Five Days Tour Program

Day 1:
Muscat City Tour (9 – 10 hours)

09:00: The tour starts with a visit to the Grand Mosque (open daily except Fridays between 08:00–11:00 hrs). (Dress code – Women should wear attire covering their arms and legs and should cover their head with a scarf. Men should wear normal shirts and trousers.) Then we will drive you to the bustling fish and vegetable souq, where you can see the latest catch of fish, fresh vegetables, and fruits.

Not far away, we will see the (Old/Modernized) city of Muscat and catch a glimpse of the old town through the eyes of bygone travelers who left their marks and images collected and on display at the fine galleries and museums (Bait Al Zubair) in the heart of the Old Quarter. We will take a photo stop and have a look at the outside view of the Sultan’s Palace, flanked by the 16th-century Portuguese forts of Jalali and Mirani.
(Visit fee for Bait Al Zubair museum is 3 OMR for adults and 1 OMR for children 10-15 years).

Lunch Omani meal at Lubanah restaurant.
After lunch, we drive to The Royal Opera House, Oman’s premier venue for musical arts and culture. The visit fee is 3.5 OMR. Two hours at Al Qurum Beach. Then drive to Muttrah and visit the Muttrah Souq, where you will find a mix of old and new. Sights, sounds, and fragrances are in abundance. (Coffee shops are available for sandwiches, coffee, and juices).
End of the Muscat tour and back to the hotel.

Day 2:
Nizwa Souq – Nizwa Fort – Falaj Daris – Jabal Shams

After breakfast, depart at 09:00 for Nizwa, a major center in the Interior Region. Nizwa clusters around its historical buildings, traditional souq, and the imposing circular-towered fort built during the mid-17th century by Imam Sultan bin Saif Al Yar’ubi. The town is a lush palm oasis stretching for 8 km along two wadis. Water canals run through all parts of the Nizwa area. The most important one is Falaj Daris, formed by two streams which irrigate a large part of the town. At the souq, built in traditional style, you will find exquisite silver jewelry, intricately hand-made “khanjars” (daggers), copper weaving, and other handicrafts. You will visit the Nizwa Fort, the souq, and Falaj Daris.

Lunch at Al Liwan restaurant.
Drive to Jabal Shams (Mountain of Sun, a part of Al Jabal Al Akhdar chain), a mountain located about 3,000 meters above sea level in northeastern Oman. One of the highest mountains in Oman and a popular sightseeing area. In the summer, the temperature is around 24°C (72°F), and in the winter, it drops to just above 10°C (22°F).
Dinner and overnight at Sama Jabal Shams.

Day 3:
Misfat Al Abreen – Falaj Al Khatmeen in Birkat Al Mouz – Al Mudhayrib – Wahibah Sands

After breakfast at 08:30, we drive to Misfat Al Abreen, a picturesque village strapped to the side of a mountain. As you walk around this beautiful village where time has come to a standstill, you will be moved by the simplicity and friendliness of the people.

Falaj Al Khatmeen in Birkat Al Mouz (UNESCO Cultural Site) is considered as Dawoodi falaj. Its flow is 166 liters/second. The total length of the falaj from the mother well up to Sharia (the point at which water first appears on the surface of the earth) is about 2,450 meters with the mother well depth of 17.5 meters. It has no sub-branches. It is most characterized by its three equal water divisions at the Sharia when three equal balls are thrown prior to the dividing point; each ball is carried away in the three channels, indicating the ingenuity of the falaj design.

Drive to Sinaw for lunch on the way to Al Mudhayrib.
Al Mudhayrib: Our guide will explain how the Omanis used to live in the past. You will see strong evidence of past history. Surrounding hills with watchtowers, fine old buildings with beautiful carved doors and arches remain. Our guide will talk about the traditional irrigation systems of Oman, ancient water channels from 500 AD. Show you one example of it in Al Mudhayrib. Then, a short walk to visit one of the summer houses.

Proceed to Wahibah Sands (Al Sharqiyah Sands) – a typical example of a “sand sea.” This desert is magnificent with its rolling dunes, shifting sands, and changing colors. This used to be the home of traditional Bedouins, but you can still find some of them and definitely pass by their homes and look at their camels. A stop on the top of sand dunes to enjoy the sunset before our departure to the Sama Al Areesh Desert Camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 4:
Wadi Bani Khalid short hike and swim – Sur – Ras Al Jinz/Ras Al Hadd

After breakfast at 08:30, we drive to Wadi Bani Khalid. Here we will find an oasis of clear running waters and verdant plant life, a veritable heaven on earth. Enjoy a short hike in the wadi, then swim, and then head to Sur Maritime Museum (Fee 3 OMR for adults and 300 baisa for children). Not far away is the Dhow Builders’ Yard and Sur lighthouse facing the Gulf of Oman. Then continue past Ras Al Hadd and towards Turtle Beach at Ras Al Junaiz. Time to settle in and dinner. During the evening, an excursion to the beach to find the green turtles nesting along the beach (depends on the weather). Overnight at Sama Naseem Permanent Camp.

Day 5:
Wadi Shab – Sinkhole (then back to Muscat)

After breakfast at 09:30, we drive to Wadi Shab for some sightseeing in a beautiful wadi system. Take a hike up one of Oman’s scenic wadis. At the end of Wadi Shab, there is a swim through the famous keyhole into the secluded world, thrilling with fantasy. After a swim at Wadi Shab, walk back (Important to know: walking at Wadi Shab requires good stone water shoes. The total distance of hiking is about two hours, which may not be easy for families with children under 7 years and older people.)
(Water and some fruits will be available with our guide, plus life jackets if needed.)

After Wadi Shab, lunch, then we proceed to the Bimah Sinkhole, a spectacular limestone crater with blue-green water at the bottom. It is a geological formation of the karst topography and a scenic wonder.
Back to Muscat.
Dinner and overnight in a hotel.
End of the tour.