NEI (UK) - holidays to the Sultanate of Oman

"Beautiful Oman"

Day 1     Arrive Muscat
Arrive to Muscat International airport where you will be welcomed by one of our representative and then transfer to your hotel in Muscat. Check in and relax for the remainder of the day. Overnight at Rotana Hotel

Day 2     Coastal road   Old African port   The green turtles
After breakfast, check out from the hotel and proceed to Sur along the coastal belt. We visit Bimah sinkhole, a natural geological formation, before we pass through some spectacular mountain scenery up the coast. Later we drive on to Fins Beach and enjoy a walk on the beach, then drive on to Wadi Tiwi, known as the Gorge of nine Villages. This is a nice journey through this peaceful and fertile area, where palms and bananas grow in profusion and water from the mountains flows through sparkling pools and tiny waterfalls. The road ends at the village of Mibam at about 36km which takes about an hour to reach, where we have a picnic lunch.
After lunch, we reach Qalhat, an archeological site, where you will find the Tomb of Bibi Miriam, the only building left standing after the town was razed by the Portuguese in 1507. Visit Sur, the old African port where the old dhows (ships) were built by hand. Legend has it that this was the home town of famous Sinbad, the sailor. We continue your drive to Ras Al Hadd. Check-in at the hotel and relax.
After dinner, head down to the beach to observe the nesting habits of green turtles that swim the length and breadth of the Indian ocean.
Dinner and overnight in Ras Al Hadd beach hotel (B/ picnic L/ D)

Day 3     Enchanting Wadi Bani Khalid   Wahiba Desert
After breakfast, check-out from the hotel and drive to the interior in search of the great desert. The first stop is the enchanting Wadi Bani Khalid, one of the most scenic wadis of Oman. We drive past the village with its endless date plantations and reach the magnificent Wadi. The pools are cool, deep and absolutely stunning - plunge in and experience the crystal clear waters. Then drive to the vast expanse of the Wahiba Sands and indulge in some exhilarating dune bashing before you reach the desert camp where rest and dinner with barbeque awaits you. Dinner and overnight stay in Safari Desert Camp Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4     Bedouin life   The old capital
Wake up with the desert sunrise and breakfast at the camp.
Check-out from the camp and pay a visit to a Bedouin (local) house for an insight of their life style, where you wuill experience the warm Omani hospitality with dates and Khawa (arabic coffee). En route stop at Ibra and visit the old abandoned mercantile village of Al Mansfah, which is worth examining. Much of the charm and character of this old village, which had known its heydays hundreds of years ago, has not washed away. Continue the drive to Nizwa to seek out the palaces of yesteryear from which sovereign Lords surveyed their Kingdom. Check in at the hotel and relax.
Take a stroll in down town in the evening. The town is still a bustling centre for crafts and the silver souq is the best in Oman. Feel free to mingle with the crowd and let the Omani ambience take hold of you.
Overnight in Al Diyar Hotel        Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5     The Mighty Forts   Old Muscat
After breakfast, check out from the hotel and visit the big round fort of the Al Yaruba dynasty. The Fort, which took 12 years to built, is famed for its 40m-tall round tower. It is worth climbing to the top of the tower to see the date plantation encircling the town and the view of the Hajar mountains. We then proceed to Bahla, one of the oldest recorded civilisations in Oman. Artefacts found here date back to 3rd Millennium BC. There is the enormous Bahla Fort here, which has earned a place in the UNESCO world heritage list of monuments. Today, Bahla is the pottery capital of Oman. We move on to Jabrin where we visit the famous fortress at Jabrin. The fort contains a maze of rooms with painted ceilings, impressive towers, courtyards, dungeons, secret passages, false floors, hidden corners, tunnels and escape routes.
Return to Muscat. Check in at the hotel and relax.
In the evening, we will take you into the heart of a world that has not changed in generations. Visit the Muttrah Souq where you will find a mix of old and new. Sights, sounds and fragrances are in abundance. We then drive along the Corniche and to the capital area before we take a photo stop at the Sultans Palace flanked by the 16th Century Portuguese forts of Jalali and Mirani. We visit Bait Al Zubair Museum for a fine display of Omani culture and history.
Overnight in Rotana hotel         Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6     Departure
After breakfast, check out from the hotel and we will take you to Muscat International Airport for your return flight.

End of the Tour

Guide price: from GBP 1580 per person (land arrangements only, not including international airfares)

If you would like to see a little more of Oman, the following three day extension to the southern city of Salalah is one we would recommend.
This is a popular place for Omanis to visit during the 'monsoon season' during the Summer months and will give you the opportunity of seeing a region very different from that round the capital city of Muscat.

Salalah extension tour

Day 01     Salalah city
We will pick you up from your hotel in Muscat and transfer to Muscat International Airport for your flight to Salalah. Pick up from Salalah airport and transfer to your hotel in Salalah. Check in to the hotel and relax.
In the evening, we will take you on a sightseeing tour around Salalah. Enjoy a drive through the greenery of coconuts, banana and papaya plantations. The visit to the Museum gives an introduction to the history and culture of Dhofar. In the Heritage Souk, you can find different types of Omani crafts and incense burners. Visit of the New Souk will give you an exact view of the Arabian market. Drive to the Gold souk which offers modern and olden style Dhofari ornaments. On the way to Al Hafa, you can see some typical Dhofari houses with caravan windows and doors. Walking past the Sultans residential palace Al Husn, brings you to the Old Souk where Frankincense, Dhofari traditional clothes and cosmetics are available. Before returning to the hotel, visit the ancient city of Zufar, the ruins of Al Balid, which was visited by the famous author and traveller, Ibn Batuta and Marco Polo, who described it as a beautiful, large and noble city.
Overnight in Crowne Plaza hotel (Standard room) / Hilton Hotel (Deluxe room)

Day 02     East and West of Salalah
After breakfast, we travel to the east of Salalah arriving at Taqa, a village famed for sardines & fertilisers. East of Taqa lies the ruins of Sumhurum (Khor Ruri), where the legendary palace of Queen Sheba is believed to have been and was the port of huge frankincense trade. Later we drive to Bin Allis tomb and then take the road to Mirbat where you can visit the harbour and the old houses.
We then proceed to the west of Salalah by crossing the Qara mountains to enjoy the real beauty of Dhofar's mountains and stop at Jobs Tomb, where the remains of the Islamic prophet possibly identified as Job of the Old Testaments can be found. From here you can see a unique panoramic view of the Al Garbib plain and Salalah. Later we pass by Frankincense trees, when you can stop and smell the aroma of the holy incense. Reach the magnificent sandy beach outlined by the sculptured cliffs and blow holes, where water can reach a height of 30 metres or more.
Return to the hotel and relax for the remainder of the day.
Overnight in Crowne Plaza Hotel (Std room) / Hilton Hotel (Deluxe room)   Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 03     Departure
After breakfast, we transfer you to Salalah airport for your departure flight to Muscat for your connecting flight to UK, or to check back in to your Muscat hotel.      Meals included: Breakfast

End of the tour

Guide price: from GBP 496 per person based on Hilton Hotel
                     from GBP 516 per person based on Crown Plaza Hotel
                          Additional supplements apply for July and August