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A unique blend of the ancient & the modern, Muscat is a beautiful clean city, which lies in the middle of a maze of brown pleated mountains, lulled by the Arabian sea. The city has undergone dramatic development in the past two or three decades, however it has never lost its pride in its heritage & culture. Our visit would start with a tour of the Grand Mosque, which is an architectural marvel and is perhaps the new landmark of the city. We would continue our drive through the ministries area where you can see a number of modern buildings with touches of Islamic architecture.
We would them visit the fish market and the Muttrah souq with its narrow covered alleys where the exotic smells of mounds of spices, coffees, ancient remedies and enticing perfumes fill the air. We would visit the Bait Al Zubair Museum (or another prominent museum), which has a fine exhibit of Omani history and culture. You would have a photo stop at the magnificent Al Aalam Palace (the official residence of Sultan Qaboos) flanked by the twin Portuguese forts of Mirani & Jalali.
Notes:
Duration: 04 HoursMin. 03 Persons
The Grand Mosque is open Sat to Wed 0800-1100 hrs only.
Ladies visiting the Grand Mosque are required to cover their head with scarf and do not wear shorts, beachwear or sleeveless outfits as they are to be fully covered & men visiting the Grand Mosque should wear long trousers. |
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Forts and castles are Oman's most striking cultural landmarks and together with its towers and city walls, they have historically been used as defensive bastions or look-out points. It is estimated that there are over 500 forts, castles and towers in Oman. Our visit toDay would include a few of them, which are more remarkable & striking in their architecture & style. The ancient capital of Oman, Nizwa was a seat of learning and the birthplace of Islam in Oman. The 17th century round fort and the souq famous for silver jewelry are the major attractions of Nizwa, not to mention the popular & interesting cattle auction, which takes place on every Friday. Built on a solid base of rock, the huge tower was designed to withstand the vibrations of 24 cannons. We move on to Bahla famous for its handmade pottery. Bahla is listed in UNESCOS world heritage sites, however the fort here is now under renovation and is not open to public. Built as a defensive stronghold, the Jabreen is perhaps the finest of Omani castles. The castle has dungeons, passages, rooms and ceilings decorated with fine carvings & paintings.
Optional Visit to Al Hota Cave:Al Hota Cave is a magnificent underground cavern & lake system, a 2.7km tunnel, which runs in a north-south direction through the Hajjar Mountains. The main chamber of Al Hota Cave is around the size of large hotel ballroom and contains some magnificent cave formations, stalactites, stalagmites, and columns, which have evolved over millions of years. You would be guided by an expert through the tunnels for an unforgettable experience.
Notes:
Duration: 09-10 Hours
Min. 03 Pax |
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The fertile Batinah coast is dotted with beautiful beaches, forts, fishing villages and places famous for camel racing & bull fighting. We would have a short stop at the Seeb Fish market before continuing to the Nakhl Fort and the hot water springs, followed by the majestic fort of Rustaq, which is one of the oldest forts in Oman and is surrounded by watch towers. Return to Muscat by late afternoon.
Notes:
Duration: 08 Hours
Min. 03 Pax |
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Running south from the Eastern Hajjar Mountains to Arabian Sea, the Wahiba Sands, described a Sand sea, stretches almost 200 kms in length and about 100 kms in width. The dunes rise above 100-150 meters in different shades of colour and shifting sands, is the perfect place for both the romantic and the adventurous. There are still Bedouin families living in this vast expanse of sands. A roller-coaster ride over the dunes would a thrilling fun especially for those who are first time visitors to the desert. The trip also includes a refreshing visit to the lush pools of Wadi Bani Khalid.
Notes:
Duration: 10 Hours
Lunch included |
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Having finished a quick visit to the Nizwa souq and the Round Fort in Nizwa, we drive towards the Western Hajjar Mountains rising over 2000 metres, which can be seen from far away as we approach them. We would stop at Al Hamra where 400 years old mud houses are still standing and occupied. The Wadi Nakhr gorge is a one of Oman’s greatest natural wonders. The mountain village of Misfah and the terrace farming village of Wadi Ghul also would be visited. Jebel Shams (mountain of the Sun) is the tallest peak in Oman at a height of 3010 meters offering spectacular views of the surroundings.
Notes:
Duration: 10 – 11 Hours
Lunch included |
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With stunning views of the waters of the Arabian Sea on one side and the rocky cliffs on the other, this is an exciting drive along the coast road. The first stop on this drive is at Bimah Sinkhole a spectacular limestone crater with blue green water at the bottom. Stop at the white sandy Fins beach for a swim and continue to Wadi Shaab & Tiwi Village. A walk through the narrow roads leads you to lush plantations and pools with clear water. Further ahead are the ruins at of Qalhat, one of the oldest towns and seaports in Oman. ToDay only the remnants of the city walls remain here. Visit the tomb of the holy lady, Bibi Miriam, which stands high up on the cliff top.
Notes:
Duration: 10 - 11 Hours
Lunch included |
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Having visited Nakhal & Rustaq, we now start ascending to the beautiful village of Wakkan. The village is very lush with plantations and is known for its terrace farming and a variety of fruits and vegetables are grown here. After visiting Wadi Abheyad (White Wadi) we return to Muscat!
Notes:
Duration: 08 – 09 Hours
Lunch included |
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The coast of Oman is blessed with a variety of Dolphins & Whales. About 21 different species of Whales & Dolphins have been identified along the coast of Oman, including the Blue Whale which is seldom seen anywhere else in the world.
You would be transferred from your hotel to the jetty. While it is not guaranteed that you would spot dolphins on every trip, it would be an enjoyable experience in the sea and our onboard cetacean specialist would enlighten you with quite a lot of information about these interesting marine mammals.
Note:
Soft drinks & snacks onboard included |
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No other trip would offer you such panoramic view of the coast of Muscat. This short trip would take you all along the beautiful promenade of Muscat and would provide you with ample opportunities to film some of the landmarks of the city going past the port, Al Bustan Palace Hotel and the Al Aalam Palace with its twin Portuguese forts.
Note:
Soft drinks onboard included for Sun Set Dhow Cruise & Buffet Dinner for Dinner Cruise. Transportation from local hotels to Jetty & back also included. Operation subject to weather conditions |
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Nestled in the southern region of Oman, Salalah abounds in natural beauty especially during the Khareef (Jun to mid Sep), when the region receives the annual Indian monsoon transforming the whole region into a lush garden with streams and water falls. Salalah is also of archeological and historical importance.
The halfDay tour would cover the Museum display of archeology, history and heritage from the region. We would also visit the AL Husn souq where frankincense is sold, the gold souq etc. Al Balid is the site of an ancient harbour, which is now being excavated. Visit the site of the 14 footprints of Prophet Saleh's sacred camel.
We would pass by the Al Husn Palace the summer residence of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, before returning to the hotel.
Notes:
Duration: 03 Hours
Min. 03 Pax |
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Salalah is steeped in myths & legends that date back to biblical times.
We would visit the quaint fishing village of Taqa; the old fort at Taqa is impressive with authentic decorations and appointments. In Khor Rouri, we would see the site of the ruined city of Samhuram and ruins of the palace supposed to be that of the Queen of Sheba. Continue to Mirbat, the ancient capital of Dhofar, to the famous Mosque and the tomb of Bin Ali, a holy man who was buried here in the medieval times.
Before returning to hotel, we would visit Ain Razat, at the foot of the Qara Mountains, a picnic spot with gardens, streams and hills.
Notes:
Duration: 04 Hours
Min. 03 Pax |
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Drive to Jebel Qara to visit tomb of Prophet Ayoub, better known as Job of the Old Testament. Proceeding to Mughsail, the drive offers spectacular views of the landscape. To the west of Salalah are many stretches of beautiful beaches and Mughsail is one of the most popular of these because of the "Blow Holes" in the rocky shelf close to the shore. These holes display dramatic bursts of water and foam at times reaching 50 ft in the air.
Dohar was renowned for Frankincense trade in ancient times. According to legends, one of the three kings who traveled to honour infant Jesus carried frankincense as gift, traveled from Dohfar! Frankincense in ancient times was more precious than Gold and used to be exported from Dhofar to different parts of the world.
Notes:
Duration: 04 Hours
Min. 03 Pax |
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T.E. Lawrence (of Arabia) called Ubar as the "Atlantis of the sands". Lying 175 km north of Salalah is the remote village of Shisr. Here in the early nineties, with the help of satellite imagery from the space shuttle, explorers found what they believe to be the lost city of Ubar. Ubar was once considered to be the trading centre for frankincense before the city was buried in the rising dunes. The full Day exploration by 4WD would be an adventurous and enlightening experience.
Notes:
Duration: 08 Hours
Min. 04 Pax per 4WD VehicleLunch included
IMPORTANT NOTE: Museums, Forts and other monuments are closed during Thursday, Friday and National HoliDays |
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