ITINERARY

Sat/D1: UK – Muscat

Sun/D2: Arrival Muscat (-/-/D)

Arrival in Muscat International airport. You will be met by one of our representatives at the arrival hall. Proceed to the old part of Muscat city: The Muttrah souk - a traditional Omani market. The souk offers a wide range of goods, especially typical Omani souvenirs like Frankincense, the Omani Dagger or Khanjar and beautiful silver handicrafts and “Pashmina shawls”. The guide will escort you on the stroll through the souk and assist wherever needed to obtain the best deal (bargaining is part of the daily trade here!). The next stop is the Bait Al Zubair Museum. The museum is a small-town house that has been converted to display the old archeological findings and Omani traditions such as national dress and jewelry. The Museum also has an interesting display of old pictures of Muscat before the renaissance that started with his Majesty the Sultan Qaboos’s reining 1970. From here we shall proceed to see the Sultan’s Palace (video filming is prohibited) surrounded by the 2 Forts of Mirani and Jalali built by the Portuguese in the 16th century during their rule of the coastal cities of Oman.
Return to Hotel for dinner & overnight stay.

Mon/D3: Muscat (B/-/D)

Breakfast in the hotel and pick up at 8:30 am.
The first stop will be at the Grand Mosque; standing in stately grandeur. A visit to this beautiful piece of architecture is a must for all tourists (open daily for visitors, between 0800–1100 Hrs, except Fridays/holidays) Dress code – Women should wear attire covering their arms and legs and should cover their head with the scarf. Men should wear normal shirt and trousers.
Proceed to visit Nakhl via Barka, a seaside town with small souks and a fort along the shoreline. As you approach Nakhl, keep an eye out for the fortress that sits on a hillock outside the town. The fort’s origin is pre-Islamic with major contributions by the Al Ya’ruba and the Al Bu Sayed dynasties. You visit the fort. Visit the mineral-laden hot springs water in Nakhl. You then continue to Rustaq for a photo stop for another pre-Islamic fort.
Later in the evening, you return to Muscat hotel for Dinner & overnight

Tue/D4: Muscat - Bimmah Sinkhole - Fins - Wadis Shab & Tiwi - Bibi Maryam - Qalhat - Sur - Ras Al Hadd ‘Al Jinz’ (B/-/D)

After breakfast you proceed on your journey to Sur, the old African port where dhows were made by bare hand. The road to Sur is beautiful with a lot of sightseeing options en-route. Take a photo-stop at the Bimah sinkhole which is a geological formation of the Karst topography and a scenic wonder. Then continue and drive to the Fins beach which is one of the beautiful white sandy beaches in Oman. From here, you will make a stop at Wadi Shab. Take a hike up one of Oman’s scenic wadis. At the end of Wadi Shab, there is a swim through the famous keyhole into the secluded world thrilling of fantasy. Continue on the coastal road to Sur. Visit the dhow yard (presumed home of the legendary Sinbad the Sailor) where the dhows were made using bare hands. From here we proceed to Ras Al Jinz, check-in at Ras Al Jinz Scientific Centre, after an early dinner around 20:30hrs you will be guided to the beach to observe turtle nesting habits. Later you return back to your hotel for overnight stay.

Wed/D5: Ras Al Hadd « Al Jinz » – Al Khabbah – Al Suwaih – Ja’alan Bani Bu Ali – Wadi Bani Khalid – Wahiba Sands (B/-/D)

After breakfast, you will leave the hotel at 0830 Hrs. We continue driving to Ja’alan Bani Bu Ali, where we will visit al Hamouda mosque for a photo stop, it is the best and the oldest of its kind with 52 domes. Next proceed to visit Wadi Bani Khalid (the “Lost Shangri-La”), one of the most scenic wadis of Oman. Drive past the village with its endless date plantations. Reach the magnificent Wadi. The pools are cool, deep and absolutely stunning with crystal clear waters. After spending some time here, continue on your way to the Wahiba desert. You will be driven to the undulating “Golden Sands”. The great Wahiba sands are longitudinal dunes 200 km long and 100 km wide running south from the Eastern Hajars to the Arabian Sea. This is the traditional home of the Bedouin, hardy spirited people who know how to survive in these harsh desert conditions. The drive to the camp is an exhilarating and adrenaline filled journey crossing many sand dunes. Reach the camp and after check-in formalities, you can climb atop dune to enjoy the amazing sunset. Return to your camp and enjoy your dinner under the sky.

Thu/D6: Wahiba – Nizwa – Tanuf – Bahla – Jabrin – Al Hamra – Jabal Al Shams (B/L/-)

Breakfast at the hotel.
After breakfast, we head to the Nizwa region. Take a stroll around the city which is a bustling center for crafts and the silver souk is the best in Oman. Feel free to mingle with the crowd and let the Omani ambiance take hold of you. Nizwa is also famous for its silver jewelry. We visit the big round fort of Nizwa. We move to Bahla, one of the oldest recorded civilizations in Oman. There is the enormous Bahla fort here, which has earned a place in the UNESCO’s world heritage list of monuments.
Today, Bahla is the pottery capital of Oman. We move on to Jabrin where we visit the famous fortress at Jabrin. The fort contains a maze of rooms with painted ceilings, impressive towers, courtyards, dungeons, secret passages, false floors, hidden corners, tunnels and escape routes. From Jabrin we will drive to Al Hamra, we discover the old houses and from here we will take 4WD to Jabal Shams, the highest peak in Oman. Check-in your Hotel for dinner & overnight stay.

Fri/D7: Nizwa – Jabal Al Shams – Muscat – Cruise the Sun Set (B/-/D)

After breakfast, we drive to the ancient village of Misfat Al Abrein. As you walk around this beautiful village where time has come to a standstill, you will be moved by the simplicity and friendliness of the people. Shaded by lemon trees, little streets wind upwards to the different levels of houses, like caves carved out of the rock, with spiral staircases leading to dizzying terraces. From here proceed to Muscat via Birkat Al Mouz. Check-in at Hotel.
At or around 15:30hrs you will be taken to Marina Bandar Rawdha. Embark a traditional Omani Dhow for a 2 hours Dhow Cruise. You pass the Yacht club of Muscat and fishing village of Sidab. Pass by the harbor of historic Muscat, the Sultan’s Palace flanked by Jalali and Mirani forts and then sail past Al Bustan Palace, Oman’s premium hotel. From here you go by Qantab and at Bandar Jissah you can have a glimpse of the Shangri-la Resorts. Kahwa and dates served on board.
Return to Marina and onward to the hotel for Dinner & Overnight.

Sat/D8: Muscat – Dubai (B/-/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.
You will be transferred to Muscat International Airport to board your flight to Dubai. Arrival to Dubai Airport, Transfer to the hotel for Dinner & Overnight.

Sun/D9: Dubai (B/-/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer for a full day visit to the city of Dubai. Start your day by the Down Town area: The Dubai Mall, the largest mall in the world, the ground floor is the main entrance of Burj Khalifa (entrance included). Then departure to Dubai Creek, inlets inside the mainland. Then walk on foot Bastakia, a district rich merchants; with houses topped with their wind towers. Visit the Dubai Museum, located in the heart of the Al‐Fahidi Fort, Crossing Creek in taxis water, traditional boats called "Abras" walk in the spice souk and gold. Walk in the Souq Madinat Jumeirah, stop at the Burj Al Arab sail‐shaped (view outdoor), and before the Jumeirah Mosque (outside view), continuation towards the famous island artificial palm‐shaped Palm Jumeirah, photo stop outside the hotel The Atlantis. Dinner and overnight the hotel.

Mon/D10: Dubai - Abu Dhabi (B/-/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning departure for the discovery of the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi. You cross Yas Island where the F1 circuit proceeds. Then visit to the permanent exhibition Manarat Al Saadiyat, in the future cultural district on Saadiyat Island, to see the models of future Louvre and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, and Sheikh Zayed Mosque which nearby. Depending on the actual date of opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi (In December 2015), the visit to the exhibition of Manarat Al Saadiyat will be replaced by the Louvre Abu Dhabi, and some tours will be shortened to allow you more time to enjoy the new museum. photo stop outside the Emirates Palace Hotel, masterpiece, the gold ornaments. Then walk on foot through the Heritage Village, which houses a small museum and depicts the traditional daily activities of the Arab community before the discovery of oil. Visit the mosque of Sheikh Zayed, the third largest mosque in the world and the largest of the United Arab Emirates. it Accounts not less than 4 minarets of 107 m high and 82 domes of seven different sizes. For the interiors, the best craftsmen from around the world were solicited. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Tue/D11: Abu Dhabi - Al Ain (B/-/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Drive the Louver Museum for a visit, proceed to the city of Al Ain, an oasis of great historical and cultural wealth. Walk in the park and visit Al Ain Museum and Al Jahili Fort, the former palace Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder and first ruler of the United Arab Emirates. You finish the day with a visit to the camel market. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Wed/D12: Alain - Sharjah (B/-/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning departure to Sharjah, the sister city of Dubai, known for favoring the culture. Walk in the old city of Sharjah (Arts District) with its old houses and many buildings historical. The city has several museums: you will visit the Museum of Islamic Civilization and you will walk among old houses topped with wind towers, once so precious to help circulate air. Magic is also illustrated during your walk through the souk AlMarkazi (the "Blue Souk"). Departure in 4x4 to crossing a large desert of golden sand dunes. .(6 people in each 4X4 car with English speaking driver).After sunset, a barbecue dinner will be prepared to open with musical entertainment, Back in Sharjah and night at the hotel

Thu/D12: Alain - Sharjah (B/-/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel and you will be transferred to Airport for your flight to UK.

- END OF PROGRAMME -

TOUR PRICE: Every Saturday Departure.

TOUR PRICE INCLUDES:

• International Flights
• Meet & Assist in Arrival and Departure for all numbers
• Accommodation at hotels as mentioned above on Half Board basis.
• Transfers as per mentioned in the program.
• Mineral water provided inside the vehicles all through the dates of the tour
• Lunches during tours day as mentioned in the program.
• Permanent English Speaking Guide all through tours dates.
• Entrance to All Sites Mentioned In the Itinerary.
• Desert Safari Dinner

TOUR PRICE EXCLUDES:

• Visa fees for FIT’S if requested
• Any personal expenses such as telephone call, laundry, drinks, mini bar, etc...
• Tips for guides, driver, restaurants & hotel staff.
• Any optional Tours or Meals unspecified in the tour program.