Oman - From the Desert to the coast

Dossier

Oman’s evocative landscapes and its overwhelming hospitality make it an absolute delight to explore. Our short trip starts in the capital, Muscat, a lively city with an interesting old town and a good place to get to grips with modern Oman. From here we drive to the Indian Ocean coast, looking for turtles, and then travel into the vast sands of the Arabian Desert, camping overnight next to towering dunes and hoping to meet Bedouin nomads – a journey to satisfy any latent desert fantasies that you may hold! We visit Nizwa, with its historic fort and travel into the mountains through dramatic scenery, visiting traditional village and Jebel Shams – the ‘Grand Canyon of Oman’. This is a journey to the heart of ancient Arabia, where age old traditions still hold sway amid a timeless land.

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Day 1 – Muscat
Arrive in Muscat and transfer to your hotel. Depending on your time of arrival, there may be time to explore the city. Overnight Haffa House Hotel or similar.

Muscat
Strategically situated at the entrance to the Persian Gulf, Muscat has been an important trading town on the crossroads between east and west for at least two millennia. During the 16th and 17th centuries it changed hands between Portuguese and Turkish invaders several time before returning to local control. The discovery of oil in the 1960s saw Muscat grow from a small harbour town into a large and modern city, fuelling a vibrant economy and a multi-ethnic society as workers from countries such as India arrive in search of work. Muscat originally consisted only of the area known as Old Muscat, a walled town on a natural harbour which houses excellent examples of traditional Omani architecture and a couple of Portuguese built forts dating back to the 16th century.

Day 2 – Sur – Ras al Hadd
Drive through spectacular scenery of rugged mountains to the small fishing town of Quriyat, then continue to a gorgeous oasis with inviting pools where it is possible to take a dip. After lunch continue to Sur, renowned in the past for its dhow shipyards, before reaching Ras al Hadd on the coast. After an early dinner visit the turtle sanctuary at Ras Al Jinz, where at night green turtles, after a journey of thousands of kilometres will come ashore to lay their eggs. Overnight Ras al Hadd Beach Hotel or similar. (BLD)

Sur
The attractive coastal town of Sur has long been known for its tradition of dhow building, its shipyard continuing to produce these mighty vessels which have formed such an important part of Omani culture and trade over the years, although these days there is less demand. Today it’s a relatively quiet town where one can walk through traditional markets surrounded by Omanis in their typical national dress, and it’s a good place to get a feel for local culture. Sur played a role in the slave trade for many years, being a conduit for slaves brought from East Africa on their way to the markets of Arabia, and it took many years for this practice to be eradicated in Sur after it was officially outlawed.

Day 3 – Wadi Bani Khalid – Wahiba Sands
Drive to Wadi Bani Khalid – an oasis spot in the middle of barren and dry mountains. It is one of the most beautiful wadis in Oman and its pools with clear deep blue water give you an opportunity to take a refreshing dip. In the afternoon we head into the Wahiba Sands, a vast mass of undulating red and white sea of sand. The ever-changing patterns of the dunes are a photographer’s delight. After some exciting sand dune driving we reach our desert camp for the night. (BLD)

Wahiba Sands
The Wahiba Sands are characterised by enormous rolling dunes, some as high as 150 metres, stretching as far as the eye can see – a quintessential desert landscape that is as beautiful as it is austere. Named after the Wahiba tribe, the region is home to Bedouin who manage to eke out an existence around the few oases, and is also home to a surprising amount of wildlife. Immortalised by the travels of Wilfred Thesiger, a journey into the sands offers a superb opportunity to experience desert wilderness.

The Bedouin
Bedouin is a collective name given to a variety of desert dwelling tribes, spread out from the Arabian peninsula to north Africa. Traditionally the Bedouin were largely nomadic, taking their large goat hair tents and moving to find pasture for their flocks throughout the arid desert wastes. Although different tribes were united, typically the Bedu would live separately in their family groups – a necessity so as not to put excess pressure on the meagre resources of the landscape. Nowadays modernity has taken its toll on traditional Bedouin life, as many have settled in towns and cities in search of a more secure existence, but many nomadic families still exist. The recent imposition of national borders on the homelands of the Bedouin has also acted to circumscribe traditional patterns of migration. The Bedouin are famed for their culture of hospitality which dictates that they treat visitors as honoured guests.

Day 4 – Jabrin Castle - Bahla - Nizwa
Morning drive to the historic town of Nizwa, Oman’s cultural capital. Before reaching Nizwa we visit Jabrin castle, built in the 17th century and one of the finest of its kind. Its magnificent plasterwork, the carved doors and the painted wooden beams of the ceilings make this castle very different from others in Oman. Afterwards continue to Bahla, one of the oldest small towns of Oman and in the 12th century the local tribal capital. We stop to see its magnificent fort before continuing to Nizwa for the night. Overnight Al Diyar Hotel or similar. (BLD)

Nizwa
The town of Nizwa has historically been a very important oasis offering respite from the often harsh landscape surrounding it, and is a key centre for growing dates. However it is far better known for its splendid fort, built in the 17th century and painstakingly restored in 1990. The fort is vast and contains many different sections, including a Koranic school, a mosque, a prison and living quarters. Once the capital of Oman, Nizwa became an important centre for trade and education, profiting from its strategic position between Muscat and Dhofar. The town has been extensively modernised under Sultan Qaboos bin Said, but retains its flavour, especially in the back streets of the old souq.

Day 5 - Nizwa – Jebel Akhdar
This morning we visit Nizwa souq as well as its famous fort, built in the 17th century. We then drive to Jebel Akdhar. In Arabic Jebel Akhdar means green mountains, and the area is famous for its gardens, farms and terrace plantations. We visit Wadi Habib to see one of the remote villages and fruit plantations, and also visit one of the private terrace rose plantations. Return to Nizwa for the night. Overnight Al Diyar Hotel or similar. (BLD)

Jebel Akhdar
Jebel Akhdar is part of the Hajar Mountains, which stretch for about 300km from north west to south east. The higher parts of the region receive enough rainfall to allow agriculture and many traditional fruits and vegetables are grown on the slopes. This is one of the most scenic areas in Oman, and is mostly inhabited by members of the Bani Riyam tribe. Jebel Akhdar was the scene of some fierce fighting between rebels and Omani and British forces in the late 1950s.

Day 6 - Jebel Shams – Wadi Bani Awf – Muscat
After breakfast drive to Al Hamra and Misfah, to see one of the oldest villages of this region. The traditional mud houses dating back from 400 years are still occupied. We also stop at Wadi Ghul, a farming village in the mountains before we reach Jebel Shams, the ‘Grand Canyon of Oman’. After a picnic lunch we head to Wadi Bani Awf, the end point of the canyon and with what is called the ‘snake gorge’ in the middle of the steep mountain cliffs. This is a stunning part of Oman with fantastic views of the surrounding scenery. We drive to the town of Nakhl with its fully restored fort on a rocky outcrop, before arriving in Muscat for the night. Overnight Haffa House Hotel or similar. (BD)

Day 7 - Muscat
Explore Muscat on a full day city tour, visiting the beautiful Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the Middle East, the Natural History Museum, and the old walled district of Muscat. We also visit Muttrah Souq, where you can bargain for handicrafts and silver items. In the afternoon we take a sunset cruise, before transferring to Muscat airport for your return flight. (BL)

Tour style: Traveller

Inclusions:
Arrival and departure transfers
All accommodation on twin share basis
Services of English speaking guide / tour leader
Meals as listed (B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner)
Entrance fees for sites listed as part of the itinerary

Excluded:
International flights
Any airport taxes
Travel Insurance
Visas
Drinks

Please note that you should also read the Country Notes in association with this itinerary for practical information about your trip and the destination you will be visiting.

The itinerary and supplementary information has been compiled with care and provided in good faith. However it may be subject to change, and does not form part of a contract between the client and Undiscovered Destinations.