Oman Odyssey A Shared Tour of Enchanting Landscapes and Rich Culture

DAY 01 Arrival at Muscat International Airport

Arrive at Muscat International Airport by your flight in the morning. Upon Arrival pass through the immigration and Customs. Meet our driver in main arrival hall. 

Transfer to Ramee Guestline Hotel / Similar. 

Rest of the day at leisure 

Overnight at Ramee Guestline hotel / similar

DAY 02 City Tour of Muscat

Breakfast at leisure 

This morning we will start our tour with visit to Grand Mosque the most exquisite Mosque in Oman. The developed part of the site, Including the fully consolidated areas and landscaping, covers 416,000 square metres. The Mosque complex (covering 40,000 square metres) is constructed on a raised podium in keeping with the tradition of Omani mosques that were built elevated from street level. It can accommodate up to 20,000 worshippers and consists of a main prayer hall, ladies prayer hall, covered passageways, a meeting hall, and library which contains around 20,000 books. A major feature of the main prayer hall is the hand-made Persian carpet consisting of . 1,700 million knots, Weighing 21 tones and made in a single piece measuring 70 x 60 metres. From design stage it took 4 years to complete and 600 female weavers from province of Khurasan in Iran were involved.

Note : Ladies visiting the mosque are required to cover their head with a scarf and do not wear shorts, beachwear or sleeveless outfits as they are to be fully covered. 

Men are required to wear long trousers. No shorts are allowed. 

 Visit Bait Al Zubair Museum. It consists of a concise collection reflecting the splendid Omani Heritage. The collection includes traditional Omani Weapons such as swords, daggers, rifles & their accessories, along with jewellery, cosmetics & costumes from various regions of Oman. 

Photo stop at Al Alam Palace, the official residence of His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq the ruler of Oman. The palace is an architectural marvel for both its design and its location between the twin Portuguese forts Mirani and Jalali (A brief photograph stop from outside only). 

We then drive towards Muttrah Souq – one of the most popular souqs in the Middle East. Take a walk in its labyrinth of alleyways beckoning with a myriad of merchandise, from imported fabrics to exotic Oriental spices, perfumes and richly handcrafted artifacts. A visit to this frenetic, pulsating hub of Muscat’s old quarter makes for a delightful experience. Here, scents of exotic Arabian perfumes and spices float through the air. Other shops specialise in famous Omani khanjars (daggers), antiques, traditional silver jewellery, and handicrafts in copper, camel bone, wood, leather and hand-made Omani costumes. 

Overnight at Ramee Guestline hotel / similar

DAY 03 Muscat –  Bimah Sink Hole – Wadi Tiwi 

Breakfast at hotel 

Check out from the hotel

Drive via coastal road to Ras AL Jinz.  Stop at Bimah Sink hole a spectacular limestone crater with inviting cool blue green waters. Created by erosion, or perhaps even a meteorite, this sinkhole is thought to be one of the most beautiful sinkholes on the planet. This natural landmark is surely a place to see on the long coastal road of Oman. Here they can change their swimming costumes and continue to Fins beach where they can swim. 

Arrive at Fins Beach, one of the beautiful beach in Oman with white Sand and blue water, the perfect place to swim. 

Spend your day on the beach (Please carry towels for swimming). Changing rooms are not available. 

We stop at Wadi Tiwi, spectacularly deep and narrow gorge carved out of the mountains, running between towering cliffs right down to the sea. It compensates with its old traditional villages, surrounded by lush plantations of date and banana, and crisscrossed with a network of gurgling aflaj.

The group can have lunch at Sunrise Motel (not included in the package). 

Continue to Sur renowned in former times for its shipyard, where the dhows, the traditional wooden Omani boats were built. 

Check in at Sur Plaza hotel  

Dinner at hotel 

After dinner drive to Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve to visit the turtle sanctuary, where at night green turtles, after a journey of thousands of kilometres will come ashore to lay their eggs. 

Please note: Turtle watching starts at 2100 hrs. It is 45 minutes’ drive from Sur Plaza hotel to Turtle sanctuary. Preference is given to in-house guests. Outsiders will have to wait for their turn. Prior reservation is required 

After Turtle watching return to hotel 

Overnight at Sur Grand Hotel / Similar

DAY 04  Ras AL Jinz – Wahiba Sands

Breakfast at hotel 

Check out from the resort and drive to Wadi Bani Khalid. We will change from the coach to Jeeps at Toilet stop enroute to Wadi Bani Khalid 

We arrive at 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. 

(Please note it is aprox 500 meter walk from the parking area to the pool. As per the recent guidelines form Ministry of Tourism, ladies who wish to swim in the wadi have to wear shorts and t shirt to cover their body. Swimming in  bikinis is not permitted. This is to respect the local culture of the villagers.)

From here we drive to Wahiba Sands. Drive over the dunes to reach your camp. 

Arrive and check in at Desert Rose Camp

Evening Dune bashing and sun set on the dunes 

BBQ dinner at Camp

Overnight at Desert Rose Camp / Similar

DAY 05 Wahiba –  Nizwa – Birkat Al Mouz – Wadi Tanuf 

Breakfast at Camp 

After breakfast, check-out from your hotel. 

This morning drive to Nizwa. Arrive Nizwa and visit Nizwa Souq.The impressive New Souq complex has been sensitively designed using Omani fort architecture and elegant Islamic arches. The air-conditioned halls of this souq are full of fresh fruit and vegetables, herbs and spices, huge stacks of dates and freshly caught fish. This is still the best place to buy traditional silver “Khanjars” (hand-carved Omani daggers) and Bedouin jewellery, where silver is still sold by weight. 

Then you visit Nizwa Fort with its massive Circular Cannon Tower, making it one of the most impressive forts in Oman Built on a solid base of rock, the huge tower was designed to withstand the vibrations of 24 cannons. From the top, a superb panoramic view gives visitors a bird’s eye view all around Nizwa and the surrounding plains – a sure delight for all avid photographers!

Visit Birkat Ul Mauz on the way a magical place, is surrounded by date plantations and aflaj, the ancient irrigation system developed during the Iron Age (ca. 1300–300 B.C.) The water canals in this area are a UNESCO world heritage site. 

Visit Wadi Tanuf. It is one of the most important and beautiful natural sites that attract tourists. The flow of the valleys, the flow of the waters of the canals and the water springs form an aesthetic painting that one rarely see at this time of the year.

The Tanuf Falaj is one of the oldest falaj in the region, its name is associated with long history as it passes through the middle of Tanuf Fortress and the Imam Salim Bin Rashid Al Kharousi Mosque. The Falaj was previously known as Falaj Al Haiqi  and was built before Ya’ariba era. 

Later check in at hotel in Nizwa.   

Dinner at hotel 

Overnight at Nizwa Hotel Apartment / Similar

DAY 06 Nizwa – Bahla – Al Hamra – Misfat Al Abriyeen 

Breakfast at hotel 

This morning visit Jabreen Castle. built in 17th century and one of the finest of its kind. Its magnificent plasterwork, the carved doors and the painted wooden beams of the ceilings makes this castle amazingly different. Thereafter continue to Bahla, one of the oldest small towns of Oman and in the 12th century the capital of the tribe living in the region. Photostop of Bahla Fort. Later we drive to Al Hamra, a 400 year old village which is still home to some of the villagers. 

We then drive to Al Hamra, to see one of the oldest villages of this region. The traditional mud houses dating back from 400 years are still occupied.

Continue to Misfat Al Abriyeen. Explore the cultural tradition of the Misfah village during your stay. A walk through the village takes you back in time and you’ll be glad to witness the culture which is alive and followed in these modern times. Explore the agricultural, irrigation and the water distribution system in the village wherein you’ll also come in contact with the locals who wouldn’t mind giving you an interesting insight into their traditional daily works. The guide will provide you with detailed information to make this tour an enriching cultural experience. 

Return to your hotel 

Dinner at Hotel 

Overnight at Nizwa Hotel Apartment / similar 

DAY 07 Nizwa  – Muscat       

Breakfast at leisure 

Morning at leisure, perhaps spend some more time in the lively Nizwa Souq or enjoy a tranquil stroll through the date palm groves in this Omani gem. 

Check out from the hotel and drive to Muscat 

Arrive Muscat and check in at Ramee Guestline Hotel / similar

Afternoon at leisure 

Overnight at Ramee Guestline hotel / similar

DAY 08 Departure.  

Breakfast at hotel

Morning at leisure 

Later check out from the hotel and transfer to Muscat International Airport to board your flight back home 

Hotels Envisaged 

Inclusions

• 07Nights’ Accommodations on twin sharing basis in above mentioned hotels (Including pre night for guaranteed early check in).
• Meals as per programe (B = Breakfast, D = Dinner)
• Transportation from Day 1 upon arrival till Day 8upon departure
• Shuttle transfer from Bidyah to Desert Rose Camp, Dune bashing, Sun Set on the Dunes on day 4and drop at main road on day 5  
• Services of English/GermanSpeaking Guide throughout the Tour
• Bottled water during the tour
• Entrance fee wherever applicable

Exclusions

• Travel insurance, highly recommended.
• Airfare.
• Oman visa 
• Meals other than specified.
• Personal expenses.
• Departure taxes.
• Tips to guides, drivers, hotel porters, etc.