Fairytale Sultanate Oman: 8-Day Cultural & Desert Tour

Points of Interest : Muscat

Individual arrival from Germany, Austria, or Switzerland to Muscat. Ahlan Wa Sahlan – welcome to the land of fairy tales! After completing immigration and customs formalities at the airport, you are greeted by a local representative and transferred to your hotel in Muscat. Check in and settle into your room, with the rest of the day at leisure to rest after your journey or take a first stroll in the surroundings.

• Meals included : None
• Accommodation : Radisson Blu Muscat 4*

Points of Interest : Muscat

After a hearty breakfast, your guide meets you in the hotel lobby and you set off to explore Oman’s charming capital, Muscat. Your first stop is the magnificent Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, dedicated to the father of modern Oman. One of the most impressive religious buildings in the Arab world, it features a vast prayer hall for more than 6,500 worshippers, an enormous hand‑woven Iranian carpet measuring around 70 x 60 metres, and a spectacular 8‑ton chandelier adorned with Swarovski crystals.

You then continue to the Royal Opera House for a photo stop, before heading into Old Muscat. During a short walk you see Qasr Al Alam, the working palace of the Sultan, flanked by the historic Portuguese forts Jalali and Mirani overlooking the natural harbour.

Next you visit the National Museum of Oman, opened in 2016. Across 14 permanent galleries and more than 4,000 m² of exhibition space, it presents the country’s history and cultural heritage in a modern, beautifully curated setting. After an introduction by your guide, you have time to explore the collections at your own pace.

The tour continues with a drive through the fishing village of Sidab and past the Parliament, bringing you to the old Muttrah district. Here you visit the atmospheric Muttrah souk by the harbour, where everyday goods, fabrics, silver jewellery, spices and the famous frankincense are sold. You wander through the maze of narrow lanes before returning to your hotel in Muscat.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Radisson Blu Muscat 4*

Points of Interest : Sur

Leaving Muscat, you drive towards the coastal town of Qurayat and then follow the scenic coastal road with frequent views over the Indian Ocean. You pass the area of Fins, known for its white sandy beaches, before reaching picturesque Wadi Shab near Tiwi. Lush gardens, palm groves and small cascades invite you to take a walk amidst the greenery along the wadi.

Continuing along the coast, you stop at the Bimah Sinkhole, a limestone depression whose roof collapsed long ago and which is now filled with turquoise seawater. Locals refer to this striking geological formation as “Bait al‑Afreet” – the “House of the Demon”.

Later you arrive at the fishing town of Qalhat, an important trading centre from the late 12th century onwards. After its conquest by the King of Hormuz, Qalhat flourished as a bustling port city that even impressed Marco Polo. Its splendour came to an abrupt end after a major earthquake in the 15th century and the subsequent Portuguese invasion. Here you make a photo stop at the Bibi Maryam Mausoleum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2018.

You then continue to Sur, the region’s main fishing centre. For many centuries this city was a key maritime trading hub and is still famous today for the building of traditional wooden dhows. After visiting the dhow shipyards to see these boats being constructed, you check into your hotel and enjoy free time for the rest of the day.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Sur Grand Hotel 3*

Points of Interest : Wadi Bani Khalid

After breakfast at the hotel, you set out for one of Oman’s most beautiful and lush wadis: Wadi Bani Khalid. Here you stroll through fertile gardens shaded by palm trees, following small falaj irrigation channels and passing natural pools of crystal‑clear water. You have time to enjoy the tranquil scenery before continuing your journey.

Leaving the bus behind, you switch to 4×4 vehicles for an exciting drive into the dunes of the Wahiba Sands desert. The sweeping sand sea of Ramlat al‑Wahiba stretches over some 15,000 km² in eastern Oman, with dunes that in places reach all the way to the Indian Ocean. More than 200 species of mammals, birds and reptiles, along with around 180 plant species, inhabit this “model desert”, known for its twenty distinct dune formations.

You visit a Bedouin family to gain insight into traditional desert life and then head out to watch the sun set over the dunes – a truly unforgettable experience. Dinner is served at the desert camp, where you spend the night under a sky filled with stars.

• Meals included : Breakfast & Dinner
• Accommodation : Arabian Oryx Camp 4*

Points of Interest : Nizwa, Jabrin

Today you leave the desert and the Al Sharqiyah region behind and travel towards Nizwa, the former capital of Oman. For centuries this oasis city was one of the most strategically important centres of the interior. You visit the impressive fortress complex with its massive round tower, from which you can enjoy panoramic views over the palm groves and surrounding mountains. Nearby, the lively souks offer everything from fruit and vegetables to silver jewellery, spices and all kinds of handicrafts.

You then continue to Bahla for a photo stop at its vast mud‑brick fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the highlights of the day is the Imam’s Palace in Jabrin. This residential fortress provides fascinating insights into life in Oman in centuries past and is renowned for its elaborately decorated ceilings, some of which date back to the 17th century and survive in their original form.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Al Diyar Hotel Nizwa 3*

Points of Interest : Al Hamra, Jebel Shams / Jebel Akhdar

After breakfast at the hotel, your first destination is the small oasis of Birkat Al Mawz. The village is known for its extensive date and banana plantations and its old quarter with abandoned mud houses. From here you begin the ascent into the mountains towards Jebel Akhdar, the “Green Mountain”.

A winding road of steep hairpin bends takes you high up to the Saiq Plateau. On arrival you set out on a walk through the picturesque terrace fields, where roses for Oman’s beloved rose water are cultivated alongside fruit and vegetables. The dramatic canyon views and layered mountain vistas provide superb photo opportunities. In the afternoon you return to Nizwa, where the rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Nizwa.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Al Diyar Hotel Nizwa 3*

Points of Interest : Muscat

After an early breakfast you visit Nizwa’s weekly livestock market, held every Friday. Farmers and Bedouins from across the region gather here to buy and sell goats, cattle and other animals in a lively, traditional atmosphere. This is where your tour guide says farewell to those whose journey through the fairytale sultanate ends today.

You are then transferred back to Muscat, arriving around midday. The afternoon is free for you to relax, shop for souvenirs, or continue exploring the city on your own.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Radisson Blu Muscat 4*

Points of Interest :

Today it is time to say goodbye to the fairytale Sultanate of Oman. Enjoy free time at leisure until your transfer to the airport for your return flight, or the start of your individual extension program if you have chosen to stay longer.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Last day : Transfer to the airport for departure or start of extension stay