Flight: GF562 Bahrain - Muscat 09.00 - 11.30

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 City Seasons Hotel (Superior Room)

Pick up your hired car: After checking into your hotel, our representative will show you your hired car which has been delivered to your hotel. Our representative will give you a briefing about the car and the programme that you will be undertaking in Oman. From this afternoon until you return to Muscat at the end of your holiday, you will be self-driving in a hired car with no guide. You will be provided with useful information about places you might like to visit and a portable Wi-Fi device which will allow you to access maps throughout your adventure.

Afternoon at leisure: This afternoon is at leisure to relax at your hotel or set out and explore the city independently.

Self-drive to Nizwa: This morning, check out of your hotel and set off at your own pace towards Nizwa. Nizwa is a drive of around 170km, which should take you around two hours if not stopping en route. However, before heading into Nizwa and checking into your hotel, you may be interested to stop and see the town of Birkat Al Mauz with its interesting Falaj.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Al Diyar Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Self-guided tour of Nizwa & surrounding area: Today can be spent exploring Nizwa with its famous fort and souq on foot or setting off in your hired car to explore the surrounding area and the Western Hajar Mountains. The neighbouring towns of Bahla and Jabrin are about 40km west of Nizwa and here you can see two of Oman’s most famous forts or head further north to explore Al Hamra, Misfah and the Jebel Shams region.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Al Diyar Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Self-drive to Jebel Akhdar: This morning, check out of your hotel and set off at your own pace to Jebel Akhdar, a journey of around 60km, which should take you around an hour. Please be prepared to drive on some winding mountain roads which can be slow going. On arrival, you can check in to your hotel and set off on a local hike or drive around the wider area and explore.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Sama Hotel Jabal Akhdar (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Self-drive to Wahiba Sands: This morning, check out of your hotel and set off east towards Wahiba Sands. This is a journey of around 350km and, depending on road conditions, should take you around five hours of driving. You should arrive at the desert entrance by 15:00 and, after parking up, you will be transferred into the desert to your camp.

Afternoon desert activities: After settling into the camp, you will have the opportunity to do some desert activities (payable locally) 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 a local dinner. After dinner, be sure to look up at the nights sky and see how many stars you can count!

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the 1000 Nights Desert Camp (Sheikh Tent Standard)

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.

Self-drive to Ras Al Jinz: After breakfast you will be transferred back to your car before setting off to Ras Al Jinz on the east coast. This is a journey of around 380km and, depending on road conditions, should take you around five or six hours of driving. On arrival, check-in to your lodge and relax for the rest of the day.

Evening turtle watching tour: After dinner at the resort, you will be taken to the nearby Ras Al Jinz Turtle Beach, 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’re lucky, you may see some shuffling ashore.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Carapace Lodge (Tent)

Meals: Breakfast

Early morning turtle watching: Very early this morning you will head out with staff and other guests from the hotel on a turtle viewing tour, where with some luck, you will be able to see some endangered green turtles nesting. After time on the beach, return to your hotel for breakfast.

Self-drive to Wadi Shab, via Sur: After breakfast back at the hotel, check out and set off heading west along the coast. After around an hour or so, you will reach the town of Sur, famous for its dhow (traditional boat) building industry and well worth a stop. Continue on in the afternoon to your hotel at Wadi Shab. After checking in, you may like to visit the Wadi and swim in the amazing freshwater pools there.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Sama Wadi Shab Resort (Standard Double Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Self-drive to Muscat: This morning, check out of your hotel and set off at your own pace heading west towards Muscat. This is a journey of around 180km and, depending on road conditions, should take you around two hours of driving. However, you may also like to take a detour en route to visit Wadi Arbaeen or Wadi Tiwi. On arrival back in Muscat, check into your hotel and return your car to a representative from the car hire company. The rest of the day is at leisure to on the beach or enjoy the facilities at your hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Crowne Plaza Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast