Muscat, Mountains and Desert
During this tour, you’ll visit Oman’s fairytale-like capital, Muscat, which has everything you’d expect from a capital city: upscale restaurants, museums, trendy festivals, state-of-the-art shopping malls, and souks. You’ll then set out to explore the beautiful, mountainous north of Oman. Discover the country’s most beautiful wadis, visit centuries-old castles and traditional markets around Nizwa and Bahla. Hike near Oman’s highest mountain, Jebal Shams, the Grand Canyon of the Middle East. Enjoy ancient architecture, hospitable people, and breathtaking views in the Al Hajar Mountains before embarking on a spectacular desert tour through Sharqiyah Sands—better known as Wahiba Sands—where the dunes can reach heights of over two hundred meters.
TIPS & TOPS Highlights Trip Northern Oman:
- Stroll around Oman's oldest souk, the Muttrah soukat in Muscat
- Visit the Grand Mosquem, with its ninety-meter-high minaret
- On Fridays, visit the traditional goat market in Nizwa, the Nizwa Souq and the Nizwa Fort.
- The small settlement of Bahla is a mud fort that protected the houses in the fourteenth century, is now on the Unesco World Heritage List
- Take a beautiful hike, the Balcony Hike at Oman's highest mountain, Jebel Shams, with great views of Wadi Nakher
- Visit Jabal Akdhar, the green jewel of the Al Hajar Mountains, and explore villages with historic architecture, hospitable people, and breathtaking views
- Spend the night at one of the most beautiful places in the Jabal Akhdar Mountains, the Alila Jabal Akhdar hotel is located at a summit of two thousand meters and yet is almost invisible
- In the morning, set out on foot and visit Jabal Akhdar including the Saiq Plateau, Wadi Bani Habib & Diana Point.
- Enjoying a beautiful sunset in the desert at Wahiba Sands
- Along the way, visit Wadi Bani Khalid, a Dhow Factory in Sur and the Bimah Sinkholes
- From May to September, you are most likely to see sea turtles at Ras Al Jinz, when they come ashore to lay their eggs
