Oman Orient

Arrive at Muscat airport.
As per the latest announcement by Oman GOVT, European/ UK countries can get Free Tourist Visa for Oman for 14 day stay period and which is nonextendable.

Visa procedure; On arrival after getting out of the Flight, they walk to the immigration counter and produce their passport to the Immigration counter. The visa will be stamped on the passport.

Optional: Premium meets & greet services ( Extra cost @ USD105 per person ): The representative will be waiting outside the aero bridge with a paging board, he/she will lead the group to the immigration counter. The premium services personnel will assist the group until baggage check, customs, and until the group meets our guide in the general arrival hall -

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 Hotel. You will arrive at the hotel.

The standard check-in time at Hotel is 14:00 hrs. The hotel will try to allocate rooms upon arrival if the same is available otherwise, guests can use hotel facilities till the time room is allocated to them by check-in time at 14:00 hrs. Rest of the day at leisure at the hotel.

Meet our guide at the lobby and proceed for Muscat city tour. First we will visit the Grand Mosque. Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque can accommodate 20,000 worshippers. Grand Mosque has beautiful artwork, chandeliers, and one-piece carpet covering the entire prayer hall.
(To visit Mosque, one has to be dressed in a conservative manner. One should not wear revealing or trans-parent clothes and should be covered from head to toe. Ladies have to cover their heads with a scarf. Grand Mosque is open for the tourists from Saturday to Thursday from 08:00 hrs to 11:00 hrs)

Visit Royal Opera House. The architecture reflects contemporary Omani culture. ( Photo stop)

Later drive for old Muscat, Visit Muttrah fish market where local Omani fishermen sells fresh catch of the day. The adjacent vegetable stalls sells local omani products

Visit Muttrah Souq is one of the oldest souqs in Oman and the narrow alleys of souq with the mystic smell of sandalwood make a great atmosphere. It is a place where you can communicate with local people and can buy souvenirs for friends and family.

Bait Zubair Museum was initially founded as a house by a rich merchant, who had the hobby of collecting antiques and photography. Later, he converted his house to a museum in 1998 showcasing the culture and artifacts of Oman.

Photo stop of Al Alam Palace, former residence of Sultan Qaboos is flanked by two Portuguese forts Jalali and Mirani. Return to Hotel

Embark on your bus and drive on the highway to the 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.

Drive to visit amouge factory.Amouage was founded over a quarter of a century ago by HH Sayyid Hamad bin Hamoud al-Busaidi in 1983 as a request from His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Sultan of Oman, in order to reflect the wonderful tradition and heritage of Oman by creating exotic, finest and unusual type of perfumes and to give them as gifts to honored guests. ( Open from Sunday to Thursday 9 AM to 4PM , Closed on public holidays, Friday & Saturday )

Visit Birkat Al Mauz, translate as bananna pool. Drive through the oasis village that unfolds into thick dates and banana plantations. The oldest irrigation, the Falaj system is still used in this village. Visit the UNESCO-listed falaj system. Stroll through the alleys of the village which has centuries-old mud houses revealing the past lifestyle of the region.

The day is dedicated for enjoy the tranquility of the Jabelakdher mountains.Jebel Akhdar (2000 mts above sea level) is the green jewel of the Al Hajar mountain ranges, a truly unique spot in the Arabian Peninsula. Enjoy the cool climate up in the mountains. Al Jebel Al Akhdar is famed for its fruit orchards typically laid out terrace style along the slopes of mountains, which are endowed with natural springs and falaj.

The villages of Saiq, Wadi Bani Habib (the village of the old houses) & Al Ain dot the landscape. The villages overlook a spectacular landscape of dramatic peaks, gorges, and wadis. The roses of Jabal Al Akhdar fill the air with fragrance when in full bloom (March / April). Rosewater is distilled in the homes of the villagers.

Drive down to Nizwa, over night at hotel

Breakfast at Hotel
Visit Jabreen, the finest of Oman’s 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 lady’s 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 really 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. The site is on UNESCO's World Heritage list. Photo stops the village.

Later drive for Alhamra through a countryside road. At Al Hamra, for climbing Jabelshams peak. En route stop at Wadi Naker, a mountain village at the foot of Jabel shams.

Jebel Shams’ in Arabic means mountain of Sun. The Grand Canyon of Jebel Shams is the highest in Oman and the third highest in the world. Arrive at Jebel Shams and enjoy some time at Grand Canyon and walk for some time on mountains breathing the fresh air.

drive down the Jabelshams peak for Misfat Al abryeen. (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.

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 has centuries-old mud houses revealing the past lifestyle of the region. Visit one of the Old houses converted to a Museum.

Dinner &Overnight at hotel

Breakfast and Check out.
Embark on your car and leave for the Sharqiya region, the house of Bedouin tribes. You will be driving on a highway connected dhakhliya region

Before leaving Nizwa Visit fort and Souk

Explore the narrow alleys of a traditional souk, aromatic with spices, Arabic perfumes, and other Omani items. Our guide will give the opportunity to taste and familiarize various types of dates from different regions of the middle east. Traditional Omani handicrafts like kanjars, sheesha, Arabic potteries, costumes, and various other Omani items are decorated by sellers in different shops. Visit another modern building give the perception to the harvest in western hajar mountains and its valley.

Special element: Our guide will take you to spice souk where you will see various varieties of Dates. The guide will explain and buy samples for tasting

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. From the top of the tower, one can get a bird’s eye view of Nizwa city. The museum inside the fort showcase the history, culture, and development of the Nizwa area.

Later drive for Wahiba sands passing the small town of IBRA .

Wahiba Sands, the orange color sea of sands stretch around 200Kms up to the Indian Ocean coast with sketches of dunes ranging from 50-100 meters in height. The Wahiba host various types of flora and fauna. The beduion tribe finds their livelihood in this wilderness of the desert. Our experienced drivers will drive through these undulating dunes with soft dune bash. Watch the spectacular sunset from top of sanddunes.

Overnight at desert camp.

Breakfast at the camp.

Embark on your 04Wds and exit from the desert. Al the entrance of the desert, and drive for the coastal city of sur, famous for seafarers.

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).

On arrival at sur, you will conduct an orientation tour of suer city. Visit the dhow building yard, where the large Arabian ships ( dhow) are being built or repaired.

Evening, drive for Ras Al Jinz, one of the conservation areas for Green turtles. Every year100s of turtles arrive at Ras Al Jinz for laying eggs. it is a rare opportunity to watch the turtles and lay eggs in their natural habitat. Join one of the groups led by a naturalist who will explain about the turtles. (1- 2 kilometres walking is involved through no light zone)

Breakfast and check out.

Embark on your 04WD( 4 pax in each car) and you will be driving on a coastal route passes between eastern hajar mountan valley and arabian sea.

Drive pass through a narrow road of wadi twii fishing village,where you will glimpses of an interior Omani villlage.

Drive towards Wadi Shab, cross the shore by small boat to start a beautiful hike, (requires good physical conditions and good shoes, as slippery rocks) in the heart of the river between beautiful mountains. A spectacular view awaits you at the end of the trail (after about 45 minutes walk) and you will not be able to resist swimming in this natural pool.

Visit Bimmah Sinkhole, a natural sinkhole formed due to 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.

Drive for Wadi Arbayeen awaits with its deep pools of water set among the date palms. We will be driving for some time off-road to reach Wady Arbyn. ‘Wadi’ in Arabic means dead river bed. This is one of the interesting off-road drives in this region through rugged mountain road.

Your nextt stop will be at Wadi Dayqah reservoir, the dam project that has been bulid arross the wadi in the valley of Western Hajar moutains. Photop stop of Wadi dayqah dam . This will also a tolilets stop.

Return to Muscat and check in at the hotel. Overnight at hotel