12 Days
Tailor-made
1 - 6 people
English
Explore Oman from North to South with this comprehensive tour of the Sultanate. You will go through all the must-see places of Oman on a 12 days journey. First, you’ll explore the Northern parts of Oman, from Muscat to the East Coast and Hajar Mountains. You can hike in its lush wadis, observe turtles, and discover the ancient castles and forts there. With a quick flight to Khasab, you’ll spend two days in the Musandam peninsula, one day on the ground for a mountain safari, the other day on the sea with a full-day Dhow cruise.
Finally, you’ll go all the way south to the Indian Ocean to visit a different Oman, the wild and lush Salalah region. While there, you’ll discover the unique culture and the breathtaking landscapes of the land of Frankincense. Last but not least, end this unforgettable journey searching for the lost city of Ubar in the “Desert of Deserts.”
You can fully customize your tour and change its duration, route, and included services, all tailored to your needs.
You can change the date of your trip free of charge, for up to two weeks prior to your original arrival date.
This tour is private and is only for you and your own travel companions.
Need a piece of professional advice?
Contact Violet, our Oman travel designer, for planning your personalized trip.
Upon arrival in Muscat, meet your guide at the International Airport and start a half-day guided tour of the city. The first stop is the iconic Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. Anyone can enter this mosque as long as they are dressed modestly. After that, explore the heart of ancient Muscat, Muttrah Souk, in which you can find all kinds of handicrafts, from incense to Khanjar and admire the Corniche view during a peaceful walk. Drive towards east to visit the old neighborhoods of Muscat and learn about culture and history of Oman at Bait al Zubair Museum. After a short stop at Al Alam Palace, it's time to taste the local cuisine. You can enjoy the authentic Omani cuisine at Bait al Luban before going back to the hotel.
**Note: The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and the Bait al Zubair Museum are closed on Fridays. The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is only open in the morning. Depending on your arrival day and time, it will be possible to visit the Mosque the next morning, and another attraction will replace bait al Zubair.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Muscat Inn Hotel or Similar
Leave the capital for the mountainous regions of northern Oman. Your first destination is Nizwa, the former capital of the Sultanate. While in Nizwa, visit its ancient fort, one of Oman's most emblematic forts, and stroll into its traditional market. After lunch break, drive to Jabreen and visit its castle which is one of the most beautiful historical palaces of the Sultanate and dates back to the 17th-century. This castle is right next to Bahla Fort, another well-preserved site you can visit. Finally, get back to Nizwa by the end of the day, for spending the night.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Nizwa Heritage Inn Hotel or Similar
Make sure you don't miss visiting the cattle market if you happen to be in Nizwa on a Friday morning. There, you can observe sellers and buyers trading cattle in the traditional way. Then, hit the road to reach the old town of Al Hamra and walk between its mudbrick houses. Next, head towards another mountain village, Misfat Al Abriyeen, and stop for lunch among the banana plantations and the sounds of the Aflaj water flows. You'll also have the great opportunity of exploring the village through a walk for an hour before driving to the famous Wadi An Nakhr. Exploring this wadi requires some off-road skills. Finally, you'll get to the top of Jebel Shams to admire its breathtaking views and by the end of the day, you'll return to Nizwa.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Nizwa Heritage Inn Hotel or Similar
Leave Nizwa early in the morning towards Birkat Al-Mawz. This village is nestled in the mountains and offers plenty of opportunities for a quiet walk. You can stop for lunch at Ibra, one of Oman's oldest cities. Walk into its historical city center and explore its traditional market which dates back to when Ibra was a significant trading center. After lunch, it's time to enter the heart of the desert. Drive between the dunes of Wahiba Sands towards the Bedouin camp, where you'll spend the night and discover the hospitality of this Arabic nomadic tribe. Upon request, you can ride camels or have fun doing other activities in the sands. In the evening, share a traditional barbecue and enjoy the twinkling of stars in the sky.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: OYO 107 Al Areen Hotel Apartments or Similar
Have breakfast in the serenity of the desert before hitting the road towards the eastern coast. After a two-hours drive, explore the famous Wadi Shab and relax in its fresh, natural pools for one hour and a half. After that, go to the Fins Beach to picnic in front of the sea and relax, and swim in the waters of the Oman Gulf. In the afternoon, and after a short 20- minutes drive, you'll visit Bimmah Sinkhole, one of Oman's iconic natural wonders. Before returning to Muscat, drive through the wild and lush Wadi Arbayeen, which offers incredible natural sceneries. Finally, have some rest at the hotel by the end of the day.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Nizwa Heritage Inn Hotel or Similar
Wake up early today to catch your flight to Khasab. Once in Khasab, start a mountain safari into Jebel Harim, and stride across its spectacular scenic roads up to the top of the mountain in a 4WD vehicle. Here, at nearly 1800 meters above the sea level, you can enjoy and take pictures of the panoramic view over the Gulf of Oman. On the way to the top of the mountain, you'll visit Bait al Qalf, a centuries-old village with a house which is one of a kind and you'll also pass by the lush Khalidiyah Acacia Tree Park. Finally, after about 3 hours of mountain safari, get to the hotel and relax.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Diwan Al Amir Hotel or Similar
Today, embark on a dhow cruise which is beautifully decorated and very comfortable at the same time. You are welcomed on board with traditional coffee and dates. Then, the cruise drives you to Khor Sham, the longest fjords of Musandam with amazing landscapes. You'll probably get to see dolphins on the way to Telegraph Islands and you can snorkel in the exceptional seabed, swim in the turquoise waters, and relax on the boat deck. This excursion lasts about 6 hours before returning to Khasab and resting at the hotel for the evening.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Diwan Al Amir Hotel or Similar
In the morning, a private transfer will drive you to the airport for your flight to Salalah, the capital of Dhofar. Upon your arrival in Salalah, another private transfer brings you to the hotel, where you can relax by the beach.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Al Jabal Hotel or Similar
Start a half-day guided tour of Salalah! This city of southern Oman offers a very different atmosphere which you can discover throughout the day. First, you'll visit the sublime Sultan Qaboos Mosque. Visitors must dress modestly, and women must cover their hair with a scarf to enter. Then, visit the Museum of the Frankincense Land and Al Baleed Archeological Museum to learn more about the region's history and the importance of the Frankincense trade. After that, you can explore the plantation farms right inside the city, with bananas, papayas, and other exotic fruits. Enjoy some fresh coconut milk before heading toward the traditional market of Al Husn, also known as Haffa Souk and one of the best places to buy all kinds of Frankincense. Then, return to your hotel to relax by the beach for the end of the day.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Al Jabal Hotel or Similar
Today is a you'll get to visit the must-sees of Salalah, from east to west! As you drive towards the east, stop by the Royal Farm and the Marmura Palace. The Sultan used to live there himself during the summer to escape from the heat. Although visiting these places is not possible, they make a great stop for taking photos. After a short drive, you'll arrive at Taqah and enter the historical lands of Salalah. Taqah Castle was built during the 19th century and stands out from all other forts and castles of Oman. It has been the private residence of the region's tribal leaders. Visit the interior of the castle and then go to Sumhuram Archeological Park. This park holds Khor Rori's remains, which has once been one of the most important ports of the world. After a half an hour visit, it's finally time to explore the natural wonders of Wadi Darbat. Wadi Darbat offers a very relaxing place for a break with its river and nice beaches. Continue to the coastal town of Mirbat to visit the Mausoleum of Bin Ali and end your day with exploring some natural splendors. First, visit Ayn Razat, the most impressive spring of Dhofar. Then, drive for an hour to reach the sea and enjoy Al Mughasil, one of the most beautiful beaches of Dhofar. Finally, drive towards the Zig Zag Road, in which you'll get the opportunity to observe several sorts of Frankincense trees. By the end of the day, get back to the hotel for a well-deserved rest.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Al Jabal Hotel or Similar
Today, immerse yourself in the immensity of Rub al Khali. Rub al Khali means the Empty Quarter, and gets it name from the fact that it's one of the largest deserts in the world. Leave Salalah in the morning and drive towards the desert. There, you will find Wadi Dowkha with its tree farms. Then, drive an hour and a half towards the desert village of Shisr in which you will find the ruins of the lost city of Ubar, also known as the "Atlantis of the Sands." Visit the ruins before going deeper into the Empty Quarter to explore the desert. By the end of the day, get back to Salalah for overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Al Jabal Hotel or Similar
Enjoy some free time in the morning. After check-out, a private transfer will get you to Salalah International Airport for your departure flight.
Meals: Breakfast
During your tour, you will stay at the hotels mentioned in the itinerary. In case any of the mentioned hotels were not available, we'll book you another similar hotel after confirming it with you. If you would like to change any of the accommodations, send us an email at [email protected]
The mentioned price is based on a twin or double room. If you do not want to share your room with your travel companions and prefer to stay in a single room, please contact us.
All our tour guides are licensed by the Ministry of Tourism and have between 18 to 20 years of experience. By default, the price includes the service of an English-speaking Omani guide, but we also support French, German, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, and many other languages. Please, contact us for more information.
Yes! All our tours are private and tailor-made. We can fully customize them based on your preferences. Contact us at [email protected] to design your plan.
You don't need to have a visa before booking your services. However, depending on your nationality and the duration of your stay, you might need a visa for entering Oman. You can check out our blog post about Oman's visa for more information.
As all our tours are private, they can be organized for only one traveler to up to 8 travelers. To arrange a tour for larger groups, please contact us at [email protected].
As of March 21st, 2018, e-Visa has been the only available option to enter the Sultanate of Oman for tourism purposes. The embassies no longer issue the “classic” visa in order to reduce waiting times at the embassies and airports. Since December 2020, around 100 nationalities have been exempt from visa requirements for stays of up to 14 days.
As of December 2020, 102 nationalities don't need to have a visa for stays of up to 14 days: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bhutan, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cyprus, South Africa, South Korea, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Spain, United States, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Macedonia, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Uzbekistan, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, El Salvador, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Suriname, Tajikistan, Taiwan, Czech Republic, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela and Vietnam
The Omani e-Visa requires entry into the country within six months of issue date.
With a valid visa to Dubai, you can enter the Sultanate of Oman without needing any additional visas and you can stay for up to three weeks. Eligible countries: Portugal, Spain, France, Switzerland, Italy, UK, Sweden, Greece, Austria, Ireland, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Belgium, Norway, Netherlands, Denmark, South Korea, Japan, Brunei, Malaysia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, Vatican, Monaco, Andorra, San Marino.
The e-Visa allows one or more entries with up to 30 days of stay in Oman. In some cases, the duration of stay can be extended. Once your e-Visa is issued, you'll have six months to arrive in Oman.
Generally, e-Visas for Oman are issued within 72 hours from the time you submit your documents. This time frame is only an estimation and not something we can guarantee, as the process depends on the Sultanate’s administrative services.
| # | Discount group | From adult | To adult | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Pax | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | 2 Pax | 2 | 2 | 47.5% |
| 3 | 3 Pax | 3 | 3 | 57.76% |
| 4 | 4 Pax | 4 | 4 | 66.74% |
| 5 | 5 Pax | 5 | 5 | 66.74% |
| 6 | 6 Pax | 6 | 6 | 70.9% |
Daniele Cordei
It was a convincing experience