- The Baha’i Gardens
- The German Colony
- Hanging Bridge at Nesher Park
- Yefe Nof Street
- Stella Maris Monastery
- Yad Vashem – The World Holocaust Remembrance Center
- The Dead Sea
- Jerusalem
- Biblical Sites
- The Negev Desert
- Tel Aviv
- Underwater observatory Marine Park
Top Things to Do
- Explore the Old City of Jerusalem
- Visit Masada and take the cable car
- Float in the Dead Sea
- Experience the Underground City
- Take a sunrise yoga class in Masada
- Tour the Western Wall Tunnels
- Dive Israel’s reefs and wrecks
- Take a day trip from Israel to Petra
- Explore Ein Gedi Reserve
- Walk through Bethlehem
- Take a jeep ride in the Negev Desert
- Relax on the beach in Tel Aviv
Top Hostels & Hotels
Top Airbnb’s
Top Foods to Try
- Sfenj (doughnuts)
- Falafel (chickpea fritters)
- Hummus
- Khachapuri (egg pastry)
- Shakshuka (eggs in tomato sauce)
- Burika (potato filled crepe)
- Ful (hummus with fava beans)
- Shawarma (kebabs)
- Sabich (stuffed pita)
- Babka (yeast cake with chocolate)
Additional Information:
In Israel, I would probably spend most of my time exploring around Jerusalem. Im sure SAS will offer some amazing programs here so that could be an option if you want someone else to plan everything for you. Tel Aviv is also a really cool place to visit if you have time. There are many day tours on trip advisor so I would look at those as well. You could either stay in Haifa and take day trips (1h 30min to Jerusalem) or stay in Jerusalem and take day trips from there. Here is some info on Haifa to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
Mumbai, India
Port of Mumbai
Location: Southern Asia, bordered by the Arabian Sea, Laccadive Sea, and the Bay of Bengal to the south
Size: 1.269 million mi²
Population: 1.366 billion
Language(s): Hindi, English
Religion(s): Hinduism (79%), Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, Christianit
Currency: Indian Rupee
Capital: New Delhi
Top Things to See
- Gateway of India Mumbai
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (Mumbai)
- Elephanta Caves (Mumbai)
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (Mumbai)
- Haji Ali Dargah (Mumbai)
- Global Vispassana Pagoda (Mumbai)
- Mehrangarh Fort (Jodhpur)
- Mysore Palace (Karnataka)
- The Taj Mahal (Agra)
- The Holy City of Varanasi (Varanasi)
- Harmandir Sahib (Amritsar)
- The Golden City (Jaisalmer)
- The Red Fort (New Delhi)
- Mecca Masjid (Hyderabad)
- Amer Fort (Jaipur)
- The Beaches of Goa (Goa)
- Agra Fort (Agra)
- Mahabodhi Temple (Bodhgaya)
Top Things to Do
- Walk through Gali Paranthe Wali in Delhi
- Go on a tiger safari in one off the national parks
- Participate in the Holi or Diwali festival
- Trek in the Himalayas
- Canoe through Alleppey backwaters
- Meditate in Varanasi
- Take a camel safari in the deserts
- Admire the Taj Mahal at sunrise
- Take a food tour through the street of India
- Bungee jump in Manali
- Cruise along the Ganges River and watch the Aarti ritual
- See the waterfall that flows upwards in Maharashtra
- Demolish an entire Rajasthani Thali in Jaipur
Top Hostels & Hotels
- Backpacker Panda Colaba (Mumbai)
- Hostel Mantra (Mumbai)
- Zostel Agra (Agra)
- Backpacker Panda Friends (Agra)
- Moustache Hostel Varanasi (Varanasi)
- goStops Varanasi (Varanasi)
- The Madpackers Hostel Delhi (New Delhi)
- LetsBunk Poshtel (New Delhi)
Top Airbnb’s
Top Foods to Try
- Murgh Makhani (Butter Chicken)
- Tandoori Chicken
- Chicken Tikka Masala
- Chicken Vindaloo Curry
- Rogan Josh (red lamb)
- Malai Kofta (vegetable “meatballs”)
- Chole (chickpea curry)
- Dhokla
- Palak Paneer (spinach and cottage cheese)
- Kaali Daal (black lentils)
- Papdi Chaat (deep fried dough)
- Naan (indian flatbread)
- Dal Tadka
- Samosa (Indian “calzone”)
- Masala Chai
Additional Information:
Just like Greece, get ready to spend all of your money here in India. Unlike many of the other countries on the itinerary, I highly recommend hoping around to different countries. There are so many different field programs that SAS offers in India and I think they are a great deal. I signed up for a 4-night overnight field program that went to Varanasi and the Taj Mahal (around $1,200). Although these SAS programs can be expensive, think if you are going to participate in any of them you should really consider doing one in India. If you decide to go on your own, here is some information about getting around the country and specifically from Mumbai to the Taj Mahal. Again, if you decide to do independent travel, please travel with a group of other SAS students.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Port of Abu Dhabi
Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Size: 32,278 mi²
Population: 9.771 billion
Language(s): Arabic
Religion(s): Islam
Currency: United Arab Emirates dirham
Capital: Abu Dhabi
Top Things to See
- Burj Khalifa
- Burj Al Arab
- The Dubai Mall
- Dubai Creek
- The Dubai Fountain
- Global Village
- Mall of the Emirates
- Jumeriah Beach
- Dubai Frame
- Dubai Spice Souk
- Jumeriah Mosque
- Dubai Miracle Garden
Top Things to Do
- Experience Al Marmoom Camel Race Track
- Go to the top of the Burj Khalifa
- Stay in the Starlight Camp
- Skydive over the waters of Dubai
- Go on a speedboat tour
- Take a helicopter tour
- Haggle in the Souks of Deira
- Have dinner in the sky
- Take an Abra ride across Dubai Creek
- Take a hot air ballon over
- Go on a Red Dunes Desert Safari
- Ride a quad bike through the sand desert
- Tour the Jumeriah Mosque
- Soak up the sun at Jumeirah Beach
Top Hostels & Hotels
Top Airbnb’s
Top Foods to Try
- Luqaimat (hot dumplings)
- Knafeh (cheese and sugar)
- Camel
- Turkish cocktails
- Machboos
- Samboosa (pastry appetisers)
- Arabic coffee and dates
- Margoogat (tomato stew)
- Chebab (Emirati-style pancakes)
- Khubz (Arabic bread)
Additional Information:
Although this is your port of disembarkation, i’m sure many of you will probably spend a few days here before flying home. Dubai is a very expensive country so be prepared to spend a good amount of money since you will have to book everything on your own. Public transportation in Dubai is great but the easiest way to get around is taxi. If you decide to fly home the day of disembarkation, the international airport is only about 25 minutes away.
To get an idea of what Semester at Sea actually cost check out my post What does SAS Actually Cost
I also have more Semester at Sea related blog posts HERE!!!
Semester at Sea Stickers HERE!!
One Comment
Ana Martinez
Hi! I’m Ana from Spain and I’m going to Fall 2021 voyage!
Thank you very much for this post! I’d like to add one stop near Barcelona needed: Costa Brava!