Hidden natural wonders of Oman

13:00 hrs: Driver and Guide to Report at the Al Ain.
At 13:30 hrs, the group will get together at the Al Ain Hotel lobby. The Horizon Tours driver and guide will meet the group. We will depart by coach to Nizwa via the Wadi Hafeet border. At the border checkpoint, we must clear customs and immigration formalities before we continue on our way to Nizwa.
At 14:00 hrs, the group departs for the Nizwa Golden Tulip Hotel. Drive to the UAE border, and after clearing the immigration and customs formalities at the UAE, continue to the Wadi Hafeet Oman checkpoint after clearing the immigration and customs formalities.
Arrive at Nizwa Hotel for the overnight stay.
On arrival at Nizwa Hotel, check-in at Nizwa Hotel.
Dinner and overnight stay at the Nizwa Hotel.

After breakfast at 0830 hrs, depart on a local sightseeing tour and visit the Nizwa Souq, famous for its intricately hand-carved Khanjar daggers and other ornamental silver jewelry, 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 foothills of the Jabel Akhdar mountains. The village has interesting old multi-story mud houses surrounded by lush green date plantations.
 After this visit, we will then visit the Jabreen Castle, the finest of Oman's castles, built in the late 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 mesmerizing.
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. We will then return to the hotel.
Dinner and overnight at the Nizwa Hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel; at 07:30 hrs, depart for Muscat. On arrival at Muscat, we drive straight to Muscat International Airport to board the Salalah.

Upon arrival at Salalah Airport, the group will depart for the Salalah Hotel. Check in at the Salalah hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Dinner and overnight stay at the Salalah Hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel at 7:30 a.m., we together depart on a full-day tour of East and West Salalah. We begin with East Salalah. Visit the fishing village of Taqa, an old town with an interesting castle surrounded by watch towers and Taqa stone houses. Proceed onward to Khor Rori Creek, the site of the ruined city of Samhuram, (excluding THU-FRI), the capital of ancient Arabia's exotic frankincense trade. Excavations have produced evidence of an ancient city with trade links by sea to Far Eastern destinations and with even distant Greece.
 
Samhuram - Please be advised that we have a team of archaeologists working at the site, as the ministry is now conserving the area with a view to preparing for the tourists. Presently, it is closed from the outside.
 
Mirbat, the ancient capital of Dhofar, was an important town as early as the 9th century for its trade in frankincense, horses, and slaves. See some of the old houses famous for their wood carvings. If lucky, you will see boatloads of fish arriving in the harbor. One of Dhofar's best-known historic sites is Bin Ali's Tomb. The twin-domed tomb of Mohamed bin Ali, who died in 1135 AD, is a fine example of medieval architecture. Return to the hotel via Ayn Razat (Thu-Fri ONLY) manicured gardens fed by natural underground springs. Return to the hotel for lunch on your own.
 
At 14:00 hrs, we get together and depart on a half-day tour of West Salalah.
 We depart to visit the Biblical "Nabi Ayoub" Prophet Job's Tomb, perched high up in the "Jebel" (mountains). Enroute are spectacular views of the plains, mountain landscape, and emerald green pasture land. Proceed to Mughsail Beach, where "blow-holes" are perforations in the limestone rock through which sea water gushes during high tide. At the nearby bird sanctuary, one may see seasonal birds. En route, the stark shape of leafless Frankincense trees dot the landscape. Once traded as a commodity more precious than gold, frankincense harvested in Dhofar is rated the best in the world.
 
Drive past the magnificent Al Hosn Palace, where you will be able to take some photos from the coach. The palace is the personal residence of His Majesty, the Sultan of Oman. However, the view is limited due to the imposing towering walls of the palace.
 
Stop at the Al Hosn Souq and stroll among the vendors. The colorful stalls are heaped with mounds of frankincense, myrrh, incense, bottles of fragrant perfume oils, and a large variety of fascinating artifacts. Return to the hotel after the tour.
 
Dinner and overnight stay at the Salalah Hotel.

After breakfast, spend the full day at leisure, enjoying the ambiance of the hotel. Dinner at the coffee shop with an overnight stay at the Salalah Hotel.

After breakfast at the coffee shop at leisure,.
At 00:00 hrs, the group will be transferred to the Salalah Airport to board a flight to Muscat. Arrival at Muscat. The group will be transferred to a hotel.
Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, At 8:00 a.m., guests get together and depart for a half-day Muscat City Tour. The tour winds through Oman's exclusive residential area, 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.
We continue our visit to Bait AI Zubair, a private museum that houses traditional Omani heritage items. The exhibits include collections of Omani weapons, jewelry, clothing, household items, books, photographs, paintings, maps, etc., which aim to show and preserve the rich Omani heritage and culture.

After the purchases are made, we then proceed to the walled city of Muscat, where we come face to face with the magnificent Al Alam Palace, the official residence of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, which is an architectural marvel for both the design and its location between the two forts of 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 through its network of passages beckoning with a myriad of merchandise, from color-full imported fabrics to exotic Oriental spices, perfumes, and richly handcrafted artifacts. A visit to this frenetic, pulsating hub of Muscat's old quarter makes for a delightful experience.
After these visits, we return to the hotel.
PM at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, At 07:30 hrs, depart by chauffer-driven 4WD vehicle to Wahiba Sands and Wadi Bani Khalid. After driving for about 2 1/2 hours with a few photos, we come face to face with the enormous desert.

We drive to Wadi Bani Khalid, one of the most beautiful wadies in Oman. After driving for a while, we soon hit the dirt track, and the road winds through the mountain, offering a panoramic view of the beautiful landscape below. We pass many pretty villages embedded in the mountains. Here, the road winds down to the wadi, along with a large, shallow pool fringed with vegetation, and ends at a village. We park our vehicles at this point and continue on a short trek to the deep blue pools of the wadi. Enjoy a walk in this glorious grace of nature. It is recommended to wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes on this trip.

After this exciting visit, we bid good-bye to Wadi Bani Khalid. Having enjoyed the morning, we proceed to our final destination of the day: the glorious Wahiba Sands.

12:30 hrs.: Enjoy a buffet lunch at the Al Sharqiya Sands before proceeding to Wahiba Sands. The Wahiba Sands, a vast mass of undulating red and white seas of sand and dunes rising up to 200 meters, are also home to a variety of flora and fauna. The ever-changing patterns of the dunes are a photographer's delight. The Wahiba Sands are also home to the traditional Bedouin tribe, who are known for their hospitality and their knowledge of the sands. Experience a roller coaster-like feeling as our experienced driver drives you over the dunes.

After these visits we return to Muscat at 18:30 hrs approximately.

Notes

Light, comfortable clothing with flat shoes and swimwear is recommended.
Approximate KM: 610 KM
Our 4WDrs are mostly Land Cruisers, which are fitted with safety belts and air conditioning and licensed to carry up to 4 passengers, excluding the driver. Passengers must wear their seat belts at all times.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. At 15:30 hrs, the guests get together and depart for a "Dhow Cruise." 1600 hrs. arrive at the marina. The cruise takes you past the corniche, the Sultan's Palace, cliffs with the names of ships that visited Oman painted on them, the beautiful white beaches, and the Al Bustan Palace. Light refreshments are served on board. On the return to the pier, transfer to the hotel.
Dinner and overnight at the Al Hotel.

After breakfast, at 8:00 a.m., check out of the hotel and depart for Sohar with en route sightseeing. First, we stop at the Seeb Village. Watch the fishermen bring their early morning catch to the shores. Take a stroll in the souq, laden with fish, vegetable, and fruit stalls. Then we continue to visit the pre-Islamic-era Nakhl Fort, which stands on a 200-foot-high mountain peak. This fort once served the Imams of Bani Kharous and the Al Ya'arubah dynasty. The view from the top is very impressive, and one can get a view of the surrounding landscape. As we continue from here, the road meanders through a vast expanse of date plantations and arrives at the hot water springs at Nakhl. Relax by the side of the shallow waters of the springs.

Next, we will visit the AI Hazm Fort. There is a small village and a massive fort built in the 18th century by the Imam Sultan bin Saif bin Sultan of the Ya'aruba dynasty. He died in 1718 and is buried in a walled tomb inside the fort.

Buffet lunch at the AI Sawadi Beach resort at approximately 1330 hrs After lunch, we will proceed to Sohar. On arrival, check in at the Sohar Hotel.
Dinner and overnight stay at the Sohar Hotel.

Breakfast at the coffee shop. At 8:00 a.m., the group checks out and departs for the hotel.

the fish Souq and watch the fishermen beach their boats at the market and disgorge their catch—a veritable Neptune's harvest of shark, sailfish, grouper, snapper, lobster, and tour of Sohar, the ancient capital of Oman and the home of the legendary Sindbad the Sailor. Visit shrimps.

At 10:00 a.m., the group departs for Hatta. Drive to the Oman border, and after clearing the immigration and customs formalities at the Oman border, continue to the UAE border (20 minutes of driving time). After clearing the immigration and customs formalities at the Oman border, continue to the hotel, approximately 10 minutes away. After drop-off at the hotel, the Horizon Tours guide and driver will return to Muscat.