MUSCAT EXAMPLE ITINERARY

 

Our example itinerary is filled with a combination of history, activities, culture and stunning photo opportunities.  Choose your Muscat hotel at each end of the itinerary, and then explore this fascinating country.  Muscat has some wonderful hotels, with top class service and comfort – and the distance from the UK makes this a perfect destination during the European winter.  There is so much to see and do in Oman, and we feel this itinerary is packed with the best there is to offer.

 

Day 1

You will be met on arrival at the airport and transferred to your hotel of choice.  Time to unpack and relax for the rest of today.

Day 2

08.00   Depart hotel for Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque which is one of the most stunning buildings in Oman.  Completed in 2001, the main hall can hold 6,000 worshippers.  Please dress respectfully.  Women must wear long trousers and long sleeves and cover their heads to enter the Mosque.  Men must wear long trousers.

Visit Muttrah, home to Muscat’s Fish Souq, to see the wide variety of fish for sale from Omani waters, and Muttrah Souq where you can take in the atmosphere or haggle with the locals on the price of silver jewellery, antiques, frankincense, carpets, rugs, pashminas and other Omani souvenirs.

Visit the recently opened Bait al Baranda Museum for an overview of the geology, history and traditions of Oman.

Return to hotel via the Sultan's Palace and the two forts, Jalali and Mirani, both of which were built by the Portuguese, and dramatically guard the entrance to Muscat, serving as sentinels to the Sultan’s palace.

13.30 Return to hotel for lunch and afternoon at leisure.

 

 

Day 3– on the water

09.00   Depart hotel for Marina Bandar Al Rowdha

09.30   Board the Sea Thunder RHIB for dolphin watching and coastal tour of Muscat then sail on Jinan Al Bahr yacht to Bandar Khiran for snorkelling, swimming and relaxing in the sun.  Enjoy a picnic lunch on the yacht before returning to the Marina.

14.00   Arrive back to Marina and transfer to hotel for afternoon at leisure, or board the Al Tayf big game fishing boat for an afternoon’s fishing.

18.00  Return from fishing trip and transfer back to hotel

 

 

Day 4– Muscat to Sur

Breakfast at leisure and check-out of hotel

08.30   Depart hotel and travel to Sur along the coast road.  This beautiful coastal drive has the magnificent scenery of mountains on one side and the the Gulf of Oman on the other. Stop at Bimah Sink Hole, a geological formation and scenic wonder. 

Many beautiful white sand beaches run parallel to the road which eventually brings you to the fishing village of Tiwi.

12.00  Arrive at Wadi Shab for a 45 minute walk to some pools of clear water for swimming and picnic lunch.  This is one of Oman’s most popular wadi’s, and not to be missed.

14.30   Depart Wadi Shab

15.45   Visit the home of Omani Dhow building in Sur, see old dhows, along with new ones being built.

16.30   Depart Sur for Ras Al Hadd

17.30   Check-in Ras Al Hadd Hotel. Free time to visit the dhows in the lagoon opposite the hotel, walk along the beach, or just relax in your room.

19.00        Early dinner in hotel

Overnight: Ras Al Hadd Hotel

 

 

Day 5– Ras Al Hadd to Desert

06.00  Early morning start to see turtles hatching on the beach. Please note that although turtles do nest year round, peak nesting season is from June to September and we cannot guarantee an encounter with a nesting turtle.  In addition, peak hatching season is from September to December and although you should see some baby turtles we are unable to guarantee a sighting.

09.00   Return to hotel for breakfast and check-out.

10.00   Depart hotel for Sharqiya (Wahiba) Sands desert.

13.00   Stop at local restaurant for lunch. Explore the desert en route to the desert camp.  Experience “wadi bashing”, have coffee with a Bedouin family.  Optional camel trek.

16.30   Arrive desert camp in time to watch the sun set over the dunes.

Dinner and overnight in desert camp

 

 

Day 6– Desert to Nizwa

Optional early start to climb the dunes and watch the sun rise and the desert change colour (highly recommended).

Leisurely breakfast before departing desert camp at 09:30.

Arrive Nizwa in time for lunch and to check into your hotel.

Lunch at Falaj Daris Hotel, Nizwa.

14.30   Depart hotel for tour of Nizwa, including its renowned, majestic 17th Century circular fort, followed by a tour of Nizwa Souq – one of the best places in Oman to buy silver and pottery.

17.00   Return to your hotel.  Enjoy a leisurely evening and dinner.

 

 

Day 7– Nizwa, Forts and Traditional Villages

07.00   Transfer from hotel to Nizwa’s famous traditional Goat Market (Friday’s only) to see goats and cattle being auctioned to the highest bidder.

09.00   Return to hotel for breakfast.

09.30   Depart hotel for Jabrin Fort, which is one of the most picturesque in Oman.  It was originally an 16th Century palace complete with decorated ceilings, screened inner courtyards, mosque, library and its own prison.

11.00  Depart Jabrin and return via Bahla, the pottery capital of Oman, and famous for it’s fort which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

13.00   Lunch in a local restaurant.

13.45  Depart for Misfah Al Arbriyeen, a picturesque mountainside oasis village, where you can wander through the plantations and see traditional Omani life.

16.00   Visit the old town of Al Hamra at the foot of the Hajar mountains

17.30  Return to hotel  in Nizwa for dinner and overnight.

 

 

Day 8- Nizwa to Jebel Akhdar to Muscat

Breakfast at leisure and check out of hotel

09.00   Depart Nizwa for Jebel Akhdar, Oman’s “green” mountain.  At a height of 2000 metres, Jebel Akhdar derives its name from the cultivated mountainside terraces which are green all year round.  The climate is significantly cooler here than in the rest of Oman which makes for pleasant walking conditions at any time of year.

11.00   Explore the Saiq Plateau and enjoy the magnificent views, and the mountain terraces.  We will drive you to a number of villages on the mountainside which you can explore and have the opportunity to walk through the terraces.

13.30  Lunch at the Jebel Akhdar Hotel on the Saiq Plateau. 

14.30   Depart Jebel Akhdar for Muscat

16.30   Arrive Muscat and check into the hotel of your choice.

 

 

Day 9

Day at leisure – after your busy tour, take today to completely relax (maybe have some spa treatments) or maybe do a little shopping.

 

 

Day 10

Transfer back to the airport for your departing flight.

Please contact us for prices based on your dates and number of people travelling.

 

SO MUCH TO SEE, SO MUCH CHOICE!! CALL US TO DISCUSS ON 01256 882634 OR e-mail your enquiry