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Be dazzled by the dreamlike world of Oman.

Adventure from portside Muscat and Muttrah into the heart of Oman's richly coloured past. Discover the awesome Islamic forts, age-old mud-brick houses, and silver- and spice-filled souqs that make this Middle Eastern jewel such a feast for the senses. The treasures aren't all man-made: trip to the blazing remote landscapes of Wahiba Sands for a desert getaway with the Bedouins, and soak up breathtaking canyon views at Jebel Shams and Wadi Bani Awf before returning to the seaside capital.

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Terms & Conditions
Start
Muscat, Oman
Finish
Muscat, Oman
Destination
Oman
Style
Original
Theme
Explorer
Code
ELSO
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • Experience some traditional Omani hospitality with a one-night camping getaway under the stars in Wahiba Sands

  • Discover Oman's most phenomenal fortresses and mosques, including the beautifully preserved Jabrin Fort

  • Explore the busy fishing harbour of Muttrah and mine the bustling souq for hidden treasures – anything from unique silverware to frankincense

  • For a capital city, Muscat sure packs a lot of charm. Explore the tranquil waterfront and visit the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

Is this trip right for you?

  • When visiting a mosque, it's important to show respect by dressing appropriately, even in the heat. Ladies should cover their arms and wear a head scarf; trousers or a long skirt are recommended. Gentlemen are required to wear trousers and long sleeve shirts. 

  • Tourism is new to Oman and whilst we say it is “developing” you will be surprised at the standard of accommodation facilities and local restaurants; this trip is appealing to those that want to experience the Middle East and Arabia in relative comfort

  • New 4x4 vehicles are used on most parts of the trip as we travel around Oman. You will travel in convoy style and due to the configuration of the vehicles there may be times when you are not travelling with your leader. It is possible your driver will not speak English.

Muscat city, Oman
Jarbrin Fort, Oman
colourful hats at Moutrah Souk, Oman
Ras al Jinz beach, Oman
ELSO Jebel Shams mountains, Oman

Itinerary
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Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 5 pm on Day 1. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where it will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please ensure you have all these details to provide to your leader.

You will be treated “to warm Omani Welcome” with coffee and dates after which your Leader will provide you with a short orientation to point out the facilities and services around your hotel.

The rest of the day is free for you to make you own discoveries, or try one of the recommended restaurants for a local dinner

Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Muscat-Dolphin Watching Cruise (2 Hours) (8am-10am,10am-12pm) - USD55
  • Muscat- Snorkeling Trip (2 Hours) (10am-1pm) - USD75
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
Please note that Muscat is rather spread out and the public transport system is not well established. Our hotel in Muscat is in a convenient location with plenty restaurants nearby but if you'd like to explore Muscat on your own before the tour, you may use taxis outside of the hotel. A ride from the hotel to Muscat old town is about 5 Rial Omani which is roughly 13 USD.

After breakfast at the hotel, visit the beautiful Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. You then proceed to the old part of Muscat city where you'll see the two 16th century Portuguese forts, Jalali and Mirani, guarding the entrance to the city. Drive down to the busy fishing harbour at Muttrah, with its quaint wooden dhows and fishing boats, stop at the bazaar (souq) where you can mingle with the locals and browse the silver and spice shops.

A very special lunch today; The Sidab Women's Group is one of the unique models in empowering women through establishing a project that benefits the participants. It is an environment-friendly project that is based on the manufacturing of environmentally friendly bags that replace plastic bags.  We learn about the centre and enjoy some home cooked Omani Food here. Enjoy a free afternoon in Muscat. If you'd like to, you can be dropped at the old town of Muscat to visit National Museum or Royal Opera House on your own or book a sunset cruise for the evening.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Muscat - Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
  • Muscat - Sidab Womens Corporation with Lunch
Optional Activities
  • Muscat - Sunset Cruise in Muscat Harbour (appx 2 hours including transfers) - USD55
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Please note that if our group is smaller than 6 people, we'll still visit the Sidab Women's Group to learn about the great work they do but the lunch will be in a restaurant instead of at the organization.

Your adventure starts this morning. As we will be returning to the starting point hotel you may want to consider storing some of your luggage at the hotel in Muscat and packing lighter for your five day 4x4 Tour.

Drive through the spectacular rugged landscapes to Hawiyat Najim Park the location of the Bimmah Sinkhole a picture-perfect sink hole formed due to limestone erosion. The turquoise waters make an excellent stop to paddle the feet. We spend 30 minutes here before continuing to Wadi Tiwi. Wadi Tiwi is known as the wadi of nine villages, emerald pools and thick date plantations. Visit the local plantations while your leader explains the different types of dates are grown in this area.

We continue Ras al Jinz for the evening. Check into our hotel located on the beach and enjoy some free time before an early dinner.

This evening we make the short journey to Ras All Jinz Turtle Reserve. The easternmost point of the Arabian Peninsula, is an important turtle-nesting site for the endangered green turtle. Over 20,000 females return annually to the beach where they hatched in order to lay eggs. Our excursion this evening is conducted in conjunction with the Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve and Research Centre by their experienced guides the area is under government protection and the only way to see the turtles is to join this tour. Upon arrival at the centre we will be advised if the activity will commence or not, this is a reserve and the turtles are not captive so it is up to mother nature if there will be turtles for viewing or not. Most nights there are at least one or two turtles with many more present between July and September. We don’t like to disappoint but there is a small possibility that the tour will not commence in which case your tour Leader will inform our office and an alternative activity will be arranged during your tour.
 
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Ras Al Jinz - Turtle Reserve
  • Hawiyat Najim Park - Bimmah Sinkhole
  • Wadi Tiwi - Visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Pack you swimmers and towel this morning. After breakfast, we make a stop in Sur, an important city of Oman's maritime past. Sur has long been known for its tradition of dhow building. These mighty vessels formed an important part of Omani culture and trade over the years, although these days there is less demand. Sur is now relatively quiet town and you can walk through traditional markets surrounded by Omanis in their typical national dress. Visit One of the Dhow Factory to see how these huge dhows are built and a local worker will join you and explain the making of the dhow, the materials used and the time taken to built the vessel. Then continue to the palm-line Wadi Bani Khalid.
The drive to Wadi Bani Khalid is through the Eastern Hajar Mountains, which offers a panoramic view of landscape below. Passing many pretty villages embedded in the mountains, down the winding road to the wadi along side a large, shallow pool fringed with vegetation and ending at a village on the vehicle, you'll continue on foot on a short trek to the deep blue pools of the Wadi, where you may enjoy a swim in this glorious grace of nature. May be have an optional lunch after visiting the wadi, and then continue to your final destination for today - Wahiba Sands.
The Wahiba Sands are characterised by enormous rolling dunes, some as high as 150 metres, stretching as far as the eye can see – a quintessential desert landscape that is as beautiful as it is austere. Named after the Wahiba tribe, the region is home to Bedouins who manage to eke out an existence around the few oases. Enjoy a fun dune drive as you head across the sands to your desert camp. Enroute visit Bedouin family and learn about their nomadic life and traditions while sipping some Omani Coffee. A sunset over the dunes at the desert is not to be missed. Tonight enjoy an evening of traditional music as you eat dinner around an open fire under the stars.
Accommodation
  • Desert camp (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Wadi Bani Khalid - Visit
  • Wahiba Sands – Desert Dune Sunset
  • Wahiba Sands - Bedouin family visit
  • Sur - Dhow factory visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
As per the recent guidelines form Ministry of Tourism, ladies who wish to swim in the wadi have to wear shorts and T-shirt to cover their body. Swimming in bikinis is not permitted.
Activities are arranged at the discretion of camp management at Wahiba Sands, and some may not be available during low occupancies and off-season periods.

Enjoy a leisurely morning at the camp. Then hop back on your vehicle and continue to Nizwa. Stop at Birkat Ul Mauz on the way to check out its falaj system - an ancient system devised for irrigation.

Then its over to Jabrin Castle, which is considered one of the finest and most picturesque Castles in the whole country. Often referred to as Jabrin Fort, it is indeed a castle as it was designed as a residence, with beautiful carved wooden doors and ornate lattice work. Continue to Nizwa after the visit. Your accommodation tonight is a heritage stay inside the old town of Nizwa. We are helping preserving these typical ancient Omani buildings by staying here, which is part of the local government's initiative of preserving Omani culture.
Then enjoy some free time in Nizwa. Nizwa fort with its massive Circular Cannon Tower, making it one of the most impressive forts in Oman, is well worth a visit. Built on a solid base of rock, the huge tower was designed to withstand the vibrations of 24 cannons. From the top, a superb view over Nizwa and the surrounding plains – a sure delight for all avid photographers!
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Jabrin - Fort visit
Optional Activities
  • Nizwa - Fort visit - Entry Fee - OMR5
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Check out the Nizwa Souk this morning. Spend some free time in the souk before travelling to Misfat Al Abyreen, a unique mountainous village located 1,000 m above sea level on the mountain foothills and is enlisted as the Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO based on its community effort in preserving Omani cultural heritage. A walk through the village takes you back in time and you'll witness the culture which is alive and followed in these modern times. Explore the agriculture, irrigation and the water distribution system in the village where you'll also come in contact with the locals who wouldn't mind giving you an interesting insight into their traditional daily life. You will also visit the local bee farms where different types of organic honey are produced. Perhaps enjoy an Omani lunch at traditional house in the village before continuing to Jebel Shams, which literally means ‘Mountain of the Sun’. It is Oman's highest peak at 10,000 feet and also known as the Grand Canyon of Oman. Even on the hottest days, it's nice and cool up there. On arrival, check into your hotel and enjoy a stunning sunset at an altitude of 3000 meters.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Misfat Al Abyreen - Village walk & bee farm visit
  • Nizwa - Souq visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

After breakfast, check out Jebel Shams, the ‘Grand Canyon of Oman’, with a short soft trek along what is referred to as the balcony walk which circumferences the “Grand Canyon of Oman” then it’s back in the vehicles as we make our way to Wadi Bani Awf, the end point of the canyon and what is called the ‘snake gorge’ in the middle of the steep mountain cliffs.

This is a stunning part of Oman, with fantastic views of the surrounding scenery. The 36 km scenic drive is over gravel road with twists and turns and offers off road adventure but at a relaxed and soft pace. On the way, stop at Bilad Sait, a remote fortress village in the heart of the mountain range. Take a walk and explore the village with your leader and get to know the tribes and their village life style. Continue your journey back to Muscat.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Jebel Shams - Grand Canyon visit
  • Bilad Sait - Fortress villlage visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Please note this drive through “snake gorge” is subject to weather conditions and if wet it may not be possible in which case an alternative route will be taken.

Your trip will come to an end today after breakfast. Check-out time is usually around 12 noon and you will be free to leave at any time. If you have arranged a private airport transfer you will be advised of the pick-up time. Additional accommodation can be pre-booked if you wish to spend more time exploring Muscat.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners

Transport

Mini Bus, 4x4

Accommodation

Hotel (5 nights), Heritage Stay (1 night), Desert Camp (1 night)

Included activities

  • Muscat - Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
  • Muscat - Sidab Womens Corporation with Lunch
  • Ras Al Jinz - Turtle Reserve
  • Hawiyat Najim Park - Bimmah Sinkhole
  • Wadi Tiwi - Visit
  • Wadi Bani Khalid - Visit
  • Wahiba Sands – Desert Dune Sunset
  • Wahiba Sands - Bedouin family visit
  • Sur - Dhow factory visit
  • Jabrin - Fort visit
  • Misfat Al Abyreen - Village walk & bee farm visit
  • Nizwa - Souq visit
  • Jebel Shams - Grand Canyon visit
  • Bilad Sait - Fortress villlage visit

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Discover Oman trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

Essential trip information

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