Discover Oman’s Untouched Beauty

Arrive at Muscat International Airport. Proceed to Jabal Akhdar.

At the foothills of Jabal Akhdar mountains, explore the pretty village of Birkat Al Mauz. Explore the many plantations (dates, banana) and the famous Falaj water system.

Continue driving towards Jebel Akhdhar.

You now take the stretch of winding road up to Jebel al Akhdar (2000m), the green jewel of the Al Hajar mountain ranges. Enjoy the cool climate up in the mountains and see Jebel al Akhdar which is famed for fruit orchards laid out in terraces along the mountain slopes and irrigated by falaj, traditional water systems.

Explore the Jebel Akhdhar Mountains, its valleys, and orchards on your own or simply enjoy the “cooler” weather here and the pool at the Hotel. Enjoy a stroll in the nearby village on your own.

A large variety of fruit including peaches, apricots, figs, grapes, apples plums and pears are grown here from July to September and almonds and walnuts are cultivated. Tiny villages, including picturesque Saiq, Al Ain, and abandoned Wadi Bani Habib, dot the landscape and overlook a spectacular vista of peaks, gorges and wadis. The roses of Jebel al Akhdar fill the air with fragrance from March to April, when they are in full bloom, and rose water is distilled in the homes of the villagers.

After enjoying the cool climate of Jebel Akhdhar, it’s time now to descend the mountain for an excursion.

Proceed to Nizwa, the ancient capital of Oman. Nizwa was a seat of learning and the birthplace of Islam in Oman. Visit of the Nizwa fort and the Nizwa souq. The 17th century round fort and the souq famous for silver jewelry are the major attractions of Nizwa, not to mention the popular & interesting cattle auction, which takes place on every Friday. Built on a solid base of rock, the huge tower was designed to withstand the vibrations of 24 cannons.

Explore the souq!

Afternoon You may explore the village of Al Hamra, at the foot of the mountains, where 400 years old mud houses are still standing and occupied.

Continue driving up to Misfat Al Abriyeen and you can take a walk around this village to see its fascinating history, agriculture and falaj watering system.

Most houses in this little village are built from mud bricks and clay and many of them have been built more than a hundred years ago.

Today you would see some fascinating diversity of Oman’s landscape; from dunes of Wahiba to verdant wadis and the shores of Oman! The drive takes you through a cross section of Oman’s geography through arid lands, wadis, and coastal villages.

You will drive to the interior of Oman, passing the desert town of Ibra and you wou will start seeing the beauty of the sand dunes rising as you drive closely along the bordering villages. On the inland side of the great mountainous backbone of the Sultanate of Oman, where sands lap at the thresholds of farmlands, a string of border towns marks the zone of transition between nomadic and settled peoples. In the oasis villages of Oman, however, desert and village economies have mingled for ages to their mutual benefit.

Turning left, you will first take the winding road up to Wadi Bani Khalid. The Wadi has several beautiful mountain formations and landscapes. The walk to the pools of Wadi Bani Khalid is quite interesting, along the falaj (small irrigation canals) and past mango trees and other crops. Farmers in the area, despite the rough terrains, have managed to cultivate land at the foothills of the mountains by using the water streams to irrigate the crops. This is quite a refreshing visit; and you would be able enjoy a swim in the waters here.

Continue your drive towards Wahiba Sands.

Living within and along the Sands are approximately 3000 pastoralist Bedouins belonging to different tribes and who owns mainly herders of goats and camels.

Running south from the Eastern Hajjar Mountains to Arabian Sea, the Wahiba Sands, described a Sandsea, stretches almost 200 kms in length and about 100 kms in width. The dunes rise above 100-150 meters in different shades of colour and shifting sands, is the perfect place for both the romantic and the adventurous. A roller-coaster ride over the dunes would a thrilling fun especially for those who are first time visitors to the desert.

On your way, you are likely to pass by many of the Bedouine house, and encounter beoudine people who are very hospitable and not spoilt by tourism.

Be amazed at the spectacular suset over the dunes! You will certainly enjoy the ambience at your desert camp and of course the dinner.

Today you would embark on a long thrilling drive from Sur to Muscat. With stunning views of the waters of the Arabian Sea on one side and the rocky cliffs on the other, this is an exciting drive along the coast road to Muscat.

Stop at coastal town of Sur. for a quick short visit. Sur has historical importance and dhows used to sail to India and other countries from Sur. Many of the rich people of Oman belong to Sur and you can see many big seaside mansions along the way. Driving on to Sur, we would visit the Dhow building yard (though in recent times, unfortunately, the amount of dhows built here is very few! We are therefore unable to guarantee ant activity during the visit)

Not far away is a picturesque wadi- Wadi Tiwi. A walk through the narrow roads leads you to lush plantations and pools with clear water.

Continue to Wadi Shab. Wadi Shab is one of Oman’s most scenic wadis. It is a canyon type valley with flowing water throughout the year. Fresh water cascading from top of the mountains meet the briny sea water on its banks, creating an environmental diversity unique to this wadi. A long walk past the green grass, banana and mango trees along the narrow winding, old rock paths will bring you to a series of streams and pools (Recommended for those interested in a Wadi hike, walking time is around 1 hour one way)

This hike fast-tracks you through the beautiful palm-lined Wadi Shab to the hidden cave at its heart, where you’ll find a waterfall and a stunning turquoise blue pool. The hidden cave can only be reached by swimming through a small gap in some boulders. There’s plenty of wildlife – birds, fish, crabs, lizards, dragonflies and butterflies – to spot along the way and lots of opportunities to hurl yourself into the refreshing water from various heights.

(Note: This hike is optional, involves moderate walk through wadi with pebbles and stones, climb over boulders, walk along a slippery and narrow canyon wall as well as swimming in 2 to 3 pools to reach the end of the wadi. Walking time is around 1 hour each way. Guests shoud wear walking shoes and carry swimming clothes incase they wish to do this hike. Guide may not accompany the guetss for this hike).

Stop at the Bimah Sinkhole, a spectacular limestone crater with blue green water at the bottom.

Arrive at Muscat. Check-in Your Hotel.

Pick up from hotel between 07.30 Hrs to 08.00 Hrs (exact time depending on the hotel of stay and distance from Marina).

Explore snorkel trip to the beautiful United Nations protected nature reserve of the Daymaniyat Islands. The fully shaded boat will take approximately 45 minutes to reach the islands, where the Captain will choose the best snorkelling spots for the weather conditions and the guests on board that day.

Return to hotel.

Today you will explore Muscat, the clean capital city. A unique blend of the ancient & the modern, Muscat is a beautiful clean city, which lies in the middle of a maze of brown pleated mountains, lulled by the Arabian Sea. The city has undergone dramatic development in the past two or three decades, however it has never lost its pride in its heritage & culture.

You will start our tour with a visit to the *Grand Mosque, which is an architectural marvel and is perhaps the landmark of the city.

*The Grand Mosque is open Sat to Thu 0800-1100 hrs only.
*Ladies visiting the Grand Mosque are required to cover their head with scarf and do not wear shorts, beachwear or sleeveless outfits as they are to be fully covered i.e. hands till wrist and legs till foot.
*Men visiting the Grand Mosque should wear long trousers.

You will continue your drive through the ministries area where you can see a number of modern buildings with touches of Islamic architecture.

We will visit the Royal Opera House which is the leading arts and culture organization in the Sultanate of Oman. Located in Muscat, Oman, the vision of the Opera House is to serve as a centre of excellence in global cultural engagement. The “Opera Galleria”, Royal Opera House Muscat’s new flagship shopping destination, is host to wonderful shops, international brands, and an array of international cafés and dining options. It boasts 50 shops offering a wide range and carefully balanced mix of art outlets, gems, fashion and perfumes.
You will drive to the old Muscat, the most charming part of the city.

Then we would enter the enchanting Muttrah souq with its narrow-covered alleys where the exotic smells of mounds of spices, coffees, ancient remedies and enticing perfumes fill the air. Your next visit would be the Bait Al Zubair Museum. With the variety of exhibits, modern display methods and information provided, the museum serves as a real window on Oman’s rich heritage and culture.

A photo stop at the magnificent Al Aalam Palace (the official residence of Sultan Qaboos) flanked by the twin Portuguese forts of Mirani & Jalali.

Transfer to Muscat Aiport for your departure flight.