Itinerary
- Day 1
Muscat
You'll arrive in Muscat, an old walled city backed by mountains. If your flight gets in early, you can check out shopping malls, Ghubrah Beach Park, or the National Museum before meeting your leader at 1pm. From there, your leader takes you through Muscat's highlights: the Royal Opera House, Bait Al Zubair Museum, the historic waterfront in Mutrah, and the busy souk.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Muscat including Royal Opera House and Bait Al Zubair Museum
- Stroll along the waterfront of Mutrah and visit the souk
Optional Activities
- Explore shopping malls
- Walk in Ghubrah Beach Park
- Visit the National Museum
Landmarks/POIs Royal Opera House Bait Al Zubair Museum Mutrah Waterfront Mutrah Souk Ghubrah Beach Park National Museum of Oman - Day 2
Muscat to Fins Beach
After visiting the Grand Mosque in Muscat, you'll head south along the coast. Stop at Wadi Shab, a freshwater oasis great for photos, then walk through Wadi Tiwi's pools and vegetation. The drive continues to Fins Beach where you'll stay at a beachfront hotel and have time to relax or swim in the Arabian Sea. You'll be on the road for about 5 hours total.
Included Activities
- Visit Grand Mosque
- Visit Wadi Shab
- Visit Wadi Tiwi
Optional Activities
- Walk in Wadi Tiwi following the pools through vegetation and palms
Landmarks/POIs Grand Mosque Wadi Shab Wadi Tiwi Fins Beach - Day 3
Fins Beach to Ras Al Hadd
The route takes you along the rugged coastline toward Ras Al Hadd. You'll stop at the Port of Sur, a historic trading port, to see the traditional dhow shipbuilding yard where boats are hand-built. From there, visit the fishing village of Ayega with its lighthouse. After lunch, drive to Ras Al Hadd, a nesting site for endangered Green Turtles, and take a dhow cruise along the coast before spending the night at the jetty.
Included Activities
- Visit Port of Sur
- Visit dhow shipbuilding yard
- Visit Ayega fishing village and lighthouse
- Scenic dhow cruise at Ras Al Hadd
Landmarks/POIs Port of Sur Ayega Ayega Lighthouse Ras Al Hadd - Day 4
Ras Al Hadd to Wahiba Sands
Following breakfast, you'll head inland to a wild camping spot in Wahiba Sands desert. The landscape shifts from coastline into a massive sea of sand covering about 15,000 square kilometres, with dunes rust-red at the base and honey-colored on top. The drive across the dunes leads to your desert camp, where you'll catch the sunset and settle in under the night sky.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive across Wahiba Sands dunes
Landmarks/POIs Wahiba Sands - Day 5
Wahiba Sands to Nizwa
Early morning brings mist across the dunes while wildlife becomes active. You'll continue through the sands, which hide remarkable life including Bedu, dragonflies, foxes, wild cats, mongooses, and over 115 bird species. Arabian and Sand Gazelles roam here too. You'll exit through a market town where Bedouin gather, then drive on tarmac roads to Nizwa, Oman's cultural capital and former capital from 751 to 1154 AD.
Included Activities
- Continue through Wahiba Sands
Landmarks/POIs Nizwa - Day 6
Jebel Shams - Nizwa
This day focuses on Nizwa and the surrounding mountains. Start with the traditional Friday goat auction and modern souks. You'll tour the 17th-century fort that once guarded the Sumail Gap. From there, drive north through the dramatic Jebel Akhdar range to Jebel Shams at 3,000m, Oman's highest peak, where you can look down into a 1,000m drop. On the return, stop in Al Hamra village for lunch prepared by a local family.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional lunch prepared by local family in Al Hamra)
Included Activities
- Visit traditional Friday goat auction
- Visit Nizwa souks
- Visit 17th-century Nizwa Fort
- Drive through Jebel Akhdar mountain range
- Visit Jebel Shams and Grand Canyon viewpoint
- Traditional lunch with local family in Al Hamra
Landmarks/POIs Nizwa Fort Nizwa Souk Jebel Akhdar Jebel Shams Oman's Grand Canyon Al Hamra - Day 7
Nizwa to Muscat
You'll return to Muscat through Wadi Bani Awf, a narrow canyon with steep cliffs, palm trees, and streams. Leave the main roads for off-road driving through the scenic landscape and arrive in Muscat in the afternoon with free time. If you're interested, book an optional dhow cruise from Old Muscat marina to sail past the skyline near sunset.
Included Activities
- Drive through Wadi Bani Awf
Optional Activities
- Optional dhow cruise from Old Muscat marina with sunset views (26 Rials per person, approximately US$70)
Landmarks/POIs Wadi Bani Awf Old Muscat Marina - Day 8
Muscat
Your trip ends after breakfast at the hotel with no planned activities. You're free to leave Muscat whenever you need to. If your flight is later, the hotel offers luggage storage.
- Meals
- Breakfast
