Classic Oman

Your classic Oman journey begins in the capital, Muscat. Upon arrival, you will be met off the plane and escorted through the airport with expedited service at immigration. A private car will transfer you to your luxury hotel. Check in, unwind, and relax for the rest of the day. Do as the locals do and avoid the midday heat by staying indoor. If your hotel is situated seaside, enjoy a swim in the cool waters. Wrap up your first day in this laidback country by trying its under-appreciated cuisine, a cultural transfusion of Persian, north African, India, and Arab influences.

Today is all about Muscat, a picturesque port city spread along the Gulf of Oman. Lacking the futuristic skyscrapers and mega malls of its flashier neighbors, Muscat is a slice of rustic peace, boasting scenes of palm trees, mountains, and sea and modestly dressed locals in traditional clothing. Pay attention to the array of architecture styles you will see today, including Arab, Portuguese, Persian, Indian, African, and modern Western influences. Admire the Grand Mosque, built with sandstone and marble. Drive through the Ministry quarter, with stops at the Opera House and the Sultan's palace, before heading out to the city to see the old Portuguese forts. At Bait Al Zubair Museum, see a fine collection of traditional costumes, antique jewelry, and weapons. Finally, in the late afternoon, stroll Muttra Souq, an old market of narrow, perfume-laden alleyways packed with shops selling frankincense, stained-glass lamps, Bedu jewelry, and other exotic paraphernalia.

After breakfast, leave the city - and roads - behind as you traverse the rugged landscape off-track in a 4x4. First, head to Wadi Al Arbeieen, one of Oman's most beautiful wadis. Make your way between the deep canyon walls to an oasis of clear blue-green pools and running river. Here, enjoy a picnic lunch. Visit the nearby Wadi Tiwi which is famed for its old traditional villages surrounded by lush plantations of dates and bananas. Then, make your way to the coastal city of Sur where you will visit a dhow factory to see the construction of these Omani wooden boats, as well as the lighthouse. The final stretch for today takes you to Wahiba Sands, a desert landscape of dunes that stretch over 125 miles and has been home to the Bedouin nomads for thousands of years. Watch a desert sunset from the top of a high dune before arriving at your desert camp resort.

Early risers can enjoy the spectacular sunrise over the deep red sands of Wahiba. Fill up with a camp side breakfast before heading out to Wadi Bani Khalid, a site comprising a tiny collection of small houses embedded in the mountains and overlooking a deep valley with azure waters nested below. Take a refreshing dip in the cool, clear waters. Return to your desert camp and enjoy the rest of the day as you wish. Activities arranged by the hotel may include camel riding, ATVs, village visits, and more.

After breakfast at the camp, check out. First, visit the ruins of Al Manzifat village where you can stroll through the narrow alleys ingeniously designed to protect it against raids and tribal wars. Make a stop at the ancient city ruins of Birkat Al Maouz where you can take a walk back in time. Observe the active falaj, an ancient irrigation channel, and enjoy the quiet of the date palms and banana plantations. Visit Nizwa, the former capital of Oman. If visiting on a Friday your itinerary will be adjusted to include a visit the famed Nizwa Cattle Market and its bustling trade. Explore the 17th-century Nizwa fort with its vast tower and superb views of the oasis. In the bustling souq nearby you will find local products such as Omani daggers (khanjar), copper, silver jewelry, livestock, fish, vegetables and handicrafts for sale. Drive onward to your destination, Jabal Akhdar, a massive mountain range with dramatic peaks and canyons. There are several Omani villages on and around the mountain range. The most famous production in this area is distilled rosewater, made from a prized variety that grows on the mountain. Arrive at your mountaintop retreat and spend the rest of the day at leisure. In the evening, do not miss the opportunity to do stargazing, as Princess Diana once did in this area.

Spend your day in and around your resort as you wish. Available excursions may include hikes around the mountain terrain, discovering the nearby town of Nizwa, a lesson on the local rock formations from the in-house geologist, exploring castles and forts, and more.

It is time to come down from the mountains and make your way back to Muscat airport for an evening flight to Salalah in the south of Oman. You can choose a more scenic off-road route or a shorter route to add more leisure time in Muscat before your flight. Hemmed in by a mountain range, the coastal city of Salalah is blessed with an annual monsoon that transforms the desert terrain into a lush, green landscape. Transfer to your hotel on arrival and have the rest of the evening at your leisure.

On your final full day, hit the road early with visits to the fishing village of Taqa, an old town with an interesting castle surrounded by watchtowers and Taqa stone houses. It’s then on to Khor Rori creek, the site of the ancient capital Arabia’s frankincense trade. An afternoon visit takes you to the tomb of a Biblical Prophet, Job, which is perched high up in the “Jebels” (mountains). The journey up is quite spectacular, and there’s plenty of opportunity to stop and admire the view before returning to Salalah City and your hotel in the evening.

After breakfast, ensure you are dressed appropriately for some final sight-seeing of the city’s historical and religiously significant sites. Your first stop is the Frankincense Land Museum which recounts the city's maritime trade and traditions. It houses two main halls, namely the History Hall and The Marine Hall. A complete history of the Maritime trade & ship building industry of Oman could be experienced here. Make a brief stop to experience the locally grown fruits and vegetables at fruits and vegetable stall. Make stops at Sultan Qaboos Mosque and the Official Palace of His Majesty the Sultan, Al Husn Palace, to admire the architecture before strolling through Haffah Souk, famous for the sale of high- quality frankincense and numerous other Dhofari traditional souvenirs. Return to the hotel for check-out and take a private transfer to the airport for your flight onward.