Discover Oman’s breathtaking beauty with a visit to its most enchanting destinations. From the majestic landscapes of Jebel Shams and the pristine beaches of Salalah to the historic allure of Nizwa and the stunning architecture of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Oman offers a tapestry of natural wonders and cultural gems. Immerse yourself in the rich heritage, diverse terrain, and warm hospitality of this Arabian gem, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Muscat
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
The largest Mosque in Oman with amazing architecture which was opened on the anniversary of the reign of Sultan Qaboos in 2001 Magnificent atmosphere of the Mosque will envelop you and the chandelier and large carpet inside the mosque are big surprise. The carpet is the second largest carpet in the world and woven by Iranian artists.The Mosque starts to get crowded around 9:00 am, that’s why make sure to be there around 8:00 or 8:30 am.
Old City of Muscat
Mutrah, The core of the city of Muscat which developed in recent decades. On top of a rocky hill you can see the Mutrah fort that built by Portuguese in the 16th century. When you reached inside, the fort offers you a gorgeous view of old city where built between mountains and the ocean and the other side you can see a picturesque view to the port.
Mutrah Sooq ( Souq)
Explore Mutrah sooq to find lots of souvenirs and see the local stores who sell frankincense, perfumes, spices, local dresses and feel Indian culture has penetrated Oman so You will experience a different atmosphere inside the sooq. In addition make sure to bargain with the sellers to get discount.
Don’t forget stroll the maze of Sooq and at the end of that takes you in to the old city.
Al Alam Royal Palace
When you move to Al Bustan village, after across maze of the road you will see a humble palace which is located in Seedab area. Al Alam palace is famous because of the gold and blue facade which had a white color before. You not allowed to visit inside the palace but you can walk in the court yard where surrounded by white official buildings with a combination of Arabic and Indian architecture. When someone wants to meet the Sultan for first time, they come to this palace.
Al Bustan Village
Move to Al Bustan beach which one of the best resort hotels in Oman located there. Stroll along the beach and relax. Also one small beautiful village is there with white buildings, so near sunset you will see local people and guys come to the beach and play. If you like to take memorable photos, this village invites you to visit inside, don’t miss this opportunity.
Nizwa
Old Capital of Oman, center of trading between North and south. The old city made by break mud and developed around the fort. Take a relaxing stroll among gardens and buildings to get a good feeling and observe the history of people who lived there.
Start your journey around 8:00 amfrom Muscat, you’ll reach Nizwa, you should drive about 150 km towards Al-Sharqiya province and the center of Oman.
· Nizwa Sooq (Full day Tour available)
When reach center of Nizwa, you can see the fort, mosque and the wall around the market attracts your attention. Enter the market through the big gate and from the first you encounter the traditional atmosphere. There are many stalls inside the sooq that supply vegetables, date, Omani coffee etc.
in addition find lots of stores that provide Omani Halva. One of the best experiences is test different types of Halva with Omani Coffee. Traditionally they made by nuts, brown suger, camel milk, saffron etc.
· Nizwa Fort
The city developed around the Fort which is the largest circular fort in Arab peninsula and built in 17th century to defend the city. Inside the fort there is an old castle where Imam of Nizwa and his family lived there.
So let’s discover Nizwa by visiting the fort. If you are lucky, you can see the Omani sword dance in the yard. Now time to visit inside and explore there. You will see local Omani women make handicrafts and supply luban oil, henna and natural perfumes. Don’t forget to climb up this fort to get some stunning panoramic views of the city and groves.
Behind the fort there is beautiful groves you can find the hole where has been delved to put the meat that smeared with Omani spices to make “Shuwa”, the Omani traditional cuisine. Imagine they put the meat underground inside the hole at least for one day.
· Al Abriyeen Village (Full day Tour available)
After visiting the charming city of Nizwa and savoring Omani delicacies, it’s time to head towards the surrounding mountains of Nizwa. Half an hour away from the city, after passing through the town of Al Hamra and the beautiful palm groves, you reach the high mountains of Jebel Shams and the village of Al Abriyeen. This small mountainous village is constructed in a terraced manner. Upon entering the village, the combination of palm groves and ancient structures built with bricks on the rocks will leave you amazed. The narrow alleys of the village lead you into the palm groves and water streams. Take a stroll inside the village and savor the ambiance blended with nature.
· Birkat Al mouz village
Leave the village of Al Abriyeen and head towards Muscat. But before returning to Muscat, one shouldn’t miss watching the beautiful sunset over the “Birkat Al-Mouz” village. As we travel approximately 11 kilometers from Nizwa towards Muscat, we come across the picturesque “Birkat Al-Mouz” village, nestled among old houses and ruins. Watching the sunset as it passes through the palm trees is truly delightful. Don’t miss sitting in the small modern café surrounded by historical buildings and enjoying a special cup of “Karak” tea.
al sharqiyah
· WadiShab (Full day Tour available)
To visit one of Oman’s famous Wadi, you need to travel approximately 180 kilometers towards the city of Sur.
Before reaching to the parking you’ll face the beautiful Oman Sea. Park your car and let’s start to explore the Wadi. After about two minutes of boat riding experience, you find yourself at the beginning of the hiking trail and ready for an hour of hiking.
Before boarding the boat, you can obtain a life jacket and keep it with you. It’s advisable to have appropriate hiking shoes because you’ll encounter slippery paths. Move along with the beautiful mountain scenery and water pools, you reach the starting point of swimming. To enter the cave and see its beautiful waterfall, you have to swim through a winding path amidst the valleys. Note that some parts are deep and some are shallow, so it’s better to have suitable swim shoes or fins as the algae underwater can make the rocks slippery. After about 20 minutes of swimming, you reach the narrow entrance of the cave. To pass through the cave mouth, you need to cling to the edges of the rocks and move towards the inside to encounter a beautiful waterfall. Upon returning to the starting point, you can head to the small and beautiful town of Tiwi for lunch and enjoy local cuisine.
· Sink hole
After lunch in Tiwi, it’s time to return to Muscat. Move 11 kilometers towards Muscat and find the local route leading to the sea to reach Sink Hole Park. There’s a deep pit where you can swim or relax near the water and feeling the small fish coming close to you and brushing against your feet that offer you a good feeling before returning to Muscat. Additionally, you can sit by the beautiful shores of the Sea of Oman to watch the beautiful sunset, and then head back towards Muscat.
· Sur (Full day Tour available)
After you are done hiking and swimming in WadiShab, you can head back to Muscat and visit Sinkhole or make your way to the seaside city of Sur to see the picturesque sunset from the boat or top of the Al Ayjah castle.
You can also explore Sur for a full day. First, when you reach to the city, you will be faced with a small coastal city with traditional texture and white houses. Move towards the Al Ayjah area and continue your way. Visit the Dhow factory which is a traditional ship factory. Visiting the museum can help to see how the wooden ship is built. A craft that has been amalgamated with Iranian, Indian, and African art. Don’t forget to see a small store inside the factory to buy some wooden souvenirs. In addition near the ship factory, you can visit the “Fath Al Khair” Museum too.
The tranquility and positive energy of the city will embrace you, particularly near sunset, when you see people come to the beach. Take a boat and let the rider show you the gulf, birds, and turtles, and enjoy the sunset.
Entrance fees: 2 OMR (Ship factory)/ 3 OMR (Fath Al Khair Museum)
Boat fees: 7-10 OMR per boat.
Wahibah Sand (Full/Half day Tour available)
Desert means secret. It would be cool to spend one day or half a day in the desert and explore it. Desert camps provide camel riding and safari for you. You have 3 options to stay at night, choose resorts, camps, or tents with different vibes; it’s up to you to choose them. If you decide to stay there, the desert lets you see the sky and the Milky Way at midnight. Don’t lose this opportunity and also you can find yourself inside Bedouin tents to see how they lived in the desert.
· Daymaniat Island (Half day Tour available)
If you like to see the turtles, Colorful fishes, and baby sharks and swim with them, the best option is Daymaniat Island.
Daymaniat Archipelago is located in northern Muscat. To reach the island we should go to the Seeb or Almouj marina to take a boat. Usually, the boats move to the island around 9:00 am. So it’s better to be there 15 min before. Around 25 minutes later we’ll reach and now is the time for snorkeling and watching the world inside the sea. Enjoy swimming with fish and turtles for around 1 hour just notify them that don’t touch them maybe they bite you. Then you can go to the beach and visit the island and have a nice view of the sea. If you are lucky, you can see small crabs that live between rocks near the beach
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