Arrive at Muscat International Airport, where your journey begins in a land of gentle silhouettes and warm welcomes. After clearing immigration and collecting your luggage, you will be greeted by your local driver in the arrivals hall.

Enjoy a private transfer to your hotel. Settle in and take your first breath of Omani air—scented with the sea and touched by desert winds. The rest of the day is yours to relax or enjoy a quiet stroll nearby as you prepare for the adventure ahead.

Travel Details: Expected travel distance: ~15 km; Time: ~25 min; Private transfer with English-speaking driver. Overnight stay at a hotel in Muscat (– / – / –)

After breakfast, your guided exploration of Muscat begins at around 9 in the morning with a visit to the magnificent Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque—a masterpiece of Islamic architecture crafted from white sandstone and marble. Gaze up at its stunning Swarovski crystal chandelier and admire the vast handmade Persian carpet that fills the prayer hall.

Next, immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of Muttrah Souk, where narrow lanes are filled with the scent of frankincense, spices, and sandalwood. Continue to the Bait Al Zubair Museum, a beautifully curated private collection of traditional Omani attire, jewelry, weaponry, and cultural heritage.

Lunch is included at a local restaurant before heading to the colorful Al Alam Palace, the ceremonial residence of the Sultan, for a photo stop. In the late afternoon, relax on a 2-hour sunset boat ride along the coast of Muscat, where dramatic cliffs, seaside forts, and the city’s whitewashed skyline unfold in golden light.

On your return, make a final stop at the Royal Opera House and pass through Muscat’s embassy district on your way to the hotel. Enjoy the evening at your leisure.

Highlights of the Day:

• Grand Mosque and Muttrah Souk, two of Muscat’s most iconic cultural landmarks.
• Bait Al Zubair Museum, a window into Oman’s traditions and heritage
• Sunset boat cruise along Muscat’s coastline, featuring stunning views of sea forts and rugged headlands.

Travel Details: Expected travel distance: ~80 km; Time: ~7–8 h tour incl. 2 h boat ride; Overnight say at a hotel in Muscat (B / L / –)

After breakfast, leave the coast behind and journey into the rugged heartland of Oman. Your first stop is the beautifully preserved Jabrin Castle—widely considered the most elegant castle in the country. Explore its maze of staircases, secret rooms, and carved wooden ceilings that whisper stories of the past.

Continue to the ancient village of Al Hamra, where mudbrick houses and falaj irrigation channels reflect centuries of mountain life. From here, board 4x4 vehicles and ascend into the peaks of the Hajar Mountains, reaching the heights of Jebel Shams, Oman’s “Mountain of the Sun.” From the edge of the Grand Canyon of Arabia, take in breathtaking panoramic views stretching across the vast rocky gorge.

After lunch at a local restaurant, descend to the town of Nizwa, which was once the capital of Oman. Visit the Nizwa Souk, a vibrant maze of stalls selling silver jewelry, khanjars, pottery, and dates. Framed by palm groves and fortress walls, this is one of the country’s oldest and most authentic marketplaces. Evening at leisure. Overnight in Nizwa.

Highlights of the Day:

• Explore Jabrin Castle, a masterpiece of Omani defensive architecture and design.
• Scenic drive to Jebel Shams, with stunning canyon views from the highest point in Oman.
• Nizwa Souk, alive with color, craftsmanship, and local trade traditions

Travel Details: Expected travel distance: ~350 km; Time: ~8–9 h touring; Includes 4x4 drive to Jebel Shams; Overnight at a hotel in Nizwa (B / L / –)

After breakfast, leave Nizwa behind and journey eastward toward the desert plains. Your first stop is the vibrant Sinaw Thursday Market, one of the most authentic markets in Oman. Held weekly, it draws Bedouin families from across the region who come to trade livestock, textiles, pottery, and daily goods. The air is filled with voices, bartering, and the scent of fresh dates and spices—a living window into local life.

Continue to a traditional Omani home, where you’ll be warmly welcomed for a homemade lunch with a local family. Sit beneath the shade, share stories, and experience authentic Omani hospitality around a communal table.

In the afternoon, explore the crumbling remnants of Al Manzifat, a ruined merchant town near Ibra that once flourished with trade and life. As the landscape begins to shift, 4x4 vehicles meet you for the final stretch into the desert.

By evening, you arrive in the heart of Wahiba Sands, where the dunes ripple toward the horizon. Settle into your camp, enjoy a fire-lit dinner under the stars, and let the silence of the desert wrap around you.

Highlights of the Day:

• Experience the Sinaw Thursday Market, a vibrant and traditional Bedouin gathering.
• Enjoy a homemade lunch with a local Omani family in an authentic village setting.
• Evening arrival in Wahiba Sands, with desert camp and dinner under the stars.

Travel Details: Expected travel distance: ~220 km; Time: ~6–7 h touring; Includes 4x4 transfer into Wahiba Sands; Overnight in Wahiba Sands desert camp (B / L / D)

Wake up with the sun in the desert and enjoy breakfast at the camp before your 4x4 vehicle takes you back to the road. Today’s journey unfolds in striking contrast, beginning with a visit to the lush oasis of Wadi Bani Khalid, where turquoise pools, date palms, and rocky cliffs form a serene haven tucked deep within the mountains.

From there, continue to the coastal town of Sur, a place once famed for its maritime trade and dhow-building tradition. Visit a working dhow factory, where wooden ships are still handcrafted by skilled artisans, preserving a legacy that spans centuries.

By the afternoon, reach Ras Al Hadd, where the desert meets the sea. After dinner at your hotel, take a night excursion to the Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve, one of the world’s most important nesting sites for green sea turtles. If nature allows, witness the unforgettable sight of turtles emerging from the surf to lay their eggs beneath the moonlit sand. Return to your hotel for the night.

Highlights of the Day:

• Swim or relax at Wadi Bani Khalid, one of the most beautiful desert oases in Oman.
• Visit the dhow shipyard in Sur, where Oman’s rich seafaring history lives on
• Night visit to Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve, a rare and moving wildlife encounter (USP)

Travel Details: Expected travel distance: ~230 km; Time: ~7 h incl. night excursion; Overnight at a hotel in Ras Al Hadd (B / – / D)

After breakfast, depart from Ras Al Hadd and drive to Sur for a brief city tour. Stroll along the harbor and glimpse the timeless rhythm of daily life in this coastal town shaped by seafaring and the wind.

Continue your scenic journey along Oman’s eastern coastline, where cliffs meet turquoise coves. Stop to explore the emerald pools and date-palm-lined canyons of Wadi Tiwi, a lush oasis carved through stone. After enjoying lunch at a local restaurant, visit the dramatic Bimah Sinkhole, a striking geological formation where turquoise water fills a collapsed limestone cavity—an unexpected gem of the Omani coast.

In the afternoon, drive onward to Muscat. Depending on your plans, transfer either to the airport for evening departures or to a hotel where you can freshen up before your onward journey. Late flights (after 20:00) are recommended for same-day departures.

Highlights of the Day:

• Short city tour of Sur, Oman’s historic port town
• Wadi Tiwi, a canyon oasis of emerald pools and steep cliffs
• Bimah Sinkhole, a natural wonder of Oman’s coastal karst landscape

Travel Details: Expected travel distance: ~250 km; Time: ~7 h; Airport transfer (no guide) to the airport, around 17:00 p.m End of tour in Muscat (B / L / –)