Combining breathtaking natural beauty with a well-preserved cultural legacy, the sultanate of Oman is one of the least known yet most exciting tourist destinations in the Middle East. Taking in magnificent forts and palaces, the rolling dunes of the Sharqiya Sands and the stunning Islamic architecture, this tour discovers one of the region’s best-kept secrets.
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Saving up to £250 on specific departures when booked by 30 Oct 18
Fly from London (regional connections available) to Muscat with Oman Air. Transfer and stay for 3 nights at the Park Inn. (N)
Morning visit to the 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 Royal Opera House, the largest in the Middle East. Remainder of afternoon at leisure. (B, L)
Full-day tour, including Barka fish market and 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)
Drive south by 4x4 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)
Set off this morning for 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 1,000 Nights Camp (or similar)*. (B, D)
Early departure for Nizwa stopping en route at the bustling Sinaw market. Proceed to the Wadi Al Madeen checkpoint, which leads to Jabal Akhdar, a unique spot in the Arabian Peninsula with spectacular views. Continue to Nizwa. Stay 2 nights at The View (or similar)*. (B, D)
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 Jebel Shams, Oman’s highest peak, stopping en route at Wadi Ghul and Wadi Nakher farming villages before returning to Nizwa. (B, D)
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)
Transfer to the airport for a flight from Muscat to London with Oman Air. (B)
As per itinerary – B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.
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 4x4 vehicle from day 4 onwards.
Both men and women visiting the mosque must be fully covered. Women must also cover their head with a scarf.
This tour is based in 4- and 5-star accommodation.
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.
This tour can be booked / reserved online by clicking on one of the coloured links below.
OAO2019: 8 Nights
There was not one defining moment. It was simply the gradual build up of excellent day after excellent day.Mrs Patricia Morton
Driving up, down and through sand dunes to our tented overnight stay, with sand spraying in every direction. A never before experience and one which I thoroughly enjoyed. Mrs Gwyneth Wood
The whole trip was a fantastic mixture of old and new with the guide and drivers providing superb service and knowledge. Several inspirational points of the trip including: the night turtle viewing on the beach, dune driving, the night in the desert, being able to enter the Bahla Fort and look around it in comparative isolation, the drive up Jabel Shams and the canyon, and finally, the archaeological dig in Salalah. Mr Kevin Mann
The tour was consistently excellent in content, with new experiences each day. It was the overall joy of being in a country with friendly people, full of varied (and sometimes exciting) scenery, ancient forts, ultra modern mosques and even an opera house that we most remember. Our disappointment of not seeing turtles at Sur was compensated by seeing one in Muscat Harbour, diving and surfacing as it fed on the weed attached to the rocks. Mr Clive Brooks
Being in the desert was the most inspirational - quite spectacular. Loved being taken out to the top of a sand dune to watch the setting sun. Particularly liked The View hotel - excellent accommodation and meals. Miss Linda Spurr