Overview
One week, one loop around northern Oman. Follow the coast road from Muscat to Sur, watch turtles come ashore at Ras Al Jinz, swim in the pools of Wadi Bani Khalid and spend a night at a camp in the Wahiba Sands. Then climb Jabal Akhdar, the Green Mountain, visit the forts of Nizwa and Jabreen, and finish with a day in Muscat and a boat trip along its coast.
Our driver meets you at Muscat airport on the first day and takes you back on the last. The tour starts any day of the week.
Highlights
- Turtle watching with rangers at Ras Al Jinz
- Wadi Shab, the Bimah Sinkhole and the pools of Wadi Bani Khalid
- A night at a desert camp in the Wahiba Sands
- Jabal Akhdar, the Green Mountain, and Diana’s Point
- Nizwa Fort and souq, and Jabreen Castle
- Muscat city tour and a two-hour boat cruise along the coast
Day by day
You will arrive at the Muscat International Airport. Upon your arrival you proceed straight to the Immigration. Immigration & customs are quick & simple. Upon arrival at the General arrival lounge you will be met by our friendly & efficient Travel Store chauffeur who will assist you to the comforts of our vehicle to drive you to the hotel.
Breakfast at the Hotel. Check out and drive towards Quriyat, a very large fishing village between the lagoon and the sea and stop again for a short photostop. The port of Quriyat is still guarded by a watchtower from old times. Proceed to Bimah Sinkhole. It is a very large naturally created sinkhole where people can even enjoy a swim. Continue on the coastal road towards Sur. This tour along the coast line to Muscat offers breath taking glimpses of the blue waters of the Gulf of Oman offset pristine beaches.
Arrive at 'Wadi Shab'. Shab in Arabic, literally means “Ravine between Cliffs”. Shallow green pools and abundant shade give wadi Shab a perfect setting for a picnic. Here cold picnic lunch packets can be served (Optional cost). You may take a long walk inside the wadi, later return to your vehicles and continue on the coastal road until Sur. From Sur continue towards Ras Al Jinz and check in at Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve. Later in the evening at around 2100 Hrs, walk to the Hotel Lobby and from there proceed for a Turtle Watching Tour with specialized Rangers. Overnight at the Hotel in Ras Al Jinz.
Breakfast at the Hotel. Check out and drive taking the coastal road towards Aseelah. This coastal road drive is very serene with desert on one side and sea on the other. Arrive in Aseelah and continue towards Jalan Bani Bu Ali to visit the old Al Hamouda Castle. After the visit, drive towards Wadi Bani Khalid. This drive through the mountain offers a panoramic view of the beautiful landscape below. You will pass through many pretty villages embedded in the mountains before reaching the destination. Here the road winds down to the wadi alongside a large, shallow pool fringed with vegetation & ends at a village. You park our vehicles at this point & continue on a short trek to the deep blue pools of the wadi. If you wish you may enjoy a swim in this glorious grace of nature. It is recommended to wear comfortable clothes & walking shoes for this trip.
You may also enjoy lunch or juices at your own at the coffee shop situated right by the pool side. After this stop, continue driving to the great desert of Oman Known as the "Wahiba Sands". Soon you will come face to face with the enormous desert and our experienced driver will drive you through the sand dunes to the Camp. Enjoy your dinner and Overnight at the Desert Camp.
Breakfast at the Camp. Around 0830 hrs, you will meet your guide at the reception area of the Camp and embark your vehicle. Drive towards the edge of the desert and then take the asphalt road towards Ibra. Stop for photos by the old mud houses. You can also witness a Women’s Market if you happen to be there on a Wednesday. Continue to the second highest peak, Jabal Akhdar, also known as the Green Mountain. Jabal Akhdar is the mountain range in the Western Hajar, the name meaning Green Mountain in English. Its main town of Saiq lies at 2300m and the highest point 3000m in Jabal Shams. The range measures around 12 miles from north to south and 18 miles from east to west. Drive to Jabal Akhdar to Saiq Plateau and Al Ayn, where local farmers raise grapes, pomegranates, apricots and walnuts. Visit Wadi Bani Habib where you can see some small waterfalls. Then arrive to the canyon named as Diana's Point, for the late Princess of Wales who spent time here in the late 80s.
Check in at the Hotel and spend rest of the time at Leisure. Overnight at Jabal Akhdar.
Breakfast at the Hotel. Enjoy a short walk on the mountain in the morning and then later drive towards Birkat Al Mauj. From there drive towards Nizwa and start with a tour of the Nizwa fort with its enormous round tower built in the 17th century built by Imam Sultan Bin Saif Al Ya'aruba to defend the route to the interior. The fort dominates the entire area with the town having grown around the edifice. Access to the top is possible 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 the Nizwa city. From here you will proceed to the Nizwa Souq which is renowned for its intricately hand-carved Khanjar and ornately designed silver Jewelry.
Drive to Jabreen with en-route stopping at Bahla for a photograph of the Bahla Fort (photo stop), now a World Heritage Site. Arrive at Jabreen to visit the castle, 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 ladies 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 back to Muscat. Check in at your Hotel. Rest of the Day at Leisure. Overnight in Muscat.
After breakfast, you will meet your tour guide and proceed for a tour of the Muscat city. Our experienced guide will give you an insight of the country. The tour starts with a visit of the Grand Mosque (open for visitors from Sat to Thur 8-11 AM only, except the holidays) which is the biggest mosque in the country with beautiful art works, chandelier & a one piece carpet covering the entire prayer hall measuring approx 4260 square meters. After the visit continue your drive to the old city to visit the Bait Al Zubair Museum. It is a private museum with a wonderful collection portraying the traditional image of the country. Continue your drive to “Al Alam Palace” (Photo stop) flanked by the two Portuguese Forts “Jalali & Mirani”.
After the stop, drive along the Corniche waterfront to “Mutrah Souq”, one of the oldest souqs in Oman. The narrow alleys of the souq and the smell of the mystic frankincense and sandalwood in the air are typical of this souq. After the visit return to your vehicle to drive back to the hotel and spend some time at Leisure.
Later at around 1600Hrs, you will be again picked up by a driver to drive to Marina Bandar for a 2 Hours Boat Cruise along the coastline of Muscat. This tour offers a panoramic view of the coastline. After the tour, drive back to your Hotel. Overnight at the Hotel in Muscat.
Breakfast at the Hotel. Check out and timely transfer to Airport.