Highlights of Oman
8 days, Muscat to Muscat
Itinerary
Day 1Muscat
Arrive at any time.
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Accommodation
Below is an example of the hotel we may use in this city. For the actual hotel your specific departure will be using, please check your voucher.
Radisson Blu Hotel Muscat (or similar)
Day 2Muscat
Explore some of the highlights of the city including the Grand Mosque, the Bait Al Zubair Museum, and the historic souk in Muttrah, before heading to Old Muscat and view the 16th century Al-Mirani and Al-Jelani forts from outside.
Modesty is mandatory for everyone when visiting the Grand Mosque. Men must wear long pants and shirts must cover shoulders (if you have tattoos, they must be fully covered by your clothing). Women must be fully covered including heads, full arms and full legs. We recommend not wearing jewelry unless it is fully covered by your clothing. Proper Omani outfits for men and women can be rented should you wish, and our CEO will be happy to answer any questions or assist in preparing the correct outfits to visit the mosque.
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque Visit
Take a visit to one of Muscat's finest architectural sites, the Grand Mosque. Covering an area of 416,000 square meters, this mosque can accommodate 20,000 worshippers and offers visitors a labyrinth of grounds to explore.
Bait Al Zubair Museum Visit
Boasting one of the largest heritage art collections in Oman, the Bait al Zubair Museum is a must-see for those eager to learn more about Omani culture and history.
Muttrah Souq Visit
Take in the colourful sights, and perfumed scents of this winding marketplace. Opt to hunt for authentic Omani artefacts and handicrafts (you won't have to go far), or sip on an aromatic Omani coffee and gaze out at the local hustle and bustle.
Old Muscat Fort Visits
Explore Old Muscat and take in the sights and sounds of this sleepy coastal area. View from the outside the forts of Al-Mirani and Al-Jelani to get some perspective on Omani history.
Accommodation
Radisson Blu Hotel Muscat (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 3Muscat/Ras al-Jinz
Leave Muscat behind and drive along the coast towards the picturesque Bimmah Sinkhole. Continue to Sur, renowned in the past for its dhow shipyards, before reaching Ras al-Jinz on the coast. After an early dinner, visit the turtle sanctuary, where green turtles come from thousands of kilometres away to lay eggs at night.
4x4
Roads? Where this rough-and-ready vehicle's going, we don't need roads.
Bimmah Sinkhole
Feast your eyes on one of the world's most breathtaking sinkholes. Surrounded by the sea and towering mountains, this sinkhole measures 40 meters wide and 20 meters deep. With its glittering turquoise waters, it isn't hard to believe the local folklore that maintains that the sinkhole was created by a falling star. Jump in and cool off.
Sur Dhow Shipyards
Sur is the home of the last remaining factory that builds Oman’s traditional dhows. The production of these wooden boats have a 6000 year old history, which has established ancient Oman as a prosperous trading port in the region. Visit the shipyard and learn how these ships are made.
Turtle Sanctuary Visit
The unspoiled shoreline of the Ras al-Jinz turtle sanctuary the is a nesting home of the endangered green turtle (Cheloniamydas). Follow a guide out to the beach and witness the nesting process of these creatures from a safe distance. Observe the turtles digging and covering their nests in the sand. Learn all about the centre's conservation efforts in the area.
Accommodation
Radisson Blu Hotel Muscat (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 4Ras al-Jinz/Wahiba Sands
Drive towards Wādī Banī Khālid, a rocky oasis nestled in the East Hajar mountains filled with natural pools. Later, begin your desert adventure through the dunes towards the desert camp, just in time for a sunset, then enjoy a traditional dinner.
At Wahabi Sands we will stay at a desert lodge with restaurant and cafe. We will overnight in comfortable tents with beds and private bathrooms, there is no A/C in the tents.
4x4
Roads? Where this rough-and-ready vehicle's going, we don't need roads.
Wādī Banī Khālid
Drive through red rock formations and vibrant green plantations and take in the natural beauty of this oasis-like region. Running through this area are the natural blue-tinted springs that receive a constant water flow throughout the year, making it a lifeline for villages of this area. Enjoy lunch before taking free time to explore the area. Opt to take a easy hike to the surrounding waterfalls, or swim in the wadis (natural springs).
4x4
Roads? Where this rough-and-ready vehicle's going, we don't need roads.
Omani Desert Lodge Camp Experience
Arrive at the desert camp just in time to enjoy the sunset. Enjoy a traditional meal at the camp restaurant and then spend the evening sitting under the stars, surrounded by the golden dunes of Wahiba Sands.
Optional Activities - Day 4 HideShow
Hiking and Swimming in Wādī Banī Khālid
Explore this rocky region on foot, discovering turquoise-coloured natural pools and picturesque waterfalls along the way. Jump in and cool off.
Accommodation
Desert Safari Camp (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 5Wahiba Sands/Nizwá
Leaving the desert behind, we head towards Ibra and visit the impressive Jabrin castle. Continue towards Nizwá, stopping at the historic fortress of Bahla along the way.
4x4
Roads? Where this rough-and-ready vehicle's going, we don't need roads.
Jabrin Castle
Jabrin Castle is one of best-preserved castles in Oman. Built in 1675 by Imam Bil-arab bin Sultan, this fort was a centre for astrology, law, and medicine.
Bahla Fort
Take a visit to this impressive walled-city, with some of the oldest parts built as early as 500 BC. Gaining UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1987, this complex is an grand example of ancient Omani architecture.
4x4
Roads? Where this rough-and-ready vehicle's going, we don't need roads.
Accommodation
Al Diyar Hotel Nizwa (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 6Nizwá
Wake early to take part in the Nizwá cattle market. Watch locals buy and trade the best livestock, from goats to cattle directly from the herders. Continue to the town of Al Hamra and visit the renowned stone houses of Misfat Al Abriyeen and learn about the Falaj network, Oman's ancient water supply system. Return to Nizwa via Jebel Shams and take in view of Wadi Nakhr known as the Grand Canyon of Oman.
Nizwá Cattle Market
Jump feet first into the local hustle and bustle of the Friday morning cattle market.
4x4
Roads? Where this rough-and-ready vehicle's going, we don't need roads.
Aflaj Irrigation Systems
This water network is made up of ancient channels that used gravity to carry the water from the source to farms and mosques, since 500 AD. This complex system is representative of a system that is still in use in Oman today.
Mud Houses of Misfat Al Abriyeen
Built into the mountainside of the Al Hamra region, this authentic Omani village is known for its unique residential architecture. The homes are constructed using rocks excavated from the mountain and plastered together with mud, making the structures look as though they are part of the mountain. Some houses are still being lived in. Learn about this building method that has allowed this community to stand the test of time.
Optional Activities - Day 6 HideShow
Nizwá Fort Visit
5OMR per personOpt to visit one of the oldest forts in Oman, built in the mid-seventeenth century, and catch a glimpse into ancient Omani life.
Accommodation
Al Diyar Hotel Nizwa (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 7Nizwá/Muscat
Drive through Wadi Bani Awf and take in the beauty of the steep mountain cliffs before reaching the end point ("Snake Point") of the gorge. Continue to Muscat for the evening.
4x4
Roads? Where this rough-and-ready vehicle's going, we don't need roads.
Accommodation
Radisson Blu Hotel Muscat (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 8Muscat
Depart at any time.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.