Oman Discovery Tour

Sightseeing in the capital city:

Breakfast at hotel / 0900 Hrs check out

Stop for a visit to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, modern and elegant, it has become one of the symbols of the city, built from 1995 to 2001, famous for its beautiful Persian carpet and the incredible chandelier with 1122 bulbs, 8 tons of weight, the largest in the world. Continue to Bait Al Zubair Ethnological Museum where a precious collection of Swords (Al Saif), Daggers (Kanjar), various weapons, ceramics, and Omani customs and traditions are on display. Then stop at the Alam Palace (Photo stop only – entry not allowed), the official residence of the Sultan (external), Photo stop at the Royal Opera House, visit the two Portuguese forts (outside), Mirani and Jalali, and the Souq of Muttrah.

Overnight Stay

Breakfast at hotel / 0900 Hrs check out

After breakfast, drive along the quaint fishing village of Quriyat. The drive along the coast offers tantalizing glimpses of the sea.

Turning southeast this morning, your journey takes you towards the turtle nesting grounds of Raz Al Jinz, passing by the Bimmah Sinkhole and the popular setting of Finn Beach. A stop amongst the beautiful landscapes of Wadi Tiwi provides a chance for a walk through one of Oman’s most spectacular wadis, before continuing past the historic old port town of Sur. Arriving in Raz Al Jinz later this afternoon, there will be time to freshen up before heading out this evening to search for green turtles. Assemble in the lobby for a guided turtle-watching tour to the Ras Al Jinz Scientific Centre where we are escorted to the beach by trained guides to watch the turtles coming into nest on the sands

Overnight stay 

Breakfast at hotel /0900 Hrs: Check out.

Following the coast back towards Sur this morning there will be an opportunity to take in this pretty port town and wander through the old dhow shipyards.

Bani Bu Al and Jalan Bani Bu Hasan. Both are famous for Arabian horse breeding.

Stopping at the 500-year-old Al Hammouda Mosque in Jalan Bani Bu Ali is an architectural masterpiece that has kept traditions alive. Besides being a functional mosque, it is also a tourist attraction. Located in Al Dhahir, the mosque is famous for its characteristic 52 domes built in beautiful geometric design.

Later drive inland towards the picturesque setting of Wadi Bani Khaled, easily one of Oman’s most beautiful wadis. After a chance for a walk and a swim, the journey then continues into the desert, towards the rolling dunes and shifting sands of Wahiba where, after a bit of dune safari, you will settle down for a peaceful night under the desert sky.

Sunset on close-by dunes.

Overnight stay 

Breakfast at hotel / 0900 Hrs: Check out

At over 3,000 meters, Jebel Shams (The Mountain of the Sun) is one of the highest points on the eastern Arabian Peninsula. Often called the ‘Grand Canyon’ of Oman, these mountains stretch in a 700-kilometer arc that is filled with hidden valleys and fertile oases. This morning you will take a walk along the rim of the canyon, enjoying the views out across Wadi Ghul, before driving down to the stunning hillside town of Misfah and continuing to the atmospheric old village of Al Hamra.

Overnight Stay

Breakfast at hotel / 0900 Hrs: Check out

Drive to Jabreen Castle, designed to imitate the most beautiful grand European palaces of the 1600s.  On the visit you’ll be enchanted by the stunning decorative inscriptions, frescoes and magnificent carvings – truly an authentic expression of Omani craftsmanship.   In the Sun and Moon Room, reserved for important visitors, admire the majestic Islamic calligraphy, colorful eye drawings and rows of decorative windows.

Afterwards, on to Bahla, best known for its gigantic ancient fort with towers of unbaked bricks, a remarkable example of this type of fortification

At the top you will visit Wadi Bani Habib to see one of the remote villages and plantations. At first glance the village looks in pretty good shape for an abandoned village, however as you get closer you will notice that nobody is home, roofs have collapsed, walls crumbled and doors completely missing. The village is empty and just waiting to be explored. Follow your guide as they take you through the terrace gardens to view this intriguing location.

En route, you will make a short stop at Birkat Al Mouz, an old village that is famous for its ruins, and large banana plantation and is also home to the old Falaj irrigation system.

Overnight stay

Breakfast at hotel / 0730 Hrs: Check out.

This day visit Nizwa Souq. The main highlight in the Souq is the Cattle Auction that takes place every Friday. Auction is the traditional way of selling the cattle like sheep, goats, cows, and camels. These are brought by their owners from nearby villages. This is what cannot be missed if you are in Nizwa on Friday.

Then you visit Nizwa Fort with its massive Circular Cannon Tower, making it one of the most impressive forts in Oman Built on a solid base of rock, the huge tower was designed to withstand the vibrations of 24 cannons. From the top, a superb panoramic view gives visitors a bird’s eye view all around Nizwa and the surrounding plains – a sure delight for all avid photographers!

The route down Wadi Bani Awf is one of Arabia’s greatest 4WD adventures and includes a visit to the village of Bilad Sait, a remote fortress village. Wadi Bani Awf covers a large area with several villages and lots of cool attractions worth visiting, including the famous Snake Canyon! The route through Wadi Bani Auf goes through beautiful scenery and connects to Balad Sayat in the Al Dakhiliya region by crossing the Hajar Mountains and offers some of the best off-road driving experience you can find in Oman.

The evening arrives in Muscat and drops off at Crowne Plaza Muscat.

Overnight Stay

Breakfast

Hotel Check-out

Transfer back to the airport for your flight back home.