DAY 0

Arrival at the airport – Meet and assistance – Transfer to the Hotel - Overnight

DAY 1

 After breakfast we head out and take a tour of Muscat city. Starting at Sultan Qaboos’ Grand Mosque, one of few mosques open to non-Muslims tour highlights include visiting the fort, the Sultan’s Palace and the Bait Al Zubair Museum before stopping for dates and coffee and a walk along the corniche to explore the Muttrah souk. We then head to the marina for lunch and then spend a leisurely afternoon dolphin-watching and snorkeling before heading back to the hotel.

Day 2

We set off in 4WD heading for Oman’s Grand Canyon and its breathtaking views at 2000m. Setting off from Al Kateen village we follow the balcony trail along the mountain edge to an abandoned village which clings to the rocks completely hidden from view from above and below. Just beyond the village we can see the traditional farm terracing where locals used to produce their food and a short walk further takes us to the small lake that feeds the terracing. The walk back along the balcony trail offers more breathtaking views of the canyon and we stop to further enjoy the views over a picnic lunch. We then set off in 4x4’s down the mountain and if time permits enter Wadi Ghul and Nakhr village to view the canyon in reverse – from the bottom up, which is equally as dramatic and stunning, as this journey takes us through more than half a billion years of geological time. Stopping for coffee and dates with the people of Nakhr village we see goat hair carpets being woven and dyed.

Day 3

 Today we check out and set off in 4WDs for the beauty of Wadi Shab. A leisurely walk through the lush green, palm-lined wadi with dramatic rock formations takes us to the swimming pools.  Here we can relax and enjoy our picnic lunch before taking a swim and ‘discovering’ the hidden cave. Tonight we make camp on the stunning, powder-soft sands of White Beach.

Day 4

After a leisurely morning snorkeling and simply enjoying being on the beach, we have lunch before breaking camp and heading to the fishing town of Sur where we explore the traditional working dhow yard.

We then make our way to Ras al Had Beach Hotel to relax and have dinner before setting off around 9pm to see the turtles laying their eggs on the beach.

Day 5

For early risers we can head back to the beach to see the last of the baby turtles heading out to sea before returning to the hotel for breakfast and join the sleepy heads. We then engage 4WD and head to the Sharqiyah Sands to have coffee and dates with our Bedouin hosts and explore the dunes on camel back. After a traditional Bedouin lunch we make our goodbyes and head towards Nizwa, the former capital of the Sultanate.

Our accommodation for the night is a beautifully located hotel with stunning views of low, chocolate-coloured hills from the back and in contrast jagged white hills to the front, a perfect setting to enjoy the pool and relax at the end of a long, hot day. This atmospheric hotel provides great evening meals and entertainment should you not wish to head out and explore the delights of Nizwa.

Day 6

Positioned alongside two wadis, Nizwa is a fertile sea of green with an oasis of date plantations stretching 8kms from the town. Today, Nizwa is still the largest and most important town in this area of the interior and is noted for its 17th century fort and atmospheric souks full of silversmiths’ art, especially ornately engraved khanjars. Today is cattle market day in Nizwa and to experience the atmosphere and hustle, bustle at its best, it’s wise to rise early. We then have plenty of time to explore the fort and the rest of the city before enjoying a traditional Omani lunch at a local restaurant.

We then jump in the 4WD and head back to Muscat.

Day 7

Transfer to the Airport