Desert to the Mountain

Day 1: Muscat

Muscat
Arrive at Muscat International Airport. After clearing customs formalities and collecting your luggage, meet your tour guide in the arrivals area. Continuation with the tour vehicle to the hotel. Rest of the day at your disposal. Overnight at hotel.

Day 2: Muscat

Muscat Moments & Muscat by night
Breakfast at the hotel. At the scheduled time, meet your guide and depart for an orientation tour of the capital city of Oman. The first visit is to the Grand Mosque (closed on Fridays), the most beautiful mosque in the country. The place develops, including the surrounding area, for 416 square meters. The mosque complex (40 square meters) stands on a podium, maintaining the tradition of Omani holy places, which must be elevated above street level.

Clothing: Women must cover their heads with a scarf/foulard and must not wear short dresses, beach dresses and clothing that shows legs and arms. Men must cover their arms and legs.

After this visit, continue to the old city of Muscat to admire the Al Alam Palace, the official residence of His Eminence Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, the Lawmaker of Oman. The Palace is an architectural marvel in design and location, located between the 16th Century Portuguese forts Jalali and Mirani (Photograph Stop). From here we continue to arrive in the heart of Muttrah. Muttrah Souq is one of the most popular markets in the Arabian Gulf. Take a tour of the mazes of the souq with a myriad of goods on display: spices imported from the Far East, perfumes and local handicrafts. This market offers a unique experience in the beating heart of the old city. Here the typically Arab exotic scents are dispersed in the air. Other famous specialty shops are those selling Omani 'khanjars' (daggers), antiques, traditional silver jewelry, artifacts constructed using camel bones, wood, copper, leather and hand-sewn costumes. After visiting the souq return to the hotel.
Rest of the afternoon at your disposal. In the evening, at the fixed time, meeting with your guide to participate in the "Muscat by Night Tour", passing by the Grand Mosque, crossing the streets of the old city, arriving up to the Palace illuminated in the night. From here we continue to the local restaurant for dinner (not included). After dinner return to the hotel, overnight at the hotel.

Day 3: Wahiba Sands

Muscat - Wadi Bani Khalid - Wahiba Sands
After breakfast, meet the tour guide at a pre-arranged time to go to where some 4x4 vehicles are waiting for you. With these cars we leave for the magnificent Omani desert, called "Rimal Al Wahiba Sands". On the way you see several small villages and towns. The jeeps are stocked with water. Arrive in Al Mintrib to stop at a petrol station to deflate the wheels of the vehicle, stretch your legs and go to the toilet. After this stop we leave for the desert dunes. Before reaching the desert, a visit to Wadi Bani Khalid is planned, a green oasis with springs and natural pools of clear water that invite you to take a bath. Free time for a picnic or a buffet lunch at a local restaurant (lunch not included) and for a short walk in the wadi. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4: Jebel Shams

Wahiba - Nizwa - Al Hamra - Misfah - Jebel Shams
Breakfast at the hotel. The first visit is to Nizwa, known as "the city of oases", once the capital of the "Julanda dynasty", between the 6th and 7th centuries AD. Today this is a place that attracts many tourists thanks to its historic buildings and impressive forts. Visit Nizwa Fort, with its huge circular towers erected in the 17th century by Imam Sultan Bin Saif Al Ya'aruba to protect the route from within. The fort dominates the entire area, with the city having grown up around the building. Access to the top can only be by means of a narrow winding staircase, interspersed with massive wooden doors covered with metal.
From the top of the fort, you can admire the city of Nizwa from above. From here just a short walk takes you to the Nizwa souq, renowned for its intricate carvings of 'KHANJAR' daggers and ornate silver jewellery. The livestock auction (goats and cattle) takes place here on Fridays, with an electrifying atmosphere.
After visiting the souq, there will be a stop for lunch (not included) in a local restaurant. After lunch continue to the village "Al Hamra"; stop to photograph the Bahla Fort. Arrival at the Bait Al Safa village, a settlement built 400 years ago, where it is still possible to admire the ancient Omani tradition today. Later visit the village of Misfah, built on the edge of a precipice. After a picturesque stop, continue up the mountain. Arrival and check in hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 5: Muscat

Jebel Shams - Al Hamra - Bilad Sait - Wadi Bani Auf - Nakhl - Muscat
After breakfast at the camp, view of the Grand Canyon and a short walk before returning to the resort for checkout and leaving for Muscat.
Prepare for adventure by crossing the “Hajjar mountains” to Nakhl. Driving in the mountains is a really exciting feeling. Stops to photograph the landscape allow you to appreciate the natural beauty of Oman. For those who arrive here for the first time, this adventure is unforgettable.
Bilad Sayt and its oases can be seen at the bottom of a gorge, past the tops of the rocks of Sharfat Al Alamayn. On clearer days, visitors can get to see the picturesque wadi of Bani Awf, while also seeing the farms and wandering camels towards the distant peaks of the Hajjar, which exceed 1000 meters in height. Entrance to Wadi Bani Awf village and stop for picnic (arranged on your own). Then continue to the ancient fort of Nakhl, built in the pre-Islamic era. Nestled among huge palm trees and protected by mountains, this is the ideal location for territorial defense. After having a look at Nakhl fort and hot springs, continue to Muscat. Arrival and check in at the Hotel al Ramada. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6:

Muscat
Breakfast at hotel and checkout in time for transfer to Muscat International Airport. Arrival at the airport and check in for your return flight.