Brief Itinerary
Day 01: Arrive Muscat
Arrive Muscat. Our Representative will meet you once you enter the arrival terminal and taken to the Premium Plaza Lounge. While you experience the hospitality of plaza lounge representative will take care of your visa formalities and later taken out to the arrival hall where you will be met by our staff and then transfer to Hotel. Overnight at Hotel Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz Carlton Hotel.
Day 02: City Tour of Muscat (0830 – 1300 hrs)
After breakfast we will start the day by 0830 hours. By 0900 we will visit The Grand Mosque*, one of the largest mosques in the Islamic world. Later visit Opera House and then drive through the elegant residential Shatti Al Qurum Area. By 1030 hrs we will have photo stop at magnificent Al Alam Palace, residence of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos flanked by the 16th century Portuguese forts, Mirani & Jalali. 1100 hrs visit Bait Al Zubair Museum to get an insight into Oman’s history and culture. The tours end with a visit to Muttrah Souq by 1200 hrs and later drop at hotel by 1300 hrs. Afternoon free on own. (To enter Grand mosque dress code for Ladies should be fully covered with scarf and wear full sleeves shirt and Men are not allowed to wear shorts). Overnight at Hotel Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz Carlton Hotel.
Day 03: Muscat – Khasab
After an early breakfast transfer to airport for flight to Khasab. On arrival at Khasab transfer to Hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at Atana Khasab Hotel
Day 04 : Full Day Jebel Harim Mountain Safari
After breakfast we will proceed for a full day trip to Jabel Harim, the tallest peak in the region at 2,097m and lies between Khasab and Dibba.
During your journey to Jebel Harim, you will be able to enjoy incredible vistas, including terraced mountain villages, lush Acacia forests and wadis (dry river beds). Following a drive of a little over an hour, a stop will be made at a Bedouin village located at an elevation of 3,000 feet. The village of Sayah, surrounded by palm groves, is one of the most picturesque villages on the Musandam Peninsula. After a stop for photographs and to enjoy this idyllic setting, continue with your drive to Jebel Harim. There will be time to admire the grand panorama from the mountain’s summit. We will be having a picnic lunch today.
After enjoying the panoramic scenerery of Musandam’s mountains, specked with fossils dating back several millions of years, we continue our drive to Rowdah village, a mountain settlement where one can see the pre-islamic graveyard.
The return drive takes you pass Khawr Najid a stunning sea view point overlooking to Indian Ocean and then driver to Al Khalidya nature park before concluding your adventure trip back at Khasab.
Day 05: Full Day Dhow Cruise
After breakfast morning you will be transferred to Khasab Port to board a traditional dhow. This excursion will have great appeal for guests who look for a more unusual outing. After boarding your traditional Omani dhow pierside, the cruise will take you toward Musandam’s longest and most spectacular fjord, which is often referred to as ‘Norway of the Arabia’ calm, turquoise waters contrast with the creamy white limestone cliffs. Along the way you will pass small fishing villages and perhaps even encounter dolphins.
The dhow will anchor in the vicinity off Telegraph Island, allowing you to take a swim or just sit back and enjoy soft drinks, tea or coffee while admiring breathtaking views of mountains rising in the distance to over 2,000 feet.
Then leaving the anchorage, continue this tour with lunch provided on board and another stop for swimming and snorkeling. After the tour leisurely cruise back to Khasab.
Dhows are motorized and very basic. There is a possibility to swim off the dhow, but caution is advised when getting in and out of the water via the dhow’s ladder. Swim wear is acceptable for this tour only. Shady seating is available aboard the dhow. Overnight at Hotel
Day 06: Back to Muscat
After breakfast check out the hotel and drive back to Khasab Airport for flight to Muscat. On arrival transfer to Hotel. Rest of the day free at leisure. Overnight at Hotel Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz Carlton Hotel.
Day 07: Free Day in Muscat
Day at leisure. Overnight at Hotel Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz Carlton Hotel.
Day 08: Muscat – Sur – Wahiba Sands
We board the 4WDs in the morning and drive through beautiful countryside along the Eastern Hajar Mountains. Short before Quriyat we turn off to the new highway along the coast. We pass by white sandy beaches and rocky coves, stopping at Bimmah Sinkhole, a spectacular limestone crater, Fins Beach with its beautiful white sand, Wadi Shab, fed by fresh water that flows from mountain springs. We will have lunch at Sur Plaza Hotel and later drive to Wadi Bani Khalid one of Oman’s most beautiful wadis. The wadi has clear deep blue water and counts among the few wadis of Oman that hold water all year round. From the mountain springs, the water is led to the oases where it sustains the typical date palms. The pretty villages of Wadi Bani Khalid cling precariously to the rugged mountainside. But now the nature of the landscape will change dramatically – we reach the Wahiba Sands, a vast mass of undulating dunes rising up to 200 meters and stretching as far as the eye can see. It is also host to a variety of flora and fauna and one of the largest areas of pure sand desert in the world and the traditional home of the nomadic Bedouin. Camels are a common sight moving through the sands. Our guide will take you for a round of dunes bashing to reach Desert Nights Camp, our tonight’s lodging. We will be watching the sunset on the crest of a dune and after the dinner we experience the peace of the desert at night and enjoy the sky coated with innumerable stars. Overnight at Desert Nights Camp, A/c Deluxe Tent.
Day 09: Wahiba – Muscat & Free Day in Muscat
Free day at leisure. Overnight at Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz Carlton Hotel.
Day 10: Muscat – Departure
For more information Oman sightseeing tours & Oman itineraries you can visit our website www.sttoman.com or contact Assaraya Travel & Tourism LLC (Email: [email protected]).
