Stay : The essentials of Oman in a week
This itinerary is intense, but offers a glimpse of the sultanate's landscapes and sights. It can be done in the company of a driver-guide; as a self-guided tour; or independently, provided that hotels and guesthouses have been booked in advance via the Internet. For desert tours, you will need the services of a specialist or a 4x4 vehicle.
Summary of the stay
Best time to go
7 days
€€ - Charm and comfort
Detail of the stay : The essentials of Oman in a week - 7 days
Day 1: Muscat
Arrival in the Omani capital and check-in at your hotel. Optional sea bath. In the afternoon, visit of old Muscat: the Royal City (the two forts Al Mirani and Al Jibali, the Sultan's Palace), the National Museum, possibly the Bait Al Zubair Museum. Then on to the nearby Mutrah district: stroll along the corniche, wander through the souk and past the old houses with elaborate balconies built by the Lawatiya. Overnight stay in the capital: a wide range of accommodation in all price categories, please choose in the dedicated section.
Day 2: Muscat - Nizwa
In the morning, visit of the fish market of Mutrah, then direction north of the capital and visit of the Great Mosque of Sultan Qaboos. Then, drive to Nizwa (about 160 km). Visit the fort and the souks. Note: if this day falls on a Friday, drive directly to Nizwa in the early morning. Overnight stay in the new guesthouses of the old Nizwa or in the hotel.
FORT
Day 3: Nizwa - Jebel Shams or Akhdar
Steps: Akhdar, Misfah, Jabrin, Nizwa
Early wake up, because big day. About thirty kilometers from Nizwa, visit of the potters' village of Balah and its citadel classified as World Heritage by Unesco. Then, 5 km away, visit the castle of Jabrin. Take the direction of Al Hamra and go up to the perched village of Misfah (its alleys, its aflaj, its palm grove) for visit and lunch. Then, in the ancient section of Al Hamra, visit the living museum of Bait Al Safah. At the end of the day, climb to the heights (about 1 hour and a half of hairpin drive), either to Jebel Shams (overnight in a tent camp and bungalows) or Jebel Akhdar (overnight in a boutique hotel or a luxury hotel like the Anantara or the Alila, both splendid).
Day 4: Jebel Shams or Akhdar - Sharqiya Desert
Rise at dawn for a beautiful hike in the mountains: rough and steep landscapes in Jebel Shams (protruding rocks, canyons, abandoned stone village), more cheerful in Jebel Akdhar (hamlets clinging to the mountains, terraced plantations of roses and fruit trees, aflaj...). Then road of 2h30 to 3 hours to the doors of the Sharqiya desert. By 4x4, access to the camp reserved. At sunset, walk or camel ride in the dunes. Overnight stay in one of the many camps of the desert.
Day 5: Sharqiya - Ras al-Jinz
Steps: Sur, Wadi Bani Khalid
Early in the morning, a walk, quad or camel ride in the desert. Then on to Sur, with a bathing break (+ possible walk) in the Wadi Bani Khalid. A few kilometers south of Sur, we settle in Ras al-Jinz. During the night, under the guidance of a guide, discover one of the world's green turtle reproduction sites (laying eggs, hatching babies...). Overnight stay on site or nearby.
Day 6: Sur - Muscat
Steps: Fins, Mascate, Sur, Tiwi, Shab
Early wake up because of the long day punctuated by visits. In Sur, pause at the traditional dhow factory. Then we head to the Tiwi and Shab wadis, separated from each other by a few kilometers and the main attractions of the day; spend a few hours in one or the other of these wadis: walk along the bed of the river partially in water, swim in natural pools, picnic on the spot. Then, on the way to Muscat, take a swimming or photo break at the White Beach of Fins, then at the Bimmah Sink Hole, a natural abyss. Overnight stay in Muscat.
WHITE BEACH
Day 7: Muscat
Relaxing on the beach, swimming, taking a boat trip along the coast to see the dolphins, shopping... Alternatively, arrive in Muscat directly on day 7 to catch your plane and spend an extra night in one of the sites presented above: for example in Nizwa for a cooler pace on day 3, or in the mountains with a day hike, or one night in Jebel Shams and another in Jebel Akdhar with completely different landscapes, or one more night in the desert or one night at Au Tiwi Nomad Inn to spend more time in the wadis....
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