A Week in Oman: Muscat, Wahiba Sands & Nizwa – 7 Days
Muscat, Ras Al Jinz turtles, the Wahiba Sands, Jebel Shams and Nizwa in a week, in a group of up to 15.
Tour overview
This 7-day tour packs the highlights of Oman into a week, combining Muscat's souks and seafaring heritage with turquoise wadis, a night in the desert, mountain villages and the forts of the interior. Groups have between 4 and 15 travellers aged 16 and over, with a tour leader throughout and group transfers in Muscat. You stay six nights: five in hotels in Muscat, Sur and Nizwa, and one at a desert resort in the Wahiba Sands. All breakfasts are included, with four lunches and six dinners, including a barbecue at the desert camp, so you can relax and enjoy the journey.
Your week begins in Muscat, where you meet the women of the Sidab Women's Association over coffee, visit the Bait Al Zubair Museum and the gates of the Sultan's palace, and sail along the coast on a traditional dhow. After a welcome dinner you explore the lanes of the Mutrah Souq. The next morning you visit the Grand Mosque, with its handmade carpets and chandeliers, then follow the coast to the Bimmah Sinkhole and Wadi Tiwi. In the evening an ecologist leads you onto the beach at Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve, where green turtles come ashore to nest.
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After a swim in the turquoise pools of the Wadi Bani Khalid oasis and a picnic lunch, you switch to 4WDs and head into the Wahiba Sands, where dunes rise up to 200m, for a night at a desert resort, with an optional camel ride. In the morning you visit a Bedouin family for kahwa, Omani coffee, then walk through the oasis and date plantations of Birkat Al Mouz, with its UNESCO-listed falaj irrigation, before reaching Nizwa.
From Nizwa you visit Jabreen, the finest of Oman's castles, with its painted ceilings, and Bahla Fort, the only UNESCO-listed fort in the country, then walk in Wadi Nakhr and look down into the Grand Canyon of Arabia from Jebel Shams. On your final day you see the lively Nizwa cattle auction, the fort and the souk, drive through the dramatic Wadi Bani Awf to the mountain village of Bilad Sayt, and stop at Nakhal Fort before a final evening in Muscat.
The physical rating is medium, with short walks and some long days. This tour suits travellers short on time who want to see the best of Oman in comfort.
Trip highlights
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A dhow cruise and Mutrah Souq (Day 1)
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Turtles at Ras Al Jinz (Day 2)
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Wadi Bani Khalid (Day 3)
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A night in the Wahiba Sands (Day 3)
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Coffee with a Bedouin family (Day 4)
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Jabreen Castle and Jebel Shams (Day 5)
Your route
12 stops from Muscat to Muscat
- Muscat Day 1
- Wadi Shab Day 2
- Sur Day 2
- Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve Day 2
- Wadi Bani Khalid Day 3
- Wahiba Sands Day 3
- Birkat al Mouz Day 4
- Nizwa Days 4–5
- Jabrin Day 5
- Bahla Fort Day 5
- Nakhal Fort Day 6
- Muscat Days 6–7
Why choose this tour
Oman's highlights in a single week. Most meals and group transfers included.
Best suited to
- Travellers short on time
- First-time visitors to Oman
- Culture and nature lovers
- Solo travellers looking for a group
Day-by-day itinerary
7 days from Muscat, Oman to Muscat, Oman
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Day 1 · Sidab, Mutrah Souq Muscat
A dhow cruise and the souk.
- Hotel
- Radisson Blu Hotel Muscat or similar
- Meals
- Dinner
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Day 2 · Grand Mosque, Bimmah Sinkhole, Ras Al Jinz Sur
A mosque, a sinkhole and turtles.
- Hotel
- Best Western Sur or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 3 · Wadi Bani Khalid, Wahiba Sands Wahiba Sands
A wadi swim and the dunes.
- Hotel
- Arabian Nights Resort or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 4 · Birkat Al Mouz, Nizwa Nizwa
Bedouin coffee and an oasis.
- Hotel
- Al Diyar Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 5 · Jabreen Castle, Bahla Fort, Jebel Shams Jebel Shams
Castles and the Grand Canyon of Arabia.
- Hotel
- Al Diyar Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 6 · Nizwa, Bilad Sayt, Nakhal Fort Muscat
The cattle auction and mountain roads.
- Hotel
- Radisson Blu Hotel Muscat or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 7 · Muscat Trip ends
The tour ends after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Muscat (1 night) Radisson Blu Hotel Muscat or similar
- Sur (1 night) Best Western Sur or similar
- Wahiba Sands (1 night) Arabian Nights Resort or similar
- Nizwa (2 nights) Al Diyar Hotel or similar
- Muscat (1 night) Radisson Blu Hotel Muscat or similar
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 5 nights in hotels and 1 in a desert resort
- Meals 6 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 6 dinners
- Minibus and 4x4 transport, and group transfers in Muscat
- Dhow cruise and Grand Mosque visit
- Ras Al Jinz turtle visit with an ecologist
- Wadi Bani Khalid and a Bedouin family visit
- Jabreen Castle, Jebel Shams and Nizwa Fort
- Tour leader throughout
Not included
- Flights
- Meals not included 1 lunch
- Optional camel ride
- Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want a slower pace
- You want luxury throughout
- You dislike long days
- You want flights included — they are not
Good to know
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £1,805 per person, twin share, tour only. 22 upcoming departures. Single travellers from £2,169 (single supplement from £364).
Offer Reduced prices on selected dates, shown with the regular price crossed out. Book by 16 Oct.
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.
Will we see turtles?
The main nesting season is June to August; at other times turtles may or may not appear, but the visit is still worthwhile.
Can we always swim at Wadi Bani Khalid?
Swimming is planned but may be unsafe after rain. Your leader will advise.
Are airport transfers included?
Yes, group arrival and departure transfers in Muscat.
Do I need a visa?
UK visitors can usually enter Oman visa-free for short stays. Check the latest advice before travel.
What should I wear at the Grand Mosque?
Women should be fully covered with a headscarf; men should wear trousers.
How many people travel together?
Between 4 and 15 travellers, with a tour leader.
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.
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