PEARLS OF OMAN LEISURE

Marhba! Welcome to Muscat!
After completion of the airport formalities like immigration, baggage collection, and customs clearance, proceed to the arrival hall. Here you will be met and greeted by the chauffeur and then transferred to the Hotel.
Overnight in the hotel.
Meals Included: Dinner

Breakfast at the hotel.

Muscat City tour
Today you will enjoy the wonderful half-day Muscat City tour. ( Duration 04 hours)

0900hrs The tour starts with the visit to the Grand mosque of Oman, completed in 2001, and is one of the biggest mosques in the world. The mosque features a blend of Islamic, Middle Eastern, and Omani architectural styles, and hosts one of the world’s largest handmade Persian rugs and one of the world’s biggest crystal chandeliers. Proceed the tour with photo stop at 16th Centuries Portuguese forts, Jalali and Mirani, and Al Alam Palace – the official residence of the Sultan. Visit the Bait Al Zubair museum for a fine display of Omani culture and history.

Later proceed to visit the famous Mattrah Souq - one of the oldest markets in Oman. The narrow covered alleys of souq are where you can smell exotic aromas of mounds of spices and alluring perfumes that fill the environment. You can also buy souvenirs and gifts. The market is located at the ancient sea-front promenade Corniche, on a bay which ships visited from every part of the world.

The tour ends.

Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, shopping, or own activities exploring the city on your own.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel.

Check Out from the hotel.

Stop at Bimmah Sinkhole

The tour departs from Muscat in the morning towards Ras Al Jinz, the first stop will be at the Bimmah Sinkhole.

A sea water-filled depression which is 30m deep is structurally a sinkhole, It's only 600 m away from the sea, between the coastal towns of Dibab and Bimmah village. Locally known as “PLACE OF POWER”. Witness the most picturesque beauty in the desert. As the limestone mountain rocks fill the water and the cool breeze splashes you with freshness.

Stop at Wadi Shab

Drive from Sinkhole towards Wadi Shab, an enormous canyon gorge that is lined with palm trees and crystal clear water pools. A tourist can enjoy swimming, trekking through these pools and gorge, and once you come to the last pool, you can find an opening among the enormous rocks which allows us to swim into an incredible crevice cave with a small waterfall inside, the sunlight filters in from the outside, turning the water into a beautiful turquoise blue whilst water showers down one side of the cave from the wadi beyond.

Stop at Sur

From Wadi Shab we continue the journey towards Sur. Here you can enjoy the short city tour with visit to a Dhow Factory and an old ship. Visit the lighthouse, a great option to have a view of the city and beach. It’s a 3-story and 18-meter tower that has a 59 ft domed roof. Though visitors are not allowed to go inside, you can make the most out of this attraction simply by going around the tower and enjoying the view.

Stop at Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve

The tour continues to Ras Al Jinz, check-in to the hotel. Enjoy the early evening dinner, after which you will be taken to the Turtle sanctuary. Here you will be taken for a guided walking tour on the beach at night under the stars, where you have a high chance of seeing huge green sea turtles come from thousand miles to this shore to lay their egg. You will get a chance to see these creatures without endangering or disturbing their lives and birthing cycles. Also, you can visit the interactive museum, and research laboratories and explore the plethora of information available.

Overnight in the hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out from the hotel.

Stop at Wadi Bani Khalid

Today we take you to Wadi Bani Khalid, one of the biggest and most beautiful Wadis in Oman. Wadi Bani Khalid, a picturesque wadi surrounded by green palm trees, sets the perfect example for a true oasis. Enjoy swimming in the deep blue cool water, sunbathing, and a short walk approximately 10 to 15 minutes (walking shoes are required)

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Stop at Wahiba Sand

After lunch, continue the journey to the desert Wahiba Sands. This spectacular Desert stretches over 200 kilometers from the Eastern Hajar Mountains to the Arabian Sea, the Wahiba Sands are also known as Oman’s adventure playground. The desert offer activities like an adventurous 4x4 drive in the sand dunes, camel rides, and zipping through the dunes on a sandboard, or quad bike. ( Activities charges are additional).

Check into the camp.

You can also watch the stunning sunset on one of the big sand dunes. Finish the day with the scrumptious dinner in the camp.

Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner

Breakfast at the Camp.

Check out the camp.

Nizwa Fort

The journey continues to Nizwa, the old capital of Oman. After arrival Nizwa, an ancient Nizwa Fort whose history dates back to the 12th century. It was built by Sultan Bin Saif Yaruba, the first imam of the Yaruba Dynasty. The fort is famous for its massive circular cannon tower, antiques, and silver jewelry. When inside the fort, you’ll be thrilled to pass through its ancient doorways, narrow staircases and corridors, high-ceiling halls, and a maze of rooms. As Nizwa is a town that is surrounded by date palms, one can enjoy an amazing view of the entire town and its date plantation from the top of the tower.

Nizwa Souq

After the fort, visit traditional Nizwa Souq, a place where a wide variety of vendors offers their goods, vegetables, pottery, jewelry, handicrafts, Omani sweet (Halwa) dates, spice, and souvenirs. Another attraction is the Friday cattle market when the locals from the nearby villages come to sell their cattle and chickens in a circus-style open marketplace.

Afterward, continue the drive to the highest point in Oman – Jabel Shams (‘Sun Mountain’) where there is a local, 1 km-deep "Grand Canyon". Jebel Shams is a mountainous region in the AL Hamra town. The word ‘Jebel Shams’ translates into ‘Mountain of the Sun’ since it receives the first sunrise of the region. The moderate temperature of the mountains during the summers makes it an ideal location to beat the Arabian heat. The stunning view of Al Nakhr Canyon or The Grand Canyon of Arabia from Jebel Shams is sure to leave you spellbound. Take a walk along the edge of the precipice where the majestic Grand Canyon opens out from this lofty vantage point.

The area around Jabel Shams is also renowned for the manufacture of a particular type of brightly-colored, woolen carpet.

Check-in at the hotel. Dinner in the hotel.

Overnight in the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out from the hotel.

Continue the return journey to Muscat and enjoy the wonderful experience of snorkeling at neighboring Dimaniyat Island. You can encounter several incredible kinds of coral reefs, a large number of sea turtles and white sand beaches, and pristine blue water. Enjoy the picnic lunch.

If lucky you can also spot some dolphins on the way ( not guaranteed) along with the scenic beauty of Muscat's breathtaking coastline.

Check-in at the hotel. Dinner in the hotel. Overnight in the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

It's now time to bid adieu to the beautiful Arab land as you will be headed back to the airport for the onward journey.

TOUR ENDS