Breakfast at hotel. This morning we are off to a wonderful tour of Muscat. We will start our tour with a visit to Grand Mosque the most exquisite Mosque in Oman. The developed part of the site, Grand Mosque Including the fully consolidated areas and landscaping, covers 416,000 square metres. The Mosque complex (covering 40,000 square metres) is constructed on a raised podium in keeping with the tradition of Omani mosques that were built elevated from street level. It can accommodate up to 20,000 worshippers and consists of a main prayer hall, ladies prayer hall, covered passageways, a meeting hall, and library which will eventually contain up to 20,000 books. A major feature of the main prayer hall is the hand-made Persian carpet consisting of 1,700 million knots, Weighing 21 tones and made in a single piece measuring 70 x 60 metres. From design stage it took 4 years complete and 600 female weavers from province of Khurasan in Iran were involved.

Notes: Grand Mosque is open from Saturday to Thursday from 08:00 – 11:00 Am only. Ladies visiting the mosque are required to cover their head with scarf and do not wear shorts, beachwear or sleeveless outfits as they are to be fully covered. Men are also to be full covered. Slip on shoes recommended.

Later visit Bait Al Zubair Museum. It consists of a concise collection reflecting the splendid Omani Heritage. The collection includes traditional Omani Weapons such as swords, daggers, rifles & their accessories, along with jewellery, cosmetics & costumes from various regions of Oman. 

We drive towards Muttrah Souq – one of the most popular souqs in the Middle East. Take a walk in its labyrinthine alleyways beckoning with a myriad of merchandise, from 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. Here, scents of exotic Arabian perfumes and spices float through the air. Other shops specialize in famous Omani khanjars (daggers), antiques, traditional silver jewellery, and handicrafts in copper, camel bone, wood, leather and hand-made Omani costumes. After shopping at Muttrah Souq we visit to the magnificent Al Alam Palace, the official residence of His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq the ruler of Oman. The palace is an architectural marvel for both its design and its location between the twin Portuguese forts Mirani and Jalali (A brief photograph stop from outside only). After some sightseeing, stop for lunch at a local restaurant (at own expense). Later, follow our guide as he takes you through one of Muscat’s best hiking trails, the Riyam-Muttrah (C38) hike. This scenic trail takes you through a diverse landscape of rugged cliffs and breathtaking coastal views. Along the trail, you'll encounter remnants of the region's rich history, including ancient watchtowers and forts that once guarded the coastline. The hike is considered easy and has a length of 3.5km which will take roughly 2 hours to complete. Once done, drive back to the hotel for some well-deserved rest. 

Overnight at Park Inn hotel / Similar

Breakfast at hotel. Today you will start your fascinating Round trip. Your first stop will be at Barkha Fish Market. Watch the local fishermen bring in their early morning catch to the shores then have a stroll through this seaside market to explore the variety of fish from the Omani seas and other vegetables and fruits produced nearby. Later we continue our drive to Wadi Bani Auf. The route down Wadi Bani Auf is one of the Arabia’s great 4WD adventures and includes a visit to the village of Bilad Sait, a remote fortress village in the heart of the mountain range. 

Check in at Bait Bimah Guest house. Dinner at Guest house.

Overnight at Bait Bimah Guest House 

Please note: Bait Bimah is a Guest House with basic amenities.

Breakfast at Guest house. Later drive to Snake Canyon, Oman’s largest natural water park, for some Canyoning adventure. Journey through the cracks between two mountains, where gushing water has cut right through, leaving behind smooth, colorful rocks with plenty of water pools. The activity will take approximately 4 to 5 hours to complete. 

Please find below some important notes for this activity:  

1. You will get very, very wet. Completely soaked in fact. You may well be submerged for periods of time or need both hands while you’re in the water. So, don’t take anything with you that you can’t fasten to yourself – or that isn’t waterproof. The water temperature may be between 12 –18 degrees Celsius. 
2. Put sunscreen if you need it before you set out.
3. Proper shoes: Trainers are best – they provide grip but they’re not too heavy when you’re underwater. Also, if you’re travelling, then they’ll dry out quicker than other shoes.
4. Going your usual clothes. Lightweight, quick drying sports clothes are best for this. Normal cotton trousers tend to stick on your skin. Jeans are even worse.
5. Remove all jewellery (including wedding rings). They can get snagged on the rock.
6. And most places don’t have anywhere secure for your valuables. Therefore, try not to bring them.
7. Waterproof cameras, like the GoPro work well while canyoning as they are light enough to attach to your lifejacket and small enough to slide inside your sleeve for protection.
8. Bring a fresh, dry set of clothes for changing in to afterwards.

After Canyoning return to the guest house and have lunch. 

Check out and depart to Jebel Shams, the highest mountain in the GCC. Arrive and check in at Sama Heights Resort. Dinner at Resort 

Overnight at Sama Heights Resort / Similar

Breakfast at Resort. Spend your day in Jebel Shams, which is commonly called the ‘Grand Canyon’ of Oman. We start the day with the famous Balcony Walk, a 4km hike through the rim of the Wadi Ghul canyon. Although generally classified as ‘moderate’ in intensity, the drops can be sheer so hikers should be comfortable with heights.

For those willing to challenge themselves, there is an option to do a thrilling 150m abseil down one of the canyon walls and/or Via Feratta climbing up that same distance. 

Dinner & Overnight at Sama Heights Resort / Similar

Breakfast at Resort. Check out from the resort and drive to Al Hamra where a panoramic bike tour through the area is waiting for you. The group will meet the tour leader at Al Hamra Shopping Street, from where we’ll begin the Panorama Bike Tour. First, we’ll ride towards Misfat Al Abriyeen, one of the oldest villages in Al Hamra, which lies at an altitude of almost a thousand meters above sea level. The roads are well maintained but it’s a steep ride on the 5km of track we cover till the village. On reaching, we’ll leave our bikes in the parking area of the village and walk around the old mud houses and farms, exploring one of the most beautiful villages in North Oman. You also get an opportunity to see the traditional Falaj irrigation system and local kids jumping into the small pond of natural water. After exploring the village and its surroundings we’ll ride towards Al Hamra. Old Al Hamra is the perfect place to gain an understanding of ancient Oman, its people and their lifestyle. We’ll also visit an ancient house, which is considered a site of great archaeological importance and has been converted into a museum. Afterward, we’ll ride through the date farms before finishing this wonderful tour.

Note: Bike Tour only operates between October to March. 

Later drive to Jebel Akhder

Overnight at hotel in Jebel Akhder  

Breakfast at hotel. Explore the mountain villages of Jebel Akhder. In Arabic Jabel Akdhar means green mountains and is considered famous for it’s gardens, farms and terrace plantations. Take the Three villages walk. Follow your guide as he takes you through the terrace gardens to view this intriguing location. The villages of Sayq & Al Ain dot the landscape. The villages overlook a spectacular landscape of dramatic peaks, gorges and wadis. The roses of Jabal Al Akhdar fill the air with fragrance when in full bloom (March / April). Rose water is distilled in the homes of the villagers. Pause for lunch at a local restaurant (at own expense) before returning to the hotel. Evening get ready to witness the stunning views of Jabal Akhdhar from a different angle, hanging off a cliff! You will be transferred to the village of AlShuraijah to do the Via Ferrata (Italian for ‘iron path’). Following a short safety briefing, get into your harness and headgear and start the climb sideways along the mountain face. 

Overnight at your hotel in Jebel Akhder 

Breakfast at hotel. After breakfast check out from the hotel and drive to Wahiba Sands. Visit Wadi Bani Khalid, this is considered one of the most beautiful wadi’s in Oman. The drive to Wadi Bani Khalid is through the Eastern Hajar Mountains, which offers a panoramic view of landscape below. We pass many pretty villages embedded in the mountains. Here the road winds down to the wadi alongside 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 swim in this glorious grace of nature. 

(Please note it is approx. 500 meter walk from the parking area to the pool.)

As per the recent guidelines form Ministry of Heritage & Tourism, ladies who wish to swim in the wadi have to wear shorts and t shirt to cover their body. Swimming in bikinis is not permitted. This is to respect the local culture of the villagers.

After relaxing time at Wadi, drive to the Desert. Check in at your camp and dinner at the camp. 

Overnight at your Camp 

Breakfast at leisure. A range of activities are available at your desert camp including desert trekking with our guide, camel safari, quad biking, dune bashing, or sand boarding. These can be booked and settled directly at the camp. After all the fun activities, enjoy lunch at a Bedouin House (Desert Tribes). Anybody who chooses to live in the environment of Wahiba Sands must be hardy and resilient to tolerate its potentially harsh climate – and bedu are just that. There are over 3000 Bedu of varying tribal origins who live here amongst the woodland on the fringes of the sands. 

Overnight at your Camp. 

Breakfast at camp. Check out and drive to Sur, a city which a long history in trading and maritime and renowned for its dhow shipyards. We then stop at Wadi Tiwi, another spectacularly deep and narrow gorge carved out of the mountains, running between towering cliffs right down to the sea. It compensates with its old traditional villages, surrounded by lush plantations of date and banana, and crisscrossed with a network of gurgling aflaj. After around 5km you’ll reach the picturesque village of Harat Bidah, where the road narrows dramatically, squeezing its way between old houses and high stone walls. Stop here to capture some stunning pictures of the Wadi. 

There is an optional adventure to abseil down the waterfalls of Mibam village and have a chance to see some spectacular views of the wadi below. 

Next is to stop at the unique Bimah Sinkhole, a limestone crater with inviting cool blue-green waters. Created by erosion, or perhaps even a meteorite, this sinkhole is thought to be one of the most beautiful sinkholes on the planet. Drive to Muscat. Arrive in Muscat and check in at your hotel. 

Overnight at Park Inn hotel