Muscat, Mountains and Desert
During this tour, you will visit Oman's fairytale capital, Muscat, which has everything one would expect from a capital city: fancy restaurants, museums, trendy festivals, state-of-the-art shopping malls and souks. You will then explore the beautiful, mountainous north of Oman. Explore the country's most beautiful wadis, visit ancient castles and traditional markets around Nizwa and Bahla. Hike at Oman's highest mountain, Jebal Shams, the Grand Canyon of the Middle East. Enjoy ancient architecture, hospitable people and stunning views in the Al Hajjar Mountains, before embarking on a spectacular desert trek through Wahiba Sands, where the dunes can be more than two hundred meters high.
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 Hajjar Mountains and visit villages with ancient architecture, hospitable people and amazing 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, there is the greatest chance of seeing sea turtles at Ras Al Jinz, which then come ashore to lay their eggs
