Camp in a desert Oasis, tour ancient cities and marvel at the Oman souks! From $2140!
Day 1: Muscat
On arrival at Muscat International Airport (formerly Seeb Airport), you are met and transferred to your hotel. This is simply an arrival day so you may arrive in Muscat at any time. Note that hotel rooms are generally only available after 3 pm, so if you are arriving substantially earlier we recommend you pre-book an additional night's accommodation. The balance of the day is free to explore your surroundings, but normally a Welcome Meeting is held in the evening where you meet your tour leader and fellow travellers.
Day 2: Muscat
After breakfast at the hotel we visit the beautiful Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. We then proceed to the Natural History Museum, which offers a brief introduction to Oman's colourful past. Driving down to the busy fishing harbour at Muttrah, with its quaint wooden dhows and fishing boats, we stop at the bazaar where we can mingle with the locals and browse around the silver and spice shops. We also visit the two 16th century Portuguese forts, Jalali and Mirani that guard the entrance to the city, before returning to our hotel.
Day 3: Seeb-Nakhal - Al Hazm-Muscat
Leaving Muscat, we head north along the coast to the fishing village of Seeb, where we witness the daily catch being hauled onto the sands from tiny fishing boats. We then continue on to the splendid fort at Nakhal, which sits atop a rocky spur with commanding views of the surrounding countryside. It is the best-preserved of all Oman's forts and the interior is still furnished, giving visitors an excellent feel for period life. A little further on is the fort of Al Hazm, situated on the northern slopes of the Jebel Akhdar, with its elaborate carved doors. Here we have time to explore the various rooms and chambers before returning to Muscat.
Day 4: Wadi Bani Khaled - Wahiba Sands
From Muscat we head southward and travel through rugged landscape before arriving at the palm-filled Wadi Bani Khaled, which is justly famed for its natural beauty. We follow a well-worn path into the heart of this rocky oasis and discover a large pool fed by a natural mountain spring. We continue our 4WD journey and arrive at the edge of the extensive Wahiba Sands. After deflating the tyres we follow an amazing route across the sand dunes to our desert camp. Tonight we enjoy an evening of traditional food and music around an open fire under the stars and get to sleep in simple tents.
Day 5: Lisq - Mudaibi - Nizwa
Driving north, we come to Lisq, an oasis with ancient buildings with the ruins of a castle forming a backdrop. Lisq is famous for the unique way of processing dates. Dates are cooked and the dry fruit is a local delicacy – well worth a try! Mudaibi, a village with an old quarter and an excellent souq nearby, makes an interesting stop on the way to Nizwa. Nizwa is one of the oldest cities in Oman and was once a great centre of trade, religion, education and art. Its grand mosque was formerly a center for Islamic learning. The central fort is surrounded by ancient traditional souqs where the locals trade in traditional as well as imported merchandise. You can browse here for some of Nizwa's famous silver jewellery or watch expert craftsmen in action as they fashion exquisite silverware or a range of other artefacts. Nizwa is an oasis enclosed by a series of mountains including the famous green mountain (Jabal Akhdar).
Day 6: Bahla - Jabrin - Jabal Shams - Misfah - Al Harma - Muscat
The ruins of the immense fort at Bahla, with its walls and towers of unbaked brick and its stone foundations, are a remarkable example of fortification. It's easy to find a metal worker toiling next to his red-hot furnace, or a weaver assembling a goat hair cloak. But the king of craft in Bahla is pottery. This exceptional art is famous throughout the Sultanate and beyond. Jabrin Fort is 240 kilometres from Muscat and is also called the palace of Imam Bil 'Arub Bin Sultan, who built it in 1675. It is considered one of the finest and most picturesque of Oman's forts. Besides the famous Nizwa Fort, the Jabrin Fort is one of the few forts designed as a residence; its wooden doors are elegantly carved and the lattice work windows are delicate and ornate. Jabal Shams, which literally means 'Mountain of the Sun', is Oman's highest peak at 3075 metres. Even on the hottest days, it's cool up here. Misfah and Al Hamra are beautiful and historical villages that we'll explore before heading back to Muscat for our final evening.
Day 7: Muscat
Your trip ends today after breakfast. Check-out time is usually around 12 noon and you are 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.
Tour Grade: Culture
The greatest cities in the world and the richest historic sights; the finest regional food and the must-see spectacles. Museums and markets, medinas and mosques – from Hobart to Hong Kong, Cairo to Caracas, get under the skin of local life and explore what your destination means to its own people. Dive headlong into exotic metropolitan buzz – the souks of Marrakech, La Paz’s markets – or adventure to remote African hills to explore ancient and mysterious rock art. Take in cutting edge art at Bilbao’s dazzling Guggenheim, or soak up timeless rhythms sitting under a balanzan tree in Mali listening to Tuareg musicians. Whatever it is, wherever you are, there’s no greater adventure than learning how another culture ticks.
