Oman: Oases, Forts and Fjords
This unusual itinerary features Oman’s more remote gems as well as its well-known highlights.
We go in search of bottle-nosed dolphins in the stunningly isolated Musandam peninsular, known for its dramatic fjords. Flying to Muscat, we explore the old town, forts and Grand Mosque and visit the historical souk and harbour at Muttrah.
Turning towards the interior, we head for the verdant oasis of Nizwa, its massive 17th Century fort dominating the town. Nearby is the traditional town of Hamra with its Ya’arubi mud-brick houses, Jabreen Castle and Oman’s oldest fort at Bahla. Then, spend an exciting night in Bedouin style at a desert camp amidst the dunes at Wahiba Sands, before returning to the coast and the town of Sur, famous for its dhows and the sea turtles which lay their eggs nearby. Ending in Muscat, for those with more time there is a three night extension to Salalah, the land of frankincense, with the forts at Mirbat and Taqa, the Biblical "Nabi Ayoub" Prophet Job's Tomb, and stunning coastal scenery.
Itinerary
- Day 1
- Check in at London Heathrow for flight to Dubai overnight.
- Day 2
- Arrive in Dubai where we shall take a coach along the panoramic coastal road to Khasab, crossing the Omani border. After checking into our hotel and lunch, we take a 4x4 mountain safari to Jebel Harim, the highest mountain in Musandam and a spectacular view point. Here one can see fossils dating back several million years. Dinner and overnight at the Golden Tulip Khasab.
- Day 3
- After breakfast, we transfer to Khasab harbour and board a traditional Omani dhow to cruise the spectacular fjords of Musandam, passing small fishing villages. There is a chance to swim and snorkel in the clear waters and we hope to see dolphins. We’ll have lunch on board Dhow before returning back to our hotel in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the Golden Tulip Khasab.
- Day 4
- Today we’ll fly from Khasab to Muscat, where we’ll be escorted to our hotel. After lunch, the afternoon is at leisure to relax or explore. Dinner and overnight at the Park inn, Muscat.
- Day 5
- After breakfast, depart for a morning tour of Muscat, a modern city with traditional values. Visit the exquisite Grand Mosque, capable of accommodating 20,000 worshippers, with its staggeringly large hand made Persian carpet. We shall drive to Muttrah Souq in the heart of Muscat’s old quarter and walk through its labyrinthine alleyways tempting visitors with merchandise piled high, from imported fabrics to exotic Oriental spices, perfumes and richly handcrafted artefacts. Afterwards we travel to the Bait Al Zubair Museum with its splendid collection of historic Omani artifacts. And stop to view the magnificent Al Alam Palace, the official residence of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said the ruler of Oman. After lunch back at the hotel. The afternoon is at leisure to explore or relax. Dinner and overnight at the Park inn, Muscat.
- Day 6
- Today we journey towards Nizwa via Nakhal. Enroute, stop at Seeb where we shall see the vibrant fish market and souq where Omanis purchase cattle, fruit, vegetables and clothing. Continue to Nakhl and visit the pre-Islamic fortress, perched on a 200 ft high hillock commanding spectacular views of the oasis. We shall also visit tranquil Nakhl springs, a lush oasis with magnificent scenery. After lunch we travel along Oman’s most spectacular mountain drive across Wadi Bani Auf, a spectacularly-sited valley littered with mountain streams and pools, the oasis of Bilat Sayed, a picturesque village which irrigates its mango, citrus, banana and date crops using a traditional system of open and underground water channels known as falaj, invented by the Persians in 1000BC. Dinner and overnight at The View, a luxury tented encampment with furnished bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms overlooking the Al Hamra Valley.
- Day 7
- Drive to the mud-walled oasis of Bahla where we shall see as much as possible of the UNESCO protected 14th century fort, which is being restored. The fort and settlement owed its prosperity to the Banu Nebhan tribe (Nabahina), who dominated the central Omani region and made Bahla their capital from the 12th to the end of the 15th century. We then drive to Jabreen and visit Jabreen castle, the finest of Oman’s 17th Century castles, once a seat of Omani learning. Continue to the UNESCO protected archaeological sites of Bat and Al Ayn, where the superb remnants of Bronze-age beehive tombs are found on almost every hilltop. We head for Jebel Shams, highest peak in the Jebel Akhdar range, stopping at the terrace farming village of Wadi Ghul. On the way back we visit the picturesque town of Al Hamra, with its Yaruba dynasty mud-brick houses. One three-story house, Bait Al Safah, is over 500 years old and provides an intriguing insight into traditional Omani life at the time. Dinner and overnight at The View.
- Day 8
- Drive down to Nizwa to visit the fort, with its giant round tower dating back to 1668, and impressively re-built souq, the air-conditioned halls of which are full of fresh fruit and vegetables, herbs and spices, huge stacks of dates and freshly caught fish. This is the best place to buy traditional silver “Khanjars” (hand- carved Omani daggers) and Bedouin jewellery, where silver is still sold by weight. We drive to the pretty village of Birkat Al Mauz and walk through its lush green date plantations. Continuing via Wadi Al Madeen, a winding road takes us up to Jebel Al Akhdar, the jewel of the Al Hajjar mountain range and famed for its fruit orchards typically laid out terrace-style along the slopes of mountains. After lunch visit the tiny mountain villages including abandoned Wadi Bani Habib and Roose, one of the oldest villages in the mountain range. Return back to Nizwa and check in at the Falaj Daris hotel for dinner and overnight.
- Day 9
- After breakfast we journey to Wahiba Sands. After a drive of about hour and half on tarred roads, we come face to face with the enormous desert. A vast mass of red and white sand, 140 km by 80km, there are dunes rising up to 150 meters, and here Bedouin herders still wander from waterhole to waterhole. We drive through the desert until we reach the 1000 Nights camp, set in an isolated but scenic spot amongst rolling sand dunes. We shall stay in traditional hand made wool Bedouin tents furnished comfortably with proper beds. With no electricity generator, at night the camp is lit by only by paraffin lamps allowing excellent stargazing into the spectacular night sky.
- Day 10
- Today we shall learn about desert life with a visit to a traditional Bedouin homestead. Over 3000 Bedu of varying tribal origins live here amongst the woodland on the fringes of the sands. We visit the tranquil oasis of Wadi Bani Khalid then drive onwards to quiet coastal town of Sur to visit its Dhow factory. Once an important base for trade with Africa, especially through Zanzibar, Sur has been an important dhow-building centre for many centuries. After checking into our hotel, the rest of the day is at leisure to relax or explore until our evening excursion. After dinner we shall visit the Ras Al Jinz Scientific Centre to watch the Turtles nestling on the sand. Return to the Sur Plaza hotel for overnight. (Please note: Turtle watching starts from 9pm so this is likely to be a late night).
- Day 11
- Today we shall travel back towards Muscat along the coast road. On the way we shall visit the tomb of Bibi Mariam, wife of Baha al-Din Ayaz who was the successor to the founder of the Hormuz empire which flourished in the 8th-14th centuries. The mausoleum is now one of the few remaining structures of the ruins of the ancient coastal city of Qalhat. Check-in at Muscat airport for flights back to the UK (either direct or via Dubai – subject to confirmation) or straight to Salalah if taking the 3 night extension.
- Day 12
- Arrive back in the UK this morning.
Tour Details
- DATE:
- 9-20 October 2012 Please note change of dates by 1 day from those advertised
- PRICE:
- £3,495 From London*
- INCLUDES:
economy airfare from London, twin or double bedded rooms with private bathroom, full board, all excursions with local guides, all entrance fees, UK departure tax, transfers, expert leader.
Single supplement £750
- NOT INCLUDED:
regional connecting flights if not departing from London, other airline taxes (UK passenger service charge, security tax, insurance, foreign departure tax, fuel surcharges), multiple entry visa (currently £55) drinks, tips to drivers & local guides.
*May be joined without flights. Ask us for the land-only price.
- ACCOMMODATION:
- 3-4 star hotels and tented camps. This tour uses some of the best available hotels throughout but in some places the choice is very limited. Unlike some other parts of the Middle East, Oman does not have boutique historic hotels, so most are modern and are often located a little outside of the towns themselves. Due to a shortage of good accommodation in Nizwa we have chosen to stay in a ‘luxury’ tented camp about 45 minutes away for two of the three nights. The tents are full-height and come complete with stylish furniture and ensuite bathrooms with hot and cold running water. At Wahiba Sands the Bedouin tented camp is simpler and more traditional in style as the tents are made of branches and camel hair cloth. There are proper bedframes and a private shower and toilet adjacent to each tent. Electricity is limited at this camp, which adds to its appeal. Please note that the hotels listed are subject to confirmation and one or more may be substituted for another of a similar standard.
- FITNESS LEVEL:
Moderate - We have graded the fitness level required for participation in this tour as Moderate. This is busy itinerary, with some long days and a reasonable amount of travelling by road requiring multiple hotel stays. Whilst sightseeing we may be on the go for several hours at one time, in some places without the guarantee of somewhere to stop and rest. It is important that everyone is able to keep up with the group as we need to keep together on walks. For these reasons we feel this tour is unsuitable for the frail or for anyone who routinely uses a walking frame or wheelchair. If unsure, please check with us.
Trip Lecturer
Professor James Allan, Emeritus fellow of St Cross College and lecturer in Islamic Art and Archaeology, Oriental Institute, University of Oxford.
Fast facts
- Sovereignty: Oman is an absolute monarchy
- Language: Arabic
- Currency: Rial (OMR)
- Timezone Oman is 4 hours ahead of GMT all year round.
- Immunisations: NHS Fit for Travel advises that all travellers to Turkey Confirm primary courses and boosters are up to date as recommended for life in Britain - including vaccines given to special groups because of risk exposure or complications (e.g. hepatitis B for health care workers, influenza and pneumococcal vaccines for the elderly). A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers coming from areas with a risk of yellow fever transmission (i.e. parts of South America and Africa).
- Courses or boosters usually advised: tetanus; hepatitis A, typhoid Vaccines sometimes advised: diphtheria; hepatitis B; rabies.
- Visas: Visas are required for US, Australian, UK and other EU passport holders, but our ground handler will arrange a group visa in advance for all those eligible. The cost for this is currently approximately £55 per person. You are welcome to arrange your own multiple entry visa in advance with the consulate.
- Flying time: 7 hours 30 minutes to Muscat direct from London. Flights with stopovers will take longer.
- Will my phone work: Oman uses the 900 MHz bandwidth so almost all UK phones will work there as long as your provider has authorised its use abroad. Note however that coverage may be limited in rural areas.
Three Night Salalah Extension
We have an exciting locally guided extension at the end of this tour to Salalah, the land of Frankincense.
- Day 1
- Fly to Salalah this afternoon. On arrival, transfer to the Crowne Plaza for dinner and overnight.
- Day 2
- Salalah, the "garden city" of the south, is a tropical paradise. We visit the beautiful Shanfari Mosque with its exquisite artwork and Al Husn Souq, where frankincense and typical burners are sold. Also visit the Frankincense Museum. After lunch we visit the Biblical "Nabi Ayoub" Tomb. We continue upwards on the winding road to a wadi close to the Yemen border for breathtaking views and a visit to a bird sanctuary. The stark Frankincense trees dot the landscape. Return to Salalah for dinner and overnight at the Crowne Plaza.
- Day 3
- Visit the fishing village of Taqa, a historic town with an interesting castle. Proceed onward to Khor Rori creek, the site of the ruined city of Samhuram and capital of ancient Arabia’s frankincense trade. We shall also visit Mirbat, the ancient capital of Dhofar, which was an important town as early as the 9th century for its trade in frankincense, horses and slaves. Finally, visit Bin Ali’s Tomb, a fine example of medieval architecture. Return back to the hotel for lunch. Afternoon at leisure to explore or relax. Dinner and overnight at the Crowne Plaza.
- Day 4
- Transfer to the airport for a flight to Muscat or Dubai with onward connection to London.
Dates:
19-22 October 2012
Additional tour cost:
£890 per person based on two people sharing. Single supplement £350. Minimum numbers apply for extension: it will still be possible to arrange with fewer people however the price may be slightly higher.
Inclusions and Exclusions:
As main tour. Note the extension is not accompanied by the trip lecturer.
Private Extensions in Oman
Oman also has some fine beach resorts in Musandam and Muscat; perfect for relaxing before or after your tour. We would be pleased to quote a stay of any duration at the following recommended four and five star hotels:
