Itinerary
- Day 1
Muscat to Sur
Start early from Muscat heading south toward Sur, stopping at Bamah sinkhole where you can take photos and swim if you're up for it. The white beach at Fins is next on your route. After that, you'll spend time in Wadi Shab canyon hiking through dramatic rock formations and palm-lined terrain for roughly 45 minutes. The pools there are crystal clear and you'll be able to swim from one to another, eventually reaching a crevice cave with a small waterfall and turquoise water. You arrive in Sur for your first night.
Included Activities
- Photo stop at Bamah sinkhole
- Visit Beach of Fins
- Explore Wadi Shab canyon
- Hike through Wadi Shab (approximately 45 minutes)
- Swim in crystal-clear water pools
- Swim into crevice cave with waterfall
Optional Activities
- Swimming in Bamah sinkhole lake
Landmarks/POIs Bamah Sinkhole Beach of Fins Wadi Shab - Day 2
Sur to Ras Al Hadd
Start with a morning walk through Sur city, checking out the old fortresses and the famous Arabian Dhow Factory where workers craft traditional wooden dhows by hand. Later you'll drive south along the coast to Ras Al Hadd, spending the afternoon walking around the village or relaxing on the beach. When evening comes, head to Ras Al Jinz Turtle Sanctuary for a guided beach walk under the stars. You've got a solid chance of seeing green sea turtles nesting on the sand and possibly baby turtles hatching from their nests.
Included Activities
- Explore Sur city with old fortresses
- Visit Arabian Dhow Factory
- Guided night beach walk at Ras Al Jinz Turtle Sanctuary
- Turtle watching (nesting and hatching observation)
Optional Activities
- Walk around Ras Al Hadd village
- Relax on Ras Al Hadd beach
Landmarks/POIs Arabian Dhow Factory Ras Al Jinz Turtle Sanctuary - Day 3
Ras Al Hadd to Wahiba Sands
The morning is relaxed at the beach before you drive to Wadi Bani Khalid, one of Oman's larger and more scenic wadis. Spend time swimming, sunbathing, and having a picnic in the canyon setting. Later in the afternoon, head to a desert camp in Wahiba Sands for a 4x4 dune drive and to catch the sunset from atop a big sand dune. Dinner happens at the camp and you'll finish the evening sitting around a campfire.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at desert camp)
Included Activities
- Swim in Wadi Bani Khalid
- Picnic in Wadi Bani Khalid
- 4x4 sand dune drive in Wahiba Sands
- Desert sunset viewing
- Dinner at desert camp
Optional Activities
- Sunbathe at Wadi Bani Khalid
Landmarks/POIs Wadi Bani Khalid Wahiba Sands - Day 4
Wahiba Sands to Nizwa
Drive to Ibra and see the colorful local market plus the old ancient village there. From there, continue toward Nizwa, the old capital of Oman, arriving in the afternoon. After checking in at your hotel, the rest of the day is yours to explore or just relax and settle in.
Included Activities
- Visit Ibra local market (Souq)
- Explore ancient village of Ibra
Landmarks/POIs Ibra Souq Ancient Village of Ibra - Day 5
Nizwa
Start early to hit Nizwa Souq before 10:00 am, which opens at 5:00 am. You'll walk through the authentic market halls browsing fish, meat, vegetables, pottery, jewelry, handicrafts and souvenirs. The colorful Friday cattle market is worth checking out too, with locals selling donkeys, goats, cattle, sheep and chickens. Next, explore Nizwa Fortress, now a museum with views across the old town and surrounding mountains. You can walk through the fortress rooms, passages and towers, seeing the 17th century Yaruba dynasty architecture with its military traps and defensive features. After that, drive to Misfalah al Abreen village on a steep slope with old homes and narrow streets. Plan to spend at least 1.5 hours walking marked paths through the village. Choose either Al Hoota Caves, one of the world's largest cave systems, or Jabrin Castle, a 1670 residential palace with period furnishings and carved wood ceilings.
Included Activities
- Visit Nizwa Souq
- Explore Nizwa Fortress museum
- Walk through Nizwa Fortress rooms, passages and towers
- Explore Misfalah al Abreen village
- Walk marked footpaths in Misfalah al Abreen
Optional Activities
- Visit Al Hoota Caves (largest cave system in the world)
- Visit Jabrin Castle
Landmarks/POIs Nizwa Souq Nizwa Fortress Misfalah al Abreen Al Hoota Caves Jabrin Castle - Day 6
Nizwa to Jebel Shams
Head up Jebel Shams Mountain, stopping first at the ancient village of Al Hamra to visit a museum in a restored old house. Local women will show you around a traditional 7-bedroom home and teach you how they prepare coffee, food and pottery the traditional way. You'll relax in a Majilis with Omani coffee or tea and dates. Continue driving up the mountain to your resort, then spend leisure time walking around the Grand Canyon of Oman. Several walking paths are available, ranging from easy short ones to difficult long ones, and all offer great views of the wadis and valleys below.
Included Activities
- Visit Al Hamra traditional house museum
- Demonstration of traditional coffee, food and pottery making
- Omani coffee/tea and dates in Majilis
- Walk around Grand Canyon of Oman
Landmarks/POIs Al Hamra Jebel Shams Mountain Grand Canyon of Oman - Day 7
Jebel Shams to Muscat
Drive down Jebel Shams Mountain on the eastern side into Wadi Bani Awf, experiencing one of Oman's most exciting mountain roads with off-road sections and fantastic views. You'll navigate through the wadi for roughly 1.5 hours, passing small villages along the way. From there, it's about 1 hour back to Muscat for your night.
Included Activities
- Adventurous mountain road drive through Wadi Bani Awf
- Pass through small villages in Wadi Bani Awf
Landmarks/POIs Wadi Bani Awf - Day 8
Muscat to Salalah
Take a morning flight to Salalah, which takes approximately 1.5 hours. The rest of your day is free, so you can relax on the beach or explore Salalah city on your own.
Included Activities
- Flight from Muscat to Salalah
Optional Activities
- Relax on beach
- Explore Salalah city
- Day 9
Salalah
Drive to Taqah, a wilayat with historical and scenic attractions spanning thousands of years, and explore the countryside with its untouched mountainous areas. Visit Sumharam, an ancient port city about 30 km from Salalah that was a major frankincense trade center 2,000 years ago. You'll see the ruins and fortified hill city next to Khor Rori Creek. Then check out Wadi Darbat with its variety of plants, trees, birds and flowers, plus Tage cave. Jebel Samhan offers fantastic views of the Dhofari Coastline and Indian Ocean, with several shallow caves in the limestone. Visit Ain Razat, the most important spring in Dhofar, where water flows through a falaj to Al-Mamurah Palace and then to Razat Farm. Return to Salalah afterward.
Included Activities
- Visit Taqah countryside
- Explore ancient city ruins at Sumharam
- Explore Wadi Darbat
- Visit Tage cave
- View Dhofari Coastline and Indian Ocean from Jebel Samhan
- Explore limestone caves at Jebel Samhan
- Visit Ain Razat spring water source
Landmarks/POIs Taqah Sumharam Khor Rori Creek Wadi Darbat Tage Cave Jebel Samhan Ain Razat Al-Mamurah Palace - Day 10
Salalah
Visit Mughsayl, a popular beach west of Salalah, to see the blowholes where waves hit rock and force air and water through ground vents like fountains. Walk around spotting the famous frankincense trees, which are known worldwide and were mentioned in ancient texts. Frankincense from Dhofar is considered the world's best and brought the region significant wealth thousands of years ago when it was more valuable than gold. Your final stop is Nabi Ayub grave, a popular site inside a mosque where the prophet Job is supposedly buried. Head back to Salalah after that.
Included Activities
- Visit Mughsayl beach blowholes
- View frankincense trees (boswellia sacra)
- Visit Nabi Ayub grave at mosque
Landmarks/POIs Mughsayl Beach Nabi Ayub Tomb - Day 11
Salalah to Muscat
Enjoy a leisure morning and afternoon in Salalah. In the afternoon, fly back to Muscat.
Included Activities
- Flight from Salalah to Muscat
