The Omani Adventure

Day 1: Arrival in Muscat

Landing in Muscat in the morning, welcome at the airport, and departure to your hotel. After a short rest, leave this afternoon with your English-speaking guide to discover the city, in the heart of a world unchanged for generations. A first stop at the famous fish market of Muttrah. Then a visit to the Great Mosque of Sultan Qaboos, the Al Alam Palace, protected by its two Portuguese forts of Mirani and Jalali dating from the 16th century, and the Bait Al Zubair Museum, whose beautifully carved doors lead to a fortress used as a reception area. This museum contains the finest collections of antiquities found anywhere in the Sultanate. You will also see traditional weapons, jewelry, costumes, and domestic utensils. Finally, you will stroll through the souk of Muttrah, famous for its winding alleys scented with incense and sandalwood. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Along the Omani coast – Direction Wadi Shab oasis

Breakfast at the hotel. Today a spectacular drive along the coast awaits you and your first stop will be the lime crater of Bimmah, an impressive geological formation revealing a water table of turquoise water. Lunch en route. Continue along the coastline, which offers breathtaking views of the blue waters of the Gulf of Oman and its pristine white beaches. Your last stop, at the end of a rocky track, will be Wadi Shab, where deep pools of water surrounded by date palms await you. Check in at your resort hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 3 : 4 x 4 in the sand dunes of Wahiba

Continue your adventure through the village of Sur built around a round lagoon. We will invite you to a walk in its small port, known for its wooden dhows(traditional sailing boats). A first stop at the mausoleum of Bibi Miryam in Qalhat, the only monument to have survived the Portuguese plundering of the 16th century, then at the typical fishermen’s village Al Ayal, and a tour of the Jami Al Hamoda mosque with its 52 domes, built in the 11th century and fully restored. Lunch during the tour. From there, continuation to the enchanting site of Wahiba Sands, the gateway to the great Arabian desert, with undulating red and gold dunes, some of which reach 200 meters high. A delight for photographers! Discovery of the magnificent dunes of Wahiba with your 4×4, and meeting with the Bedouins. Possibility (with supplement) of a camel ride in the dunes. Traditional dinner and night in the middle of the desert, in your camp.

Day 4 : Mountains and Gardens of Eden

Breakfast at the camp. Today you will start your journey to Wadi Bani Khaled and its Garden of Eden. On the way, stop at the villages of Ibra and Birkat Al Mauz, listed as UNESCO heritage, where the Falaj, a thousand-year-old irrigation system, is still used. Arrival at Wadi Bani Khaled, where a spectacular oasis with deep natural pools and beautiful waterfalls will invite you to swim. Lunch on the way. Then continue by a winding road that will lead you to Nizwa, at the foot of the mountainous region of Jebelal Akhdar, an altitude of 2,000 meters, the green jewel of the Al Hajar massif. This region is famous for its fruit crops, generally designed in the form of terraces on the mountainside. The flowers and smells fill the air. Stroll to the souk of craftsmen of the city, where you will find the famous “khanjar“, these daggers sheathed in silver finely chiseled. Check in at your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Forts and Palaces of Oman

Day dedicated to the discovery of the oasis city of Nizwa, the cultural capital of Oman: it is famous for its impressive fort which dominates the city. You will also be able to visit the Jabrin Palace and the Bahla Fort, whose architecture is of the most beautiful Omani tradition, but also the picturesque villages around, in the middle of palm trees, date palms and banana trees. Lunch on the way. You will then start your return journey to the capital through spectacular panoramas of peaks, gorges, and wadis. Installation at the hotel to refresh yourself and have your dinner before your departure to the airport for your return flight.

Omani Adventure – 5 Days