Oman - From the Desert to the Coast
Oman - From the Desert to the Coast
Oman - From the Desert to the Coast
Visiting: Oman
Tour operator:
Tour code:
ODC
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
2 - 12
Age range:
18-80
Trip Styles:
Tour Overview
Oman is an intoxicating mix of incredible scenery and fascinating culture. On this short group tour we take in the very best of the country, visiting the towns of Muscat and Nizwa, packed full of history before heading further inland. Follow ancient spice trails, tackle the dunes of the Wahiba Sands, meet traditional communities and enjoy superb coastal scenery in this enigmatic corner of Arabia.
Tour Pace - Busy
Highlights
- See and scale the incredible vast dunes of the Wahiba Sands and spend the night in the desert
- Explore mystical desert forts and castles
- Beautiful coastal scenery and the opportunity to spot rare turtles nesting on the beach
- Superb scenery of Jebel Akhdar and ancient mountain villages
- Wander in the atmospheric souqs of Muscat and Nizwa
- Enjoy the view at the huge expanse of Jebel Shams Grand Canyon
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival Muscat
Arrive in Muscat and transfer to your hotel. Depending on your time of arrival, there may be time to explore the city. Overnight at Al Falaj Hotel or similar.
Day 2 - Muscat – Sur – Ras Al Jinz
Today drive through spectacular scenery of rugged mountains towards Sur. En route visit Bimmah Sink Hole and Park and continue to Wadi Shab, a gorgeous oasis with inviting pools where it may be possible to take a dip. After lunch, continue to Sur, renowned in the past for its dhow shipyards, before reaching Ras al Jinz on the coast. After an early dinner, visit the turtle sanctuary at Ras Al Jinz, where at night green turtles, after a journey of thousands of kilometres, come ashore to lay their eggs. Overnight Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve or similar. (BLD)
Day 3 - Ras Al Jinz – Wadi Bani Khalid – Wahiba Sands
Drive to Wadi Bani Khalid – an oasis spot in the middle of barren and dry mountains. It is one of the most beautiful wadis in Oman and its pools with clear deep blue water give you an opportunity to take a refreshing dip. After lunch, we head into the Wahiba Sands, a vast mass of undulating red and white sea of sand. The ever-changing patterns of the dunes are a photographer’s delight. After some exciting sand dune driving we reach our desert camp for the night. Overnight at 1000 Nights Camp or similar. (BLD)
Day 4 - Wahiba Sands
Full day at leisure. Enjoy lunch at a Bedouin House. A range of activities are available from the desert camp (which can be booked in advance – please let us know if you would like the full list) or you can just relax and admire the views over the dunes. Overnight at 1000 Nights Camp or similar (BLD)
Day 5 - Wahiba Sands – Ibra – Jebel Akhdar – Nizwa
Morning drive to the historic town of Nizwa, Oman’s cultural capital. Before reaching Nizwa we visit Ibra Old Houses. Continue to Jebel Akhdar via Birkat Al Mouz. In Arabic Jebel Akhdar means green mountains and the area is famous for its gardens, farms and terrace plantations. We visit Wadi Habib to see one of the remote villages and fruit plantations. We then continue to Nizwa. Overnight at Al Falaj Daris Hotel or similar (BLD)
Day 6 - Nizwa – Jabrin Castle – Bahla - Jebel Shams
This morning we visit Nizwa souq and the lively livestock market as well as the famous fort, built in the 17th century. Then proceed to Jabrin castle, built in the 17th century and one of the finest of its kind. Its magnificent plasterwork, the carved doors and the painted wooden beams of the ceilings make this castle very different from others in Oman. Afterwards continue to Bahla, one of the oldest small towns of Oman and in the 12th century the local tribal capital. We will stop and admire the views of the city and its magnificent fort before continuing to Jebel Shams where we will overnight in the mountains. Overnight at Jebel Shams Resort or similar. (BLD)
Day 7 - Jebel Shams – Al Hamra – Wadi Bani Awf – Muscat
After breakfast, enjoy the spectacular view of Jebel Shams, the ‘Grand Canyon of Oman’. We then drive to Al Hamra and Misfah, to see one of the oldest villages of this region. The traditional mud houses dating back from 400 years are still occupied. After an early lunch, we head to Wadi Bani Awf, the end point of the canyon and with what is called the ‘snake gorge’ in the middle of the steep mountain cliffs. This is a stunning part of Oman with fantastic views of the surrounding scenery. We drive to the town of Nakhl with its fully restored fort on a rocky outcrop, before arriving in Muscat for the night. Overnight at Al Falaj Hotel or similar. (BLD)
Day 8 - Departure Muscat
Explore Muscat on a half day city tour. Visit the beautiful Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, one of the largest in the Middle East. Then drive through the old walled district of Muscat and visit Bait Al Zubai Museum, showcasing the rich culture of Oman. We also visit Muttrah Souq, where you can bargain for handicrafts and silver items. In the afternoon we take a sunset cruise, before transferring to Muscat airport for your return flight. (BL)
What's Included
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Accommodation
Traveller - Comfortable
Inclusions:
Arrival and departure transfers
All accommodation
Services of English speaking guide / tour leader
Meals as listed (B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner)
Entrance fees for sites listed as part of the itinerary
Excluded:
International flights
Travel Insurance
Items of a personal nature
Visa
Drinks
Tips (discretionary)
Check out our Q&As
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I’m a single traveller – will I feel out of place?
In a word, no. We get a good mix of single travellers and couples on our group tours.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
We are happy to allocate a twin room to two single same-sex travellers. If there is no one else to travel
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
No, sorry this is not possible.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
We offer fully transferable group tour deposits (excluding any flight payments which are always non-refundable). You can change your group tour booking up to 10 weeks before departure and not lose your deposit – we will put your deposit towards any new group booking as long as you travel within 2 years of the original departure date.
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Can I alter the tour?
On our scheduled departures this isn’t possible, simply due to the fact that you’ll be travelling with other people. However, if you like the look of one of our advertised trips but want to tweak it slightly, then we can offer tailor made itineraries just for you, to accommodate your specific requirements.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
There are no hard and fast rules about what type of people travel on Undiscovered Destinations’ group tours – we attract people from all ages, nationalities and walks of life. What you are likely to find though is that travellers share a similar outlook about travel. We tend to attract people with a curiosity about the lesser visited corners of our planet.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
We have been going since 2004.
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Undiscovered Destinations allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 70 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Undiscovered Destinations allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform undiscovered destinations, 70 days before departure.
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Undiscovered Destinations requires a minimum deposit of 350 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of undiscovered destinations charges.
Up to 71 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 40% of booking price.
At 34 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 20 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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