Oman: An Arabian Odyssey

Superior Group Tour in brief

Day 1: Fly to Muscat

Fly from London (regional connections available) to Muscat with Oman Air. Transfer to the Park Inn for a 3-night stay. (N)

Day 2: Muscat

Morning visit to the spectacular Grand Mosque†, followed by a tour of the city, including a visit to the Bait Al Zubair Museum, the sultan’s palace and the forts of Al Jalali and Mirani. Continue to the magnificent Royal Opera House, the largest in the Middle East. Remainder of afternoon at leisure. (B, L)

Day 3: Muscat & surrounds

Full-day tour, including Barka fish market and view the Nakhal fort, before driving to the warm springs of Nakhal, where a picnic lunch is served. Early afternoon visit to Bait Na’aman fort before returning to Muscat. Optional twilight dhow cruise. (B, L)

Day 4: Wadi Shab • Qalhat • Ras Al Jinz

Drive south by 4×4 along the coast from Muscat to Sur, passing the fishing village of Quriyat. Stops en route include Wadi Shab, a palm-fringed lagoon, and Qalhat, an ancient city visited by Marco Polo. Check in at your hotel, then make an evening visit to the green turtle nesting site at Ras Al Jinz beach. Stay overnight at the Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve Hotel (or similar). (B)

Day 5: Sharqiya Sands

Take a scenic drive through the eastern Hajar mountains to Sharqiya Sands. Stop at Wadi Bani Khalid, a picturesque river valley, before continuing to Sharqiya Sands, home to the bedouin people. Stay overnight at Arabian Oryx Camp (or similar)*. (B, D)

Day 6: Nizwa

Early departure for Nizwa, stopping en route at the bustling Sinaw livestock market. Proceed to the Wadi Al Madeen checkpoint, which leads to the high peaks of Jabal Akhdar, with spectacular views. Stay 2 nights at The Sama Hotel, Jabal Akdhar (or similar)*. (B, D)

Day 7: Nizwa & surrounds

Morning visit to the impressive new souk, then visit the massive Nizwa fort, which dominates the town. Drive past the date plantations in Al Hamra village and visit a traditional Omani house at Bait Al Safah. After lunch, continue to Bahla to visit a pottery maker and watch mud vessels being made. Continue to Jabal Shams, Oman’s highest peak, stopping en route at Wadi Ghul and Wadi Nakher farming villages before returning to Nizwa. (B, D)

Day 8: Bahla fort • Muscat

Leave for Muscat. En route, visit Bahla fort, a Unesco world heritage site, before driving through the Sumail Gap to Muscat. Arrive back in Muscat in the late afternoon. Stay overnight at the Park Inn (or similar). (B)

Day 9: Fly to London

Transfer to the airport for a flight from Muscat to London with Oman Air. (B)

Meal basis:

As per itinerary – B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.

Important information *Accommodation:

This tour is based in 4-star accommodation, with the exception of Sharqiya Sands and Nizwa, where the accommodation should be considered more basic. Transport will be by air-conditioned minibus and by 4×4 vehicle from day 4 onwards.

†Grand Mosque visit:

Both men and women visiting the mosque must be fully covered. Women must also cover their head with a scarf.

Superior tour

This tour is based in 4- and 5-star accommodation.

Private & tailor-made travel:

This itinerary can be taken privately on a date that suits you, for which guideline prices are shown. Alternatively, it can be tailored to your exact requirements. Please call to speak with a Cox & Kings consultant or enquire online.

Superior Group Tour in brief

Day 1: Fly to Muscat

Fly from London (regional connections available) to Muscat with Oman Air. Transfer to the Park Inn for a 3-night stay. (N)

Day 2: Muscat

Morning visit to the spectacular Grand Mosque†, followed by a tour of the city, including a visit to the Bait Al Zubair Museum, the sultan’s palace and the forts of Al Jalali and Mirani. Continue to the magnificent Royal Opera House, the largest in the Middle East. Remainder of afternoon at leisure. (B, L)

Day 3: Muscat & surrounds

Full-day tour, including Barka fish market and view the Nakhal fort, before driving to the warm springs of Nakhal, where a picnic lunch is served. Early afternoon visit to Bait Na’aman fort before returning to Muscat. Optional twilight dhow cruise. (B, L)

Day 4: Wadi Shab • Qalhat • Ras Al Jinz

Drive south by 4×4 along the coast from Muscat to Sur, passing the fishing village of Quriyat. Stops en route include Wadi Shab, a palm-fringed lagoon, and Qalhat, an ancient city visited by Marco Polo. Check in at your hotel, then make an evening visit to the green turtle nesting site at Ras Al Jinz beach. Stay overnight at the Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve Hotel (or similar). (B)

Day 5: Sharqiya Sands

Take a scenic drive through the eastern Hajar mountains to Sharqiya Sands. Stop at Wadi Bani Khalid, a picturesque river valley, before continuing to Sharqiya Sands, home to the bedouin people. Stay overnight at Arabian Oryx Camp (or similar)*. (B, D)

Day 6: Nizwa

Early departure for Nizwa, stopping en route at the bustling Sinaw livestock market. Proceed to the Wadi Al Madeen checkpoint, which leads to the high peaks of Jabal Akhdar, with spectacular views. Stay 2 nights at The Sama Hotel, Jabal Akdhar (or similar)*. (B, D)

Day 7: Nizwa & surrounds

Morning visit to the impressive new souk, then visit the massive Nizwa fort, which dominates the town. Drive past the date plantations in Al Hamra village and visit a traditional Omani house at Bait Al Safah. After lunch, continue to Bahla to visit a pottery maker and watch mud vessels being made. Continue to Jabal Shams, Oman’s highest peak, stopping en route at Wadi Ghul and Wadi Nakher farming villages before returning to Nizwa. (B, D)

Day 8: Bahla fort • Muscat

Leave for Muscat. En route, visit Bahla fort, a Unesco world heritage site, before driving through the Sumail Gap to Muscat. Arrive back in Muscat in the late afternoon. Stay overnight at the Park Inn (or similar). (B)

Day 9: Fly to London

Transfer to the airport for a flight from Muscat to London with Oman Air. (B)

Meal basis:

As per itinerary – B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.

Important information *Accommodation:

This tour is based in 4-star accommodation, with the exception of Sharqiya Sands and Nizwa, where the accommodation should be considered more basic. Transport will be by air-conditioned minibus and by 4×4 vehicle from day 4 onwards.

†Grand Mosque visit:

Both men and women visiting the mosque must be fully covered. Women must also cover their head with a scarf.

Superior tour

This tour is based in 4- and 5-star accommodation.

Private & tailor-made travel:

This itinerary can be taken privately on a date that suits you, for which guideline prices are shown. Alternatively, it can be tailored to your exact requirements. Please call to speak with a Cox & Kings consultant or enquire online.

Superior Group Tour in brief

Day 1: Fly to Muscat

Fly from London (regional connections available) to Muscat with Oman Air. Transfer to the Park Inn for a 3-night stay. (N)

Day 2: Muscat

Morning visit to the spectacular Grand Mosque, followed by a tour of the city, including a visit to the Bait Al Zubair Museum, the sultan’s palace and the forts of Al Jalali and Mirani. Continue to the magnificent Royal Opera House, the largest in the Middle East. Remainder of afternoon at leisure. (B, L)

Day 3: Muscat & surrounds

Full-day tour, including Barka fish market and view the Nakhal fort, before driving to the warm springs of Nakhal, where a picnic lunch is served. Early afternoon visit to Bait Na’aman fort before returning to Muscat. Optional twilight dhow cruise. (B, L)

Day 4: Wadi Shab - Qalhat - Ras Al Jinz

Drive south by 4×4 along the coast from Muscat to Sur, passing the fishing village of Quriyat. Stops en route include Wadi Shab, a palm-fringed lagoon, and Qalhat, an ancient city visited by Marco Polo. Check in at your hotel, then make an evening visit to the green turtle nesting site at Ras Al Jinz beach. Stay overnight at the Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve Hotel (or similar). (B)

Day 5: Sharqiya Sands

Take a scenic drive through the eastern Hajar mountains to Sharqiya Sands. Stop at Wadi Bani Khalid, a picturesque river valley, before continuing to Sharqiya Sands, home to the bedouin people. Stay overnight at Arabian Oryx Camp (or similar)*. (B, D)

Day 6: Nizwa

Early departure for Nizwa, stopping en route at the bustling Sinaw livestock market. Proceed to the Wadi Al Madeen checkpoint, which leads to the high peaks of Jabal Akhdar, with spectacular views. Stay 2 nights at The Sama Hotel, Jabal Akdhar (or similar)*. (B, D)

Day 7: Nizwa & Surrounds

Morning visit to the impressive new souk, then visit the massive Nizwa fort, which dominates the town. Drive past the date plantations in Al Hamra village and visit a traditional Omani house at Bait Al Safah. After lunch, continue to Bahla to visit a pottery maker and watch mud vessels being made. Continue to Jabal Shams, Oman’s highest peak, stopping en route at Wadi Ghul and Wadi Nakher farming villages before returning to Nizwa. (B, D)

Day 8: Bahla fort - Muscat

Leave for Muscat. En route, visit Bahla fort, a Unesco world heritage site, before driving through the Sumail Gap to Muscat. Arrive back in Muscat in the late afternoon. Stay overnight at the Park Inn (or similar). (B)

Day 9: Fly to London

Transfer to the airport for a flight from Muscat to London with Oman Air. (B)

 

Meal basis:

As per itinerary – B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.

Important information:

*Accommodation:

This tour is based in 4-star accommodation, with the exception of Sharqiya Sands and Nizwa, where the accommodation should be considered more basic. Transport will be by air-conditioned minibus and by 4×4 vehicle from day 4 onwards.

†Grand Mosque visit:

Both men and women visiting the mosque must be fully covered. Women must also cover their head with a scarf.

Superior tour:

This tour is based in 4- and 5-star accommodation.

Private & tailor-made travel:

This itinerary can be taken privately on a date that suits you, for which guideline prices are shown. Alternatively, it can be tailored to your exact requirements. Please call to speak with a Cox & Kings consultant or enquire online.