DAY 01: MUSCAT / JABEL AKDHER
By around 0830 Hrs meet your driver at your Muscat hotel, emark on your 04WDs and leave for Jabelakdher enroute visit Muscat.
HALF DAY CITY TOUR
Arrive Grand Mosque at 08:30-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)
After Grand mosque drive to old Muscat enroute photo stop at Royal opera house. Contune to visit Muttrah…
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.
Later drive via the waterfront Corniche to visit to 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 jewellery, cosmetics & costumes from various regions of Oman.
Later embark your vehicle and leave for old part of Muscat and drive along the corniche and arrive at the official palace of His Majesty, Sultan Qaboos. Al Alam Palace 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.
Thereafter drive to Jabelakdher enroute 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.
On arrival check in to hotel . Dinner and overnight
DAY 02: JABEL AKDHER/NIZWA/WAHIBA
Breakfast and check out
Embark on your 04WDs and leave for Wahiba , visit Jabelakdher and NIzwa
Jabelakdher,the green mountain of Western Hajar mountains at an altitude of 2000mtrs above sea level.
At Jabelakdher locals grow fruits and vegetable at terrace of the mountain. Tour of Jabel akdher take a walk at at Siq Plateau to see terrace plantations and to abandon village. Jabelakdher grows various kinds of fruits and vegetables.
Arrive at Nizwa 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.
Later drive to Wahiba and arrive at entrance of Desert by around 1600 Hrs.
'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. Visit one of the beduion house to understand their life styles and culture. You may be offered Omani coffee and dates as a part of their hospitality.Later 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 witness the beautiful sight of sunset.
Check in to Desert camp. Dinner and overnight at the campsite
DAY 03: WAHIBA/ WADI BANI KHALID /SUR
Breakfast at camp and check out.
Embark on your 04Wds by 0900 Hrs and exit from the desert to enter black top road and drive towards Wadi Bani Khaled.
Arrive at Wadi Bani Khaled and visit. ‘Wadi bani Khaled’ is a stark contrast to Wahiba sands as it is a natural oasis with lot of greenery. Enjoy a short walk or swim in clear green water of natural oasis (no towel from our side)
After couple of hours drive arrive Sur and conduct an orientation of city , visit Dhow building yard and check in at Hotel.
Rest of the day at leisure
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.
Overnight at hotel
DAY 04: SUR/ WADI TIWI/ QURIYAT / MUSCAT
Breakfast and check out.
Embark on your 04Wds and drive to Muscat on a coastal route.
Your first stop will be at Wadi Tiwi. Walk inside this village, which has many farms mainly for banana and Pappaya. Your guide will explain the complete cultivation process
After this stop, drive toward the fins beach. This beach is also known as white beach Enjoy swimming at the beach (no towels from our end)
Continue your driving to Bima Sinkhhole.
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.
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 and 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.
Later drive to Muscat, on arrival check in to the hotel