Day 1: Muscat
Arrival Muscat
Arrive at Muscat airport.
After the immigration and baggage check, you will enter the general arrival hall and will be met by our transfer staff who will assist you to comfortably embark on your vehicle and leave for Hotel. You will arrive at the hotel. The standard check-in time at Hotel is 14:00 hrs. The hotel will try to allocate rooms upon arrival if the same is available otherwise, guests can use hotel facilities till the time room is allocated to them by check-in time at 14:00 hrs. Rest of the day at leisure at the hotel.
Day 2: Jabal Akhḍar
Muscat City tour - Nizwa - Jabelakdher
Breakfast at the hotel. Meet our guide at the lobby and proceed for Muscat city tour. First we will visit the Grand Mosque. Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque can accommodate 20,000 worshippers. Grand Mosque has beautiful artwork, chandeliers, and one-piece carpet covering the entire prayer hall. (To visit Mosque, one has to be dressed in a conservative manner. One should not wear revealing or trans-parent clothes and should be covered from head to toe. Ladies have to cover their heads with a scarf. Grand Mosque is open for the tourists from Saturday to Thursday from 08 00 hrs to 11 00 hrs )
Visit Royal Opera House. The architecture reflects contemporary Omani culture. The Opera house is opened for visitors from 08:30 - 4:00 PM from Sunday - Thursday. The visit is permissible for only 15 Minutes. Visit of Royal opera house is subject to non-rehearsal day and protocol visits.
Visit Muttrah Souq is one of the oldest souqs in Oman and the narrow alleys of souq with the mystic smell of sandalwood make a great atmosphere. It is a place where you can communicate with local people and can buy souvenirs for friends and family. Continue to visit National Museum, which aims to preserve the components of Omani cultural heritage by supporting research and scientific and historical studies, and plans for conservation, in addition to education and community.
Photo stop of Al Alam Palace, former residence of Sultan Qaboos is flanked by two Portuguese forts Jalali and Mirani. Drive on the highway to the Dakhlya region well known as the cultural and heritage capital of Oman. Nizwa was one of the early settlements in Oman and the center of trade, religion, education, and arts. Visit the majestic 17th Century Nizwa Fort that once guarded the trade and region. The fort dominates the entire area, with the town having grown around the edifice. Access to the top is only by means of a narrow twisting staircase barred by heavy wooden doors, studded with metal. From the top of the tower, one can get a bird’s eye view of Nizwa city. The museum inside the fort showcase the history, culture, and development of the Nizwa area. Explore the narrow alleys of a traditional souk, aromatic with spices, Arabic perfumes, and other Omani items. Our guide will give the opportunity to taste and familiarize various types of dates from different regions of the middle east. Traditional Omani handicrafts like kanjars, sheesha, Arabic potteries, costumes, and various other Omani items are decorated by sellers in different shops. Visit another modern building give the perception to the harvest in western hajar mountains and its valley. Special element: Our guide will take you to spice souk where you will see various varieties of Dates. The guide will explain and buy samples for tasting. Later drive for Jabelakdher, known as green mountain of Hajarmountain range. You will be driving in 35Kms winding road to reach mountain plataeu where various fruits, vegetables, Roses are grown. ( Feb to March is the season for rose harvesting ). Check-in to the hotel, Overnight.
Day 3: Wahiba Sands
Jabelakdher - Birkat Al Mauz - Wahiba
Breakfast and check out. Enjoy the cool climate up in the mountains. Al Jebel Al Akhdar is famed for its fruit orchards typically laid out terrace style along the slopes of mountains, which are endowed with natural springs and falaj. The villages of Saiq, Wadi Bani Habib (the village of the old houses) & Al Ain dot the landscape. The villages overlook a spectacular landscape of dramatic peaks, gorges, and wadis. The roses of Jabal Al Akhdar fill the air with fragrance when in full bloom (March / April). Rosewater is distilled in the homes of the villagers.
Visit Birkat Al Mauz, translate as bananna pool. Drive through the oasis village that unfolds into thick dates and banana plantations. The oldest irrigation, the Falaj system is still used in this village. Visit the UNESCO-listed falaj system. Stroll through the alleys of the village which has centuries-old mud houses revealing the past lifestyle of the region.
Embark on your vehicle and leave for the Sharqiya region, the house of Bedouin tribes. You will be driving on a highway connected dhakhliya region passing the small town of IBRA . Wahiba Sands, the orange color sea of sands stretch around 200Kms up to the Indian Ocean coast with sketches of dunes ranging from 50 100 meters in height. The Wahiba host various types of flora and fauna. The beduion tribe finds their livelihood in this wilderness of the desert. Visit Bedouin house and meet Bedouin ladies to know more about their life in the desert. Enjoy Omani coffee and dates at their house and what ladies do to survive in the desert.
Our experienced drivers will drive through these undulating dunes with soft dune bash. Watch the spectacular sunset from the top of sand dunes. Overnight at the desert camp.
Day 4: Sur
Wahiba - Wadibanikhalid - Sur
Breakfast at the camp. Embark on your 04Wds and exit from the desert and drive for the coastal city of sur, famous for seafarers. Exit the highway, drive through a short winding road to reach Oasis village Wadi bani Khalid. Wadi bani Khaled in Arabic means natural oasis. Wadi Bani Khaled stands a complete contrast to the Wahiba Sands. It is like an oasis in the desert with clear natural spring water pools and vegetation. Enjoy a walk in the Wadi (Swimming in swim costume is not allowed. If someone wishes to swim, they have to wear a full covered swimming costume) in wadi (no towels from our end).
On arrival at sur, you will conduct an orientation tour of suer city. Visit the dhow building yard, where the large Arabian ships (dhow) are being built or repaired. Evening, drive for Ras Al Jinz, one of the conservation areas for Green turtles. Every year100s of turtles arrive at Ras Al Jinz for laying eggs. it is a rare opportunity to watch the turtles and lay eggs in their natural habitat. Join one of the groups led by a naturalist who will explain about the turtles. (1-2 kilometres walking is involved through no light zone).
Day 5:
Sur - Wadishab - Muscat
Breakfast and check out. Embark on your bus and drive through a coastal road to Muscat. The road passes between eastern hajar mountains and the white sandy Arabian sea coast. Your first stop will be at Wadi Twi, one of the oasis village. A short walk through the village. Next stop Wadi Shab, cross the shore by small boat to start a beautiful hike. (Optional: requires good physical conditions and good shoes, as slippery rocks) in the heart of the river between beautiful mountains. A spectacular view awaits you at the end of the trail (after about 45 minutes walk) and you will not be able to resist swimming in this natural pool. Then stop at Bimmah Sinkhole, a natural sinkhole formed due to corrosion of lime cater stones. You will have a photo stop and a toilet stop.
At the end of the drive, Wadi Arbayeen awaits with its deep pools of water set among the date palms. After restroom and photo stop at Wadi Dayqah, drive to Wadi Arbayeen. We will be driving for some time on off-road to reach Wady Arbyn. ‘Wadi’ in Arabic means dead river bed. This is one of the interesting off-road drives in this region. Nezt stop will be at Wadi Dayqah dam commissioned at quriyat village for irrigation and water supply purpose and it can store approximately 100 cubic meters of water. After restroom and photo stop at Wadi Dayqah, We then start on an adventurous route cutting through the mountains. Drive to Muscat and check-in at hotel of your choice.
