Enchanting Oman (EN)

Day 1: Welcome To Oman – Arrival In Muscat

Arrival at Muscat International Airport and transfer to the hotel for check-in. Day at leisure.

Day 2: Muscat City Tour

09:00hrs –Pick up at the hotel and visit the Grand Mosque which has one of the biggest 1 piece handmade Iranian carpets in the world weighing 21 tons and can accommodate up to 20,000 worshippers. The interior walls are made of carara marbles. Note: The Grand Mosque is open from Saturday to Thursday from 0800hrs – 1100 hrs only. Ladies visiting the mosque are required to wear scarves to cover their hair and wear full sleeves. All visitors should not wear shorts, beach wear or sleeveless outfits or transparent clothes. Continue the tour to the Amouage perfume factory. AMOUAGE - a perfume so rare and fabulous that it has easily captured the acclaimed title of 'The Most Valuable Perfume in the World.' Yes, Amouage has its origins in the Sultanate of Oman. Drive back to Muscat area and around the Ministries & Embassies quarter and then proceed to the Royal Opera House (outside only) for a photo stop. Continue the tour to Old Muscat (where guests can see the Al Alam Palace, the official palace of His Majesty and also the 2 Portuguese forts, Jalali & Mirani). lunch in local restaurant (own cost). Also visit Bait Al Zubair Museum for a glimpse of Oman’s glorious past. Visit the Muttrah Souk, one of the most fascinating souks in the Gulf. Muttrah Souk in the heart of Muscat is a traditional market where guests can find fine souvenirs of local handicrafts from Oman. Enjoy the mixed smells of frankincense, perfume oils, fresh jasmine and spices as you stroll along the narrow alleys. DINNER AND OVERNIGHT AT RAMADA ENCORE

Day 3: Muscat – Sur

0900 hrs Depart Muscat and drive along the scenic coastal road. Visit Bimah sinkhole, a spectacular limestone crater with blue-green water at he bottom. Stop at Fins beach, a beautiful white sand beach then proceed to Wadi Shab and photo stop in the wadi. Cross to the next wadi, Wadi Tiwi, where guests can enjoy the crossing on shallow water. The sight is remarkable with its lush green plantations and water flowing all year round. Proceed to Sur. Lunch at the local Restaurant (own cost) Dinner at the hotel and after dinner proceed to Ras Al Jinz for turtle watching. The Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve offers a truly unique experience- the fascinating scene of sea turtles nesting in a completely natural environment. Drive back to the hotel after turtle watching. DINNER AND OVERNIGHT AT SAMA RAS AL JINZ OR SIMILAR

Day 4: Sur – Wahiba

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, we will visit Sur, an ancient port of great relevance in the history of Oman. Here we visit promenade of Sur and its “dhow” shipyard. For centuries, Sur was the main Omani center for trade with India and East Africa, from the s. VI until the 19th century, when decline first came with the abolition of the slave trade and, later, with the opening of the Suez Canal. In the traditional factory of "dhow", the traditional Arab wooden boat that has been built in Sur for centuries, to this day Omani artisans continue to use traditional techniques and tools to build these boats, essential in the prevalence of maritime trade of Oman in the past. After Sur, we will drive towards Wadi Bani Khalid, before entering the wadi we will be changing the bus to 4wd and proceed to wadi bani Khalid. one of the most impressive oases in the country. It is a fertile oasis covered in a thick forest of date palms and natural pools surrounded by dramatic cliffs, where we will have time to take a bath between cascades of emerald water. Lunch at the local Restaurant (own cost) Next, we drive towards the Wahiba Sand Dunes, an enormous extension of about 200 km long and 10 km wide, covered with dunes up to 150 meters high, and whose colors vary from orange to dark amber depending on the time of day. The Arabic name for this area of dunes is Ramlat al Wahaybah, and it corresponds to a large area of very active ancient dunes that falls within the Central Desert of Oman, between the Hajar Mountains and the Hikman Peninsula (known as Sharqiyah). In the afternoon we will enjoy the experience of driving through these imposing dunes, until we reach a viewpoint at the top of the chosen dune to watch the sunset. DINNER AND OVERNIGHT AT SAMA AL WASIL CAMP

Day 5: Wahiba To Nizwa

Breakfast at the camp. Visit Birkat Al Mouz, an oasis that’s home to many trees including bananas and date palm and an old village that wanders up the side of a small mountain. Guests will be able to see the falaj system, the ancient irrigation system used in Oman in the past. Lunch at the local Restaurant (own cost) Proceed to Jabrin, where you will visit the fortress, one of the most beautiful will visit. A former residential castle, from whose terrace you have a beautiful view of the Hadjar mountains. Then continue to Bahla and make a photo stop at the fortress, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Back to Nizwa. DINNER AND OVERNIGHT AT AL DIYAR HOTEL OR SIMILAR

Day 6: Nizwa – Al Hamra – Jabal Shams Muscat

0800 hrs Breakfast at the hotel. 0900 hrs Tour to Muscat via Nizwa In Nizwa visit the traditional Animal Market. Nizwa Goat Market a traditional cattle market in Nizwa city, in Al Dakhiliyah region of Oman that occurs every Friday morning! Nizwa Goat Market is technically an extension of the historic and famous Souq Nizwa but is used exclusively for the villagers to sell and barter for goats, sheep, cows and on extremely rare and unusual occasions, a donkey (it happened once in its recent history that someone brought a donkey to sell in the market, and it actually made it all over social media as it is quite unusual). Continue the visit of the traditional souk where the guests can find Omani silver crafts and other local handicrafts. Also visit the famous Nizwa Fort, built in the 1668 and one of the most visited monuments in Oman. It is also the biggest fort in the Arabian Peninsula. Proceed to the village of Al Hamra for sightseeing. Lunch at the local Restaurant (own cost) After lunch we board the 4WD vehicles to go to the ancient mountain village of Misfat Al Abryeen for short walk in this delightful village. Drive to Jebel Shams, the Sun Mountain, and see the Grand Canyon of Oman. Back to Muscat. DINNER AND OVERNIGHT AT RAMADA ENCORE

Day 7: Departure

Breakfast at the hotel. Standard Check out time at 1200 hrs