Day 1: Muscat
Arrival Muscat
After immigration and baggage check, you will enter at the general arrival hall and will be met by our English speaking representative cum driver who will assist you to comfortably embark your vehicle and leave for Hotel. You will arrive at hotel. Check In time is 14:00 hrs. Hotel will try to allocate rooms upon arrival if same is available otherwise, guests can use hotel facilities till the time room allocated to them by check in time at 14:00 hrs. Rest of the day at leisure at the hotel.
Day 2: Muscat
Half day Muscat city tour
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. (Photo stop) Later drive for old Muscat, Visit Muttrah fish market where local Omani fishermen sells fresh catch of the day. The adjacent vegetable stalls sells local omani products. 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. Bait Zubair Museum was initially founded as a house by a rich merchant, who had the hobby of collecting antiques and photography. Later, he converted his house to a museum in 1998 showcasing the culture and artifacts of Oman. Photo stop of Al Alam Palace, former residence of Sultan Qaboos is flanked by two Portuguese forts Jalali and Mirani. Return to Hotel.
Day 3: Sur
Muscat - Wadishab - Sur
Breakfast and check out. Embark on your 04WD (4 pax in each car) and leave for exploring the interior of Oman. You will be driving on a coastal route passes between eastern hajar mountan valley and arabian sea. Your first stop will be at Wadi Dayqah reservoir, the dam project that has been bulid arross the wadi in the valley of Western Hajar moutains. Photop stop of Wadi dayqah dam . This will also a tolilets stop. Drive for Wadi Arbayeen awaits with its deep pools of water set among the date palms. We will be driving for some time 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 through rugged mountain road. Exit from the wadi and visit Bimmah Sinkhole, a natural sinkhole formed due to corrosion of lime cater stones. It has a blue-green water pool at the bottom. You will have a photo stop and also a toilet stop. Drive towards Wadi Shab, cross the shore by small boat to start a beautiful hike, (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. Drive pass through a narrow road of wadi tiwi fishing village,where you will glimpses of an interior Omani villlage.
At Sur, an orientation drive of the city with a visit to the Dhow Building yard where dhow (Arabian boat) are being repaired/built. Stroll around the souks and corniche. Check-in at the hotel. Evening leave for turtle reserve to visit. Ras Al Jinz is one of the nesting areas for Green turtles. Oman environment conservation department, guard this area against poachers. It is a unique opportunity to sight turtles in their natural inhabitant (Sighting of turtles are not guaranteed, the entry is subject to availability of tickets).
Day 4: Wahiba Sands
Sur - WadibaniKhalid - Wahiba
Breakfast and check out. Drive further on a fine highway for Shraqiya region, the house of Bedouin tribes. The main highlight of the area is the oasis village Wadi bani Khalid, Wahiba sands. 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).
Later drive for 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. Our experienced drivers will drive through these undulating dunes with soft dune bash. Watch a spectacular sunset from the top of sand dunes.
Special element: we can organize sunset setup including nuts, crackers, and soft drinks / Canned juices while the group watch sunset. (Extra cost)
Day 5: Nizwa
Wahiba - Jabreen - Nizwa
Breakfast at camp and check-out. Embark on your 04WDs and exit from the desert, from the entrance of the desert , and drive for 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 Birkat Al Mauz, translate as bananna pool. Drive through the oasis village that unfolds into thick dates and banana plantations. The oldest irrigation, Falaj system are 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 to the past lifestyle of the region.
Visit Jabreen, the finest of Oman’s castle built in the late 17th century, which became a seat of Omani learning. This castle has extremely well-planned layouts with room for the wali, the lady’s room, the kitchen, the majlis, etc. Most of the ceilings are decorated with beautiful paintings with Islamic motifs. The view from the top of the castle is really mesmerizing.
Drive for Bahla, The mud fort with its approximate 7-mile wall, which is the oldest fort in Oman. The fort is believed to have been built in pre-Islamic times and is now sponsored by UNESCO. The site is on UNESCO's World Heritage list. Photo stops the village. Check-in to hotel, dinner and overnight
Day 6: Al Mussanah
Nizwa - Wadi Bani auf - Musannah
Breakfast at Camp, Embark on your 04WDs and leave for Muscat crossing the western Hajar mountains, passing Baitnah region.Batinah is a region, which showcases the history of Oman as there are many fascinating forts and Villages. The region hosts many agricultural fields and is one of the main sources of agricultural product supplies to Oman.
Visit of New Souq complex has been sensitively designed using Omani fort architecture and elegant Islamic arches. The air-conditioned halls of this souq are full of fresh fruit and vegetables, herbs and spices, huge stacks of dates, and freshly caught fish. This is still the best place to buy traditional silver “Khanjars”
Special element: Our guide will invite the group for a tasting of different verities of dates. He will also explain each one and its specialty.
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. On further drive stop at the quaint mountain village of Bilad Sayt framed by the dramatic mountains, we then
drive through spectacular Wadi Bani Auf, better known as "snake gorge".Enjoy the drive on a graded road between steep mountains and anciently used as a donkey path by traders to commute between Dhakliya and Batinah region. Drive through the date palms to the village of Nakhl and visit the Nakhl Fort. This fort once served the Imams of Bani Kharous and the Ya’arubah dynasty. The view from the rooftop is very impressive and offers a panoramic view Of the surrounding landscape.
Then proceed, stop at Nakhl springs, a tranquil and picturesque spot. Experience and enjoy the magnificent Scenery by the springs. The charming surroundings around the warm springs are framed by the majestic Jebels. Drive to Musannah on arrival check-in at hotel. Dinner and Overnight at Hotel.
Day 7: Al Mussanah
Full Day leisure
Full day at leisure .. Enjoy the beach/ Hotel faclities.
Day 8:
Departure
Checkout from the Hotel and depart to Muscat International Airport in air-conditioned vehicle. On arrival, guests visit the respective airline counter and check-in. Then pass Immigration and indulge in some duty free shopping before they board their flight back home.
