Day 1: Muscat
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 the hotel, and check in at the hotel.
Normal check-in time 14:00 hours; early check-in will be subject to the availability of the room.
Day 2: Muscat
Muscat
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Grand Mosque and visit. Grand Mosque is one of the largest Mosques in the world and at one time, it can accommodate 20,000 worshippers. Grand Mosque has beautiful artwork, chandeliers and one-piece carpet covering entire prayer hall.
(To visit Mosque, one has to be dressed in conservative manner. One should not wear revealing or transparent clothes and should be covered from head to toe. Ladies have to cover their heads with a scarf. Grand Mosque is open for tourists from Saturday to Thursday from 08:00 hrs to 11:00 hrs.)
Later photo stop of Royal Opera House. An architecture marvel reflects contemporary Omani culture.
Drive towards traditional part of Muscat. Visit Muttrah Souq is one of the oldest souq in Oman and the narrow alleys of souq with mystic smell of sandel wood make a great atmosphere. It is a place where you can communicate with local people and can buy souveniors for friends and family.
Drive further on a beautiful via corniche road for Bait Al Zubair Museum. It consists of a concise collection reflecting the splendid Omani Heritage. The collection includes traditional Omani Weapons such as swords, daggers, rifles & their accessories, along with jewellery, cosmetics & costumes from various regions of Oman.
Photo stop of Al Alam Palace, former residence of Sultan Qaboos is flanked by two Portuguese forts Jalali and Mirani. Transfer back to the hotel.
Day 3: Sur
Muscat - Wadi Tiwi - Sur
Breakfast and check out. Embark on your bus and leave for exploring the interior of Oman. You will be driving on a coastal road strip between the western Hajar mountain valley and the Arabian Sea.
Your next stop will be Wadi Daqyah dam, one of the beautiful dams built across the Wadi in backdrop of Hajar mountains. This is also a toilet stop.
Later continue to Wadi Arbayeen, one of the best off-road drive through valleys of mountains, some of the places you may cross streams, stop at one of the turquoise pools. After enjoying off-road, exit to main highway for Bimah sinkhole.
Bimmah Sinkhole, a natural sinkhole formed due to the 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.
Visit Wadi Tiwi, this wadi has an old village with many farms of banana, papaya, etc. Enjoy a short walk in this village/farms.
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.
Early dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Evening leave for the 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 is not guaranteed, the entry is subject to availability of tickets).
Day 4: Wahiba Sands
Sur - Wadi Bani Khalid - 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 stretches around 200Kms up to the Indian ocean coast with sketches of dunes ranging from 50-100 meters in height. Wahiba host various types of flora and fauna. The Bedouin 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. Accommodation, dinner and overnight at camp.
Day 5: Nizwa
Wahiba - Nizwa
Embark on your 4WDs and exit from the desert, 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 banana pool. Drive through the oasis village that unfolds into thick dates and banana plantations. The oldest irrigation system, Falaj system, is still used in this village. Visit the UNESCO-listed falaj system. Stroll through the alleys of the village which have centuries-old mud houses revealing to the past lifestyle of the region.
Visit Oman across the ages Museum, the largest museum in Oman. The journey starts from stone age and travel through various stages of human development until modern world. The incredible Renaissance Gallery marks the culmination of this long national story. It follows the country's remarkable economic, technological, political and social modernization under His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said..it is a journey through Oman's past, a celebration of its present and an insight into its future. Check in to hotel.
At 17:00 hrs, 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.
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 “Khanjarsˮ.
Special element: Walk through the alleys the walled settlement of Nizwa fort area to feel the local life, Take Walk through the Al Aqur wall to have an overview of walled city OR Take ride around the fort in golfcart. At souk, our guide will explain the specialty of various varieties of dates from different regions.
Return to the hotel, Dinner & Overnight at the hotel.
Day 6: Al Mussanah
Nizwa - Musannah
Breakfast and check out. Visit Jabreen, the finest of Omanʼs 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 ladyʼs 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 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. Photo stop.
Later, drive for Al Hamra, the oasis village that unfolds into thick dates and banana plantations. The oldest irrigation, the Falaj system, is still used in this village. Stroll through the alleys of the village which have centuries-old mud houses revealing the past lifestyle of the region. Visit one of the old houses converted to a museum.
Visit Misfat Al Abriyeen, (Misfah Al Abriyyin), a pretty village with stone houses, precariously clinging to the side of a huge mountain cliff. The village is laden with dates, lemons, and banana groves. Walk through the alleys of the village to understand the life of the village.
Drive further to Musannah. Check in, dinner & overnight at the hotel.
Day 7: Al Mussanah
Al Mussanah - Batinah
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.
After a drive of around One hour, arrive at Barka local vegetable and fish market. Every morning fishermen sell their fresh catch to the local public after a good bargain.
Arrive at Nakhl Fort at visit. This fort once served the Imams of Bani Kharous and the Ya'arubah dynasty. it is refurbished with traditional furniture, handicrafts and historic relics. The ceilings, the doors and windows are decorated with beautiful carvings. The view from the rooftop is very impressive and offers a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape.
After the visit of the fort, embark your vehicle and pass by the Nakhl Village to arrive at Al Thowarah Springs at around. This warm water full of minerals has been offering relief from the dry surroundings for centuries. Here you will see the Falaj system, which is a cleverly constructed irrigation system. Spend some time at Hot Springs.
Drive back to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 8:
Al Mussanah - Muscat
Check out from the hotel and depart to Muscat International Airport in air-conditioned vehicle.
On arrival, guests visit the respective airline counters and check in. Then pass Immigration and indulge in some duty-free shopping before they board their flight back home.
