Day 1 Masqat
Arrive at Masqat airport, where you will meet your driver. Transfer to hotel and overnight in Masqat.
Day 2 Batinah (approx. 325 km) (A)
After breakfast, excursion to Batinah, a fertile coastal region of the country. The first stop is in the small town of Barka, where a visit to the fish market. Next, drive to Ain Thawara, known for its hot springs, surrounded by date palms and at the foot of the Al Hajar Mountains. We will also visit one of the most beautiful forts, Al Hazm Fortress.
Return to Masqat, visit the National Museum. Overnight in Masqat.
Day 3 Masqat city tour and two-hour boat trip (approx. 80 km) (A,L)
Breakfast and departure at 9.30 for a city tour of Masqat. Masqat, the capital of Oman, is one of the oldest cities in the Middle East – archaeological excavations show that a fishing village stood there as early as 7000 years ago. It is a city where traditional architecture meets stunning beaches and bustling souks. The minarets and domes of the mosques reach skywards from the Arabic-style houses.
On a city tour, you will visit perhaps Oman’s most important mosque, the Great Mosque of Sultan Qaboo, with a Swarovski crystal chandelier hanging from its dome and a huge hand-woven Persian carpet covering the floor. Next, visit the bustling Muttrah souk area, a traditional oriental marketplace where you can not only soak up the atmosphere but also the heady smell of spices. Lunch is included in the itinerary.
In the old town of Masqat, you will discover traditional costumes, jewellery and tools at the Bait Al Zubair Museum and make a short photo stop at the Sultan’s Al Alam Palace. From the Old City, you will take a two-hour boat trip to the Masqat coast. On the way back to the hotel, there will be a photo stop at the Royal House of Guides. Overnight in Masqat.
Day 4 Masqat – Jabreen – Al Hamra – Jebel Shams canyon – Nizwa (approx. 350 km) (A,L)
After breakfast, departure for the Omani interior. Stop and visit Jabree Fortress, with its winding corridors, hidden staircase and beautifully decorated interiors. Later, arrive and visit the old rural village of Al Hamra, whose beautiful ochre-coloured houses represent the building skills of yesteryear.
Change to an SUV and continue to the highest mountain in Oman, Jebel Shams (3 075 m). Known as the Mountain of the Sun, Jebel Shams is part of the Hajar Mountains. You can also admire the stunning scenery of the Wadi Nakhar Canyon, also known as Oman’s Grand Canyon, which is over 1,000 metres deep. Lunch at a local restaurant.
Transfer to the former capital of the country, Nizwa, where we visit the Nizwa Souq market, located right next to the fortress. The numerous alleyways offer traditional and modern styles. Nizwa Souq has survived for hundreds of years as the home of local industries.
We are staying in Nizwa.
Day 5 Nizwa – Sinawa market – Al Mansfah – Wahiba sands (approx. 220 km) (A,L,I)
After breakfast we head towards the Sinaw Thursday market, which is said to be held only on Thursdays. The market is very busy as it is close to the Bedouin community who come to buy supplies and sell their livestock and handicrafts.
Next, we visit a local family for a home-cooked meal.
After lunch we will go to see the ruins of Al Mansfah village and later drive by jeep towards the Wahiba desert.
We stay overnight in a desert camp.
Day 6 Wahiba – Wadi Bani Khaled – Sur (approx. 210 km) (A,I)
After breakfast, we get back on the bus and continue to Wadi Bani Khaled, a picturesque oasis of jade green. The journey continues to the coastal town of Sur, where we visit a dhow factory. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Sur.
Optional night trip: to Ras Al Jinz turtle breeding area. The reserve is known for the thousands of green turtles that lay their eggs there between June and September. After two months, the hatchlings emerge from the sand and head out to sea.
Day 7 Sur – Wadi Tiwi – Bimah Sinkhole – Masqat (approx. 250 km) (A,L)
After breakfast, a short city tour of Suri, during which you will learn about the construction of dhow boats, among other things. Dhows are the Sultanate’s own special type of boat. Next, departure back towards Masqat. On the way, stop at the beautiful Wadi Tiwi oasis and have lunch at the Wadi Shab Resort Hotel. After lunch, we will visit the dolines, which are water-filled pits or depressions found in karst areas.
On arrival in Masqat, transfer to hotel (if you have booked an extra night) or airport (without guide) or standard hotel to freshen up before the flight.Optional dinner at hotel (not included). Transfer to the airport (without guide) 3 hours before departure.
Standard class hotels:
Muscat Holiday Hotel Muscat
Arabian Oryx Wahiba Sands
Al Diyar Hotel Nizwa
Sur Hotel Plaza Sur
Superior class hotels:
Grand Millenium Hotel Muscat
Desert Nights CampWahibaSands
Golden Tulip Hotel Nizva
Sur Plaza Hotel Sur
