Oman is the Middle East for people who don’t like shouting. Its capital has no skyscrapers to speak of, its souks sell frankincense rather than fridge magnets, and its idea of excitement is a swim in a turquoise wadi followed by coffee and dates with a Bedouin family. In a week you can see mountains, canyons, sinkholes, sand dunes the colour of paprika, turtles nesting on the beach and some of the finest forts in Arabia. It’s easy, safe and quietly spectacular.
Our four Oman tours share many highlights, so the choice is mostly about pace, comfort and how far south you want to go. This guide compares them all, with who each suits and its honest drawback.
The quick answer
- For the highlights with turtles and most meals included, pick A Week in Oman.
- For the best value with a heritage stay and Jebel Shams, pick Discover Oman.
- For more walking and swimming by 4WD, pick Mountains, Deserts & Coast.
- For the wild south, the Empty Quarter and Salalah, pick the Desert Odyssey.
Every Oman tour compared
| Tour | Days | Price from | Physical rating | Group size | Flights included | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Oman | ||||||
| A Week in Oman: Muscat, Wahiba Sands & Nizwa – 7 Days | 7 | £2,256 pp | Medium | Max 15 | No | The highlights, most meals included |
| Discover Oman: Muscat, Wahiba Sands, Nizwa & Jebel Shams – 8 Days | 8 | £1,607 pp | Medium | Max 12 | No | Best value, with a heritage stay |
| Oman: Mountains, Deserts & Coast – 9 Days | 9 | £2,325 pp | Medium | Max 18 | No | More walking and swimming |
| North to south | ||||||
| Oman Desert Odyssey: Muscat to Salalah via the Empty Quarter – 11 Days | 11 | £3,983 pp | Not stated | Max 15 | No | The road to Salalah, with wild camping |
Prices are per person, twin share, live from our tour pages (updated October 2026). The lowest price can apply to a later departure, so check the dates you want on each tour page.
What the Oman tours show you
Muscat. The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, with one of the largest hand-woven carpets in the world, the Mutrah souq and the corniche.
The coast and wadis. The Bimmah Sinkhole, a turquoise pool in the limestone, and the palm-filled gorges of Wadi Tiwi and Wadi Bani Khalid, where you can swim.
The Wahiba Sands. A night in the dunes, with sunset (and sunrise for the keen) and a visit to a Bedouin family.
Nizwa and the forts. Nizwa’s fort and souq, and Jabreen, perhaps Oman’s finest castle, with painted ceilings.
The mountains. Jebel Shams, Oman’s highest mountain, above a canyon 1,000m deep, and the terraced villages of Jebel Akhdar.
Northern Oman in a week or so
A Week in Oman
A Week in Oman: Muscat, Wahiba Sands & Nizwa – 7 Days
- 7 days
- From £2,256 per person
- Max 15 people
- Starts and ends in Muscat, Oman
- Physical rating: medium
- Flights not included
- Departures in January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November, December
Seven days with a tour leader and four to 15, with almost every meal included: coffee with the Sidab Women’s Association, a dhow cruise and the Mutrah souq in Muscat, the Grand Mosque, the Bimmah Sinkhole and Wadi Tiwi, an evening at the Ras Al Jinz turtle reserve with an ecologist, Wadi Bani Khalid, a night at a desert resort in the Wahiba Sands with a barbecue, the falaj-watered oasis of Birkat Al Mouz, Nizwa, Jabreen and Bahla forts and Jebel Shams.
Suits: first-timers who want everything in a week. The honest drawback: it’s a fast pace, and turtles nest mainly from June to August, so outside those months they may not appear.
Discover Oman
Discover Oman: Muscat, Wahiba Sands, Nizwa & Jebel Shams – 8 Days
- 8 days
- From £1,607 per person
- Max 12 people
- Starts and ends in Muscat, Oman
- Physical rating: medium
- Flights not included
- Departures in January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November, December
Eight days with a local leader and up to 12: the Grand Mosque and lunch with the Sidab Women’s Group, the Bimmah Sinkhole and Wadi Tiwi, a night at Ras Al Hadd on the easternmost tip of Arabia, a dhow-building workshop in Sur, Wadi Bani Khalid, a desert hotel in the Wahiba Sands with coffee and dates with a Bedouin family, Jabreen, Nizwa’s souq with a night in a heritage property, Misfat Al Abriyeen with a beekeeper and a home-cooked lunch, and the Balcony Walk on Jebel Shams.
Suits: value-seekers who like characterful stays. The honest drawback: only a few meals are included beyond breakfast.
Oman: Mountains, Deserts & Coast
Oman: Mountains, Deserts & Coast – 9 Days
- 9 days
- From £2,325 per person
- Max 18 people
- Starts and ends in Muscat, Oman
- Physical rating: medium
- Flights not included
- Departures in January, April, May, September, October, November, December
Nine days by private 4WD, three or four to a vehicle, with a tour leader: Muscat’s Royal Opera House and Grand Mosque, a swim in the Bimmah Sinkhole, a night by Fins Beach, Sur’s dhow yards, Wadi Bani Khalid, a dune drive to a desert camp, the Sinaw market, Jebel Akhdar’s terraced villages, lunch in a heritage house in Misfat Al Abriyeen, part of the Balcony Walk on Jebel Shams and the Nizwa goat auction.
Suits: active travellers who want more walks and swims. The honest drawback: plenty of time in the 4WD, and few meals beyond breakfast and lunches.
The road to Salalah
Oman Desert Odyssey: Muscat to Salalah via the Empty Quarter
Oman Desert Odyssey: Muscat to Salalah via the Empty Quarter – 11 Days
- 11 days
- From £3,983 per person
- Max 15 people
- Muscat, Oman to Salalah, Oman
- Flights not included
- Departures in January, March, October, November, December
Eleven days, mostly by 4×4, with an expert tour leader and four to 15: Muscat, the Nakhl hot springs and the hairpins of Wadi Bani Awf to Bilad Sayt and a night on Jabal Shams, Jabrin Castle and Wadi Nakhr (the “Grand Canyon of Arabia”), Nizwa and Jebel Akhdar, Wadi Bani Khalid, a Wahiba Sands resort, then four hours across the dunes to the Arabian Sea, the flamingos of Bar Al Hikman, three nights wild camping on beaches and in desert wadis, Duqm’s Rock Garden, the pink lagoons of Qahal and finally Salalah.
Suits: adventurers who want the wild, empty south. The honest drawback: the three wild camps have no toilets or washing facilities, and there are several long drives.
How to choose
By time. Seven or eight days: A Week in Oman or Discover Oman. Nine days: Mountains, Deserts & Coast. Eleven days: the Desert Odyssey.
By meals. A Week in Oman includes almost every meal. The others mostly include breakfast plus a few special lunches and dinners.
By comfort. The northern trips use hotels and a desert camp or resort. The Odyssey adds three nights of wild camping.
By budget. Discover Oman is the best value. Live prices are in the table above.
When to go
October to April is the season, with warm, sunny days; summer is extremely hot. Salalah and Dhofar have a monsoon season, the khareef, from about June to September, when the hills turn green. Turtles nest at Ras Al Jinz mainly from June to August, but can appear at other times. The months for each tour are in its fact panel above.
UK visitors can usually enter Oman visa-free for short stays. Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees; at the Grand Mosque women must also cover their hair. Check the FCDO travel advice for Oman before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Oman tour?
For first-timers, A Week in Oman or Discover Oman. For the wild south, the Desert Odyssey to Salalah.
How long do I need in Oman?
A week covers the northern highlights. Eleven days lets you travel all the way south to Salalah.
Can I swim on an Oman tour?
Yes, at the Bimmah Sinkhole and in the pools of Wadi Bani Khalid. Bring modest swimwear and a cover-up.
Can I see turtles in Oman?
A Week in Oman visits the Ras Al Jinz turtle reserve. Nesting is mainly from June to August.
Is Oman safe?
Oman is one of the most relaxed countries in the region. As always, check the FCDO travel advice before you travel.
Are flights included?
No, these tours are land-only, and we can arrange flights. The Desert Odyssey flies you into Muscat and home from Salalah.
Ready for Oman?
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Keep planning
Prices are live from our tour pages (updated October 2026). Tour details and dates can change; your specialist will confirm everything before you book.
