Oman Desert Adventure

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Muscat

Arrive in Muscat and transfer to hotel. You will meet with your tour leader this afternoon for a brief meeting followed by an orientation walk through the old walled town of Muscat.

Day 2 Finns Beach

Leaving Muscat after breakfast this morning, we follow the rugged coastline to Wadi Shab, a lush canyon oasis nestled amongst barren mountains. Relax in the freshwater pools, or take a stroll through the dense vegetation and plam trees, before heading to our camp at Finns Beach. Set on the stunning waters of the Gulf of Oman, we spend a night under the clear Arabian sky.

Day 3 Qahid

On day 3, we continue our drive south along to coast to Qahid, pausing en-route to visit the Port of Sur. Sur is the countries premier dhow(sailing boats) building centre. Dhows were used throughout the 19th century and are still being built in a the seafaring town of Sur. From Sur, we we continue onto the beach of Ras al Had for a relaxing swim. The remainder of the drive skirts along the rich red Wahiba Sands- an area covering over 15,000 sq km- as we arrive at our desert beach campsite of Qahid where you can have a well earned dip in the Arabian Sea.

Day 4 Wahiba Sands

Leave the coast behind us and drive deep into the heart of the shifting sands of Wahiba. Laid out before us like a great ocean of sand the endless dunes, some rising to 100 metres in height, are generally rusty red at the base and honey coloured on the top – an alluring landscape of changing contours and colours. Be on the look out for Bedouins who roam the land with goats and camels. Tonight we enjoy Omani hospitality and another night under a desert sky full of stars.

Day 5 Nizwah

We continue through the desert this morning, heading for Al Mintrib in the north. In spite of its barren feel the sands contain a phenomenal amount of life. As well as the Bedu they are home to an exotic diversity of fauna including dragonflies, wolf, two species of Ruppell’s fox, wild cats and white-tailed mongooses. Some 115 species of birds have also been recorded here and it is one of the few remaining refuges for the elusive Arabian and Sand Gazelles. Once out of the sands we continue to Sinaw, a market town that is a meeting point for Bedouin for miles around. From here it is a fairly easy drive along tarmac roads to Nizwa, the capital of Oman from 751 to 1154 AD and still regarded as the cultural capital.

Day 6 Nizwah

We spend a full day exploring some of the many highlights of the surrounding area. We begin in the oasis of Nizwa itself, visiting the traditional goat market and modern souk; traders bring their goats from around the surrounding area in a timeless tradition, offering a unique insight into traditional Omani life. As we head north, we travel through the mountains, passing the dramatic craggy peaks of the Jebel Akhdar (‘Green Mountain’)range, the highest mountain range in Oman. For thousands of years self-sufficient oases have flourished in the folds of rocks, using an ancient irrigation system known as falaj. Along the way we also encounter an astonishing view down a sheer drop of 1000m to the bottom of the ‘Grand Canyon’, Oman’s very own (and equally spectacular) version of its American counterpart; at the bottom of this vast void, a wadi winds peacefully through the landscape.Our last stop is the eerie ruined village of Tanuf, destroyed during the Jabal war. Returning to Nizwa late in the afternoon there may be time to explore the interesting souk, browsing the array of dazzling treasures.

Day 7 Muscat

We visit the impressive Jabrin Fort, a 17th century fortified palace built in a vast oasis of palm trees, with commanding views of the whole valley. It was once a seat of learning and is noted for its painted wooden ceilings and interesting stairways. Our route back to Muscat is through the stunning Wadi Bani Awf. We once again leave the smooth roads behind, and head into a narrow canyon with steep sided cliffs. We spend our final evening amidst the souks and mosques of the capital.

Day 8 Depart Muscat

Depart Muscat at any time on day 8.

Trip Details

Accommodation	Hotels (4 nts), camping (3 nts).
Departure	Departs selected Saturdays
DepEnd	Sat-Sat
Group Size	Max 15
Included Highlights	Finns Beach, Wadi Shab, Whlba Sands, Nzway Fort, Jebal Akhdar, Jabrin Fort
Local Payment	USD200
Meals Included	2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners.
StartFinish	ex Muscat
Transport	Aircon bus, 4WD vehicles.
Brochure Intro	Explore the historic and cultural highlights of this fascinating and diverse country. Oman boasts spectacular and deserted beaches along a seemingly endless coastline of perfect blue shimmering sea and soft white sands. See the dramatic, golden dunes of the Wahiba Sands, and Oman's very own “Grand Canyon”, set amidst the impressive Jebel Hamra Mountains.

When can I go?

Start Date	Finish Date	Places Available
2008-11-22	2008-11-29	7+
2008-12-20	2008-12-27	7+

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