Discovering Oman

Upon arrival at Muscat International Airport, and after completing the necessary customs procedures and collecting your luggage, you will be transferred to the hotel with a chauffeur. Dinner at the hotel and accommodation.

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the capital of the Sultanate, founded in the 1st century AD. During the tour (by bus, approx 75km), we will visit the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque*, an architectural masterpiece built with sandstone and marble, featuring a beautiful Swarovski chandelier and a huge handmade Persian carpet that adorn the main prayer hall. We will continue to the Al Alam Palace, the Sultan's residence, for a photo stop of the exterior. Next, we will make a panoramic stop at the Jalali and Mirani Portuguese fortresses (both from the 17th century), with the coast in the background. We will then move on to the old part of the city, where we will visit the Bait Al Zubair Museum, which houses various collections of objects representative of Omani culture. We will continue to the Muttarah area where we can stroll through the souk, which retains an oriental atmosphere. * Grand Mosque: women must cover arms, legs, and hair. Men must wear arms and legs covered. Open Saturday to Wednesday from 08:00 to 11:00. Free afternoon for optional activities. Dinner at the hotel and accommodation.

Breakfast at the hotel. We will start this tour with a visit to the Amouage perfume factory, which follows the tradition of Arabic perfume and whose perfumes use 120 natural components and are claimed to be the most expensive in the world. We will continue into the interior of Oman, towards Jabrin, one of the most beautiful fortresses in Oman, built in 1675 by Imam Sultan bin Bil'Arab as his second residence. We will make a photographic stop to admire the Bahla fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lunch at a local restaurant or picnic (depending on weather conditions). We will then head to Al Hamra, where we can stroll through its narrow alleys of mud houses and its green palm grove. On the way to Nizwa, we will stop at Misfat, a village built in the heart of the mountain where we can learn about traditional irrigation systems (falaj), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will finish with our arrival in Nizwa, the ancient capital of Oman, which flourished during the reign of the Ya'ruba dynasty (between 1624 - 1744), and where one of the oldest mosques in the world is located (not open to visitors). Dinner at the hotel and accommodation.

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Nizwa and its fortress with its imposing watchtower from where you can enjoy wonderful views of the palm grove, the mountains, and the mosque dome. Free time to stroll through the souk, known for its handicrafts: khanjars, pottery, baskets, and much more can be found. We will then head towards the Wahiba Sands desert. Along the way, we will make a photographic stop at Birkat Al Mauz, villages that have maintained their traditional atmosphere and character, where palm trees blend with villages and mountains. We will leave our transport and continue by 4x4 to the camp, located in the Wahiba Sands desert, with a spectacular drive through the dunes to watch the sunset. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp.

In the morning, we will have the opportunity to witness the sunrise over the dunes. Breakfast and some downtime to enjoy the daybreak in the desert. Departure from the desert by 4x4 and connection with the bus to continue to Wadi Bani Khalid and its stunning natural pools. This wadi, reached by a walk through the valley, is located in the Hajar mountains and is one of the most impressive natural icons of the sultanate. We will continue to Sur, where after an early dinner at the hotel, we will head to Ras Al Jinz, the green turtle sanctuary, where turtles come to lay their eggs in the sand at night. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Tour of Sur before departing, following the coastline and a landscape surrounded by hills, to the shipyard where the famous wooden dhows (traditional Arab sailing vessels) and Ayga white houses are still being built. Continue along the coastal road to Wadi Tiwi, where water forms a series of beautiful natural pools and waterfalls in various shades of green and blue, sheltered by high mountains. Next, we will proceed to Bimah Sinkhole, a sea crater 100 meters in diameter with crystal clear water. Finally, we will visit Quriyat, a fishing village where we can explore the salt flats and the Sahel village. Arrival in Muscat and transfer to the airport between 16:00 -17:00 for travelers with flights from 19:00 onwards.