Northern Oman -Self Drive 4WD

Muscat offers the visitor a unique opportunity to witness a modern commercial centre existing in harmony with its traditional culture. With its natural harbour, Muscat means “Anchorage” & lies in a natural volcanic bowl. Our tour of the Grand Mosque (Ladies fully covered with scarf and shorts not allowed for men) (except Friday) & the Bait Al Zubair Museum (Except Friday) is a brief introduction that traces Oman’s history and   development. Drive along the waterfront Corniche visiting the Fish Market.
1600 hrs We proceed for a photostop of the magnificent Al Alam Palace, residence of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos flanked by the 16th century Portuguese forts Mirani & Jalali. Visit the colourful Muttrah Souq.

Overnight Stay

Drive through the date palms to the sparkling springs and Fort at Nakhl. Visit the beautiful Wakan Village famous for its fruit terrace farming.

Our next stop is to Wadi Abhyad which has large patches of white sedimentation and when translated means white wadi.

The drive winds through the mountains with small pools of water dotting the wadi bed.

Overnight stay 

This stretch of graded road is very adventurous & for the physically fit only as it involves steep bends and bumpy roads.

Visit the charming mountain village of Bilad Sayt where one is awestruck by the beauty of the landscape. This 70 km stretch of road continues unto the village of Al Hamra famous for its date plantations.  Visit the ruined village at Tanuf before checking into the hotel.

Overnight stay 

Visit the famous Round Tower Fort, built in the 17th century, and its Souq renowned for its Friday cattle auction, intricately hand-carved “Khanjars”(daggers)& ornamental silver jewellery. Proceed to visit Jabrin, the finest of Oman’s Castles built in the late 17th century, which became a seat of Omani learning.

The Castle displays the highest achievement in Omani ceiling painting & beautifully executed woodcarvings. Photostop at the Bahla Fort. Visit Misfah a pretty mountain village with stone dwellings still in existence. While heading for Jebel Shams stop at the terrace farming village of Wadi Ghul. Drive to Wadi Nakher. In the Jebel Akhdar range Jebel Shams is the highest peak, which offers a spectacular view.

Overnight Stay

Proceed in an easterly direction for Sur, via Izki, Sinaw souk and Mudhaybi, The Wahiba Sands, a vast mass of undulating red and white sea of sand  and dunes rising upto 200 metres are also host to a variety of flora and  fauna. The ever-changing patterns of the dunes are a photographers delight.

Visit a Bedouin house in this wilderness. In stark contrast to this is Wadi Bani Khalid. It comprises of small pretty villages embedded in the  mountains. The Wadi has clear deep blue water.

Overnight stay

Visit the fish jetty and dhow factory. Visit the Sanseela Fort.  Drive via coastal road to Muscat . Stop at Fins beach for a swim .  Our next stop is the Bimah Sinkhole, a spectacular limestone crater with blue green water at the bottom.

At Dibab take an adventurous offroad track to visit the Wadi Arbayeen , characterized by date palms and deep pools of water.

Proceed to Mazara before returning to Muscat.

Overnight Stay

Breakfast

Hotel Check-out

Transfer back to the airport for your flight back home.