Oman
Departure
Departure from FRA, TXL or MUC (respectively LHR and MAN) on Qatar Airways to Doha/Qatar. Onward flight to MCT.
arrival Muscat
Arrival at Muscat airport, meet/greet by local guide, transfer to the hotel. Time to rest or to enjoy Qantab Beach (just a few minutes by taxi). Overnight at Ramada Hotel ****, Muscat
Muscat (B)
The Omani capital Muscat is tidy, clean and most of it modern, nevertheless it is very oriental! We will start by visiting its most recent landmark, the impressive new Sultan Qaboos Mosque. Then Natural History Museum, Oil Museum. Picknick at Qantab Beach. Afternoon tea at the world famous Bustan palace Hotel. On the way to Matrah, the most traditional quarter of Muscat, we will stop near the Forts of Jilali and Mirani and some ministries (all from outside only). Time to shop at lively souq (bazaar) of Matrah, an excellent place for example to buy a typical Omani dagger. Overnight at Ramada Hotel ****, Muscat
Green Wadis and sea turtles (B, L, D)
We will leave Muscat in 4WD vehicles, crossing stone deserts and abundantly green wadis (valleys with a stream or river). Stop by the prehistoric so called "bee house tombs" and the "sinkhole", a lime stone cave near the coastline, whose roof has collapsed, so one can see the sea water when looking down into the hole like into an open crater. Picknick lunch on the beach. On to Wadi Shab, where we will walk for about an hour (watching birds and other animals), stop at Wadi Tiwi. We will pass the town of Sur and reach Cape Ras Al-Hadd. Dinner at Turtle Beach Camp. An unforgettable night lies ahead of you: We will leave the camp after nightfall and ride to Ras al-Jinz Beach, where watch the huge marine turtles (Caretta caretta) come ashore to lay their eggs under a magnificent sky. And we will watch baby turtles digging their way out of the sand and hurry towards the roaring waters of the Indian Ocean. (As animals do not recognize the schedules of tourist trips, we can not guarantee there will be turtles, but it is extremely rare not to find any!) Overnight at Turtle Beach Camp.
Town of Sur and time fort he beach (B, D)
Sur is a center of fishery and of Dhow shipyards. The Dhows, traditional wooden boats and ships, are still built here today, as we will see. We will go for a walk through the town and will visit the quarter of Al Ayah, famous for its beautiful carved wooden doors. In the afternoon, we will return to the Beach at Ras Al-Jinz for sunbathing and swimming. If we are lucky, we might get to see some more turtles. Dinner and overnight at Turtle Beach Camp.
Cross the Desert to the Oasis town of Nizwa (B)
Jaalan Province has preserved a very authentic charm. There is hardly anyone in the street wearing western style clothes. But whenever tourists appear, which is not so often down here, people smile, wave and are ready to help whenever you need it. Nevertheless Jaalan is famous for the fierce resistance it had shown to British troups in earlier centuries. We will visit the village of Bani Bu Ali and see its peculiar mosque built in an ancient Arabic style with many pointed domes. Then we will cross parts of the desert of Wahiba Sands. In Ibra, we will walk through the romantic alleys of ruins of what was once a village of clay houses. In the early evening, we will reach Nizwa with its palm groves, its fortress and lively markets. Overnight at Falaj Daris Hotel ****
Jebel Akhdar Mountains (B)
Jeleb Akhdar means "green mountain", which can be expained easily by the fact that this is the most fertile area of the country. The high plateau gets enough rainfall to grow corn, pomegranates, apricots, peaches, almonds and last, but not least: roses! We will get to see a rose water distillery in a village in the mountains. We will continue to a terrace high above Wady Ayn with a beautiful panoramic view, we will then go for a walk down into the wadi with its old village and gardens. On the way back stop by Fort Bait Al-Rudaidah with its five watchtowers.
Nizwa (B)
We will have a closer look at Nizwa today. We will climb up the tower of the fortress and enjoy the view of the blue and golden dome of Sultan Qaboos Mosque, the palm goves, the mountains of Jebel Akhdar and the old clay houses. Every Omani knows the village of Bahla for its pottery, so we will visit a local pottery workshop and oven here. Bahla Fort is problaby the most impressive fort of Oman (UNESCO world heritage list), and it is just about 20min from Nizwa by car. We will be able to watch it from outside, as it is under renovation. The Fort of Jabreen can be visited from inside as well, so we will get to see the painted ceilings, the remains of the library and many other objects in this beautiful palace. We will reach the coast again in the evening Overnight at Al-Sawadi Beach Hotel ****
spare time on the beach (B)
Overnight at Al-Sawadi Beach Hotel ****
Amouage" or the history of oriental fragrances (B)
Optional excursion (to be paid on site):
Frankincense, sandalwood, jasmine, myrrh and patchoulis: all of these and many other fragrant substances have been known to Omanis for centuries thanks to Omani trade across the oceans (Sindbad was from the Omani port city of Sohar!) and the fact that Frankincense originates from Oman itself! In 1983, His Highness Sayyid Hamad bin Hamoud al Bu Said, had a dream to restore the great Arabian art of perfumery to the region. This resulted in Amouage- the most valuable perfume in the world. We will visit the Amouage factory to discover the secret of oriental fragrances. (www.amouage.com)
Late afternoon: Transfer to Muscat Seeb airport and flight home.