Cultural Trips

You have arrived in Oman’s capital city, Muscat! After landing at Muscat International Airport, gather your luggage and exit into the arrival halls. From there, an English speaking guide will meet you and accompany you to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure, relax and get accustomed to the distinctive atmosphere of the city.

Meet with your guide, and start the tour of Muscat by visiting Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, one of the most beautiful architectural sites in the city. The mosque was built over a period of 6 years from 1995 to 2001. Please adhere to the dress code when visiting the mosque. The Grand Mosque is a place of worship, therefore when visiting please be advised to wear appropriate clothing, for the ladies - long trousers/skirts covering the entire legs, long sleeves top & bring a scarf to cover the hair and for the men - long trousers & long or short sleeve shirt. After taking in the scene at this magnificent religious building, later the tour brings you to the Sultan Armed Forces Museum before continuing to Muttrah Souq, one of the most popular souqs in the Middle East. Take a walk in its labyrinthine alleyways beckoning with a myriad of merchandise, from imported fabrics to exotic Oriental spices, perfumes and richly handcrafted pieces.  Then we pass along Al Alam Palace, the official residence of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said 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 before retuning to your hotel.

Today we will travel first to Wadi Dayqah then we proceed to Bimmah Sink Hole, it is a spectacular limestone crater created many years ago by a collapsing mountain and filled with blue-green sea water – a real wonder of nature that is definitely worth a look. Next stop will be Wadi Tiwi, It is spread over an area of 36 kilometers (22.37 miles) at the foot of the mountain village of Mibam. It is a fertile wadi that meanders through a number of agricultural villages which grow dates and bananas overlooking the majestic mountains. You can also see the valley below, and the azure waters of the sea from some elevated locations. A short stop at Bibi Mariam Tomb and we continue our drive to visit Sur; it is an ideal location in the northeast province of Sharqiya and is a seafaring town, a fishing village and a trading port all in one. The highlight of the town is the dhow builder’s yard on the coast just beyond the town. Sur started trading activities with the African coast as early as the 16th century A.D. a drive through its labyrinthine streets reveals many fine old houses with caved doors, arabesque windows and other intricate details. Drive to Ras Al Hadd home of the giant green turtle. Guests will be picked up from the resort after you had dinner then we proceed for turtle watching at Ras Al Jinz to have a glimpse of giant green turtles. After the dinner at the resort, you will be picked up for the turtle watching at the reserve.

Guests will be picked up from the resort and tour commences by driving towards towards Jaalan Bani Bu Ali, it is one of the largest states of the province of South – East area and is located in the South-Eastern corner of Oman. Take a photo stop at Al Hamoda Mosque. Build in a beautifully simplistic style, the mosque’s 52 domes have hidden provision for ventilation. The domes, along with palm trees in the courtyard, contrast vividly with the blue of the sky. Then we continue towards Wadi Bani Khalid, for an easy walk along the riverbed with ample time to cool down in the crystal clear waters of the rock pools. It is the best-known wadi of the Sharqiyah region. Its mountain streams ensure a constant flow of water throughout the year. Large pools of water and boulders are scattered along the course of the wadi. As a geographical area, Wadi Bani Khalid covers a large swathe of low land and mountains. Caves form some of the interesting features of this wadi. These include Kahf Maqal which is one of the Sultanate's underground chambers. Our last stop is Sharqiyah Sands, or Ramlat al-Wahiba is a region of desert in Oman. The region is named for the Wahiba tribe. The desert has been of scientific interest since a 1986 expedition by the royal geographical society documented the diversity of the terrain, the flora and fauna, noting 16,000 invertebrates as well as 200species of other wildlife, including avifauna. They also documented 150 species of native flora. Enjoy some dune bashing and the sunset view from the top of the dunes before returning for dinner at the camp.

Guests will be picked up from the camp and the tour commences by driving towards Ibra, it is considered to be one of the most vital markets in the eastern region of Oman. It is an urban city with some rural features, due to the surrounding desert. Then we pass through Zukait Tombs en route to the next stop of Bahla, It is a town in Ad Dakhiliyah, Oman. It is famous for its ancient fort and its pottery. Bahla pottery is famous throughout Oman, and is in great demand from tourists. A short distance beyond Bahla lays the Castle of Jabrin. This massive three-storied was built during Al Ya'ruba dynasty in the mid-17th century. It is a fine example of Islamic architecture with beautiful wooden inscriptions and paintings on the ceilings. Our last stop is Jabrin, which is known for its impressive castlebefore our final stop of Nizwa, tourist site par excellence and the first capital of the Sultanate of Oman in the sixth and seventh centuries. Nizwa has managed to retain its charm through the centuries with its strong and its guard tower that protects them against invaders.

Guests will be picked up from the hotel and will drive to visit Nizwa Souq is the city, famous for its handicrafts and agricultural products. The souq bustles with vendors selling everything from meat and fish to ornately carved sculptures and Nizwa is renowned for its silver jewelry which is considered to be the best in the country. Its people are masters in Khanjar making (curved dagger), recognized for its distinctive style and patterns. They also make copperwares, coffee pots, swords, leather goods and pottery. We continue on to Al Hamra. It is a 400-year-old town in the region Ad Dakhiliyah, in northeastern Oman. It is home to the mountainside village of Misfat Al Abryeen. Some of the oldest preserved houses in Oman can be found in Al Hamra, a town built on a tilted rock slab. Many of the houses have two stories, with ceilings made of palm beams and fronds topped by mud and straw. We will visit Bait Al Safa Museum.
Our last stop will be Jebel Shams, Oman’s highest peak, at 3,009 metres above sea level. Jabal Shams or 'Sun Mountain' has a summit which is unreachable by public road which ends at 2,000m. At night the guests can camp at the Jebal Shams Resort and experience the wonders of a moonlit night, far away from the city lights.

Get an early start as you transfer to Muscat for your internal flight to Salalah. Proceed to Mughsayl Beach where can see the blow holes (perforation in the limestone rocks). In the west of Salalah, there are many stretches of beautiful beaches and Mughsayl is one of the most popular. Experience the zigzag road approximately 10/15 kms, the views are breathtaking due to heights involved. En route the stark shape of leafless Frankincense Trees dot the landscape. Frankincense harvested in Dhofar is rated among the best in the world. We continue along the hair-pin bend roads towards the Western Boarder of Oman and drive to Fizayah Beach with its pristine turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Spend a relaxing afternoon and enjoy the surroundings. Then we drive to the coastal area and visit the fishing village of Dhalkut, where you can take a short walk into the valleys. On our return we make a photo stop at the lagoon of Mughsayl before being dropped back to the hotel after the tour.

Enjoy the day at rest in your hotel or take the chance to explore the southern city of Salalah.

Visit the lost City of Ubar, an ancient site where remains of the city were discovered in 1992 by Archaeologists using remote sensing equipment. Ubar is believed to have been populated from about 2800 B.C to about 300 A.D and to have been at one time an important trading center for frankincense before it was buried in the rising dunes. There is a small museum at the site displaying archaeological discoveries. The bleak arid desert of Rub Al Khali or Empty Quarter stretches from the foothills of the mountain to an enormous sandy plain, which covers much of the area.

After breakfast in your hotel, transfer to the airport for your onward flight.