For that moment in Oman

Your first day in Muscat will immerse you in the atmosphere, culture, and way of life. Upon your arrival at the airport, a chauffeur will pick you up and take you to your accommodation, where you can acclimatize and settle into your room. Highly recommended is a walk to Muscat's most beautiful beach promenade, which isn’t far from the hotel. Immerse yourself in the hustle and bustle of the city and stroll leisurely past the small cafés and restaurants. Upon request, we can also organize a small picnic by the sea (optional with an additional fee).

Duration of the trip: approx. 50 km / 20 - 30 minutes

Two nights at the Sundus Rotana with breakfast and one dinner in a standard room, Muscat, Oman

How to best start the adventures that await you in the next few days? Enjoy a delicious breakfast in the morning! Today begins with a discovery tour of Muscat. You may have seen some of the sights from a distance yesterday, but today your tour guide will tell you all about them. The first stop: Sultan Qaboos Mosque. This mosque is one of the largest in the world and will undoubtedly take your breath away. After visiting the mosque, drive outside of Muscat to Nakhl. Visit the wholly restored Nakhl Fort, where you can relish breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape from the top. At the foot of the fortress lies the old village Nakhl. From here, it's an ideal starting point for your excursion to the edge of an oasis and its famous warm springs. Desire a lunch in this unique setting? Contact us, and we will organize a small picnic in the lush green of the date plantation and steep rocks.

Afterward, drive back to Muscat and through the embassy district with its bright buildings and past the impressive opera in the direction of the old town. Before arriving in the old town, we will have a photo stop at the Sultan's Al Alam Palace, the official palace of Qaboos bin Said Al Said. It's steeped in history, represents the unique royal architecture from the 1970s, and nestled in the famous center of Old Muscat. Right next to it is the 16th-century Portuguese fortresses Jalali and Mirani and other architecturally interesting buildings. Museum enthusiasts will also get their money's worth when visiting the Bait Al Zubair Museum because you can view treasures of Omani culture and history. After gaining exciting insights into history, you will drive along the promenade, also known as the Mutrah Corniche, to the lively Mutrah Souq. This market is one of the oldest in Arabia and attracts visitors with its unique oriental smells.

Please observe the following dress code when visiting the Sultan Qaboos Mosque: Men and women may only enter the mosque with covered arms and legs, women must cover their head with a scarf. Children under ten years of age are not allowed.

Duration of the trip: approx. 250 km / 7 hours

Whereas yesterday was full of culture, today is all about nature. After breakfast, you can discover the diverse nature as you drive along the panoramic road towards Sur. From the mountain ranges of the eastern Hajar Mountains to the white sandy beaches of the fishing village of Finns; discover the diversity of the country. Use the fishing village for a quick rest and take a dip in the Arabian Gulf before continuing on to the palm-fringed Wadi Shab and Wadi Tiwi. Here you shouldn't miss a wander through the small gorge and its small date plantations and steep rock faces, because at the end, there are crystal clear water-filled pools waiting for you to jump in. If you dare to dive through a cave to a waterfall, you can experience something truly magnificent. Don’t worry: there are many more highlights awaiting you.

Explore the beautiful port city of Sur! Immerse yourself in the history of the city and visit the dhow shipyard, which is the only one in Oman that still produces boats without nails and glue, in the traditional way. If you still haven't seen enough nature today, then another adventure awaits you in the evening. Another adventure awaits you in the evening: Your journey continues to the Wahiba Sands. At the edge of the desert, you will change to a four-wheel-drive vehicle and journey toward the desert camp, over the hilly, golden sand to the Arabian Oryx Camp, which you will reach shortly before sunset.

Duration of the trip: approx. 300 km / 8 hours

Two nights at Arabian Oryx Camp with breakfast and dinner in a standard room, Wahiba Sands, Oman

Today you embark on your desert adventure! But before you feel the sand of the Wahiba Desert under the wheels, you shouldn't miss visiting a Bedouin family who will show us their traditional home and give you an insight into their everyday life. Afterward, drive to the famous Wadi Bani Khalid. This evergreen oasis, with its turquoise and sapphire-colored water pools inviting you to a cooling bath, is lined with lush green, shady palm trees—the perfect opportunity for a fortifying picnic before heading out into the desert. From a distance, you can already see the breathtakingly high dunes that you will drive through in your jeeps. Experience an adrenaline rush as you drive through the ever-changing dunes of the wind to get closer to the Arabian Oryx Camp. The camp's perfect location offers ideal spots to watch the sunset on a lonely dune in peace, as the playful colors allow you to forget everything around you. As soon as the starry sky appears over the desert, a campfire with Omani delicacies awaits you.

Duration of the trip: approx. 250 km / 8 hours

Let the sand seep through your toes and fingers one more time before your adventure continues. Today you will leave the desert towards the Hadjar Mountains. On the way, stop in the medieval village of Ibra, surrounded by impressive watchtowers. Immerse yourself in the everyday life of the residents and experience Sinaw, where you will learn more while visiting the original Souk. This place is not touristy but instead dominated by Bedouin and Omani families of the region. While strolling through the streets, close your eyes for a moment and take it all in. Do you smell the different spices and incense? Let your senses run wild before you reach the Jibreen Castle, one of the most beautiful complexes in Oman from the late 17th century. Characteristics of this castle include impressive rooms, beautiful ornamental and floral ceiling paintings, and a breathtaking view from the top. In the evening, you will reach Nizwa, where you will spend the night.

Duration of the trip: approx. 300 km / 7 hours

Two nights at the Al Diyar Hotel with breakfast and dinner in a standard room, Nizwa, Oman

Today, the focus is on tradition. After breakfast, it's time to visit the oasis town of Nizwa. The city was and is still the headquarters of the Imam and considered the spiritual center of the country. Immerse yourself in local life by visiting the traditional souk, a commercial district best known for its unique silverware and beautiful Bahla pottery. Not only is the culture a highlight, but also a visit to the Nizwa Fort to see the city and the hustle and bustle from a bird's eye view. The fortress of Nizwa has round towers built in the 17th century by Nasir bin Murshid bin Sultan al Ya'Aruba. This architecture dominates the entire area, and the city has grown around it.

Afterward, your journey takes you to Al Hamra. Go on an incredible discovery tour and gain an impression of life around 400 years ago. Want to learn even more about the Omani traditions? Then visit the Bait al Safa. Immerse yourself in the everyday life of a family and get to know ways of life, customs, and cultures on a personal and authentic level. Admire the fascinating landscape, old houses, and a unique world heritage site: the Falaj irrigation system. This area offers fantastic conditions for photographers to capture the endless view. The landscape boasts green date palms and springs that pepper the terraced fields. These springs supply the surrounding area with crystal clear water and distribute it into the village with the help of the Falaj irrigation system.

To round off your adventure for the day, the Jebel Shams, the highest mountain of Oman with a 9872-foot altitude, awaits you. Relish the endless views over the mountains and capture breathtaking photos of the deep canyons. Before heading back downhill to Nizwa in the late afternoon, enjoy lunch at a resort in front of this stunning mountain backdrop.

Duration of the trip: approx. 250 km / 8 hours

The best way to get to know the pure life of Omani culture is to start the day with a visit to the Friday animal market. According to an old tradition, traders from all over Oman come together to sell their dressed up animals.

Can’t get enough of adrenaline-packed adventures? Then you will enjoy the grand finale! Charge your camera because today, you will see some peculiar sites that you will want to capture forever. On the way back to Muscat, make a short stop at the fortress, Birkat Al Mauz. Visit the famous Aflaj Irrigation Systems of Oman, to which the country owes its existence.

When you arrive in Muscat, embark on a night tour. First, take a look at the wonderfully illuminated mosque from the outside before continuing to the old town. Experience the palace, the beautiful fortresses on Mutrah Mountain, and the glistening Sultan Qaboos harbor. You will have a short photo stop at the Corniche for breathtaking pictures. Are you ready to discover the colorfully illuminated, 1001 Nights city?

Another highlight awaits you in the capital: a dinner experience together in a traditional Arabic restaurant.

After dinner, a transfer will take you to the airport for your return flight. Do you want to experience more or relax on the beach? We are happy to advise you and book an extended vacation on the beach.

itravel - For that moment

Duration of the trip: 7 days / 6 nights

Date of the trip: Departure every Saturday from August to December. Please note that different prices apply at different times of the season (Christmas). We will gladly provide you with more information.

Including

• Six nights in a standard room including breakfast in the specified hotels
• One dinner at Sundus Rotana, Muscat
• Two dinners during the overnight stay in the desert
• Two dinners in the hotel restaurant of Al Diyar Hotel
• One lunch at Jebel Shams Resort
• Farewell dinner on the 7th day (Turkish Diwan or Al Mayda)
• Tour guide during the entire trip
• Group transfer from the airport to the hotel for guests arriving in Muscat at the same time
• Round trip by car/minibus/coach depending on the size of the group (maximum number of participants per departure is sixteen people)
• A transfer back to the airport is only possible directly after the farewell dinner on the 7th day from the restaurant. Guests departing at a different time will have to pay the cost of the private transfer.
• Transfer by four-wheel-drive vehicle in the desert and for the Jebel Shams tour (maximum four people per off-road vehicle)
• Entrance fees
• Taxes and service fees

Excluding

• International flights

• Meals and drinks not mentioned in the scope of services

• Entrance fees and excursions not mentioned in the scope of services

• Tips and personal expenses

• Luggage service at the airport or hotel

• Visa to Oman

Services & Notes

• Upon request and for an additional cost, your itravel team will gladly book your long-haul flight from many airports.
• Your itravel team is happy to book single rooms for you upon request—surcharge of EUR 280.00 per person.
• Transfer available on day one only for guests arriving in Muscat between 10:30 PM and 11:30 PM. Transfer possible on day seven only for guests who go to the airport immediately after the farewell dinner. All guests arriving or departing earlier or later have to pay the surcharge for a private transfer.
• Please note that you may have to wait for other participants to arrive at the airport.
• The maximum number of participants per tour is sixteen people.
• The trip begins in Muscat every Saturday.
• Extend your stay in Oman with a short trip to the north or the south - you can easily book travel packages with itravel.
• Ideal travel time: January-May or September-December (since Oman has a hot climate during the European summer months, we recommend traveling outside of summer).
• Please note that each jeep can accommodate four passengers and one driver. Therefore, the vehicle can only hold a maximum of one travel bag per passenger.
• In the event of, for example, overbooking, closure, or renovation of hotels or attractions, the program may be subject to changes. Even on Omani vacations, it can happen that specific sites are not possible to visit, and the program adjusts accordingly. Our partner will do everything in their power to find a suitable alternative of similar value.