Oman - From the Desert to the Coast

Oman - From the Desert to the Coast

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8 Days From

$3414

Oman - From the Desert to the Coast

8 Days Starting and ending in Muscat

Visiting: Muscat, Sur, Wahiba Sands, Nizwa, Jebel Shams

Tour operator:

Undiscovered Destinations

Tour code:

ODC

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

1 - 12

Physical rating:

Medium

Age range:

18-99

Special diets catered:

Please advise requests

Tour operated in:

English

Trip Styles:

Small Group

Activities:

Sightseeing, Walking

Private Available:

Request A Private Tour

From: $3414

NB: Prices correct on 05-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

When referring to the Arab world, there’s a differentiation between the Middle East and North Africa, and the Gulf. The latter’s oil-rich states are often characterised by glittering high-rise developments, shopping malls, five-star hotels and industrial quantities of air-conditioning. Indigenous populations are often outnumbered by poorly paid guest workers, and little remains of traditional culture. Oman is an exception. The mostly benign absolute monarchy of the late Sultan Qaboos saw an insular conservative kingdom evolve to adopt a more modern outlook. However, as much as Oman has used its oil revenues for infrastructure development, it has retained its traditional culture and identity. This tour explores barren deserts and rugged coasts, as well as verdant oases and lush plantations. From remote mountain villages and simple farms to ornate tribal palaces, impressive mosques and modern cities, Oman displays its many faces. If you think you know the Gulf prepare to think again.

Highlights

  • See and scale the vast dunes of the Wahiba Sands and stay at a desert camp

  • Explore mystical desert forts and castles

  • Enjoy beautiful coastal scenery and the opportunity to spot rare turtles nesting on the beach

  • Discover superb scenery of Jebel Akhdar and ancient mountain villages

  • Wander in the atmospheric souqs of Muscat and Nizwa

  • Enjoy the view at the huge expanse of Jebel Shams Grand Canyon

  • See more of Oman on an optional extension to the country’s southern region of Salalah or to the Musandam Peninsular

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Arrival In Muscat

Location: Muscat

Accommodation Name: Al Falaj Hotel or similar

Arrive in Muscat and transfer to hotel accommodation. Depending upon flight schedules there may be time to explore the city independently. No meals or guided arrangements are included today. Overnight at Al Falaj Hotel or similar.MuscatStrategically situated at the entrance to the Persian Gulf, Muscat has been an important trading town on the crossroads between east and west for at least two millennia. During the 16th and 17th centuries it changed hands between Portuguese and Turkish invaders several time before returning to local control. The discovery of oil in the 1960s saw Muscat grow from a small harbour town into a large and modern city, fuelling a vibrant economy and a multi-ethnic society as workers from countries such as India arrive in search of work. Muscat originally consisted only of the area known as Old Muscat, a walled town on a natural harbour which houses excellent examples of traditional Omani architecture and a couple of Portuguese built forts dating back to the 16th century.

Day 2 : Muscat – Sur – Ras Al Jinz

Location: Sur

Accommodation Name: Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we drive through spectacular rugged mountains towards Sur. En we route we stop at Bimmah Sink Hole and Wadi Shab, an oasis of inviting pools where it may be possible to take a dip. After lunch we explore Sur, in the past renowned for its dhow shipyards, before continuing to Ras al Jinz. After an early dinner we visit the green turtle sanctuary where, after a journey of thousands of kilometres, mature females come ashore to lay their eggs. Overnight Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve or similar. (BLD)

Day 3 : Ras Al Jinz – Wadi Bani Khalid – Wahiba Sands

Location: Wahiba Sands

Accommodation Name: 1000 Nights Camp or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we drive to Wadi Bani Khalid, an oasis in the middle of barren and dry mountain landscapes. It’s one of the most beautiful wadis in Oman, and its pools of clear deep blue water are a welcome opportunity for a swim. After lunch we head into the Wahiba Sands, an undulating red and white sea of dunes. After some exciting dune driving, we arrive at our desert camp. Overnight 1000 Nights Camp or similar. (BLD)

Day 4 : Wahiba Sands

Location: Wahiba Sands

Accommodation Name: 1000 Nights Camp or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is free to relax. There’s lunch at a Bedouin house, and a range of activities are available from the desert camp (which may be booked in advance – please advise if you would like the full list), or just take in the views over the dunes. Overnight 1000 Nights Camp or similar. (BLD)

Day 5 : Wahiba Sands – Ibra – Jebel Akhdar – Nizwa

Location: Nizwa

Accommodation Name: Intercity Hotel or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast we drive to the historic town of Nizwa, Oman’s cultural capital. En route we visit Ibra Old Houses and explore Jebel Akhdar. In Arabic Jebel Akhdar means Green Mountains, and the area is justifiably famous for its gardens, farms and terraced plantations. We call in at Wadi Habib to see one of the more remote villages and its nearby fruit plantations, before continuing to Nizwa. Overnight Intercity Hotel or similar. (BLD)

Day 6 : Nizwa – Jabrin Castle – Bahla - Jebel Shams

Location: Nizwa

Accommodation Name: Jebel Shams Resort or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we visit Nizwa’s souk, its busy livestock market and its fort. Afterwards we drive to the 17th century Yaruba dynasty castle of Jabrin, where magnificent plasterwork, painted wooden beams, and carved doors make it unique in Oman. Afterwards we drive to Bahla, one of the oldest towns in Oman and a 12th century tribal capital. We admire views of the town and its magnificent fort before continuing to Jebel Shams. Overnight Jebel Shams Resort or similar. (BLD)

Day 7 : Jebel Shams – Al Hamra – Wadi Bani Awf – Muscat

Location: Jebel Shams

Accommodation Name: Al Falaj Hotel or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we take in spectacular views of Jebel Shams, the ‘Grand Canyon of Oman’. Afterwards we drive to Al Hamra and Misfah, to see one of the region’s oldest villages. Here traditional mud houses over 400-years-old are still occupied. After an early lunch we head to Wadi Bani Awf, the end point of the canyon, to see the ‘snake gorge’ in the middle of steep mountain cliffs. Later we drive to Nakhl and visit its restored fort, perched on a rocky outcrop, before arriving in Muscat. Overnight Al Falaj Hotel or similar. (BLD)

Day 8 : Muscat

Location: Muscat

Accommodation Name: Al Falaj Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning we visit the magnificent Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, one of the largest in the Middle East. Afterwards we drive through Muscat’s old, walled district and visit Bait Al Zubai Museum for its Omani cultural displays. Later we head to Muttrah Souk where it’s possible to bargain for handicrafts and silverware. In the late afternoon we take a sunset cruise, before transferring to Muscat airport to meet onward flights. (BL)Please note that due to the activities on Day 8, including the sunset cruise, you should not book a flight to depart from Muscat any earlier than 23:00.

What's Included

  • Arrival and departure transfers

    Transfers between the airport and hotel on both arrival and departure days.

  • Overland transport throughout with professional driver

    All transportation throughout the tour is provided, including travel with a professional driver.

  • All accommodation

    Accommodation for the duration of the tour is included.

  • Services of English-speaking guide / tour leader

    The tour includes the services of an English-speaking guide or tour leader to enhance your experience.

  • Meals as listed

    Meals are provided as indicated in the itinerary: B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner.

  • Entrance fees for sites listed as part of the itinerary

    Entrance fees to all sites listed in the tour's itinerary are covered.

What's Not Included

  • International flights

    International flights are not included

  • Any airport taxes (except when prepaid with any domestic flights)

    Airport taxes are not included except when prepaid with any domestic flights.

  • Travel Insurance

    Travel insurance is not included and is recommended for all travelers.

  • Visa - when required

    Visa fees are not included and responsibility for obtaining visas lies with the traveler.

  • Drinks

    Drinks are not included and will be an additional cost.

  • Items of personal nature

    Items of a personal nature such as souvenirs, laundry, and telephone calls are not included.

  • Tips (Discretionary)

    Tips are discretionary and not included in the tour price.

Mode of Transport

Travelers will be transported across Oman's diverse landscapes in overland vehicles, driven by professional drivers, ensuring a safe and comfortable journey.

Accommodation

Guests will enjoy a variety of accommodations, from traditional hotels to unique desert camps, ensuring a comfortable and immersive experience throughout the tour.

Check out our Q&As

  • What is the accommodation description?

    All accommodation for the duration of the tour is included.

  • What are the highlights of the tour?

    Highlights of the tour include scaling the vast dunes of the Wahiba Sands and staying at a desert camp, exploring mystical desert forts and castles, enjoying beautiful coastal scenery and the opportunity to spot rare turtles nesting on the beach, discovering superb scenery of Jebel Akhdar and ancient mountain villages, wandering in the atmospheric souqs of Muscat and Nizwa, enjoying the view at the huge expanse of Jebel Shams Grand Canyon, and the option to see more of Oman with an extension to the country’s southern region of Salalah or to the Musandam Peninsular.

  • Where does the tour start and end?

    The tour starts and ends in Muscat.

  • What countries does the tour visit?

    The tour visits Oman.

  • What is the transport description?

    Overland transport throughout the tour is provided with a professional driver.

  • What does the tour exclude?

    The tour excludes international flights, any airport taxes (except when prepaid with any domestic flights), travel insurance, visa fees, drinks, items of personal nature, and tips (discretionary).

  • What does the tour include?

    The tour includes arrival and departure transfers, overland transport throughout with a professional driver, all accommodation, services of an English-speaking guide/tour leader, meals as listed, and entrance fees for sites listed as part of the itinerary.

  • I’m a single traveller – will I feel out of place?

    In a word, no. We get a good mix of single travellers and couples on our group tours.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    We are happy to allocate a twin room to two single same-sex travellers. If there is no one else to travel

  • Can I join the tour once it has departed?

    No, sorry this is not possible.

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    We offer fully transferable group tour deposits (excluding any flight payments which are always non-refundable). You can change your group tour booking up to 10 weeks before departure and not lose your deposit – we will put your deposit towards any new group booking as long as you travel within 2 years of the original departure date.

  • Can I alter the tour?

    On our scheduled departures this isn’t possible, simply due to the fact that you’ll be travelling with other people. However, if you like the look of one of our advertised trips but want to tweak it slightly, then we can offer tailor made itineraries just for you, to accommodate your specific requirements.

  • Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

    There are no hard and fast rules about what type of people travel on Undiscovered Destinations’ group tours – we attract people from all ages, nationalities and walks of life. What you are likely to find though is that travellers share a similar outlook about travel. We tend to attract people with a curiosity about the lesser visited corners of our planet.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    We have been going since 2004.

Reviews of this operator

Amelia Fish (Google Reviewer)  

Very many thanks to Mark...

15-Oct-2020

Very many thanks to Mark Huggins at Undiscovered for helping us to arrange a private tour of the best of cape Town/ wine lands followed by an unforgettable safari in Greater Kruger Park. Having been on safari before we can say that this part of the holiday was really exceptional with regards to Marks knowledge of location whilst also very good value for money. We will certainly be back for our next big holiday!

Veronica  

Albania Explorer

05-Apr-2022

We had a fantastic time touring the length and breadth of Albania. Despite Covid it actually felt like we were doing normal things for the first time in a long time! Amazing scenery, ancient towns and ruins, fabulous hotels and food and so cheap - we can't believe Albania isn't on more people's radar. This is the 2nd time we've travelled with Undiscovered Destinations and both times they've offered full flexibility in terms of changing dates. On this occasion we also switched to a different tour & country only a month beforehand - we were originally booked to go to Lebanon in 2020 and postponed to 2021, but we were offered full flexibility with our plans (go, postpone again, refund or book something else). Knowledgeable & helpful staff and great value for money. Highly recommend.

MattS,  

Oman - Desert to the Coast - Small Group Tour

14-Nov-2021

7 days travelling around the north of Oman with a small group. Muscat, turtles, forts, beautiful whaddi's, dhows, deserts, souks, abandoned villages, a "Grand canyon", jaw dropping mosque, sunset cruises. I could go on - just a brilliant country if you fancy an adventurous, well organised trip - heartily recommend the country and the tour operator.

Beth Sinclair (Google Reviewer)  

Had the most wonderful holiday...

08-Sep-2014

Had the most wonderful holiday in Madagascar with Undiscovered Destinations. Everything was planned very well, and to say it was stunning would be an understatement. I found it particularly relaxing knowing that all the details were taken care of. We had a detailed itinerary, with a mixture of animals, scenery, and history. Excellent and will definitely be organising another trip with this company.

Olivps  

Superb anthropology and ethnographic paradise found in Ivory Coast

14-Jan-2022

Fantastic cultural tour with diverse experience of multiple tribes in Western Africa. Undiscovered Destinations offers a very nice package of tours to Africa and other countries

Susan Talbot (Google Reviewer)  

We did an Undiscovered Destinations...

23-Jul-2014

We did an Undiscovered Destinations tour to Burma and it was excellent. When looking into trips we found most of the tours offered by the larger companies to be very similar. We wanted something different. This was our 3rd trip with UD, and we're already looking at number 4!

Jason  

Discovering Albania

05-Oct-2021

Travelled to the lesser explored Albania. Destroyed and rebuilt be successive conquerors, Albania is a gem. Exquisitely fertile, with a long and varied history. A generous country with a comfortable pace to travel. Efficient, responding to queries quickly. Well organised.tour.

JuliaK  

An immersive tailor made trip in lesser travelled parts of India staying in heritage hotels with superb wildlife experiences

20-Dec-2019

With a car and driver we travelled through Rajasthan and Gujarat , staying at beautiful hotels and experiencing varied local life . We visited temples and with local guides explored udaipur, Mount Abu and the temples of palitana. We had a number of jeep safaris to spot leopards, lions and wild ass, each safari a magical experience. Undiscovered destinations, worked with us to tailor make our trip based on a group tour they run. We were keen not have only one night anywhere and ensure the travelling each day was restricted to half a day. We gave a budget we could afford and they came up with an amazing experience, with one driver and being joined by local guides where appropriate.

Julia Johnston (Google Reviewer)  

We booked through UD for...

20-Aug-2020

We booked through UD for our first family worldwide trip to Sri Lanka. We have always been keen travellers, and what an introduction for our 6 year old son, to the amazing world of travel. The destinations, the recommendations, the guide, the itinerary, the balance, all was faultless for a memorable trip. The sound knowledge given by the UD consultant was what made us book, and on returning from the trip, has given us the confidence to book again. WE as a family are back on the travelling circuit.

Sarah Tinsley (Google Reviewer)  

We had a fantastic tour...

06-Sep-2023

We had a fantastic tour of Madagascar with this company, really detailed itinirerary with lots of variety including animals, scenery and time to relax. The hotels they booked us into were not what we requested and all transfers private which was unnecessary. Other than that, great!

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1 Select your preferred date

Wednesday - Wednesday

Jan 08, 2025 - Jan 15, 2025
$3414

Monday - Monday

Nov 03, 2025 - Nov 10, 2025
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Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Undiscovered Destinations allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 70 days before the start of the tour.

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Undiscovered Destinations allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform undiscovered destinations, 70 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Undiscovered Destinations requires a minimum deposit of 350 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of undiscovered destinations charges.

    Up to 71 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 40% of booking price.

    At 34 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.

    At 20 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.

    At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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