Oman - From the Desert to the coast
Oman - From the Desert to the coast
Style: TravellerCultural discovery away from the crowdsDuration: 7 days
Type: GroupSmall group tours with a maximum of 12 travellers
Itinerary
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.
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
