Horizon Travel & Tourism - Discover The Rich Heritage And Beauty Of Oman

Discover The Rich Heritage And Beauty Of Oman

NAKHAL - NIZWA - WAHIBA SANDS - SUR

Duration

8 Days & 7 Nights

Theme

Nature & Landscapes

Transfer Type

Private

Country

Oman

Overview

This 8-day itinerary offers an incredible journey through the captivating landscapes of Oman, showcasing its rich history and culture. Day 1 starts with a warm welcome to the capital city of Muscat, where you can settle into your hotel and get refreshed for the adventures ahead. The following day, you embark on a full-day city tour, exploring the enchanting mosques, palaces, and markets of Muscat, offering a glimpse into the local lifestyle and traditions. On Day 3, you continue your journey to Seeb, Nakhl, and Rustaq, discovering the historical sites and natural wonders of this region. The fourth day takes you to Nizwa, where you visit the iconic Jabrin Castle and Bahla Fort, before exploring Al Hamra and Tanuf, showcasing the charming villages and beautiful landscapes of Oman. On Day 5, you journey to Jebal Akhdar, followed by a visit to the mesmerizing Wahiba Sand dunes, where you can enjoy camel riding and sandboarding. The following day, you travel to Wadi Bani Khalid, Ja'alan Bani Bu Ali, and Ras Al Hadd, where you can admire the stunning coastline, serene lagoons, and vibrant marine life. Day 7 is dedicated to exploring the beautiful wadis of Sur, Wadi Shab, and Bimmah Sinkhole, before returning to Muscat for one final evening. On the final day, you say goodbye to Oman and depart for your flight back home, filled with memories of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive at the Muscat International Airport in Muscat, Guide will assist you with your transfer to the Hotel in Muscat.

Day 2

After Breakfast at the hotel. At 0800 hrs guests get together and depart for a full-day Muscat City Tour. The tour winds through Oman's exclusive residential area of Shati Al Qurum with its elegant villas. We then visit the Grand Mosque. The idea was for the Grand Mosque to be the major central place of worship in the Sultanate.
Notes:
• Grand Mosque is open from Saturday to Thursday from 0800hrs to 1100 hrs only
• Ladies visiting the mosque are required to cover their heads and not wear shorts, beach wear or sleeveless outfits
We continue our visit to Bait AI Zubair, a private museum that houses traditional Omani Heritage items. The exhibits include collections of Omani Weaponry, Jewellery, Clothing, Household Items, Books, Photographs, Paintings, Maps, etc. which aims to show and preserve the rich Omani heritage and culture. After the purchases being made we then proceed to the Walled city of Muscat where we then come face to face with the magnificent Al Alam Palace, the official residence of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, which is an architectural marvel for both the design and its location between the two forts Mirani and Jalali. Continue via the waterfront corniche and visit the colorful Muttrah Souq one of the most popular souqs in the Middle East. Take a walk in its network of passages beckoning with a myriad of merchandise, from color full imported fabrics to exotic Oriental spices, perfumes and richly hand-crafted artifacts. A visit to this frenetic, pulsating hub of Muscat's old quarter makes for a delightful experience. 1330 hrs, we transport to Muscat Hills for the lunch. After these visits we return back to the hotel at 1830 hrs. Overnight stay at Hotel in Muscat.

Day 3

After breakfast at 0800 hrs, this tour takes into the Batinah region, perhaps the most fertile and lush green coastal region of northern Oman and also offers you a few glimpses into Oman’s rich history with a visit to some lovely old forts. First visit the very lively, interesting fish market in Barka, which takes place in the early morning hours on the open beach. Proceed to castle Bait Naman, it is built by Imam Bil'arab bin Sultan and his brother Imam Saif bin Sultan in the last decade of the 17th century. Later used as a rest house by Imam Ahmed bin Said, whose sons lived there for some years, it continue to provide a meeting and resting place. Then we drive directly to Al Hazm, one of the most famous forts of Oman, well known due to its marvelous architecture boasting numerous secret passageways and hidden rooms. Next we will visit the Rustaq Fort and the hot water springs. Later visit Nakhl, where a pre-Islamic fort perched up on a hillock offers a splendid view of the surrounding planes. Not very far away from the fort are the famous hot water springs of Nakhl, also a popular picnic spot. Before returning back to Muscat, do a brief photostop of the Zulfa Mosque. lit up marvelously by the afternoon sun. Overnight stay at Hotel in Muscat.

Day 4

After Breakfast at 0730 hrs, Depart on a local sightseeing tour and visit the Nizwa Souq, famous for its intricately hand carved Khanjars daggers and other ornamental silver jewellery and the imposing Round tower Nizwa Fort built in the 17th Century. Next we will visit the ruins at Tanuf, an old village with interesting mud houses and the bottling plant producing the famous Mineral water brand "Tanuf". Continue to the Village of Al Hamra, situated at the foothill of the Jabel Akhdar mountains. The village has interesting old multi-storied mud houses surrounded by lush green date plantation. After this visit proceed to we will then visit the Jabreen castle, the finest of Oman's Castle built in the late of 17th century, which became a seat of Omani learning. This castle has extremely well planned layouts with room for the Imam, 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 mesmersing. After this visit we will drive through the lush green oasis village of Birkat-Al-Mauz, stopping for a photo stop in front of its unique two-tiered falaj system and tiny castle, return to the hotel. Overnight stay at Hotel at Nizwa.

Day 5

Following breakfast at the hotel, leave on a tour of the famous green mountain of Oman – Jebel Akhdar. Move ahead to Wadi Muadeen via the oasis village of Birkat Al Mauz. In this village, enjoy a short walk in the crisp morning air through the dense banana & date plantations. Also visit the famous old ruins of mud houses of this village and learn a little bit about its interesting history. Driving further through the wadi, cross a check post located at the foot of the mountain and start the steep ascent up the mountain and reach the Saiq plateau. Jebel Akhdar is also quite famous due to its large plantations of roses, apricots and pomegranates besides a variety of other fruits & vegetables found on the slopes of the mountain in terrace-like gardens. Visit other interesting places in the vicinity like Wadi Bani Habeeb and a pretty village Shirayja. In the afternoon, descend the mountain and embark on the long drive to the Sharqiyah region, where you will enter the Wahiba desert. Before reaching the Wahiba desert, make an interesting stop inMudayrib, where you can witness a typical old village in the interiors of Oman with its ruins of mud houses. Check-in to your Hotel. Dinner & overnight stay at the campsite.

Day 6

0800 hrs. Leave the camp and enjoy some dune driving in the Wahiba Sands. In the desert, use the opportunity to visit a Bedouin family living in a typical Barasti hut and get; acquainted with their traditional lifestyle. Leave for Wadi Bani Khalid for a swim ill its pools. Lunch at Local Restaurant. Proceed via Ja'alan Bani Bu Ali & Aseela to Ras Al Hadd for an overnight stay at the Hotel. Reach the hotel in Ras al Hadd in the afternoon. At night, enjoy a turtle-watching experience at the Ras Al Jinz beach. Overnight stay at Hotel.

Notes:
 Never approach turtles emerging from the sea or disturb nesting Turtles.
 Watch out for disoriented hatchlings and direct them seaward.
 Never leave waste on the beach.
 Avoid making noise around the nesting beach.
 Using the flashlight is prohibited. The best photo opportunity would be early morning around 0530 hrs.

Day 7

Leave Ras al Hadd for Sur, which is famous for its long & proud tradition of dhow building. These wooden dhows are still built along the traditional lines by the craftsmen working in the dhow yards of Sur with their traditional tools. We will visit one such dhow yard. Following photo stops at a few more charming places in Sur like the lighthouse of Ayga and the pretty Corniche Road, we will leave Sur, driving past the huge plant of Oman LNG, and arrive in Qalhat. Here you can view Bibi Mariam’s tomb and the ruins of the ancient town of Qalhat. Drive further to Wadi Tiwi, a very pretty wadi, where the sheer cliffs on both sides rise high into the sky forming the sidewalls. Located deep inside this wadi are also small clusters of houses forming small villages of the farmers, who grow various types of fruits & vegetables in the fertile bed of this wadi. Not very far from here is another very spectacular Wadi Shab. Here it is possible to cross the wadi over a narrow bridge and walk a bit inward along the river bed to explore its lush green vegetation. Another splendid opportunity to swim out in the open is a little further at Fins Beach, a beach with sand as white as it gets. Later at Bimah, you will see a natural crater in the limestone created due to the collapsing of a cave roof. At the bottom of this sinkhole is clear green brackish water, in which you can also swim & snorkel. On the way back to Muscat, make a final stop in the small fishing town of Quriyat before driving northward along Wadi Hatat to reach Muscat. Overnight stay in Hotel at Muscat.