A private journey with your own English-speaking driver-guide: Muscat and a sunset dhow cruise, Wadi Shab and Sur, the empty beaches of Masirah Island, a night in the Wahiba Sands, Nizwa and Jabal Akhdar.
Wonders of Oman is a nine-day private tour with your own English-speaking driver-guide. It starts in Muscat with the Grand Mosque, Muttrah and a sunset dhow cruise, follows the coast past the Bimmah Sinkhole and Wadi Shab to Sur, and crosses by ferry to Masirah Island, where empty beaches and salt flats attract flamingos. You then spend a night at a desert camp in the Wahiba Sands, explore Nizwa and the terraces of Jabal Akhdar, and end with a snorkelling trip to the Daymaniyat Islands.
Who it suits: Travellers who want the coast, an island, the desert and the mountains in one trip
We meet you at Muscat International Airport and visit the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. Walk the Muttrah Corniche and the traditional souq, stop for photos at the Royal Opera House and Al Alam Palace between the Mirani and Jalali forts, and visit the Bait Al Zubair Museum. The day ends with a sunset cruise on a traditional dhow.
Overnight: Muscat (4-star hotel)Follow the coast road south-east towards Sur. Swim in the turquoise Bimmah Sinkhole, stop at the white sand of Fins Beach, then walk into Wadi Shab, past clear pools and limestone cliffs to a hidden oasis with caves and waterfalls. Arrive in Sur in the late afternoon (about 185 km).
Overnight: Sur (4-star hotel)Visit the dhow shipyard where wooden boats are still built by hand, then the Al Ayjah lighthouse and the old Al Ayjah quarter with its carved doors and narrow lanes. The afternoon is free for the beach and walks by the sea.
Overnight: Sur (4-star hotel)Take the ferry to Masirah Island, one of the quietest corners of Oman. Your guide shows you its long empty beaches and salt flats, where flamingos are often seen. A day far from mass tourism.
Overnight: Masirah Island (4-star hotel)Take the ferry back to Shannah and drive to the Wahiba Sands. Watch the dunes turn pink and orange at sunset, then enjoy a traditional dinner under the stars at your desert camp.
Overnight: Wahiba Sands (desert camp)Drive to Nizwa (about 200 km) and visit the 17th-century Nizwa Fort. Browse the souq for spices, dates, silver jewellery and crafts, then walk the lanes of the old town in the afternoon.
Overnight: Nizwa (4-star hotel)Climb by 4x4 to the Jabal Akhdar plateau, with deep valleys, terraced fields and cooler air. The mountain is known for its pomegranates, apricots, figs, walnuts and almonds. Spend the day on scenic trails and in traditional villages.
Overnight: Jabal Akhdar (4-star hotel)Return towards Muscat for a half-day trip to the Daymaniyat Islands, a protected marine reserve with clear water, coral reefs and rich sea life, ideal for snorkelling. Back in Muscat by sunset.
Overnight: Muscat (4-star hotel)A free morning to relax or explore at your own pace, then a private transfer to Muscat International Airport. Ma'a as-salamah!
By ferry from Shannah on the mainland. Return ferry tickets are included, and your driver-guide shows you the island.
Breakfast and dinner at your hotels, guesthouses and the desert camp: dinner only on the first day and breakfast only on the last. Lunches are not included.
Yes. This is a private tour, so we can add a night, change hotels or adjust the pace to suit you.
Our classic first visit with an English-speaking guide: the Grand Mosque, the rim of Jebel Shams, Nizwa, a night in the Wahiba Sands and a night on the Daymaniyat Islands.
A self-drive road trip through mainland Oman, then a flight north to the fjords of Musandam. A guided version is available for an extra fee.
A guided road trip down the quiet south-east coast: turtles at Ras al Jinz, the white Sugar Dunes of Khaluf and three days in Dhofar.
Tell us your dates and interests and we'll suggest the best fit. We reply within one business day.
