Transport

Throughout the tour, we travel in air-conditioned minibuses and 4x4s. Road conditions in Oman are generally very good, but there will be some bumpy journeys when driving off road in 4x4s and over the dunes in Wahiba Sands. Distances and transfer times are relatively short with the longest drive during the tour approximately 3hr 30min.

Others

See Muscat’s Grand Mosque and colourful Mutrah Souq Camp and 4WD in the dunes at Wahiba Sands Enjoy spectacular views from Jebel Shams over the Grand Canyon of Arabia Witness the unmissable weekly live auction cattle market in Nizwa Discover Nizwa’s 17th Century fort Swim in the turquoise, cool waters of Wadi Bani Khalid Visit a Bedouin family and enjoy Kahwa (Omani local coffee) Take a cruise on a traditional Dhow boat

Guide

The trip will be led by a local Omani leader.

Accommodation

We spend five nights in hotels and one night in a desert resort with a spectacular location in Wahiba Sands. Below are the accommodations we typically use: Muscat: Radisson Blu Hotel Muscat (nights 1 and 6) We start and finish at this 153-room Radisson Blu resort, just 9mi (15km) from Muscat International Airport. There’s local and international cuisine at Olivos Restaurant and plenty of drinks at the Lazy Lizard bar. Alternatively, you may prefer a dip in the temperature-controlled outdoor pool or to relax on a sun lounger. Sur: Sur Plaza (night 2) Enjoy traditional Omani hospitality during our stay at the 89-room Sur Plaza. There’s a pool and gym, while the Oyster Restaurant (which serves a mixture of local and international cuisines) has views over the mountains. Wahiba Sands: Arabian Nights Resort (night 3) Spend an unforgettable night at this desert resort, which is only reachable by 4×4. Despite the remote location of the resort, the villa-style rooms are comfortable and there’s even a pool for a quick dip in the desert. There’s also a restaurant serving local and international dishes, plus a pool bar mixing up cocktails. Nizwa: Al Diyar Hotel (nights 4-5) Modest and traditional, Al Diyar provides a well-located place to stay for our adventures. It also has two outdoor pools and a restaurant, while Nizwa Souq is around five minutes’ drive away. Worth knowing With accommodation in Oman, couples – particularly unmarried couples – may be automatically allocated twin beds rather than doubles, unless requested otherwise. Please advise us at the time of booking if you are travelling as a couple and would like to request a double bed.

Meals

All breakfasts, four lunches and five dinners are included. Omani cuisine is influenced by Arab, Persian, Indian, Asian, Eastern Mediterranean and African cuisine. Rice is a staple and often includes a variety of flavours and ingredients, while fish and meat, such as chicken and lamb, feature prominently. Dishes are full of rich mixtures of spices, herbs and marinades. Dates are much loved and are an essential part of the Omani diet. Curry, soups, fresh salads and vegetable dishes are all very common. Coffee is the national beverage but tea is also drunk. Yoghurt drinks and soft drinks are also popular. Alcohol is not readily available but can be purchased in some hotels and likely to be quite expensive. During the tour, you have the opportunity to taste and experience a variety of dishes and eat in local restaurants. Included lunches will be picnic lunches and other meals will be eaten in cafes/eateries. The night spent at the desert camp includes a barbecue with traditional dishes. Non-Muslims are permitted to bring in two litres of alcohol by air only. Alcohol may be purchased at Muscat airport after having cleared immigration. Care must be taken not to cause offence through the use of alcohol and should not be consumed in public places apart from licensed premises, such as hotels and restaurants. It is generally not a problem to bring your own alcohol into hotels but please always ask the hotel first out of courtesy. Please advise at time of booking if you have any dietary requirements.

Not included:

Optional

Camel ride at desert camp: 15-20 min ride inside camp- USD 15 1 hour ride outside camp in desert- USD 80

Others

— Travel insurance — Single accommodation (available on request) — Visas or vaccinations — Optional camel ride at camp

Flights

International flights are not included

Insurance

Insurance is not included

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Start Muscat; Afternoon Dhow Cruise And Visit Mutrah Souq
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Start Muscat; Afternoon Dhow Cruise And Visit Mutrah Souq

Arrive at the start hotel before midday to ensure you can join the main group briefing and the dhow cruise in the afternoon. After the briefing, we are picked up from our hotel and travel through the old part of Muscat to visit the Sidab Women’s Association where we can interact with the local women and enjoy a coffee together. Next, we pay a short visit to the Bait Al Zubair Museum before a photo stop outside the gates of the Sultan’s palace. After a short transfer to the marina, we embark on a relaxed dhow cruise (traditional fisherman’s boat) to see the Muscat coast through the eyes of the ancient seafarers who plied this route for centuries. During the cruise, soft drinks, tea, coffee and dates will be served. In the evening, we stop at a restaurant for dinner and will be transported back through the centuries on a visit to the bustling, colourful Mutrah Souq. Here there will be lots of photo opportunities and the chance to observe the local way of life while wandering around this traditional Arab market. Note: On some departures, some of the sightseeing detailed above will be done on Day 2 instead. Your leader will advise of your exact schedule locally. Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel Muscat (or similar)
Day 2 Day 2: Visit Muscat’S Grand Mosque; Onto Sur Via Beautiful Wadi Shab. Evening Visit To Turtle Reserve (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Visit Muscat’S Grand Mosque; Onto Sur Via Beautiful Wadi Shab. Evening Visit To Turtle Reserve (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

After a hotel breakfast, we check out and visit the Grand Mosque, the highlight of the Omani capital. The handmade carpets, chandeliers and the ceiling of the great dome in the main prayer room are must-sees. Please note: Women should be fully covered and carry a headscarf; men should wear trousers. We then drive (approximately 1hr 30min) to the Bimah Sinkhole, a spectacular limestone crater with blue-green water at the bottom, and Wadi Tiwi where we enjoy a walk and picnic lunch before transferring (approximately one hour) to our hotel in Sur, where we spend the night. After an early dinner, we drive (approximately one hour) to Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve. Oman is an important area for green turtles in the Indian Ocean and the green back turtles are heavily protected by the government of Oman. In fact, more than 275 of the Sultanate’s beaches double as nesting grounds for five of the seven recognised sea turtle species, the most common being the green back. Here we are led to the beach by an ecologist to see turtles return to their beach to lay eggs. (Please note, the main nesting season is June to August; at other times of the year, there may or not be turtles every night but a visit to the reserve is still worthwhile). Accommodation: Sur Plaza (or similar)
Day 3 Day 3: Drive To Wadi Bani Khalid, Swim In The Turquoise Pools And Enjoy A Picnic Lunch. Continue To Wahiba Sands And Explore The Spectacular Dunes. Overnight In The Desert. (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Drive To Wadi Bani Khalid, Swim In The Turquoise Pools And Enjoy A Picnic Lunch. Continue To Wahiba Sands And Explore The Spectacular Dunes. Overnight In The Desert. (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

This morning after breakfast, we transfer (approximately 1hr 45min) to the desert oasis of Wadi Bani Khalid to relax and enjoy a swim in the beautiful turquoise pools. We also have a picnic lunch before continuing (approximately 60 to 90 minutes) to the Wahiba Desert. Please note, occasionally wild swimming in the wadi may not be possible due to safety reasons if, for example, water levels are high following rainfall or if it is raining at the time of your visit as the rocks can be slippery – your leader will inform you if swimming is not advisable. Here, on the edge of the desert, we change vehicles from the minibus to 4WDs to begin our desert experience. The Wahiba Sands, a vast mass of undulating red and white sands and dunes rising up to 655ft (200m) are also host to a variety of flora and fauna. The ever-changing patterns of the dunes are a photographer’s delight. We drive towards the dunes and our desert accommodation (approximately one hour) to check-in for the evening. During our time at the camp, there is sometimes the opportunity to take a camel ride (optional – extra cost). Accommodation: Arabian Nights Resort (or similar)
Day 4 Day 4: Morning Visit To A Bedouin Family And Enjoy Omani Coffee; Visit Birkat Al Mouz And Walk Through Its Oasis And Date Plantations; Onto Nizwa (Breakfast,Dinner)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Morning Visit To A Bedouin Family And Enjoy Omani Coffee; Visit Birkat Al Mouz And Walk Through Its Oasis And Date Plantations; Onto Nizwa (Breakfast,Dinner)

We have breakfast at our desert accommodation before checking out and driving towards the ancient city of Nizwa, the former capital of Oman. En route, we visit a Bedouin family and enjoy kahwa (Omani coffee) and spend time with them learning about their customs and traditional way of life. We continue our drive via Birkat al Mouz, one of the best-known village ruins in the region. We walk through its oasis and date plantations before continuing to Nizwa. With the two sets of ruins, a large banana plantation and the scenic surroundings, the site is also home to the old Falaj irrigation system listed as a Unesco World Heritage site. Upon arrival in Nizwa, we check into our hotel where we spend the next two nights. Accommodation: Al Diyar Hotel (or similar)
Day 5 Day 5: Transfer To Jabrin, One Of The Finest Castles In Oman; Stop At Historic Bahla Fort; Enjoy A Walk And Picnic Lunch In Wadi Nakhr. Visit Jebel Shams For Amazing Views (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Transfer To Jabrin, One Of The Finest Castles In Oman; Stop At Historic Bahla Fort; Enjoy A Walk And Picnic Lunch In Wadi Nakhr. Visit Jebel Shams For Amazing Views (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

After breakfast at the hotel, we take a short drive (approximately 30 minutes) to visit Jabrin, the finest of Oman’s castles built in the late 17th century, which became a seat of Omani learning. The castle displays the highest achievement in Omani ceiling painting and beautifully executed woodcarvings. We also pause at Bahla Fort for a photo, the only Unesco-listed fort in the country and lovingly restored over many years before transferring (approximately 1hr 30min) to Wadi Nakhr for a short walk. We have lunch in a restaurant before proceeding to Jebel Shams, the highest mountain in Oman, and where we can enjoy spectacular views of the ‘Grand Canyon of Arabia’. Later in the afternoon, we transfer (approximately 45 minutes) to the village of Misfat Al Arbayeen, passing the ruins of an old fort on the way. We continue through narrow alleys between old stone houses and take a short walk in Al Hamra village before returning (approximately 30 minutes) to Nizwa for the evening. Accommodation: Al Diyar Hotel (or similar)
Day 6 Day 6: See The Nizwa Cattle Auction, Fort And Souq; Continue To Nakhal Fort And Hot Spring; Back To Muscat For Final Evening (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: See The Nizwa Cattle Auction, Fort And Souq; Continue To Nakhal Fort And Hot Spring; Back To Muscat For Final Evening (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Today is a long day and we start our morning with a visit to the live cattle auction market in Nizwa, the one day of the week where this ancient city truly comes alive with farmers and traders arriving from near and far to barter and trade in one of the most renowned markets in the Middle East. We visit the impressive Nizwa Fort, built in the 17th century to defend the natural wealth and strategic location of the city. Later we visit the renowned souq, famous for intricately handcarved khanjars (traditional curved daggers), silver jewellery and livestock trading. Departing Nizwa, we continue to Wadi Bani Auf; this stretch of graded road is very adventurous as it involves steep bends and bumpy roads. In wet conditions, it may not be possible to drive this section of road due to safety. If this occurs, we take an alternative route. We then stop at the charming mountain village of Bilad Sayt, where one is struck by the beauty of the landscape. Lunch today will be a packed lunch. This afternoon, we have a photo stop at Nakhal Fort and hot spring. The exact date on which this ancient fort was built is unknown, but many believe it was constructed in pre-Islamic times, more than 1,500 years ago. We then transfer back to Muscat for our final evening in the capital city of Oman. Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel Muscat (or similar)
Day 7 Day 7: End Muscat (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: End Muscat (Breakfast)

The tour ends this morning and it’s time to begin our return journey home. If you’d like a bit more time to explore Oman, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.

7 days tour

A Week In Oman

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip A Week In Oman

Day 1: Start Muscat; Afternoon Dhow Cruise And Visit Mutrah Souq

Day 2: Visit Muscat’S Grand Mosque; Onto Sur Via Beautiful Wadi Shab. Evening Visit To Turtle Reserve (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 3: Drive To Wadi Bani Khalid, Swim In The Turquoise Pools And Enjoy A Picnic Lunch. Continue To Wahiba Sands And Explore The Spectacular Dunes. Overnight In The Desert. (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 4: Morning Visit To A Bedouin Family And Enjoy Omani Coffee; Visit Birkat Al Mouz And Walk Through Its Oasis And Date Plantations; Onto Nizwa (Breakfast,Dinner)

Day 5: Transfer To Jabrin, One Of The Finest Castles In Oman; Stop At Historic Bahla Fort; Enjoy A Walk And Picnic Lunch In Wadi Nakhr. Visit Jebel Shams For Amazing Views (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 6: See The Nizwa Cattle Auction, Fort And Souq; Continue To Nakhal Fort And Hot Spring; Back To Muscat For Final Evening (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 7: End Muscat (Breakfast)

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