- Overview
- Itinerary
- Gallery
Overview
A hidden jewel at the top of the Arabian Peninsula, Oman is a wonderful combination of ageless heritage and modern life. From high mountains and deep gorges, to water-filled wadis, endless beaches and some of the world’s most stunning desert landscapes, the diverse beauty of Oman is apparent in every part of the country. For nature lovers, there are white sandy beaches that extend as far as the eye can see, often modulating into shimmering golden sand dunes surrounding refreshing oases that are a welcome surprise to the wandering traveller. For lovers of high terrain, they will surely be captivated by the mountainous regions that conceal countless wadis (valleys) and lagoons that constitute a single and independent ecosystem by themselves. Oman is the ultimate destination for cultural tourism. This is where you will find hundreds of castles, forts and museums dating back to various historic epochs.
Itinerary
Arrival at Muscat International airport.
Transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at Muscat hotel.
Transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at Muscat hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel
Start the half-day tour of Muscat with a visit to the magnificent Grand Mosque built from sandstone and marble. A beautiful Swarovski chandelier and a huge handmade Persian carpet adorn the main prayer hall. Pass through the Ministry district before stopping for a photo opportunity at Al Alam Palace, the palace of the Sultan. Next, admire two Portuguese forts, Mirani and Jalali, from the outside, before moving on to visit the Bait Al Zubair Museum. This privately-owned museum is located in the old town of Muscat and is known for its fine collection of traditional costumes, antique jewelry and weapons. End the tour at Muttrah Souq, which is one of the oldest markets in Oman, dating back about two hundred years. Shop for artefacts, antiques, traditional textiles and jewelry in the bustling lanes of the traditional Arabian market. Return to the hotel.
(Mosque Notes: Please consider the dress code for the visit of Grand Mosque: Women must fully cover their hair, arms and legs; men wear long trousers and a shirt. Visits are not possible on Fridays).
Free time at leisure.
Overnight at Muscat hotel.
Start the half-day tour of Muscat with a visit to the magnificent Grand Mosque built from sandstone and marble. A beautiful Swarovski chandelier and a huge handmade Persian carpet adorn the main prayer hall. Pass through the Ministry district before stopping for a photo opportunity at Al Alam Palace, the palace of the Sultan. Next, admire two Portuguese forts, Mirani and Jalali, from the outside, before moving on to visit the Bait Al Zubair Museum. This privately-owned museum is located in the old town of Muscat and is known for its fine collection of traditional costumes, antique jewelry and weapons. End the tour at Muttrah Souq, which is one of the oldest markets in Oman, dating back about two hundred years. Shop for artefacts, antiques, traditional textiles and jewelry in the bustling lanes of the traditional Arabian market. Return to the hotel.
(Mosque Notes: Please consider the dress code for the visit of Grand Mosque: Women must fully cover their hair, arms and legs; men wear long trousers and a shirt. Visits are not possible on Fridays).
Free time at leisure.
Overnight at Muscat hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel
Stop at Bimah sinkhole, a deep natural depression filled with water. The locals say that a meteor fell on this spot resulting in the natural depression and forming a small lake.
Photo opportunity at Wadi Shab. Fresh water cascading from top of the mountains meets the briny sea water on its banks, creating an environmental diversity unique to this wadi and making it stand on a pedestal of its own when compared with the other wadis (valleys)in the Sultanate.
Continue to Wadi Tiwi, a spectacularly deep and narrow gorge carved out of the mountains, running between towering cliffs right down to the sea. The wadi is famed for its old traditional villages surrounded by lush plantations of date and banana.
Arrival at the entrance of Wahiba Sands (also known as Sharqiya Sands). The longitudinal dunes stretch 200 km long and 100 km
wide until the Arabian Sea and have been home to the Bedouin for 7,000 years. You can venture up the high dunes and witness the unforgettable desert sunset, before gently driving through the sand dunes to reach the camp.
Overnight at Wahiba desert camp.
Stop at Bimah sinkhole, a deep natural depression filled with water. The locals say that a meteor fell on this spot resulting in the natural depression and forming a small lake.
Photo opportunity at Wadi Shab. Fresh water cascading from top of the mountains meets the briny sea water on its banks, creating an environmental diversity unique to this wadi and making it stand on a pedestal of its own when compared with the other wadis (valleys)in the Sultanate.
Continue to Wadi Tiwi, a spectacularly deep and narrow gorge carved out of the mountains, running between towering cliffs right down to the sea. The wadi is famed for its old traditional villages surrounded by lush plantations of date and banana.
Arrival at the entrance of Wahiba Sands (also known as Sharqiya Sands). The longitudinal dunes stretch 200 km long and 100 km
wide until the Arabian Sea and have been home to the Bedouin for 7,000 years. You can venture up the high dunes and witness the unforgettable desert sunset, before gently driving through the sand dunes to reach the camp.
Overnight at Wahiba desert camp.
Breakfast at the camp
Visit the enchanting Wadi Bani Khalid. Drive past the village with its endless date plantations until you reach the magnificent wadi. The pools are cool, deep and absolutely stunning. Feel free to plunge in and experience the crystal-clear waters.
Photo opportunity at Birkat Al Mouz, one of the most famous villages lying in ruins in Oman. With a large banana plantation and the scenic surroundings, the site is also home to the old falaj irrigation system, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is an enchanting stop that will transport you back in time.
Overnight in Jebel Akhdar hotel.
Visit the enchanting Wadi Bani Khalid. Drive past the village with its endless date plantations until you reach the magnificent wadi. The pools are cool, deep and absolutely stunning. Feel free to plunge in and experience the crystal-clear waters.
Photo opportunity at Birkat Al Mouz, one of the most famous villages lying in ruins in Oman. With a large banana plantation and the scenic surroundings, the site is also home to the old falaj irrigation system, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is an enchanting stop that will transport you back in time.
Overnight in Jebel Akhdar hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Discover Jebel Akhdar (the green mountain). It is neither green nor a single mountain, but a large grey-brown massif covering more than 1,800 square km with several peaks, rising to nearly 3,050 meters. The mountain range is dotted with Omani villages and in many areas, villagers have dug terraces in parts of the mountain for growing crops. Wadi Bani Habib is one of several interesting villages located on the massive plateau. Jebel Akhdar is also famous for rose water distillation. Of the thousands of varieties of rose, only a few produces the fragrant oil required to make rosewater, 'damascina' being one of the most famous of this prized varieties. The rose season begins mid-March and finishes mid-May).
Overnight in Jebel Akhdar hotel.
Discover Jebel Akhdar (the green mountain). It is neither green nor a single mountain, but a large grey-brown massif covering more than 1,800 square km with several peaks, rising to nearly 3,050 meters. The mountain range is dotted with Omani villages and in many areas, villagers have dug terraces in parts of the mountain for growing crops. Wadi Bani Habib is one of several interesting villages located on the massive plateau. Jebel Akhdar is also famous for rose water distillation. Of the thousands of varieties of rose, only a few produces the fragrant oil required to make rosewater, 'damascina' being one of the most famous of this prized varieties. The rose season begins mid-March and finishes mid-May).
Overnight in Jebel Akhdar hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel
Visit Nizwa, the former capital of Oman. Explore the 17th-century Nizwa fort with its vast tower and superb views of the oasis. In the bustling souq nearby you will find local products such as Omani daggers (khanjar), copper, silver jewelry, livestock, fish, vegetables and handicrafts for sale.
Start the off-road crossing of Wadi Bani Awf (3 hours), a spectacular mountain road. You will see small villages on the way. Stop to admire the panoramic view of Snake Canyon. Continue to Bilad Sayt, a fairytale-like village typical of the Arabian settlements of the past and one of the most picturesque villages in Oman.
Overnight at Muscat hotel.
Visit Nizwa, the former capital of Oman. Explore the 17th-century Nizwa fort with its vast tower and superb views of the oasis. In the bustling souq nearby you will find local products such as Omani daggers (khanjar), copper, silver jewelry, livestock, fish, vegetables and handicrafts for sale.
Start the off-road crossing of Wadi Bani Awf (3 hours), a spectacular mountain road. You will see small villages on the way. Stop to admire the panoramic view of Snake Canyon. Continue to Bilad Sayt, a fairytale-like village typical of the Arabian settlements of the past and one of the most picturesque villages in Oman.
Overnight at Muscat hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel
Free time at leisure.
Overnight at Muscat hotel.
Free time at leisure.
Overnight at Muscat hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel
Transfer to Muscat Airport
Transfer to Muscat Airport
Gallery
