DAY 01: ARRIVAL MUSCAT
Upon entering at the arrival hall, finish the immigration / baggage check. Italian /German Passport holders can attain visa upon arrival by directly paying the visa fee of USD 14 per visa for maximum 09 days stay in Oman / USD 53 for stay between 10 days to 30 days in Oman. (Visa fee is based on present charges and is subject to change without prior notice)
Non-Muslims are allowed to buy 02 liters of Alcohol and 200 cigarettes from Duty Free.
Meet your English speaking guide at general arrival hall , transfer to hotel .
Normal Check in time 1400 Hrs ( Early check in Subject to avalability of rooms at the time of check in ).
The guest are allowed to use hotel facilites until rooms are ready.
Half DAY MUSCAT
Lunch at Hotel.
Meet your tour guide at 1500 hrs in the hotel lobby and then drive who will take you to drive to old Muscat, group will be dropped at Muscat gate from there, they will walk to Sultan’s Palace and then have outside photo stop at Al Mirani Fort and Al Jalali Fort, then drive till Riyam and trekking overland.
Route Muttrah Trekking C38: An easy, short hill and wadi walk along the ancient trail from Muttrah to Muscat. You start the trek from Ryan Park to the top of the hill passing an abandon village. You will get a spectacular view of the Harbour and Muttrah from the top. Climb down to Muttrah Souk. Light refreshment stop at one of the coffee shop at Muttrah. Later visit Muttrah Souq.
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.Return to Hotel .
Dinner and Overnight at hotel
DAY 02: MUSCAT/ NAKHL / WADI BANI AWF / BILAT SAYT/ JEBEL SHAMS
After breakfast, checkout from the hotel and leave for Nakhl.
Arrive Grand Mosque at 0830-hrs and visit. 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)
We pass through Barka fishmarket before reaching Nakhl. As you approach Nakhl, keep an eye out for the Fortress that sits on a hillock outside this small town which has large date plantation. The Fort’s origin is pre-Islamic with major contributions by the Al- Yaruba and Al Bu Sayeed Dynasties. We visit the Nakhl Fort.
Then we drive the narrow road through the town winds up to the springs. later drive through the spectacular Wadi Bani Auf . This stretch of graded road is very adventurous & for the physically fit only as it involves steep bends and bumpy roads. Stop at the quaint mountain village of Bilad Sayt framed by the dramatic mountains and will do the short trek for 1 hour.
Later, board on vehicle and drive to Jabal shams.On Arrival, check in to jabal shams Heights.
Dinner and overnight at Mountain camp (Chalets)
DAY 03: FULL DAY TREKKING
After breakfast in the camp, meet your trekking guide at the campsite lobby and leave for trekking.
Our 4 WD vehicles will drop the group at a designated place.
We start walking at the first light of the dawn from the plateau of Jebel Shams.We head to the edge of the Grand Canyon from where we have stunning views. We'll probably see vultures enjoying the first ascending winds of the day. We'll follow the Grand Canyon and cross several small plateau. The higher we climb the bigger are the trees. Finaly we arrive to a pass from where we have stunning views over Wadi Sahtan, some 2000 meters below us. On our left side the other summit of Jebel Shams is occupied by military radar. We go on the right and follow the ridge until we reach the summit. We come back the same way. It is a beautiful walk on a altitude of more than 1000m and that require to be fit and used to hikes.
After trekking, the vehicles will pick up the guests from a common meeting point and leave for Jabal shams resort.
Dinner and overnight at Mountain camp ( Chalets)
Information about trekking:
Type of trekking Rim Walk to Summit of Jabal Shams
Trekking Route: W4
Altitude: 1900 m to 3000 meter
Timing: 7- 8 hour (One Way)
Degree of difficulty: Grad 2
Distance: 9 KM
DAY 04: JABEL SHAMS- NIZWA
After breakfast in the camp, meet your trekking guide at the campsite and leave for trekking. Our 4 WD vehicles will drop the group at a designated place.
We start the walk at Al Khitaym village. The path is very easy and offers long wonderful views on Arabia's Grand Canyon. On the way we can see the highest point of the country. Finally, we arrive to an old village built in the cliff: Sab Bani Khamis. The village was abandoned some 15 years ago when the road was build. Some 5 to 10 families were living there, taking care of their gardens also built on the cliff and of their goats. We come back the same way. It is a very easy wonderful walk.
After trekking, the vehicles will pick up the guests from a common meeting point and leave village of Al Hamra characterized by its mud houses and date plantations. Then, we depart to visit of Jabreen fort which is the finest of Oman’s castles built in the late 17th century, became a seat of Omani learning. The castle displays the highest achievement in Omani ceiling painting & beautifully executed woodcarvings.
Later, drive for Hotel . On arrival, check in at hotel.Dinner and overnight at Hotel.
Information about trekking:
Type of trekking Cliff walk to the abandoned village
Trekking Route: W6
Altitude: 1900 m to 18000 mete
Timing: 1hour/30 mins (One Way)
Degree of difficulty: Grad 1
Distance: 4 KM
Day 05: NIZWA/ BIRKAT AL MOUZ / JABEL AKHTHER/WAHIBA [B/PL/D]
After breakfast check out from the hotel and Visit the NIZWA SOUQ which is renowned for its intricately hand-carved "KHANJAR" and ornately designed silver Jewellery. (Here on Fridays a unique goat and cattle auction is held). The atmosphere is electric.
Later move for Birkat AL Mauz farms. Birkat Al Mauz is a place where locals grow date palm trees. Pass through the old village and will start trekking from here. A lovely terrace walks through the villages with nice views into Wadi Muhaydin
Information about trekking:
Type of trekking Al Aqor – Al Ain – Sayq Village
Trekking Route: W18B
Altitude: 1900 meter
Timing: 2 hour to 2 hours/30 mins (One Way)
Degree of difficulty: Grad 1
Distance: 4 KM
After finish, board on the jeep and continue to Wahiba Sands, a vast mass of undulating red and white sea of sand and dunes rising upto 200 meters which are host to a variety of flora and fauna. The ever-changing patterns of the dunes are a photographer’s delight.
On arrival, check in Desert Camp and Overnight.
Day 06: WAHIBA / WADIBANI KHALID / WAHIBA
Breakfast at the campsite
Board your 04WD and exit from the Desert and drive towards Wadi bani Khalid.
Wadi bani Khaled’ in arabic means natural oasis. 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.
Start your trekking through Wadi and after 15-20 Minutes’ walk you reach beautiful water falls. Later further walk through the Wadi until Muqil Cave and to beautiful village of Al Hayer. Later return to main pools area. Enjoy a walk in the Wadi or swim in wadi (no towels from our end). Enjoy picnic lunch
Information about trekking:
Type of trekking Wadi Bani Khalid – Muqil Cave – Al Hayer Village
Trekking Route: E 35
Altitude: 2000 meter
Timing: 2 -3 hours (Both way)
Degree of difficulty: Grad2
Distance: 7 KM
After returning to Wahiba, drive to Wilderness of the Desert and watch spectacular sunset from top of Sand dunes.
Dinner and Overnight at campsite.
DAY 07: WAHIBA/ WADI TIWI /WADI SHAB /MUSCAT
Breakfast and check out from the desert.
Embark your four wheels and exit from desert to drive towards Sur. Arrive Sur by 1100 Hrs and pass through the dhow building yard and conduct orientation drive of city.
You will be driving on new highway and will arrive at Wadi Tiwi.
There are the villages in this wadi and surrounded by trees of dates, bananas, Mangos, Pappaya, etc. There is a Falaj System taking the water from mountains and passing it to these farms. Our guides will advise the cultivation system; these villagers follow for the plantation of these fruits.
Enjoy the walk on the Wadi and village for 01HR.
Later continue to Bima Sinkhole passing by Fins beach, commonly known as White Beach. Enjoy
swimming at the beach (no towels from our end)
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
We will be driving for some time on black top 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 drive, you will exit from Wadi and drive for Muscat
Check in to hotel. Overnight stay in the hotel.
DAY 08: DEPARTURE
Breakfast at hotel