Tour overview

This 8-day small-group tour loops through northern Oman, from the capital's mosques and harbour to coastal wadis, desert dunes and mountain villages. Groups have no more than 12 travellers aged 15 and over, with a local leader throughout. You travel by minibus and 4×4 and stay in hotels, including a desert hotel in the Wahiba Sands and a heritage property in Nizwa's old town. Breakfast is included daily, with 2 lunches and 3 dinners, including a home-cooked Omani lunch in a mountain village. The trip is land-only, starting and ending in Muscat.

Muscat opens with the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, which holds 20,000 worshippers and one of the largest hand-woven carpets in the world, followed by lunch with the Sidab Women's Group, a local community project. Heading down the coast, you stop at the Bimmah Sinkhole, a turquoise pool in the limestone, and walk into Wadi Tiwi, a green gorge of palms and villages, before a night at Ras Al Hadd on the easternmost tip of Arabia.

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In Sur, a port with a long seafaring history, you visit a workshop where wooden dhows are still built by hand. A swim stop in the clear pools of Wadi Bani Khalid comes before you drive into the Wahiba Sands for a night at a desert hotel, with sunset over the dunes. Next morning you can climb the dunes for sunrise and share coffee and dates with a Bedouin family before heading inland to Jabreen Castle, one of Oman's finest forts, and Nizwa.

A walk through Nizwa's old town and its souq, with sections for halwa, spices and pottery, is followed by Misfat Al Abriyeen, a mountain village of mud-brick houses and terraces watered by ancient falaj channels, where you meet a beekeeper and share a home-cooked lunch. You spend the night on Jebel Shams, Oman's highest mountain, with an optional early walk along the Balcony Walk above the country's so-called Grand Canyon. The return to Muscat follows a scenic drive through Wadi Bani Awf and the fortified village of Bilad Sait.

The physical rating is medium, with short walks in wadis and mountains. This trip suits travellers who want a compact, varied introduction to Oman's landscapes, history and famous hospitality.

Trip highlights

  • The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat (Day 2)
  • The Bimmah Sinkhole and Wadi Tiwi (Day 3)
  • Dhow builders in Sur and a swim at Wadi Bani Khalid (Day 4)
  • A night in the Wahiba Sands and a Bedouin family visit (Days 4–5)
  • Jabreen Castle and Nizwa's souq (Days 5–6)
  • Misfat Al Abriyeen and the Jebel Shams canyon (Days 6–7)

Your route

10 stops from Muscat to Wadi Bani Awf

8-day route: Muscat – Ras Al Hadd – Sur – Wahiba Sands – Nizwa – Jebel Shams – Muscat
  1. Muscat Days 1–2 & 7–8
  2. Ras Al Hadd Day 3
  3. Sur Day 4
  4. Wadi Bani Khalid Day 4
  5. Wahiba Sands Day 4
  6. Jabreen Castle Day 5
  7. Nizwa Day 5
  8. Misfat Al Abyreen Day 6
  9. Jebel Shams Day 6
  10. Wadi Bani Awf Day 7

Why choose this tour

Mosques, wadis, desert and mountains in one compact week, with a night in the dunes. Community visits and home-cooked meals bring you close to Omani life.

Best suited to

  • First-time visitors to Oman or the Gulf
  • Travellers who enjoy desert and mountain scenery
  • Anyone interested in forts, souqs and traditional crafts
  • Travellers with a week to spare
The chandelier and dome inside the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

Day-by-day itinerary

8 days from Muscat, Oman to Muscat, Oman

  1. Day 1 · Muscat Arrive in Muscat

    Welcome to Oman. The welcome meeting is at 5pm, so arrive early to see the Royal Opera House or walk the Corniche in this seaside capital.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  2. Day 2 · Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Muttrah Muscat

    Visit the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, the largest in Oman, with room for 20,000 worshippers and a vast hand-woven carpet. Share lunch with the Sidab Women's Group, then explore Muttrah's harbour and souq.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  3. Day 3 · Bimmah Sinkhole, Wadi Tiwi, Ras Al Hadd Bimmah Sinkhole and Wadi Tiwi

    Drive along the coast to the Bimmah Sinkhole, a turquoise pool formed by limestone erosion, where you can paddle. Walk into Wadi Tiwi, a gorge of palms and villages, then continue to Ras Al Hadd, the easternmost point of Arabia.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  4. Day 4 · Sur, Wadi Bani Khalid, Wahiba Sands Sur, Wadi Bani Khalid and the Wahiba Sands

    Visit a dhow workshop in Sur, a port famous for its boat builders. Swim in the clear pools of Wadi Bani Khalid, then head into the Wahiba Sands to watch the sun set over the dunes before dinner.

    Hotel
    Desert hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  5. Day 5 · Wahiba Sands, Jabreen Castle, Nizwa Bedouin visit, Jabreen Castle and Nizwa

    Climb the dunes for sunrise if you wish, then visit a Bedouin family for coffee and dates. Drive inland to Jabreen Castle, one of Oman's most beautiful forts, and on to Nizwa.

    Hotel
    Heritage property in the old town
    Meals
    Breakfast
  6. Day 6 · Nizwa souq, Misfat Al Abriyeen, Jebel Shams Nizwa and Misfat Al Abriyeen

    Walk through Nizwa's old town and souq, with its sections for halwa, spices and pottery. Visit Misfat Al Abriyeen, a mountain village of mud-brick houses and terraced gardens fed by falaj channels, meet a beekeeper and share a home-cooked lunch. Continue up to Jebel Shams.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  7. Day 7 · Jebel Shams, Wadi Bani Awf, Bilad Sait Balcony Walk and back to Muscat

    An optional early hike along the Balcony Walk follows the rim of Oman's Grand Canyon. After breakfast, drive down through Wadi Bani Awf, stopping at the fortified village of Bilad Sait, and return to Muscat.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  8. Day 8 · Muscat Trip ends in Muscat

    The trip ends after breakfast. Extra nights in Muscat can be arranged when you book, perhaps for a dhow cruise or dolphin watching.

    Meals
    Breakfast
The Bimmah Sinkhole from above, Oman

Where you stay

  • Muscat (2 nights) Hotel
  • Ras Al Hadd (1 night) Hotel
  • Wahiba Sands (1 night) Desert hotel
  • Nizwa (1 night) Heritage property in the old town
  • Jebel Shams (1 night) Hotel
  • Muscat (1 night) Hotel

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

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 7 nights in hotels, a desert hotel and a heritage property
  • Meals 7 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 3 dinners
  • Transport minibus and 4x4
  • Guided visits the Grand Mosque, the Bimmah Sinkhole, Wadi Tiwi, Sur's dhow workshop, Wadi Bani Khalid, Jabreen Castle, Nizwa souq, Misfat Al Abriyeen, Jebel Shams and Bilad Sait
  • A lunch with the Sidab Women's Group, a Bedouin family visit and a home-cooked lunch in Misfat
  • Local leader throughout

Not included

  • International flights to and from Muscat
  • Airport transfers
  • Oman visa, if required
  • Meals not listed and optional activities, such as a sunset dhow cruise or dolphin watching
  • Single supplement, tips, travel insurance and personal spending
The lighthouse and old town of Sur, Oman

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want flights included — they are not
  • You want a beach holiday — this is a touring trip
  • You want most meals included — 7 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 3 dinners
  • You want to see southern Oman — this trip covers the north

Good to know

FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Oman
A palm-filled valley in the mountains of Oman

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £2,290 per person, twin share, tour only. 51 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.

Can I swim on this trip?

Yes. There is a paddle at the Bimmah Sinkhole and a swim stop in the pools of Wadi Bani Khalid. Bring modest swimwear and a cover-up.

What is the desert stay like?

You spend one night at a desert hotel in the Wahiba Sands, with sunset over the dunes, dinner, and the chance to climb a dune for sunrise.

How active is the trip?

The physical rating is medium. Expect short walks into wadis and villages, and an optional one-hour Balcony Walk on Jebel Shams.

What should I wear?

Light, modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees, especially at the Grand Mosque, where women also need to cover their hair. A warm layer helps on Jebel Shams.

What meals are included?

7 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 3 dinners, including lunch with the Sidab Women's Group and a home-cooked lunch in Misfat Al Abriyeen.

Is this different from the Muscat to Salalah tour?

Yes. This trip focuses on northern Oman: Muscat, the coast, the Wahiba Sands, Nizwa and Jebel Shams. It does not visit Salalah in the south.

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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