This 17-day tour explores the history and landscapes of Oman. We start in the north of the country where we tour Khasab including its impressive fort and museum. We go for a day long dhow cruise through the fiords of Musandam where we can snorkel with hundreds of fish and spot wild dolphins. We also explore the stunning landscapes of the Harim Mountains where we see ancient fossils.

We fly to Muscat, the capital of Oman, which will be our base for 4 nights. We start with the wonderful Bait el Zubair Museum, a private ethnographic collection exploring the cultures and customs of Oman. We explore the nearby Mutrah Suq which is famous for its handicrafts including jewelry and clothes. The following day we have an extended stay in the National Museum which houses a great collection of artefacts covering Omani history from the Palaeolithic period to the present. We have a walk in the area around el Alam Palace, the official residence of the Sultan of Oman and also visit the Grand Mosque of Sultan Qaboos and the National Opera House.

We spend the next two days exploring the history of the region of Batinah to the NW of Muscat. We see the enormous Numan fortress and then stop in the historic port of Sohar which has a medieval fort and suq. We head inland to see the remains of the Early Bronze Age Ziggurat of Arja, located near important ancient copper mines. The following day we explore the sites on the 'Rustaq loop'. This includes the stunning fort of Nakhal, thought to have originally been founded in Sassanian times (5th Century AD) and rebuilt frequently. We explore the town of Rustaq including the outside of the fort (currently closed for a major restoration) and see the impressive Hazim fort.

The following day we leave Muscat, heading through the Hajjar Mountains. We head to Salut, which preserves remains of Early Bronze Age towers and tombs and an impressive Iron Age fortress. Finds from the site are on display in the site museum. From here we head to Jabreen, location of a wonderful 17th Century fortress. Our day ends in Nizwa which is our base for exploring the region.

The next two days are spent touring the historic buildings of the Western Hajjar Mountains. We start with a tour of the impressive Nizwa Fort with its grand central keep. We then take a walk through the palm groves of Birket el Moz, explore the vast spaces of Hoota cave and spend an afternoon at the lovely village of Misfat Ibrahim which lies on the edge of an impressive gorge. The following day we explore the enormous Bahla fort and walk through the ruins of the ancient medieval walled town. From here we head NW to see the stunning ruins of the medieval walled town of Sulaif. We then see the UNESCO world heritage site of Bat, famed for its Early Bronze Age tower tombs.

The following day we experience the colour of the Nizwa Friday animal market where cattle, sheep and goats are auctioned. We then leave Nizwa and head SE to explore the Wahiba Sands, a large area of open desert. We take 4-wheel drives out into the open desert to see stunning landscapes and stay in en suite rooms. Next morning, we head to the coast where we visit the famed port of Sur. It remains an important place for dhow construction and we tour the workshops. We drive along the coast, stopping to see the ruins of medieval Qalhat, and then take a walk in the spectacular Wadi Shab.

We fly south to Salalah to explore the history of the Dhofar region. We visit the frankincense market and see the ruins of the walled city of Zafar in the al Baleed Archaeological Park. Next day we drive along the coast to the ruins of the ancient walled settlement of Samhuram which controlled the incense trade. We also explore Mirbat castle and harbour and head up into the mountains for a stunning view from the escarpment. The next day we visit a beautiful spring, and see the ruins of Ubar fort. We spend the night in the stunning Empty Quarter desert, sleeping in comfy beds within a tent encampment. We then return to Salalah, stopping en route to experience the stunning coastal landscapes around Shaat and Mughsail.



Day 1: Arrive Dubai
You should arrive in Dubai. Overnight Dubai.

Day 2: Cross into Oman, Bukha fort, drive to Khasab
You will be met in the morning and transferred to the UAE border with Oman. We pass through customs and then travel into the region of Musandam. We travel along the coast, stopping to visit the 17th Century fortress of Bukha. We then continue to Khasab where we take a tour of the town before settling into our hotel. Overnight Khasab.

Day 3: Khasab fort - explore the Harim mountains
In the morning we tour the city of Khasab including the historic 17th Century Portuguese Fort and ethnographic Museum. Afterwards we see the rock carvings at nearby Qadah and then head into the spectacular Harim Mountains. We explore this remote corner of Oman and see ancient fossils. Overnight Khasab.


Day 4: Dhow cruise
After breakfast, we join a day-long Dhow cruise to see the breathtaking fjords of Musandam. We glide on the sea alongside pods of dolphins and enjoy the opportunity for snorkeling among the reefs amidst numerous fish. Lunch will be served on board. Overnight Khasab.

Day 5: Fly to Muscat - Bait el Zubair Museum - Mutrah suq
This morning we fly from Khasab to Muscat. After leaving our luggage at our hotel we head downtown to explore the wonderful Bait el Zubair Museum. It has an excellent collection of objects illustrating Omani culture. We also visit the nearby Mutrah Suq to explore the shopping opportunities. Overnight Muscat.

Day 6: Muscat - National Museum, Alam Palace, Grand Mosque, Opera
In the morning we visit the National Archaeological Museum of Oman. It houses a fascinating collection of artefacts from the Palaeolithic to modern times. We then see the Muscat Old Town area including the outside of the Al Alam Palace and harbour fortresses. We then see the Grand Mosque and National Opera House, both constructed by Sultan Qaboos. Overnight Muscat.

Day 7: Batinah region - Numan Fort - Sohar - Arja Ziggurat
Today we explore the archaeology and heritage of the Al Batinah region to the NW of Muscat. En route to Sohar we stop to see the 18th Century fort of Numan. In Sohar we see the impressive fort and suq. In the afternoon we visit the ruins of the Early Bronze Age ziggurat at Arja and see the ancient copper mines. Overnight Muscat.


Day 8: Nakhal - Rustaq - Hazm
The day is set aside to explore the monuments of the 'Rustaq Loop'. We drive from Muscat to Nakhal where we explore the remarkable fort, probably originating in Sassanid times (3rd Century AD) and enlarged in the 10th and 17th Centuries. We then head to Rustaq (the fort is currently closed for restoration but we see it from the outside) where we visit the suq. In the afternoon we stop to explore Al Hazm fort before returning to Muscat. Overnight Muscat.

Day 9: Salut - Jabreen fort - Nizwa
In the morning we leave Muscat and head west into the Hajjar Mountains. We head NW through the Samail Gap to Salut. It preserves remains of early Bronze Age towers and a remarkable Iron Age fortress and tombs. The site museum contains numerous objects from the excavations. From here we go to Jabreen to explore Jabreen Castle, an impressive palace constructed in the 17th Century. In the afternoon we take a walk in the historic old quarter of Nizwa. Overnight Nizwa.

Day 10: Nizwa fort - Birket el Moz - Hoota Cave - Misfat Ibrahim
Today we start by visiting the impressive Nizwa Fort with its huge circular bastion. We then see the beautiful palm gardens of Birket el Moz and explore the ruins of the old city. In the afternoon we visit the impressive Hoota cave and the oasis village of Misfat Ibrahim. This old settlement lies on the edge of a palm lined gorge with stunning views of the gardens. Overnight Nizwa.

Day 11: Bahla fort - al Sulaif - Bat beehive tombs
In the morning we head to Bahla where we have a walk in the historic old town and explore the enormous 13th-17th century fort. We then continue north to Al Sulaif where we see the ruins of the ancient town and its fort located on a high cliff. In the afternoon we continue to Bat where we see the megalithic stone tombs dating from the Early Bronze Age. Overnight Nizwa.


Day 12: Nizwa animal market - Wahiba Sands desert
In the morning we see the colourful Friday animal market in Nizwa. We then head SE passing through dramatic rocky landscapes to the Wahiba Desert. Here we take 4-wheel drives to explore some of the dune landscapes and have the chance to see some captive oryx. Overnight Wahiba in ensuite cabins.

Day 13: Sur - Qalhat tomb - Wadi Tiwi - Wadi Shab
In the morning we leave the desert and head down to the coast to visit the historic port of Sur. We take a walk near the harbour and visit the dhow workshop. We also see the nearby Maritime Museum of Fatah al Khair which preserves historic boats and dhows used in long distance trade. We head north along the coast, stopping briefly to see the ruined tomb at Qalhat, and then explore the dramatic landscapes of Wadi Tiwi and Wadi Shab. Overnight Muscat.

Day 14: Fly to Salalah - incense suq - Al Baleed Archaeological park
This morning we fly to Salalah (1 hr) in the south of the country. We visit the frankincense market and then see the ruins of the medieval walled city of Zafar with its fortified citadel within the al Baleed Archaeological Park. This important settlement controlled incense trade from the 10th to 15th Centuries and was visited by Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta. Nearby is the Museum of the Frankincense Land with finds from the region of Dhofar. Overnight Salalah.


Day 15: Taqah - Samhuram ruins - Mirbat castle and harbour - Darbat
Today we explore the antiquities and landscapes of eastern Dhofar. We start with a visit to the fort of Taqah. We then see the fascinating site of Samhuram, a major centre in ancient frankincense trade. This was a fortified Yemeni outpost occupied from the 3rd Century BC till the 5th Century AD. Finds are on display at the nearby site museum. We then see Mirbat castle and its ethnographic collection and have a walk near the harbour. We then drive up onto the escarpment near Jebel Samham to see the 1000 m drop before a walk in the beautiful Wadi Darbat. Overnight Salalah.

Day 16: Sahlounout spring - Shisr/ancient Ubar - Empty Quarter desert
In the morning we head north of Salalah, stopping to see the beautiful Sahlounout spring. We continue over the escarpment, and see commercial incense trees before heading to Shisr, site of the fabled 'lost city' of Ubar. We continue north into the Empty Quarter desert which separates Oman from Saudi Arabia. Here we explore the dune fields and stay overnight in a comfortable desert tent with beds. Overnight Empty Quarter camp.

Day 17: Empty Quarter - Shaat - Mughsail
The day is set aside to explore the landscapes of western Dhofar. We return from the Empty Quarter to see the stunning view towards the sea from the escarpment of Shaat. We drive along the coast, stopping to see the landscapes around Mughsail. We stop to see wild incense trees. Fly to Dubai in the afternoon to connect with an international flight.

* Please note that the Company reserves the right to make alterations to the itinerary in the period up to 60 days prior to a tour departure. The itinerary may also be subject to minor re-arrangement due to the scheduling of the operators and availability of access. If this occurs, the Company will endeavour to provide a comparable alternative.