Author: Your Guide

Your guide will meet you at your hotel in Muscat and your trip will start with a visit to Nizwa which is famous for it’s fort which has a huge cylindrical tower. It was built in the 17th century to defend the city’s position on a major trade route. You will also be able to visit the souk which is lined with handicraft stalls, spices and silversmiths working in small shops. On Fridays Nizwa comes to life for the weekly livestock market where farmers and traders arrive from as far afield as Salalah with their animals to barter and trade at one of the finest traditional markets in the Middle East.

You guide will then start the drive to Wahiba Sands, first taking a short detour to the almost abandoned villages at Birkat Al Mouz which cling to the side of the mountain at the entrance to Wadi Muaydin. Here you will be able to wander among the banana and date plantations and explore the falaj system, abandoned streets and buildings. On a hot day the shade can be a welcome relief!

You will then experience an exhilerating drive through the desert to your camp in Wahiba Sands. You will have the opportunity to walk in the dunes and then drive up into them after sunset to gaze in wonder at the countless stars that can be seen away from the light pollution of modern life. In the morning there will be time to go for a camel ride if you choose.

After breakfast you will be able to visit a traditional Bedouin house and museum where you can see how these desert people have lived for centuries.

Your guide will then make the return journey through the desert to either Wadi Bani Khalid where you can swim in the refreshing pools or you can return to Muscat via the coastal road; Wadi Shab, Fins Beach and Bimmah sinkhole.

Contact us now for more information on this trip.

This trip can be as back-to-basics or extravagant as you choose. Outside of Muscat you can camp under the stars every night or stay in top class hotels!

Day 1 Muscat

There are many ways to fill your time in Muscat depending on your interests: Grand Mosque (except Fridays)opera houseMuttrah – Bait Al Baranda museum, National Museum, Bait al Zubair museum, fish market, Muttrah soukMuscat Old City – Al Alam Palace, Jalali and Mirani fortsdolpin watching and snorkelling boat tripboat trip to Damaniyat Islandhiking in the mountains around MuscatOvernight in Muscat

Day 2 Muscat – Jebel Shams

After breakfast you can visit Nakhl fort and thermal springs and then take a thrilling off-road drive tnrough Wadi Bani Auf stopping to hike into Snake Canyon and swim in the refreshing, deep freshwater pools. You will then continue the drive through Wadi Bani Auf to Bilad Sayt village before arriving the ascent of Jebel Shams.Overnight Jebel Shams

Day 3 Jebel Shams – Jebel Akhdar

After breakfast you will be able to hike in Jebel Shams, the Grand Canyon of Oman to an abandoned village and hidden pool on the cliffside where you can have a swim before the return hike. You will then drive to Wadi Ghul, Al Hamra old village, Misfat al Abreyeen and Bahla where you can see the UNESCO listed walled fort.Overnight Jebel Akhdar

Day 4 Jebel Akhdar – Nizwa

Your day will start with a tour of the Green Mountain, Jebel al Akhdar with it’s terraced gardens of fruit and roses. Your journey will continue with a short hike to the ruined village of Al Ain Ross and Wadi Habib before descending the mountain to visit Jabreen Castle.Overnight Nizwa

Day 5 Nizwa – Wahiba Sands

You will begin your day with a visit to Nizwa fort and souk and if your visit is on a Friday you will also be able to experience the weekly cattle market where farmers come from around the country to trade livestock at one of the finest traditional markets in the Middle East.Your trip will then continue with a stop in Birkat al Mouz before heading to Wahiba Sands where your guide will take you on a exhilarating drive through the dunes to the camp where you will spend the night.Overnight in Wahiba Sands with the opportunity to hike in the dunes, ride a camel and star gaze after dark.

Day 6 Wahiba Sands – Ras Al Jinz

After breakfast you will visit a Bedouin House to see how these nomadic people traditionally lived. On leaving the desert you will go to Wadi Bani Khalid for a swim in the deep pools. You will then continue to Sur with visit to a traditional dhow factory before turtle watching either at night or early the next morning.Overnight Ras Al Jinz

Day 7 Ras Al Jinz – Muscat

You will return to Muscat via the coastal road stopping first at Wadi Shab, then Wadi Tiwi, Bimmah sink hole and Fins white sand beach.Return to location of your choice in Muscat.

Contact us now for more information on this tour or other multi day options depending on your interests.

Your guide will meet you at your hotel and you will drive to Nizwa, the ancient capital of Oman with its fascinating souk and impressive 17th-century fort. If your visit is on a Friday you will also be able to experience the weekly cattle market. You will then continue to Bahla where you can see the UNESCO World Heritage walled fort. The final stop before heading to Jebel Shams will be Jabreen Castle which is unique for the fact that it was built during a time of peace and prosperity by a ruler who was fascinated by science and the arts.

You can spend the evening exploring the viewpoints on the rim of the Grand Canyon of Oman and watching the changing colours of the rock as the sun sets.

You have the option to overnight at one of the resorts at Jebel Shams or you can camp on the rim of the canyon under the vast canopy stars.

After breakfast you will have free time to spend the morning hiking into the canyon of Jebel Shams along the balcony walk to the abandoned village of Al Sab which is nestled into the cliffside, if you choose. You can also climb up the terraces, that were once farmed by the residents of Al Sab, to a pool and cave in the cliff face where you can have a cooling swim before the return hike.

On the return to Muscat you will visit the village of Misfat Al Abryeen, Al Hamra and then take an exhilirating off road drive through Wadi Bani Awf before returning to your hotel.

Contact us now to find out more about this trip or the many alternative routes that can be taken to Jebel Shams.

The Musandam Governorate is a mountainous Omani peninsula projecting into the Strait of Hormuz, separated from the rest of the country by the United Arab Emirates. Often described as the ‘Norway of Arabia’ the peninsula boasts a magical combination of mountain and maritime landscapes with the towering red-rock Hajar mountains falling precipitously into the blue waters of the Arabian Gulf. The labyrinthine system of steep sided fjords, known as khors, cliffs and islands are mostly inaccessible except by boat.

Khasab is the main town in Musandam and is the perfect base for arranging boat and diving trips to Khor ash Sham which is the largest khor as well as for mountain safaris up the mighty Jebel Harim, the highest peak.

Musandam can be reached by plane or ferry from Muscat or by road from Dubai.

Contact us now to arrange your trip to Musandam

Dhow cruise from Musandam

To the south of Oman lies Salalah which is the capital of the southern Zufar and Dhofar region. Salalah means ‘The Shining One’ in the local Jebali language and it is hemmed between the spectacular crescent of the Dhofar Mountains on one side and the blue waters of the Arabian sea on the other.

Salalah is often considered to be the “second city” of the Sultanate, although some of this designation is probably due to its distinction as Sultan Qaboos’ birthplace. Outside of the functional city centre it’s still possible to sense old-time Salalah’s alluringly languid, sub-tropical magic with its lush banana plantations, lopsided coconut palms and superb white sand beaches. The region is famous for its khareef (monsoon), and the Khareef Festival is an annual event here.

There are several flights daily between Muscat and Salalah with a flight time of approximately 1hr 45mins. It is also possible to drive between the two and the 1000km road trip will take about 12 hours.

Why not fly home from Dubai or Abu Dhabi? From Musandam, your guide can drive you to Dubai to experience the modern face of Arabia. The luxury shopping, ultra modern architecture and lively nightlife scene. From there you can move on to the capital of UAE, Abu Dhabi, which is quieter and more understated than Dubai or fly home from Dubai.

Dubai

Dubai is the largest and most densely populated city in the United Arab Emirates. It is located on the southeast coast of the Persian Gulf and is the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, one of the seven emirates that make up the country. The city has become iconic for its skyscrapers and high-rise buildings, in particular the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa and the Burj Al Arab which is the third tallest. However beside the modern commercialism of the huge malls and chain restaurants you can still experience a taste of old Arabia in Deira and Dubai Creek. The golden beaches in Dubai and Sharjah offer welcome respite from the bustle of the cities. Sharjah boasts over 600 mosques the most impressive of which is Al Noor Mosque which is built in the Turkish Ottoman style and is situated on Khaled lagoon at the Buhaira Corniche. It is open to the public and tours can be arranged.

Abu Dhabi

For those looking to engage with Gulf culture, Abu Dhabi offers opportunities to understand the UAE’s history through museums, exhibitions, tours and food. Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates but is less frantic than Dubai. Sheikh Zayed Mosque is home to the world’s largest hand woven carpet, you can still stroll around the dhow harbour, haggle in the markets, absorb the atmosphere at shisha cafes, stroll the lengthy and cinematic Corniche or experience camel racing at Al Wathba race track. Alternatively, you can ride the world’s fastest roller coaster at Ferrari World, take a tour of Yas Marina Circuit where the Formula 1 Grand Prix takes place and even run, walk or cycle around the track yourself every Tuesday evening and Sunday evening.