The Grand Tour of Oman
Starring in order of appearance:
The capital
Wadi Shab & Tiwi
Sur
Ras Al Jinz
Wadi Bani Khaled
Wahiba Sands
Duqm
Ras Madrakah
Wadi Shuwaymiyah
Mirbat
Salalah
Ubar
Nizwa
Jabal Akhdar
Birkat Al Mauz
Bahla & Jabreen
Hamra
Misfat Al Abriyeen
Jabal Shams
Bilad Sayt
Wadi Bani Awf
Khasab
Dubai
We don’t believe in ‘one-size- fits-all’.
The below is an itinerary sample – nothing here is set in stone.
The pictures of the hotels in the samples are of different hotels in the same area. We purposely show you several types of accommodation and will choose the perfect accommodation for you and the people you will be traveling with.
When you get in touch with us and like this itinerary, you may refer to it so that we may use it as a springboard.
Your trip will be completely tailor-made to suit you and the people you’re travelling with, based on Mikutu’s questionnaire, through which we will get to know you and your preferences better.
DAY 1: Arrival Muscat
Welcome to Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman!
We will meet you at the airport and drive you to the hotel.
The day is yours to do as you please: make use of the facilities at the hotel, relax on one of the beautiful beaches of Muscat or go for a stroll through the old city center.
Enjoy your first day in Oman!
DAY 2: MUSCAT
We will meet you at the hotel and start our exploration of Muscat.
In Muscat, a beautiful coastal city, modern life meets ancient traditions. Arab architecture mixes with vibrant African influences (from Zanzibar, among others).
Today’s program includes:
– The Grand Mosque, built in honor of Sultan Qaboos (men must wear long pants for this visit)
– Local lunch
– The 16th century Portuguese forts of Jalali and Mirani
– The Al Alam Palace (photo stop)
– A walk through the narrow, covered alleys of the Muttrah Souk, where the exotic scents of perfumes and the aromas of ground coffee and other spices fill the air
– The local fish market
DAY 3: Muscat – Wadi Shab or Tiwi– Sur - Ras Al Jinz
This morning we drive southeast to Sur,
Passing Bimmah Sink Hole, filled with crystal clear turquoise water which locals believe was formed by a meteor.
We then visit one of the beautiful wadis (river beds/valleys) along the way:
– Wadi Tiwi (narrow, paved roads)or Wadi Al Arbaeen (offroad), which we drive all the way through by 4×4 while admiring the beautiful nature and villages, or
– Wadi Shab (hiking and swimming), taking us over boulders and through streams and where we can cool off in the pools of the refreshing oasis.
Next stop? The historic old port town of Sur.
This interesting town, once an important port that traded mainly with East Africa, is a perfect example of Oman’s seafaring traditions. Sur is best known for its Dhow construction, so a visit to the shipyard will hopefully give us a glimpse of the craftsmen at work.
After visiting the shipyard, we go to Ras Al Jinz, where we will enjoy the magical experience of green sea turtles nesting and hatching in the evening.
DAY 4: Ras Al Jinz - Wadi Bani Khalid - Wahiba Sands
After breakfast, we leave Ras Al Jinz and its turtles behind.
On our way to the Wahiba Desert, we stop briefly in the towns of Jalan Bani Bu Ali and Jalan Bani Bu Hassan, where ruins of forts and mosques are silent witnesses to the region’s rich past.
We also visit the beautiful Wadi Bani Khalid, where we may stop for a picknick, walk or swim in a picture-perfect oasis with palm trees laying next to crystal clear water.
In the later afternoon we reach Wahiba Sands, the desert home to semi-nomadic Bedouins, with its rolling dunes up to 200 meters high and its ever-shifting sands where, after a bit of dune bashing through an ever-changing landscape of colors and contours, we enjoy the sunset and a desert dinner!
We finally settle down for a peaceful night in the desert.
Don’t forget to enjoy the beautiful starry sky!
DAY 5: Wahiba Sands - Duqm
Our all-terrain vehicles take us past rolling rows of dunes with surprising colors and over deserted beaches to the southern incense region of Dhofar.
A unique trip through one of the most desolate regions of the country.
We may also be introduced to the hospitality of the local Bedouin tribes. At the end of the day we reach the city of Duqm.
DAY 6: Duqm - Ras Madrakah - Wadi Shuwaymiyah - Mirbat - Salalah
Today provides an ideal opportunity to make the most of Oman’s rugged coastline. The long drive to Ras Madrakah provides dozens of viewpoints and photo opportunities as we drive along picturesque fishing villages, beaches and wadis en route to Salalah.
We will stop at the deserted beaches of Ras Madrakah and in Wadi Shuwaymiyah, one of the most beautiful wadis in the country.
We then visit the ancient city of Mirbat, where slaves and Arabian horses were once traded, and old merchant houses still bear witness to the wealth of yesteryear.
DAY 7: Salalah
Today, we will visit both East and West Dhofar.
Our tour begins with a visit of the old fishing village of Taqah, once a thriving commercial city, now famous for its dried sardines and beautiful traditional old Dhofari houses. We go to the ancient ruins of Sumharam (Khor Rohri), a port city that was famous for trading incense and then take a relaxing stroll through Wadi Darbat.
Driving up into the Qara Mountains you’ll enjoy some stunning views across western Salalah, before heading to the impressive cliffs and white sands of Mughsail Beach and the frankincense groves to which Dhofar owes its wealth.
DAY 8: Salalah
On the menu today? A well deserved free day! Enjoy Salalah’s beaches, the pool or go for a stroll in Salalah!
DAY 9: Salalah - Ubar - Nizwa
We leave early from Salalah and drive all the way to Nizwa.
Our tour takes us along the edge of the Rub Al Khali Desert, also known as “the Empty Quarter,” the largest continuous sandy desert in the world.
On the way, we will visit the excavations of Shisr, where archaeologists claim to have discovered the remains of the legendary trading city of Ubar, also known as the Atlantis of the desert.
Through the vast emptiness, we then continue our journey to Nizwa.
DAY 10: Nizwa - Jabal Akhdar - Nizwa
Another beautiful day awaits us today.
Today, we visit the old city of Nizwa, the historical and heritage capital of Oman, home to an imposing 17th century round tower fortress, a lively Friday livestock market and a bustling souk, and once ruled by an imam.
We visit the famous fortress, built in the 17th century in order to guard the Sumail Gap (a strategic spot between the Eastern and Western Hajjar mountains) during the battle between the sultan and the radical imams. The fort is one of the best examples of defensive architecture in the country and it is worth climbing to the top of the tower for a great view of the city and the surrounding date plantations.
We also visit the lively Nizwa Souq where we may see the old crafts in the workshops amid old antiques and handicrafts and we stroll around in the old center before heading to our hotel.
We then drive to the Jebel Akhdar, after a stop at the small fortified village of Birkat al Mawz, one of Oman’s most famous ruined towns. In Jebel Akhdar, which is part of the Hajar Mountains, we hike past a number of mountain villages glued, as it were, to the mountain sides.
DAY 11: Nizwa - Bahla and Jabreen - Hamra - Misfat al Abriyeen - Jabal Shams
After breakfast we visit the impressive fortress of Jabrin, perhaps Oman’s finest 17th century fortress. The beautifully painted wooden ceilings are a testament to the skills of the fort’s original builders. After a brief photo stop to admire the Bahla Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, we move on to the spectacular mountain scenery of Jebel Shams.
We stop at the stunning old hillside towns of Misfat Al Abriyeen and Al Hamra and its incredibly atmospheric old town, where 400-year-old mud houses are still inhabited, and then meander along terraces of crops, leading up to Wadi Nakhr, the country’s deepest ravine, before driving up to the highest peak of Jebel Shams (‘mountain of the sun’), home to the Grand Canyon of Oman.
DAY 12: Balcony hike - Bilad Sayt - Wadi Bani Awf - Muscat
This morning we will take a walk along the rim of the canyon (‘Balcony’ hike), enjoying the views out across Wadi Ghul and its fertile expanse of fig, apricot and pomegranate trees. , before driving down Jabal Shams.
The drive back to Muscat takes us through Wadi Bani Awf and Bilad Sayt, an idyllic mountain village with a wealth of picturesque terraces.
We enjoy one of the most scenic and challenging road trips in the country (only driveable by 4×4) and drive past the beautifully restored fortress of Nakhal.
The view from the roof is particularly impressive, while Nakhal’s famous springs provide a wonderfully sheltered spot to take in the lush plantations and mountain peaks, before we continue the journey back to the capital.
DAY 13: Muscat - Khasab
We fly out to Khasab, a port village in Musandam, an Omani enclave in the United Arab Emirates, where we embark for a cruise on a traditional Omani Dhow boat in the Strait of Hormuz.
We discover the spectacular fjords and bays of Musandam, often referred to as ‘The Norway of Arabia’. The turquoise waters and limestone cliffs of Musandam provide an idyllic backdrop to small fishing villages and the occasional visit from friendly dolphins.
There will be plenty of time for swimming and snorkeling during the day. Before the sun sets, we anchor in a small, remote bay and enjoy dinner in all tranquility.
We sleep on the dhow and admire the starry sky!
DAY 14: Khasab - Dubai
What a contrast! We drive from Musandam through the Northern Emirates of Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah and find ourselves in the midst of Dubai. Two different worlds in one day.
If you have some energy left, visit Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Beach Residence or Old Dubai!
DAY 15: Dubai
Today, we will be visiting Old and New Dubai.
In the old part of town we will see the historic Bastakiya (Fahidi) neighborhood, the spice souk, the gold souk and take a short boat trip in a traditional wooden abra on the Dubai Creek.
In the afternoon, in the modern part of the city, we will see the Dubai Marina, the Burj Al Arab, The Beach promenade, the souq of Madinat Jumeirah and enjoy a magnificent view of the Palm Islands from the skyscraper The Palm Tower.
We end our day with a dinner overlooking the famous Dubai fountain show.
DAY 16: Departure Dubai
We will pick you up from the hotel and bring you to the airport for your return flight.
Watch the mountains and deserts of the Arabian Peninsula drop out of sight as you fly home, or extend your stay in the Middle East with a few more nights…
