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10 Days Program
Daily Tour
8 people
English
Description
Itinerary
Day 1-2
Arrive at Muscat International.
The next day we got an early start (arriving at 8.30 am) for Muscat’s best attraction—the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.
This stunning, huge, modern mosque is open to visitors from 8 am to 11 am every day except Friday and is free.
There is a strict dress code—women must cover up completely with long sleeves, long trousers or floor-length skirts, and a headscarf. Abayas are available to rent if you don’t have anything suitable to wear. Men should wear long trousers and cover their shoulders.
Don’t miss the mosque—it is gorgeous, both the serene grounds and the extravagantly decorated prayer hall.
In the afternoon, at 3 pm for the 30-minute walk to Mutrah Corniche one of the few walkable areas) with a lovely promenade with white buildings backed by rugged mountains overlooking the sea. It’s especially pleasant at sunset.
The nearby Mutrah Souq reopens after the afternoon break at 5 pm. The crowded alleyways are touristy but a good place for souvenir shopping.
Day 3-
The drive to Nizwa was easy on good quality highways through the desert surrounded by barren mountains, passing the occasional oasis town.
Drive to Nizwa to the 17th-century Jabrin Fort (also known as Jabreen or Jibreen Castle), one of the best forts to visit in Oman. Entrance was only 500 baisa (£0.95) and it wasn’t very busy. There’s a labyrinth of rooms to explore and you can enjoy views of the date palms and mountains from the battlements. The fort and souq area are worth a visit. The Nizwa Fort is open from 8 am to 6 pm (except on Fridays when it’s 8–11.30 am and 1.30–8 pm) and the souq opens in the mornings and from 5 pm to 8 pm. Nizwa Fort is beautiful, especially the massive circular tower which you can climb for views of the city and mountains beyond.
Day 4
The next morning in Nizwa after breakfast, visit Jebel Akhdar (Green Mountain). The base of the mountain is in Birkat al Mouz. On the way up you will stop at various viewpoints for spectacular views of the rugged mountains and villages that cling to its sides. At the Saiq Plateau, you will realize why it got its name as green refers to the terraces of fruit trees and roses that are grown in the villages. Spring is a better time to visit to see everything in bloom.
Back to Hotel
Day 5-6
You could visit Jebel Shams as a day trip from Nizwa and spend a few nights up there to enjoy the views and tranquility.
On the way, we will have a photo stop at Misfat al Abryeen, one of Oman’s oldest and most picturesque villages. From the modern side of the village, there are fantastic views of the old village clinging to the mountainside and surrounded by lush date palms.
Misfat is an interesting place but we felt a little intrusive exploring the village itself. It’s a tiny, traditional place of crumbling mud houses and has become popular with visitors.
There are signs everywhere reminding guests to cover their shoulders and knees and warning people away from walking down private alleyways.
There’s a 7km section of steep, rocky dirt track, some parts sandy and rutted, and if we had got stuck we would have been in trouble. At the top, just before Jebel Shams Resort, there’s a viewpoint where you can see down into the dizzying depths of what’s known as Oman’s Grand Canyon and admire the long-haired goats on the top.
Start the next day for the highlight of Jebel Shams—the Balcony Walk.
The hike will start to go further down the road. Just follow the red/yellow/white splotches of paint on the rocks to follow the trail along the edge of the canyon.
It’s an out-and-back hike and the views are amazing straight away so you could just walk a little way.
It’s worth continuing to the abandoned village of As Sab where tiny stone and mud houses perch precariously on the edge of the canyon under a ledge of rock.
Day 7
Wahiba Sands is what you picture when you think of the desert—rolling dunes, camels, and Bedouin tents.
To explore the area it’s best to stay the night in one of the desert camps away from towns with minimal light pollution, and near a large dune that we could climb.
There are camel rides and 4WD dune-bashing drives and you can explore on your foot.
Day 8
From Wahiba Sands we headed towards the coast with a stop at one of Oman’s most popular wadis, Wadi Bani Khalid. It’s a stunning drive over the mountains through small villages—just keep following signs to the cave/water pools.
From the car park, it’s a five-minute walk to the clear green pools surrounded by date palms and rocky mountains. It has been developed with a few bridges, sitting areas, and a restaurant, but it doesn’t detract from its beauty.
You can do a few hours swimming in the cool water, getting foot massages from the nibbling fish.
The desert stretches to the sea at Ras Al Hadd. It’s a bleak little town, but it does have a stretch of wild, empty beach with golden sand and turquoise waves.
It’s better for walking than for sunbathing or swimming.
Day 9
Winter isn’t the best time to see the turtles (high season is July to October), but you do have a chance of seeing a few year-round.
After a nap and wander on the beach, drive to the nearby town of Sur and visit the dhow factory. (boat-building yard)
Day 10
On our way from Sur to Muscat we will stop at Wadi Shab, one of Oman’s best attractions.
It involves a 45-minute hike in a stunning canyon then a swim through a series of pools to reach a small cave that contains a waterfall.
You have to swim/walk/swim down the pools until you get to a tiny gap between two massive boulders. You swim through that (with just enough space for your head out of the water) to get to the cave which has a small waterfall. You can’t see the cave from the outside.
It’s a beautiful place and well worth a visit.
If you have the time, you could also stop at nearby Wadi Tiwi and the Bimmah Sinkhole.
Back to Muscat
Flight back to home
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