Day 1: Muscat
On arrival at Muscat International Airport, you will be met by our professional local representative. Our representative will meet you before immigration and guide you to the Plaza Premium Lounge to relax while your passport is stamped for immigration check. After immigration, collect your baggage, clear Customs and come out at the main Arrival Hall where your guide will take you to your vehicle parked outside. Transfer and check in to your hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2: Muscat – Optional Dolphin Watch – City Tour
After your sumptuous buffet breakfast, the morning is at leisure or you can choose an optional Dolphin Watching excursion. Transfer to the Marina Bandar to board your private boat and depart on your trip. Watching wild dolphins is a thrill and the lucky may come across whales just a few km from Muscat's rugged coast. Not every trip guarantees a sighting, but you will to enjoy the trip out to sea.
Enjoy some snorkeling - swim over multi-colored coral reef and among exotic tropical fish. Return to the Marina and then to your hotel. Enjoy lunch on your own.
Afternoon, enjoy a City Tour - visit Bait Al Zubair, stop awhile at Al Alam Palace, and the Portuguese forts - Mirani and Jalali. Visit Muttrah Souq for some shopping and return to your hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 3: Muscat – Sur – Turtle Watch Tour
Enjoy your breakfast. Check out of the hotel and depart for Sur. Visit Grand Mosque, the most exquisite Mosque in Oman. The developed part of the site of Grand Mosque including the fully consolidated areas and landscaping, covers 416,000 sqm. The Mosque complex (covering 40,000 sqm) 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. See the hand-made Persian carpet consisting of 1,700 million knots, weighing 21 tons and made in a single piece measuring 70 x 60m. It took 4 years to complete and 600 female weavers from Khurasan in Iran were involved.
Drive south for Sur via the coastal road stopping en route at Quriyat, famous for its white beach and Wadi Arbayeen with its deep pools set among the date palms. Stop at Sinkhole and drive through Qalahat, one of the oldest cities of Oman. Late afternoon pass Sur, the city of Dhows and arrive and check in at Ras Al Jinz Scientific Centre.
Later, go on a Turtle Watching tour and watch them nestling on the sands. Overnight stay at Ras Al Jinz Scientific Centre.
Day 4: Wahiba Sands
Enjoy your delicious breakfast. Check out and depart for Wahiba Sands, stopping at Wadi Bani Khalid, one of the most beautiful Wadis in Oman. The drive there is through the Eastern Hajar Mountains, so enjoy the panoramic views as you pass pretty villages. Here the road winds down to the Wadi alongside a large, shallow pool fringed with vegetation and ends at a village. Continue on a short trek to the deep blue pools of the Wadi. Enjoy a swim in this glorious setting.
Later, leave for Wahiba Sands, a long, narrow strip of high dunes and sketchy woodland along the unspoiled coastline of eastern Oman. See the most incredible sand dunes, some a colossal 300 feet high and separated by enormous depressions. They stretch as far as the eye can see and form a spectacular sight especially in the evening and the morning.
The Wahiba Sands is also home to the traditional Bedouins. Visit one of the Bedouin houses. Anybody who chooses to live in the environment of Wahiba Sands must be hardy and resilient to tolerate its potentially harsh climate – and the Bedu are just that. There are over 3000 Bedu of varying tribal origins who live on the fringes of the sands. Drive to 1000 Nights Camp, arrive and check in. Dinner at Camp. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 5: Wahiba – Jebel Shams
After your breakfast, check out and depart for the foothills of the Jabel Ahkdar where lies the quaint and peaceful village of Al Hamra, famous for its old multi-storied mud houses surrounded by a vast expanse of lush green date plantations. Visit Misfah, a pretty village with stone houses, precariously clinging to the side of a huge mountain cliff. The village is laden with date, lemon and banana groves. Drive on to Wadi Ghul, land of the traditional weavers of Oman and Wadi Nakher, Oman's deepest canyon.
Arrive at Jabel Shams, the highest peak in the Jebel Akhdar range. Relax on this mountain top and enjoy the breathtaking view. Drive down to the The View and check in. Rest of the day at leisure. Dinner at The View. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 6: Jabel Shams – Muscat
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and drive to Muscat. Arrive in Muscat, and check into your hotel. Afternoon, go shopping at Muttrah Souq and pick up souvenirs to take home. Overnight at the hotel of your choice.
Day 7: Muscat
After your breakfast, check out from the hotel and transfer to Muscat International Airport for your flight back home with happy memories of your fascinating journey to Oman.
