Tour overview

This 11-day small-group adventure crosses Oman from north to south, from the capital Muscat to Salalah, mostly by 4×4. On the way you pass through mountain canyons, desert oases, wild coast and the Empty Quarter. Groups have 4 to 15 travellers aged 16 and over, with an expert tour leader. You stay in hotels and a desert resort, plus three nights wild camping in simple tents. Breakfast is included every day, with three lunches and eight dinners. The trip is land-only, with group airport transfers available.

Muscat begins with a city tour: the Grand Mosque, the Bait Al Zubair Museum, the corniche and Muttrah Souq, with a photo stop at Al Alam Palace. A 4×4 then climbs into the Hajar Mountains via the Nakhl hot springs and the hairpin bends of Wadi Bani Awf, to the mountain village of Bilad Sayt and a night on Jabal Shams. Next day you visit Jabrin Castle, with its painted ceilings, and walk in Wadi Nakhr, the Grand Canyon of Arabia, with cliffs over 1,000 metres high. In Nizwa you explore the 17th-century fort and the souq, known for silver and khanjar daggers, before walking among the terraced villages of Jebel Akhdar.

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Heading for the sands, you swim in the turquoise pools of Wadi Bani Khalid. You then spend a night at a resort in the Wahiba Sands, with a visit to a Bedouin family. A four-hour drive across the dunes leads to the Arabian Sea coast and the birdlife of Bar Al Hikman, where flamingos often gather, before a wild beach camp at Khaluf.

Further south you see Oman's oldest rocks in Wadi Shuram and the Rock Garden at Duqm. Next come the white sands of Ras Madrakhah and the pink lagoons of Qahal, then a wild camp in Wadi Shuwaymiyah, home to ibex, gazelles and hyenas. A long drive takes you into the Empty Quarter, the largest sand desert on earth, for a night under the stars. In the morning you explore Ubar, a lost city of the frankincense trade, and try dune driving before arriving in Salalah.

Expect long drives, heat and basic camps with no washing facilities. The trip suits adventurous travellers who want to see Oman's wild side beyond the cities.

Trip highlights

  • Muscat's Grand Mosque and Muttrah Souq (Day 1)
  • A 4x4 ride through Wadi Bani Awf to Jabal Shams (Day 2)
  • Jabrin Castle and a walk in Wadi Nakhr, Arabia's Grand Canyon (Day 3)
  • Nizwa Fort and souq, and the villages of Jebel Akhdar (Day 4)
  • Wadi Bani Khalid and a night in the Wahiba Sands (Day 5)
  • A wild beach camp at Khaluf and the birds of Bar Al Hikman (Day 6)
  • The Empty Quarter and the lost city of Ubar (Days 9–10)

Your route

13 stops from Muscat to Salalah

11-day route: Muscat – Jabal Shams – Nizwa – Jebel Akhdar – Wahiba Sands – Khaluf – Duqm – Wadi Shuwaymiyah – Empty Quarter – Salalah
  1. Muscat Day 1
  2. Nakhl Day 2
  3. Jabal Shams Day 2
  4. Jabrin Castle Day 3
  5. Nizwa Day 3
  6. Jebel Akhdar Day 4
  7. Wadi Bani Khalid Day 5
  8. Wahiba Sands Day 5
  9. Khaluf Day 6
  10. Duqm Day 7
  11. Wadi Shuwaymiyah Day 8
  12. Empty Quarter (Ubar) Day 9
  13. Salalah Day 10

Why choose this tour

This route covers far more of Oman than most tours, reaching the remote south coast and the Empty Quarter by 4x4. Wild camps on the beach, in a wadi and in the desert give a real sense of Oman's empty landscapes, with the crew handling the chores.

Best suited to

  • Adventurous travellers who love deserts and wild places
  • Photographers drawn to dunes, canyons and night skies
  • Travellers happy with long drives and simple camping
  • Anyone who wants to see Oman beyond Muscat and Nizwa
The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat, Oman

Day-by-day itinerary

11 days from Muscat, Oman to Salalah, Oman

  1. Day 1 · Muscat, Grand Mosque, Muttrah Souq Muscat city tour

    Meet the group around 1:30pm for a tour of Muscat, Oman's coastal capital. Visit the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque (modest dress required) and the Bait Al Zubair Museum, walk the corniche and Muttrah Souq, and stop for photos at Al Alam Palace.

    Hotel
    Radisson Blu Muscat or similar
    Meals
    Dinner
  2. Day 2 · Nakhl, Wadi Bani Awf, Bilad Sayt, Jabal Shams Into the Hajar Mountains

    A 4x4 ride of about 4.5 hours through the Hajar Mountains. Stop at the Nakhl hot springs, then follow the steep bends of Wadi Bani Awf to the mountain village of Bilad Sayt before climbing to Jabal Shams, Oman's highest mountain.

    Hotel
    Sama Jabal Shams or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  3. Day 3 · Jabrin Castle, Wadi Nakhr, Nizwa Jabrin Castle and Wadi Nakhr

    Visit Jabrin Castle, built in 1675 as a centre of learning, with beautiful hand-painted ceilings. Then walk in Wadi Nakhr, a 12-kilometre canyon with cliffs over 1,000 metres high, known as the Grand Canyon of Arabia, before reaching Nizwa.

    Hotel
    Al Diyar Hotel or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  4. Day 4 · Nizwa Fort, Nizwa Souq, Jebel Akhdar Nizwa and Jebel Akhdar

    Explore Nizwa Fort, built in the 17th century, and the souq, famous for silver jewellery and hand-carved khanjar daggers. Then drive up to Jebel Akhdar, the Green Mountain, for a walk between terraced villages.

    Hotel
    Sama Jabal Akhdar or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  5. Day 5 · Wadi Bani Khalid, Wahiba Sands Wadi Bani Khalid and the Wahiba Sands

    Drive about four hours to the golden dunes of the Wahiba Sands, stopping to swim in the turquoise pools of Wadi Bani Khalid. At the desert resort, visit a Bedouin family to learn about their customs.

    Hotel
    Arabian Nights Resort or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Wahiba Sands, Bar Al Hikman, Khaluf Across the dunes to Khaluf

    A four-hour 4x4 drive across the dunes leads to the coast, following the Arabian Sea with the desert on one side. After lunch, visit Bar Al Hikman, a haven for shore birds and often flamingos, then camp on the beach at Khaluf.

    Hotel
    Wild beach camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  7. Day 7 · Wadi Shuram, Duqm Wadi Shuram to Duqm

    Drive to Duqm, a fast-growing port that was once a fishing village. On the way, see the oldest rocks in Oman in Wadi Shuram, pass a palm oasis and climb a hill for views over the desert. Visit the Rock Garden near Duqm.

    Hotel
    Season Inn Hotel Duqm or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  8. Day 8 · Ras Madrakhah, Qahal, Wadi Shuwaymiyah Ras Madrakhah and the pink lagoons

    Visit Ras Madrakhah, a beach of white sand and dark rocks, then the lagoons of Qahal, turned pink by algae. Continue into Wadi Shuwaymiyah, one of Oman's most spectacular valleys and home to ibex, gazelles and camels, for a night of wild camping.

    Hotel
    Wild camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  9. Day 9 · Thumrait, Empty Quarter Into the Empty Quarter

    A drive of about five hours through the mountains and past Thumrait to the Empty Quarter, the largest sand desert in the world, stretching into Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Yemen. Camp among the dunes under the stars.

    Hotel
    Desert camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  10. Day 10 · Ubar, Salalah Ubar and on to Salalah

    Explore the ruins of Ubar, the Atlantis of the Sands, once a hub of the frankincense trade linking Oman with Mesopotamia, Rome and India. Try a short dune-driving experience, then drive to Salalah on the southern coast.

    Hotel
    Intercity Salalah or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  11. Day 11 · Salalah Trip ends in Salalah

    The trip ends after breakfast in Salalah. A group departure transfer is available, and extra nights can be arranged if you would like to stay on.

    Meals
    Breakfast
The coast of Muscat beneath rugged mountains, Oman

Where you stay

  • Muscat (1 night) Radisson Blu Muscat or similar
  • Jabal Shams (1 night) Sama Jabal Shams or similar
  • Nizwa (1 night) Al Diyar Hotel or similar
  • Jebel Akhdar (1 night) Sama Jabal Akhdar or similar
  • Wahiba Sands (1 night) Arabian Nights Resort or similar
  • Khaluf (1 night) Wild beach camp
  • Duqm (1 night) Season Inn Hotel Duqm or similar
  • Wadi Shuwaymiyah (1 night) Wild camp
  • Empty Quarter (1 night) Desert camp
  • Salalah (1 night) Intercity Salalah or similar

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation — 10 nights 6 in hotels, 1 at a desert resort and 3 wild camping in igloo-style tents with mattresses and sleeping bags
  • Meals 10 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 8 dinners
  • Transport 4x4 vehicles throughout, with group arrival and departure transfers available
  • Visits Muscat city tour, Nakhl hot springs, Jabrin Castle, Wadi Nakhr, Nizwa Fort and souq, Wadi Bani Khalid, a Bedouin home, Bar Al Hikman, Qahal lagoons, Ubar and a dune-driving experience
  • Expert tour leader throughout

Not included

  • International flights to Muscat and home from Salalah
  • Visas, if required
  • Meals not listed and drinks
  • Single supplement, tips, travel insurance and personal spending
Terraced fields on Jebel Akhdar, Oman

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want flights included — they are not
  • You need a shower every night — the three camps have no wash or toilet facilities
  • You dislike long days in a vehicle — several drives take four to five hours
  • You want most meals included — 10 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 8 dinners

Good to know

FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Oman
The rugged canyons of Jabal Shams, Oman

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £3,679 per person, twin share, tour only. 11 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Are flights included?

No. You fly into Muscat and home from Salalah. Group arrival and departure transfers run at fixed times, and private transfers can be arranged.

What are the wild camps like?

Small igloo-style tents with mattresses and sleeping bags provided. The crew handles the camp chores. There are no toilet or washing facilities, and the first camp is followed by a hotel night.

How much driving is there?

Quite a lot. Several days involve four to five hours in a 4x4 to reach remote places. Short walks break up the drives, and staying hydrated in the heat is important.

What should I wear?

Modest clothing covering shoulders and knees is respectful throughout Oman. At the Grand Mosque, women must cover their hair, arms and legs.

Is the route safe?

The route passes near areas the UK Foreign Office advises against, but does not enter them. Check current government advice before any independent travel.

Can I have a double bed or a private room?

Solo travellers share by default, and private rooms are usually available for a supplement. Couples may be given twin beds unless a double is requested at booking.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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