Oman Holidays: Self Drive Programs (Oman Only)

DAY 01: ARRIVAL IN MUSCAT

Arrival at Muscat airport

After immigration and baggage check, you will enter at the general arrival hall and will be met by our representative; he will assist you to comfortably embark your car for Hotel. You will arrive and check in to hotel of your choice. Check IN time – 14:00 hrs

DAY 02: FULL DAY MUSCAT CITY TOUR

After breakfast, meet rent a car representative who will hand over the 04WDwith our GPS (please check if your driving license is valid to drive vehicle in Oman and you need to carry your original driving license)

Explore the city on your own , Grand Mosque is one of the largest Mosques in the world and at one time, it can accommodate 20,000 worshippers. Grand Mosque has beautiful art work, chandeliers and one piece carpet covering entire prayer hall.

To visit Mosque, one has to be dressed in conservative manner. One should not wear revealing or transparent clothes and should be covered from head to toe. Ladies have to cover their head with a scarf. Grand Mosque is open for the tourists from Saturday to Thursday from 08:00 hrs to 11:00 hrs. Children below the age of 10 years are not allowed to visit Mosque

Bait Zubair Museum. It was founded as a house by old rich merchant in 1912. The owner of this house had a great taste of collecting antiques and craze of doing photography. Later in 1998, he converted his house to a Museum displaying wide collection of antiques, arms, costumes, coins, etc. Museum is closed on Fridays.

Later drive to old part of Muscat.

Arrive at the official palace of His Majesty, Sultan Qaboos. Al Alam Palce is flanked by two portugese fort Jalali and Mirani.

Jalali Fort has been completely refurbished and now used as a Museum for guests of State and Royal Family. This will be an outside photo stop only as visit to Palace and Fort is not possible due to security reasons.

Muttrah Souq is one of the oldest souq in Oman and the narrow alleys of souq with mystic smell of sandel wood make a great atmosphere. It is a place where you can communicate with local people and can buy souveniors for friends and family.After spending sometime at the souq, embark your coach at 1845 Hrs and return to the hotel . Overnight at Hotel of your choice

DAY 03: MUSCAT / WADI TIWI /SUR

Moring around 0830 Hrs , embark on your 04WD for exploring interior partof Oman . you will be driving on the black top road and will reach at Quriyat .

Quriyat Village, a very large fishing village between the lagoon and the sea. The fisherman goes every morning in sea to catch fishes and then they sell in the market (located at the beach). The port of Quriyat is still guarded by a watchtower. We will have a short photo stop at this village and later continue our drive to Wadi Arbyn.

You will be driving for some time on road and then enter in Wady Arbyn. ‘Wadi’ in Arabic means dead river bed. This is one of the interesting off road drive in this region and after enjoying the off road drives; you will exit from Wadi drive towards Bima Sink hole

On arriving at Sink hole, a spectacular limestone crater with blue green water at the bottom and this stop will also be a rest stop. Enjoy sometime at the Bima Sinkhole before continuing your drive to the white sandy beach of Fins

Later drive Wadi Tiwi. This wadi has old village with many farms of banana, papaya, etc. Enjoy a short walk in this old village / farms and continue your drive to Sur. On arrival check in to the Hotel.

After early dinner at hotel, by 2000 Hrs leave to Turtle reserve to visit. Green turtles travel 100s of kilometer every year for nestling. It is a unique opportunity to sight turtles in their natural inhabitant. The turtle watching tours are lead in various groups by local naturalists. By 2100 Hrs join one of the groups along with your Italian speaking guide. Later return to the hotel. (Sighting of turtles are not guaranteed, the entry is subject to availability of tickets)

Over night at Hotel of your choice .

DAY 04: SUR / WAHIBA

Breakfast and check out

Drive to Wahiba enroute visit Wadi Bani Khalid. Before leaving sur ,make a visit to Sur local fish market where fresh catch of the day are trade here.

Wadi bani Khaled’ in arabic means natural oasis. Arrive Wadi Bani Khaled and visit. Wadi Bani Khaled stands a complete contrast to Wahiba Sands. It is like an oasis in the desert with clear green natural spring water pools. Enjoy a walk in the Wadi or swim in wadi (no towels from our end).

The 'Wahiba Sands' often described as a perfect example of Sand Sea consists of large ranges of dunes running from North to South, some attaining a height of about 100 mts and orange in color. You can visit Bedouin house and meet Bedouin ladies to know more about their life in desert. Enjoy Omani coffee and dates at their house and what ladies do to survive in desert. Evening watch the spectacular sunset from top of Sand dunes. Dinner and over night in Desert camp of your choice

Either you can driver your car into the desert by yourself or you can use the camp transfer as per the supplement charge given below.

DAY 05: WAHIBA / NIZWA / JABELAKDHER

Breakfast at the camp and board your 04Wds by 0900 Hrs to exit from Desert. By 0930 Hrs you reach black top road and drive for Jabel akder enroute visit Sinaw and Birkat Al mauz

Birkat Al mauz is a place where locals grow date palm trees. Pass through the old village and the farms of date palm trees. Your guide will explain the complete cultivation process as well as old irrigation system in Oman – Falaj System.

Climb on stretch of 36 kms winding road for Jabelakdher, the green mountain of Western Hajar mountains at an altitude of 2000mtrs above sea level. At Jabelakdher locals grow fruits and vegetable at terrace of the mountain. You will have short walk at Siq Plateau to see terrace plantations and to abandon village.

Overight at Hotel of your choice

DAY 06: JABELAKDHER/ NIZWA

Breakfast and check out.

Drive down the Jabel akdher mountains and proceed to Jabreen

Jabrin is the finest of Oman`s castle built in the late 17th century, which became a seat of Omani learning. This castle has extremely well planned layouts with room for the wali, the ladies room, the kitchen, the majlis etc. Most of the ceilings are decorated with beautiful paintings with Islamic motifs. The view from the top of the castle is really mesmerizing. After the tour of Jabreen,

Bahla is known as mystical village and famous for Arabian potteries. Vist the mangificient mud fort from 12th century is now listed as UNESCO world heritage sites. The Bahla fort represents the typical Omani military fortress the area was fenced with 12 kms radius fort walls. After visit of Bahla fort ,

After Bahla and Jabreen return Nizwa and visit

Visit the Nizwa fort with its enormous round tower built in the 17th century by Imam Sultan Bin Saif Al Ya’ aruba to defend the route to the interior. The fort dominates the entire area, with the town having grown around the edifice. Access to the top is only by means of a narrow twisting staircase barred by heavy wooden doors, studded with metal. From the top of the tower one can get a bird’s eye view of the Nizwa city.

{Nizwa Souq closes by 09:30 hrs and Nizwa Fort and Jabrin Castle closes by 11:00 hrs on Fridays.}

Arrive at Nizwa Souq and visit. On all days normal souq activites perform . There are various buildings allocated for Vegetables, meat, Soveneiers and Spices . Stroll around the souq.

Check in to the hotel and rest of the day at leisure.

Over night at hotel of your choice.

DAY 07: NIZWA / WADI BANI AWF / NAKHAL / MUSSANAH

Breakfast at hotel.

Leave for Al Hamra. Arrive at the old village of Al Hamra and walk through this village to arrive Bait Al Safa. Bait Al Safa is a local Museum, made by villagers showcasing Omani house. Visit this Museum and enjoy Omani Coffee and dates.

Later drive to Musact crossing the western Hajar mountain range. After few kilometers of black top road from Nizwa you enter to Off road terrian of Western hajar mountain . The drive is trilling with stops at breattaking cliffs , mountainous villages of Hat, Bilat Sait etc . Drive further through famous WADI BANI AWF, a beautiful Wadi in the middle of steep mountain walls.

After noon you will have stop at Nakhl, which has a 350 years old magnificent fort and is dramatically located at the top of rock mountain cliff. The area is surrounded with date’s plantations. The narrow road through the town winds up to the Hot Springs, which is a popular picnic, spot.

Drive back to Muscat or check in to beach hotel at Musannah