A Week in Oman
A Week in Oman
A Week in Oman
7 Days Starting and ending in Muscat
Visiting: Oman
Tour operator:
Tour code:
AXV
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 15
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Oman, the most beautiful of the Gulf States boasts a rich culture and ancient heritage waiting to be discovered during this one week cultural adventure. Starting off in the capital of Muscat, here we gaze in awe at the Grand Mosque, wander through the colourful Mutrah Souq and see the Omani capital and coastline through seafarers eyes on a traditional dhow cruise. No visit to Oman is complete without exploring their magnificent landscapes on offer; camp and 4WD in the dunes of the Wahiba Sands; marvel at stunning views over the 'Grand Canyon of Arabia' from Jebel Shams, Oman's highest mountain; wade in the cooling, turquoise waters of some of the land's most idyllic desert oasis' and uncover the historic forts before witnessing the weekly live auction cattle market in Nizwa, an event not to be missed!
Highlights
Itinerary
Depart London
Day 2
Upon arrival in Muscat in the morning; you will be met by your tour leader
and transferred to our hotel.
Later in the afternoon after the main group briefing, we will be picked up
from our hotel and travel through the old part of Muscat to visit the Siban
Women's association where there is the opportunity to interact with the local
woman and enjoy a coffee together. Next, we pay a short visit to the Bait Al
Zubair Museum before having a photo stop outside the gates of the Sultan's
palace. After a short transfer to the marina, we'll embark on a relaxed dhow
cruise (traditional fisherman's boat) to see the Muscat coast through the
eyes of ancient seafarers who plied this route for centuries. During the
cruise, soft drinks, tea, coffee and dates will be served on board.
In the evening, we stop at a local restaurant for dinner and will be
transported back through the centuries on a visit to the bustling, colourful
Mutrah Souq. Here there will be lots of photo opportunities and chance to
observe the local way of life whilst wandering around this vibrant
traditional Arab market.
*Ramee Guestline Hotel or similar*
Day 3
After breakfast at the hotel, we check out and visit the Grand Mosque, the
highlight of the Omani capital.
Completed in 2001, the Grand Mosque is a beautiful building which looks
modern but shows that modern craftsmen have retained the skills necessary to
create this wonderful traditional environment. The handmade carpets, the
chandeliers, the ceiling of the great dome in the main prayer room are
absolute 'must-sees'. Kindly note, ladies should be fully covered and
please carry a headscarf and men should wear trousers.
We then drive (approx.1.5 hours) to the Bimah Sinkhole, a spectacular
limestone crater with blue-green water at the bottom, and Wadi Tiwi where we
enjoy a walk and picnic lunch before transferring (approx. 1 hour) to our
hotel in Sur, where we will be spending the night.
This evening after an early dinner, we’ll drive (approx. 1 hour) to Ras Al
Jinz Turtle Reserve. Oman is a vital area for Green turtles in the Indian
Ocean and the Green Back turtle are heavily protected by the government of
Oman. In fact, over 275 of the Sultanate's beaches double-up as nesting
grounds for five of the seven recognized species of sea turtles, the most
common being the Green Back turtle.
Here we are led to the beach by an ecologist to see the female turtles
return to their beach to lay eggs. (Please note that the main nesting season
is June-August, at other times of the year, there may or not be turtles every
night but a visit to the reserve is still worthwhile).
*Sur Plaza or similar*
Day 4
This morning after breakfast, we first transfer (approx. 1 hour and 45 min)
to the desert oasis of Wadi Bani Khalid to relax a bit and enjoy a swim in
the beautiful turquoise pools and a picnic lunch before continuing (approx.
1-1.5 hours) to the Wahiba Desert.
Here, on the edge of the desert, we change vehicles from the minibus to 4WDs
to begin our desert experience.
The Wahiba Sands, a vast mass of undulating red and white sea of sand and
dunes rising up to 200 meters are also host to a variety of flora and fauna.
The ever-changing patterns of the dunes are a photographer’s delight. We
further drive towards the dunes and our desert camp (approx. 1 hour) to
check-in for the evening.
During our time at the camp, there is the chance to take a camel ride
(optional- extra cost).
*1000 Nights Camp / Arabian Oryx or similar*
Day 5
Breakfast at camp before checking out and driving towards the ancient city of
Nizwa, Oman's former capital. En-route we visit a Bedouin family, and enjoy
Kahwa (local Omani Coffee) and spend some time with them learning about their
customs and traditional way of life.
We’ll continue our drive via Birkat al Mouz, one of the region's most
well-known village ruin. We’ll walk through its oasis and date plantations
before continuing to Nizwa. With the 2 sets of ruins, a large banana
plantation and the scenic surroundings, the site is also home to the old
Falaj irrigation system listed as UNESCO World heritage.
Upon arrival in Nizwa, we check into our hotel where we will spend the next
two nights.
*Al Diyar Hotel or similar*
Day 6
After breakfast at the hotel, we take a short drive (approx. 30 minutes) 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.
We also pause at the Bahla Fort for a photo, the only UNESCO listed fort in
the country and lovingly restored over many years before transferring
(approx.1.5 hours) to Wadi Nakher. Here we enjoy a picnic lunch
before proceeding to Jebel Shams, Oman's highest mountain and where we can
enjoy spectacular views of the 'Grand Canyon of Arabia.'
Later in the afternoon, we visit (transfer approx. 45 minutes) to the village
of Misfat Al Arbayeen, passing the ruins of an old fort on the way. We
continue through narrow alleys between old stone houses and take a short
walk in the Tanoof old abandoned village before returning back (approx. 30
minutes) to Nizwa for the evening.
*Al Diyar Hotel or similar*
Day 7
Today is a longer day and we start our morning with a visit Nizwa's famous
live cattle auction market, the one day of the week where this ancient city
truly comes alive which sees farmers and traders arrive from near and afar to
barter and trade in one of the Middle East's most renowned markets.
We’ll visit the impressive Nizwa Fort, built in the 17th century to
defend the city’s natural wealth and its strategic location. Later we visit
Nizwa's renowned Souq, famous for intricately hand-carved “Khanjars”
(daggers) & ornamental silver jewelry and live-stock trading.
Departing Nizwa, we continue to Wadi Bani Auf; this stretch of graded road
is very adventurous as it involves steep bends and bumpy roads. When there is
wet weather conditions, it may not be possible to drive this section of
graded road due to safety. If this occurs, an alternative stretch of road
will be driven.
Then stop at the charming mountain village of Bilad Sayt where one is
awestruck by the beauty of the landscape.
This afternoon we stop for a photo stop at the Nakhal Fort and hot spring.
The exact date in which this ancient fort was built is unknown, but many
believe that it was built in pre-Islamic times, more than 1500 years ago.
We then transfer back to Muscat for our final evening in Oman's capital city.
*Ramee Guestline Hotel or similar*
Day 8
Those on the group flight will be transferred to the airport to check in for
the flight back to London which arrives back later on in the day.
What's Included
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Meals
6 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 5 dinners.
* All breakfasts, 3 lunches and 5 dinners included
* All accommodation
* All transport and listed activities
* Tour leader throughout
* Arrival & departure transfers for group flights
What's Not Included
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Single accommodation (available on request)
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Travel insurance
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Visas or vaccinations
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Optional Camel ride at camp
Accommodation
We spend five nights in comfortable hotels and one night in a desert resort with a spectacular location in Wahiba Sands. Below are the hotels we typically use:
Muscat: Radisson Blu Hotel Muscat (nights 1 and 6)
We start and finish at this 153-room Radisson Blu resort, just 9mi (15km) from Muscat International Airport. There’s local and international cuisine at Olivos Restaurant and plenty of drinks at the Lazy Lizard bar. Alternatively, you may prefer a dip in the temperature-controlled outdoor pool or to relax on a sun lounger.
Sur: Sur Plaza (night 2)
Enjoy traditional Omani hospitality during our stay at the 89-room Sur Plaza. There’s a pool and gym, while the Oyster Restaurant (which serves a mixture of local and international cuisines) has views over the mountains.
Wahiba Sands: Arabian Nights Resort (night 3)
Spend an unforgettable night at this desert resort, which is only reachable by 4×4. Despite the remote location of the resort, the villa-style rooms are comfortable and there’s even a pool for a quick dip in the desert. There’s also a restaurant serving local and international dishes, plus a pool bar mixing up cocktails.
Nizwa: Al Diyar Hotel (nights 4-5)
Simple and traditional, Al Diyar provides a well-located place to stay for our adventures. It also has two outdoor pools and a restaurant, while Nizwa Souq is around five minutes’ drive away.
Worth knowing
With accommodation in Oman, couples – particularly unmarried couples – may be automatically allocated twin beds rather than doubles, unless requested otherwise. Please advise us at the time of booking if you are travelling as a couple and would like to request a double bed.
Food
All breakfasts, 3 lunches and 5 dinners are included.
Omani cuisine is influenced by Arab, Persian, Indian, Asian, Eastern
Mediterranean, and African cuisine. Rice is a staple dish and often includes
a variety of flavours and ingredients and meat such as chicken, fish and lamb
feature prominently. Dishes are full of rich mixtures of spices, herbs and
marinades. Dates are much loved and are an essential part of the Omani diet.
Curry, soups, fresh salads, and vegetable dishes are all very common. Coffee
is the national beverage but tea is also drunk. Yoghurt drinks and softs
drinks are also popular. Alcohol is not readily available but can be
purchased in some hotels and likely to be quite expensive.
During the tour, you will have the opportunity to taste and experience a
variety of dishes and eat in local eateries and restaurants. Included lunches
will be picnic lunches and other meals will be eaten in local cafes/eateries.
The night spent at the desert camp will also include a BBQ with traditional
dishes.
Non-Muslims are permitted to bring in two litres of alcohol by air only.
Alcohol may be purchased at Muscat airport after having cleared immigration.
Care must be taken not to cause offence through the use of alcohol and should
not be consumed in public places apart from licensed premises, such as hotels
& restaurants. It is generally not a problem to bring your own alcohol into
hotels but please always ask the hotel first out of courtesy.
Please advise at time of booking if you have any dietary requirements.
Check out our Q&As
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes, our local guides are English speaking.
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Who is Exodus Travels?
At Exodus Travels, we've been exploring the world for nearly 50 years. From Walking and Trekking, Cultural and Cycling, Responsible Wildlife, to Polar and our new Premium Adventures, we are proud to offer award-winning small group and self-guided tours to 100+ countries worldwide.
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
The minimum age for this tour is 16 years old.
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
If you would like to be paired with a tour member of the same gender, there is no additional charge. A single supplement can be requested if you would like your own room.
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Are flights included in this tour?
International flights are not included with this tour.
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
We are happy to assist with pre and post tour accommodation. Please enquire for detailed information.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
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