Elevate Destinations

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Oman: Ocean, Mountains, and Desert Journey

HIGHLIGHTS
  • Meet with the women from the Sidab Women Association to hear about their lives.
  • Learn to cook a local dish with fresh produce from the fish market.
  • Sail on a traditional dhow boat, and see how they're made in the boatyard.
  • Visit mosques and museums to understand Oman's culture and history.
  • Eat picnic lunches by turquoise waters in a serene oasis.
  • Volunteer to help protect the sea turtles which nest on the white sand beaches.
  • Stay overnight in the desert, in luxury Bedouin-style tents.
DAY 1: ARRIVE IN MUSCAT
CROWNE PLAZA MUSCAT

Once you arrive at Muscat International Airport, your driver will be waiting for you after customs. They’ll transfer you to your hotel to relax for the remainder of the evening.

DAY 2: A DAY IN MUSCAT
CROWNE PLAZA MUSCAT

This morning your guide will pick you up from your hotel and head towards Old Muscat. You’ll have a brief photo opportunity at the impressive Sultan’s Palace before reaching the Sidab Women Association. Here, you'll get a tour of the association and be able to talk with the local women to understand more about their lifestyle.

Your day will continue at the Muttrah Fish Market. Pick out the freshest catch of the day with recommendations from the hotel's chef, then make your way over to the fresh produce section to purchase some complimenting vegetables. Take a stroll to the spice section of the bustling Muttrah Souq to fill your senses with the sights and smells as your guide helps you select the right spices to complete your seafood meal. You're now ready to jump into the kitchen!

Using the ingredients you acquired from the market, transform your culinary skills in an interactive cooking class. This is wonderful local knowledge that you can take home with you - share a piece of Oman with friends and family.

Feast on your creation before heading to your hotel for a quick rest, then this afternoon, get a brief introduction into Oman’s history in the National Museum. Finish the day off with a relaxing excursion on a Dhow - a traditional fishermen’s boat.

Witness the Muscat Coast like the ancient seafarers once did, who sailed this route for centuries. Stop at a natural cove to photograph the magnificent Al Bustan Palace Hotel before returning to the Marin. Your guide will bring you back to the hotel via the Muttrah Corniche waterfront, visiting the colorful Muttrah Souq en route.

DAY 3: MUSCAT - SUR
SUR PLAZA

Check out at 8:00 AM, and head to the Grand Mosque with your guide. Arguably the highlight of Muscat City, the handmade carpets, elegant chandeliers, and the ceiling of the great dome in the main prayer room aren’t to be missed.

Following the mosque, stop in at the Bait Adam Museum for the opportunity to talk with the curator and enjoy a traditional Omani coffee with him. This private museum has an extensive collection of Oman's postal history. There are artifacts of great historical value as well as photos and paintings portraying the history of the Oman Royal Family.

Begin making your way to Sur with your guide, stopping at the fishing village of Quriyat along the way.

Eat a picnic lunch at Wadi Shab, and take a moment to walk through the wadi. The warm azure water sitting at the bottom of the gorge is the perfect oasis to take in the tranquility. You may even get a chance to discover the hidden waterfall. Before moving on, visit the Bimah Sinkhole, an incredible limestone crater filled with turquoise water.

This evening, your guide will bring you to Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve. The Oman government is working hard to protect Green Turtles and Green Back Turtles as many of the beaches are nesting grounds for five of the seven different species of sea turtles.

At the Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve, the resident ecologist will lead you down to the beach to see the female turtles come ashore and lay their eggs. This is an unforgettable sight which not many people are lucky enough to witness in their lifetime.

DAY 4: SUR - WAHIBA
1000 NIGHTS CAMP

This morning your guide will bring you down to the Dhow Building Yard to learn how a traditional dhow is still built today. Your guide will then drive you to Wadi Bani Khalid for a relaxing stop and to cool off in the gorgeous turquoise pools. While in Wadi Bani Khalid, enjoy an authentic lunch with a local Omani Family.

It’s now time to venture out into the desert! Drive towards the ever-changing golden dunes which rise more than 200 meters 655 feet. You may be surprised to see a variety of flora and fauna that live here.

Spend the night at the 1000 Nights Camp, located in the heart of the desert. Experience this serene landscape in luxury in the elegant, traditional tented rooms - embrace the Bedouin lifestyle.

DAY 5: WAHIBA - NIZWA
SAHAB HOTEL

Soak in the morning sun and enjoy a delicious breakfast at camp before the drive to Nizwa. Stop along the way and share a Kahwa (local Omani Coffee) with a Bedouin family. This is a fantastic insight into their way of life.

Continue the drive via Birkat Al Mouj, where you can walk through this oasis of date plantations. When you arrive at Nizwa, you’ll discover two sets of ruins, a large banana plantation, and incredibly scenic surroundings. Nizwa is also where the UNESCO World Heritage site of the old Falaj irrigation system exists.

The day continues in Jebel Akhdar. Here you must see the agricultural village of Al Ayn and the photogenic abandoned village of Wadi Bani Habib. The region is known for its stunning scenery of valleys and terraced farms growing walnut trees and pomegranate bushes.

DAY 6: JEBEL AKHDAR - NIZWA
THE VIEW

Begin your morning at the local live cattle auction market where you can experience how things are done. Nearby is the Nizwa Fort, built in the 17th century, which defended the city’s natural wealth and strategic location for many years. After, wander through the Souq, famous in this area for the intricately hand-carved “Khanjars” (daggers) & ornamental silver jewelry.

Pass by ruins as you approach the village of Misfat Al Arbayeen, then continue through the narrow alleys between old stone houses until you reach a honey farm in Al Hamra, where the beekeepers sustainably produce honey in these mountainous areas.

DAY 7: NIZWA - JABEL SHAMS TOUR
THE VIEW

Today your guide will bring you to Jebel Shams in the Jebel Akhdar range. This is the highest peak and has a spectacular view of the viewpoint. 

Make your way down the mountain to Wadi Ghul, home to possibly the highest concentration of traditional carpet weavers in Oman. Meet with local artisans in their workshops to see demonstrations of their trade.

DAY 8: NIZWA - WADI BANI AWF - MUSCAT
CROWN PLAZA MUSCAT 

This morning you’ll have the opportunity to see a real castle! Jabrin is the most exquisite of Oman’s Castles initially built in the 17th century. Your guide will take you for a tour around the castle to appreciate the details in the Omani ceiling painting & beautifully executed woodcarvings.

Continue along the steep and windy road to reach the charming mountain village of Bilad Sayt. You’ll be breathless by the beauty of the landscape. Stretch your legs with a walk through Wakan Village before reaching Nakhal for a tour of the fort. End your day in the relaxing hot springs.

DAY 9: DEPARTURE DAY

After a delicious breakfast at your hotel, your guide and driver will transfer you to the airport to connect with your flight home.

 

Interested in booking this itinerary or customizing a trip to Oman? Get in touch with a private travel designer!