DAY 01: ARRIVAL AT MUSCAT / HALF DAY CITYTOUR
Arrival at Muscat International Airport.
After immigration and baggage check, you will enter at the general arrival hall and will be met by our representative who will assist you to comfortably embark your vehicle and leave for Hotel. You will arrive at hotel. Check In time is 14:00 hrs. Hotel will try to allocate rooms upon arrival if same is available otherwise, guests can use hotel facilities till the time room allocated to them by check in time at 14:00 hrs. Rest of the day at leisure at the hotel.
HALF DAY MUSCAT TOUR
By around 1600-Hrs leave for visit of old Muscat, Arrive and 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 jewelry, cosmetics & costumes from various regions of Oman.
Later, arrive at the official palace of His Majesty, Sultan Qaboos. Al Alam Palce is flanked by two Portuguese fort Jalali and Mirani. Jalali Fort has been completely refurbished and now used as a Museum for guests of State and Royal Family. This will be an outside photo stop only as visit to Palace and Fort is not possible due to security reasons.
Later drive along the corniche side and arrive muttrah souq .Muttrah Souq is one of the oldest souq in Oman and the narrow alleys of souq with mystic smell of sandel wood make a great atmosphere. It is a place where you can communicate with local people and can buy souveniors for friends and family. Return to the hotel after noon. Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight at Al Falaj Hotel or similar.
DAY 02: MUSCAT / WADI TIWI / SUR
After breakfast, meet your guide and embark your vehicle by 0800 Hrs and drive towards Grand Mosque. Reach Grand Mosque by 0840 Hrs and visit. Grand Mosque is one of the largest Mosques in the world and at one time, it can accommodate 20,000 worshippers. Grand Mosque has beautiful art work, chandeliers and one piece carpet covering entire prayer hall.
To visit Mosque, one has to be dressed in conservative manner. One should not wear revealing or transparent clothes and should be covered from head to toe. Ladies have to cover their head with a scarf. Grand Mosque is open for the tourists from Saturday to Thursday from 08:00 hrs to 11:00 hrs. Children below 12 years are not allowed to visit inside Grand mosque}
Late continue your drive to Quriyat. Quriyat Village, a very large fishing village between the lagoon and the sea. The fisherman goes every morning in sea to catch fishes and then they sell in the market (located at the beach). The port of Quriyat is still guarded by a watchtower. We will have a short photo stop at this village and later continue our drive to Wadi Arbyn.
We will be driving for some time on black top road and then enter in Wady Arbyn. ‘Wadi’ in Arabic means dead river bed. This is one of the interesting off road drive in this region and after enjoying the off road drive, you will exit from Wadi at around 12:00 hrs to drive towards Bima Sink hole
On arriving at Sink hole, a spectacular limestone crater with blue green water at the bottom and this stop will also be a rest stop. Enjoy sometime at the Bima Sinkhole before continuing your drive to the white sandy beach of Fins.
Later drive Wadi Tiwi. This wadi has old village with many farms of banana, papaya, etc. Enjoy a short walk in this old village / farms and continue your drive to Sur. On arrival check in to the Hotel.
After early dinner at hotel, by 2000 Hrs leave to Turtle reserve to visit. Green turtles travel 100s of kilometer every year for nestling. It is a unique opportunity to sight turtles in their natural inhabitant. The turtle watching tours are lead in various groups by local naturalists. By 2100-Hrs join one of the groups along with your guide. Later return to the hotel.
Overnight at Sur Plaza Hotel or similar.
DAY 03: SUR/WADIBANI KHALID / WAHIBA
Breakfast and check out.
By 0830 Hrs board the 04Wds and continue for Wahiba sands . Conduct orientation drive of the city with a visit to the Dhow Building yard and local souq, fish market of the city before continuing your drive to Wadi bani Khalid.
“Wadi bani Khaled’ in arabic means natural oasis. Arrive Wadi Bani Khaled and visit. Wadi Bani Khaled stands a complete contrast to Wahiba Sands. It is like an oasis in the desert with clear green natural spring water pools. Enjoy a walk in the Wadi or swim in wadi (no towels from our end).
Later continue you drive to Wahiba sands.
The Wahiba Sands often described as a perfect example of Sand Sea consists of large ranges of dunes running from North to South, some attaining a height of about 100 mts and orange in color.
Our experienced drivers will take you on a dune drive tour through the undulating sand dunes to experience the thrills of dune driving. After dune drive, visit Bedouin house and meet Bedouin ladies to know more about their life in desert. Enjoy Omani coffee and dates at their house and what ladies do to survive in desert. Evening watch the spectacular sunset from top of Sand dunes.
Dinner and overnight at Desert Camp.
DAY 04: WAHIBA / NIZWA
Breakfast at the camp and board your 04Wds by 0830 Hrs to exit from Desert. By 0900 Hrs you reach black top road and drive for Nizwa after enroute stop at Al Mudarib an old village near Ibra.
Later arrive at Jabreen and visit. Jabrin is the finest of Oman`s castle built in the late 17th century, which became a seat of Omani learning. This castle has extremely well planned layouts with room for the wali, the ladies room, the kitchen, the majlis etc. Most of the ceilings are decorated with beautiful paintings with Islamic motifs. The view from the top of the castle is really mesmerizing...
Later drive to Bahla and Visit the fort
Bahla was known as mystical village and famous for Arabian potteries. Visit the magnificent mud fort from 12th century which is listed as UNESCO world heritage sites. The Bahla fort represents the typical Omani military fortress, and the area was fenced with 12 kms radius of fort walls. After visit of Bahla fort,
Later visit Birkat Al Mauz.
Birkat Al mauz is a place where locals grow date palm trees. Pass through the old village and the farms of date palm trees. Your guide will explain the complete cultivation process as well as old irrigation system in Oman – Falaj System.
Later drive to hotel, Check in at Golden Tulip Nizwa Hotel or similar.
DAY 05: NIZWA / MUSCAT
Breakfast and check out, embark on your vehicles and drive to cultural city of Oman.
Arrive at Souq and visit. This is an old traditionl souq and there are different spaces/ buildings allocated for vegetables, meat, soveniers, spices etc. Stroll around the souq . Every Friday, there is cattle market at the souq wherein cattle sellers auction their cattles to locals. They move with cattles in the souq and do the bidding for their cattles. This a old market for cattles and atmosphere is electrifying especially before Eid.
After visit of Souq, walk towards the Fort.
Nizwa fort with its enormous round tower built in the 17th century by Imam Sultan Bin Saif Al Ya’ aruba to defend the route to the interior. The fort dominates the entire area, with the town having grown around the edifice. Access to the top is only by means of a narrow twisting staircase barred by heavy wooden doors, studded with metal. From the top of the tower one can get a bird’s eye view of the Nizwa city.
Arrive at the old village of Al Hamra and walk through this village. Many of the mud houses found here are dated from 400 years old and some of them are still exist. The old falaj systems are still used for irrigation.
Later drive to Muscat crossing the western Hajar mountain range. After few kilometers of black top road from Nizwa you enter to Off road terrian of Western hajar mountain. The drive is trilling with stops at breathtaking cliffs, mmountainous villages of Hat, Bilat Sait etc . Drive further through famous WADI BANI AWF, a beautiful Wadi in the middle of steep mountain walls. Enjoy your picnic lunch at Wadi .
After noon you will have stop at Nakhl, which has a 350 years old magnificent fort and is dramatically located at the top of rock mountain cliff. The area is surrounded with date’s plantations. The narrow road through the town winds up to the Hot Springs, which is a popular picnic, spot.
Thereafter drive to Muscat and check in at hotel of your choice or drive to airport to connect your flight.