The Soul of Oman 6 Nights / 7 Days

Meet the guide at the hotel lobby and proceed to the city tour of Muscat. Visit Grand Mosque, one of the of the architectural marvel of Oman. Drive past the Royal Opera House to the old part of Muscat which was once called the district of Muscat. Visit Bait Al Zubair Museum a private museum exhibiting the cultural and tradition of Oman’s by gone era. Later, you have photo stop at Al Alam palace, Jalali and Mirali forts. Stroll through Muttrah Souq, where you will be bargaining for handicrafts and silver items. After the tour you will be transferred back to hotel.Afternoon leisure and overnight stay will be at the hotel in Muscat.

Check out from the hotel then we drive to Wadi Bani Khalid, which is considered one of the most beautiful wadis in Oman. The drive to Wadi Bani Khalid is through the Eastern Hajar Mountains, which offers a panoramic view of the landscape below. We pass many pretty villages embedded in the mountains. Here the road winds down to the wadi alongside a large, shallow pool fringed with vegetation and ends at a village. We park our vehicles at this point and continue on a short trek to the deep blue pools of the wadi. It is advisable to wear light comfortable clothing and walking shoes. Enjoy a swim in the glorious grace of nature. Later drive to Sharqiya Sands. The Sharqiya Sands, a vast mass of undulating red sea of sand and dunes rising up to 200 meters are also host to a variety of flora and fauna. The ever-changing patterns of the dunes are a photographer’s delight. Experience a roller coaster-like feeling as our experienced drivers drive you over the dunes. The Sharqiya Sands is also home to the traditional Bedouin tribe who are known for their hospitality and their knowledge of the sands. We will stop by a Bedouin family in their traditional and simple habitat. Overnight stay at selected camp.

After breakfast, we drive to Jabrin and visit Jabrin Castle. A visit to Jabrin castle enables the visitor to recapture the atmosphere of medieval Oman. The 17th-century fort is one of Oman’s finest castles and has some exquisite hand-painted ceilings. (The Jabrin Fort has two floors of steps to climb in order to view all the rooms and the terrace), Islamic inscriptions combine with secret hiding places for soldiers in the dining room. Later we visit Al Hamra village nestled in the foothills of the Jebel Shams; its multistory mud houses are among the oldest preserved in Oman. We then visit Misfah, a pretty village with stone houses, precariously clinging to the side of a huge mountain cliff. The village is laden with dates, lemons, and banana groves. Overnight at Hotel in Nizwa.

After breakfast, we will visit Nizwa Souq. The main highlight in the Souq is the cattle auction that takes place every Friday. The auction is the traditional way of selling the cattle like sheep, goats, cows, and camels. These are brought by their owners from nearby villages. This is what cannot be missed out if you are in Nizwa on Friday. Later explore the Souq. The impressive New Souq complex has been sensitively designed using Omani fort architecture and elegant Islamic arches. The air-conditioned halls of this souq are full of fresh fruit and vegetables, herbs and spices, huge stacks of dates, and freshly caught fish. This is still the best place to buy traditional silver “Khanjars” (hand-carved Omani daggers) and Bedouin jewelry, where silver is still sold by weight. Later visit Nizwa Fort, the 17th century round tower fort nearby is Oman’s most impressive tower. Built on a solid base of the rock, the huge tower was designed to withstand the vibrations of 24 cannons. From the top, a superb panoramic view gives visitors a bird’s eye view all around Nizwa and the surrounding plains – a sure delight for all avid photographers! We then drive to visit the village of Barkat ul Mauz. Enjoy a walk through the lush green date plantations. We continue our drive through Wadi Al Madeen. From here a 36 km stretch of winding road takes one to Jebel Akhdar (2000 mts above sea level) the green jewel of the Al Hajjar mountain ranges, a truly unique spot in the Arabian Peninsula. Enjoy the cool climate up in the mountains. Al Jebel Al Akhdar is famed for its fruit orchards typically laid out terrace style along the slopes of mountains, which are endowed with natural springs and aflaj. The villages of Saiq, Wadi Bani Habib (the village of the old houses) &Al Ain dot the landscape. The villages overlook a spectacular landscape of dramatic peaks, gorges, and wadis. The roses of Jabal Al Akhdar fill the air with fragrance when in full bloom (March / April). Rose water is distilled in the homes of the villagers. After the tour head back to Nizwa and you will be transferred to a hotel in Nizwa. The overnight stay will be at the hotel in Nizwa.

Check out from the hotel and drive back to Muscat along the scenic coastal route. The road winds along the rugged coast, through beautiful valleys, and past white sandy beaches with breathtaking views. Further, you drive to Wadi Shab and reroute you will see lush villages surrounded by dates, lemon & mango plantations. It is one of the most beautiful wadis, and its pool with clear deep blue water gives you an opportunity to take a refreshing dip. Later on the way back to Muscat, through the coastal road, you will stop at the limestone Sinkhole in Bimah and then continue to Fins Beach. Drop back to Muscat by late evening. Overnight stay at a hotel in Muscat.

Today after checking out from the hotel you will be dropped off at Muscat International Airport for your onward journey. Please note: Muscat hotel's standard check-out time is at 12 noon.