Flight: GF562 Bahrain - Muscat 09.00 - 11.35

Private transfer to your hotel: After passing through immigration and collecting your luggage at Muscat Airport, you will be met and welcomed to Oman before being transferred to your hotel. An early room check-in will be requested but is subject to availability on arrival.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Novotel Muscat Airport (Superior Room)

Guided tour of Muscat: Today you will be taken on a guided tour to see some of Muscat’s highlights including the Grand Mosque (only open in the mornings, Saturday to Thursday), the Amouage Perfume Factory, the Opera House, Al Alam Palace, Jalali & Mirani Forts and the famous Mutrah Souq. Return to your hotel in the early afternoon to relax by the pool or explore further independently.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Novotel Muscat Airport (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey to Ras Al Hadd, via Wadi Arbaeen: After breakfast, meet up with your driver and set off southeast along the coast towards the Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve. After a couple of hours driving, you will come to Wadi Al Arbaeen, a delightful wadi surrounded by mountains and with untouched pools perfect for swimming. Continuing on from here for another 100km and you will come to the town of Sur, famous for its building of dhows (traditional wooden boats), you may like to discuss stopping here for a quick look around before continuing on to Ras Al Hadd, another 50km along the coast. On arrival, check-in to your hotel and relax for a while in the afternoon.

Evening turtle watching tour: After dinner at the resort, you will be taken to the nearby Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve, a protected area for turtles and one of the best places in the gulf to see nesting green turtles. The mother turtles return to the same beach year after year to lay and bury their eggs and, if you are lucky, you may see some shuffling ashore.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Turtle Beach Resort (Hamoor Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Road journey to Wahiba Sands via Wadi Bani Khalid: After breakfast head south with your guide towards Wadi Bani Khald, one of the largest, greenest and most dramatic wadis in Oman. Here you can stop for swimming in the clear water pools and do some hiking around the local villages, famous for their banana plantations. Your driver will provide you with a picnic lunch to enjoy at the wadi before continuing south to your desert camp amongst the sand dunes of Wahiba Sands. Your total driving distance today is around 300km and, depending on road conditions, should take around six hours.

Afternoon desert activities: After settling into the camp, you will be served lunch before having the opportunity to do some desert activities such as light dune-bashing in a 4x4, hiking and camel riding. As the light draws in, you will be treated to a romantic sunset over the dunes before enjoying dinner by the camp fire. After dinner, be sure to look up at the nights sky and see how many stars you can count!

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Arabian Oryx Camp (Bungalow)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Sunrise on the dunes: This morning you have the option of rising early and heading up to the top of a nearby sand dune to enjoy a memorable desert sunrise.

Road journey to Nizwa, via Jabreen: After breakfast, set off from your desert camp towards the city of Nizwa, around 200km away. Your first stop en route will be Sinaw, a Bedouin town, famous for its lively souq and its weekly livestock market, held every Thursday.  Continue on your journey from Sinaw, passing Nizwa to visit the Jabreen Castle, which dates back to 1670 when its construction and striking design were ordered by the Sultan as a bastion for his family during wartime. It was also a beacon of education and contained many study rooms. Finally, you will arrive at Nizwa in the mid-afternoon and check-in to your hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Falaj Daris Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Guided tour of Nizwa, Al Hamra & Jebel Shams: Today you will set off on a tour of Nizwa and the wider Western Al Hajar Mountains. If it is market day in Nizwa (usually Friday), you will be able to visit the livestock market, which dates back centuries and tend to start early and wind down at about 9am. If you are visiting the market, then you should also be aware that animals are there to be sold and some will be tethered or tied to posts. After exploring the famous Nizwa souq, take a stroll with your guide over to Nizwa Fort, one of the most popular attractions in Oman and an amazing example of old Omani architecture, providing an insight into live in the country long ago. Once you have explored Nizwa, you’ll head north into the majestic Al Hajar mountains and visit the famous town of Al Hamra with its red mudbricks buildings and take in some fine views of Jebel Shams, the highest point in Oman. This region is often referred to as the ‘Grand Canyon of Oman’ for its dramatic landscape and it is not hard to see why. After time to explore the region, you will return to your hotel in Nizwa in the late afternoon and spend the evening at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Falaj Daris Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey to Mussanah via Wadi Bani Auf: After breakfast you will set off to the north coast through the mountains. Provided the weather conditions allow it, your route this morning will take you through Wadi Bani Auf mountain pass on one of the most spectacular off-road drives in Oman. Your 4x4 vehicle will meander carefully along dramatic, rough and at times steep track with regular stops to take in the breath-taking scenery. Today’s journey is around 180km and should take around five hours, depending on road conditions. There are plenty of great places to stop and take in the views and you will also have a chance to enjoy a walk in the small mountain village of Bilad Sayt. Arrive at your resort in Al Mussanah in the afternoon to check-in and relax.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Barceló Mussanah Resort (Deluxe Sea View Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Guided tour of the north coast: Today you will be taken on a guided tour of the north coast. Your first stop will be at the interesting fish market at Barka where, if you time it right, you can witness locals bidding in the fish auction. From there continue to Nakhal Fort, one of the most famous forts in Oman, named after the Wilayah of Nakhal. Return to your resort in Al Mussanah in the early afternoon and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Barceló Mussanah Resort (Deluxe Sea View Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Day at leisure: Today is at leisure to relax at the beach or by the pool or arrange further sightseeing independently.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Barceló Mussanah Resort (Deluxe Sea View Room)

Meals: Breakfast