Northern Oman Adventure

After enjoying complimentary VIP lounge access at the airport, fly overnight to Muscat and transfer to your hotel for a three-night beachfront stay close to Oman's relaxed capital. Muscat offers the visitor a rare opportunity to witness modernity existing in harmony with traditional culture. Take a stroll along the Muttrah Corniche, sip a coffee in one of the many waterfront cafes and marvel at the 16th-century Portuguese forts of Mirani and Jalali, that flank the official palace of Sultan Qaboos. Take a tour of the Grand Mosque and Bait al-Zubair Museum for an introduction to Oman’s history and development, or visit the fish market and the colourful Muttrah Souq. A romantic coastal cruise onboard a traditional Omani dhow offers an intriguingly different perspective of the city, beautifully lit with twinkling lights as night falls. It's an exercise in Arabian hospitality – fresh coffee and dates are served onboard, along with tea and soft drinks.

After breakfast, depart Muscat by private 4WD along the rugged coastal route, enjoying continuous glimpses of the breathtaking blue waters and pristine white beaches of the Gulf of Oman. Passing the fishing village of Quriyat, your first stop is the Bimah sinkhole, a spectacular limestone crater with bright blue-green water at the bottom. Later, you'll stop at a white sand beach for a swim before continuing on to the lush green plantations of Tiwi. The road winds through mountain terrain and the ancient port town of Sur to Ras Al Jinz, a sanctuary for green turtles. After dinner, it's a short walk or drive to the beach for a magical evening watching the turtles nesting on the sands.

Stay: Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve (Standard)

Depart after breakfast and drive past small fishing villages to Al Ashkarah town, where you'll head inland. The rocky scrubland soon gives way to sand dunes, and after stopping to view the 52-domed mosque at Jalan Bani Bu Ali, you'll continue driving towards the pretty villages embedded in the mountains at Wadi Bani Khalid. The deep blue-green waters are ideal for a short swim before you venture deeper into the Wahiba Sands desert, a vast mass of red and white sand dunes that rise up to 200 metres high. A fun ride across the top of the dunes sees you to the remote Desert Nights Camp, where you’ll enjoy a barbecue dinner and a night in a luxury tent.

After breakfast today it's a short drive to a Bedouin camp where, over coffee, your guide explains the relationship between the Bedouins, their camels and the desert terrain. Pausing at the stately ruins of Al Manzifah near Ibra, and the lush date plantations of Birkat al-Mouz, you'll soon reach Jebel Akhdar, the green jewel of the Al Hajar mountain range. Enjoy an optional hike here through mountain villages, terraced farms and the fruit orchards that dot the mountain slopes. You'll continue through the picturesque villages of Saiq, Wadi Bani Habib and Al Ain, before heading to your deluxe hotel, overlooking a dramatic landscape of peaks, gorges and wadis. 

During your three-night stay you will enjoy a private excursion which takes in the highlights of this spectacular mountain region. Visit the abandoned village of Tanuf at the edge of a deep mountain wadi, and Misfat al Abreeyn, where mud and stone dwellings are carved into the mountainside. Head for Jebel Shams, the highest peak in the range, where you'll enjoy spectacular views over Oman’s ‘Grand Canyon’, the 1000-metre-deep Wadi Nakhr Gorge. You'll also discover the oasis city of Nizwa, the ancient capital of Oman. Explore its 17th century tower forts, souks with weekly cattle auctions, and markets selling everything from ornamental silver jewellery to intricate hand-carved khanjar daggers. You'll also visit the historic fort village of Bahla – a UNESCO World Heritage site – encircled by a 12km winding wall and famous for its pottery, and the 17th-century castle of Jabreen, home to exquisite frescoes and beautiful wood carvings. 

This morning, you'll leave your hotel early and journey to the 400-year-old village of Al Hamra, a wide plantation set between rough mountain terrain. From here, climb off-road tracks to the highest point for stunning views of the valley below. Driving down into the Wadi Bani Awf, one of the most diverse and astonishing mountain valleys, you'll pass the little village of Hat and the beautiful terraced oasis of Bilad Said. After leaving the wadi, drive through date plantations and sparkling springs to the majestic fort at Nakhl, before returning to Muscat airport in time for your flight home.

Optional extension to Salalah

For a more complete exploration of Oman, extend your stay to visit Salalah, in the green south of the country, and combine visits to ancient fishing villages and castles with a stay in a luxury beachfront hotel, such as the stunning Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara.