>Oman
8 Days Classic Oman – Of Mountains, Deserts, Wadis & Ancient Forts
Muscat – Sur – Wahiba - Jebel Akhdar - Nizwa Tour –Al Hamra – Bait Al Safah
Amid the ever-changing states of the Arabian Gulf, Oman offers a refreshing reminder of a seemingly bygone age. Mudbrick villages nestle amid sprawling date plantations or cling to the sides of remote valleys. Craggy chains of towering mountains are scored with precipitous canyons and rocky wadis, while the wind-blown dunes and gravel plains of the great inland deserts stretch away into the distance.
Oman has embraced the modern world, and in parts of the country the contemporary is very much in evidence, particularly in the low-key glitter and bustle of the capital, Muscat. Busy souks resound with the clamour of shoppers bargaining over frankincense, jewellery and food. Venerable forts and crumbling watchtowers still stand sentinel over towns they once protected, goats wander past huddles of ochre-coloured houses, and the white-robed Omanis themselves saunter quietly amid the palms.
Feel the wind in your face and immerse in the powerful sense of place and past with Divine.
Print ItineraryDay 1
Arrival in Muscat
Arrive at Muscat Airport and transfer to the hotel with English speaking driver.
Day 2 | B
Muscat City Tour – Grand Mosque – Royal Opera House
Breakfast at the hotel and pickup at 8am from the hotel.
The tour starts with a visit of the Grand Mosque, standing in stately grandeur. A visit to this beautiful piece of architecture is a must for all tourist (open daily for visitors, between 0800–1100 Hrs, except Fridays/holidays).
Dress code – Women should wear attire covering their arms and legs and should cover their head with scarf. Men should wear shirt and trousers.
From here, drive to the Royal Opera House – Oman’s premier venue for musical arts and culture. Then proceed to the Old City of Muscat and visit the Muttrah Souq where you will find a mix of old and new. Sights, sounds and fragrances are in abundance. Visit Bait Al Zubair Museum for a fine display of Omani culture and history. Proceed past the Corniche and take a photo stop at the Sultan’s Palace flanked by the 16th Century Portuguese forts of Jalali and Mirani.
Optional: Late Lunch at Kargeen Restaurant – An elegant ambience with ethnic interiors, serving delectable homemade cuisine; take you back into living in vintage Omani culture. After lunch, drive back to the hotel.
Day 3 | B, D
Muscat – Sur
Breakfast and check out.
From Sifay, take the coastal road to Sur. On the way, take a photostop at the Bimah sinkhole, a natural crater filled with water. Then stop again and hike into Wadi Shab, one of Omans most beautiful wadis. Continue to the coastal town of Sur. Check in to the hotel.
After dinner, drive to Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve for Turtle watching at 20:30 and enjoy the full cycle of laying and hatching of eggs. Bring the good memories and drive back to the hotel.
Day 4 | B, D
Sur – Wahiba
Breakfast and check out.
Drive to Sharqiyah Region and Proceed to the enchanting Wadi Bani Khalid. Drive past the village with its endless date plantations. Feel free to plunge in and experience the crystal clear waters. After lunch, Drive to Al Wasil Petrol station and change vehicle. Drive to the vast expanse of the Wahiba Sands. The great Wahiba sands are longitudinal dunes 200 km long and 100 km wide running south from the Eastern Hajars to the Arabian Sea. You can venture up the high dunes and witness the unforgettable desert sunset.
Check in at the camp. Enjoy your dinner in the Arabian desert.
Day 5 | B, D
Wahiba – Jebel Akhdar
Breakfast and check out.
Drive to Nizwa region and proceed to Birkat Al Mauz and change vehicle. This pretty oasis has much to offer for sheer scenic value. The town is abutted up to the jabals and the anticlinal stratum directly behind gives the town its nick name “The Rainbow City”. There are ruins on a ledge and palm trees all around. Proceed to Jebel Akhdar and enjoy a sightseeing tour in Jebel Akhdar, located 2000 metres above sea level on the Western Hajar Mountains. Due to the high altitude and moist atmosphere, the region is ideal for agriculture and farming. The villages in the region are blessed with greenery and vegetation, perhaps why these mountains are called the `Green Mountain’.
Day 6 | B
Nizwa Tour – Al Hamra – Bait Al Safah – Muscat
Breakfast and check out.
Visit the Nizwa Souk which has an expansive Souk showcasing a wonderful array of handicrafts – coffee pots, swords, leather goods, silverware, antiques, and household utensils. Proceed to Nizwa fort, completed in the 1650s, was the seat of power during the rule of the Al Ya ruba dynasty and is Oman’s most visited National monument. Drive to Al Hamra and visit Bait Al Safah. Deepen the discovery of the Omani roots by visiting the Bait Al Safah, in the village of Al Hamra. This 17th century castle-like house has been transformed in a lively museum where local people enjoy sharing their knowledge of Oman’s past and traditions. There you will have a chance to have a look at various types of crafts such as making Omani bread, grain grinding, extraction of medical oils, sewing traditional clothes.
Proceed to Misfah Old House located in the middle of the old village of Misfat Al Abryeen. This village has 43 old homes that were once home to about 700 people but now only four are inhabited. Traditional Lunch will be served cooked by women in the village.
After experiencing the life of Omani People, drive back to Muscat and check in to the hotel.
Day 7 | B
Leisure Day in Muscat
Breakfast in the hotel. Day at leisure and enjoy the hotel facilities and Qurum beach.
Day 8 | B
Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. Check out time is 12:00 Hrs. Transfer to Muscat Airport for departure according to your flight.
Package Includes:
• Accommodation as per itinerary
• All meals as per itinerary
• 1 Private English speaking guide
• Private transfer and transportation
• All sightseeing entrance fees and activities
(unless otherwise stated)
Package Excludes:
• International airfare
• Personal Expenses
• Travel Insurance
• All Beverages
• Resort/hotel activities or facilities
• Tips for guide and driver
