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Holidays in Muscat Oman |
Welcome to Oman Tour - Itinerary
Day 1:
Arrival at Muscat International Airport.
Meet and assist.
Transfer to hotel
Check-in & Overnight @ (4* City hotel, Haffa House / Park Inn or
similar on BB).
Day 2:
Pick up after breakfast.
Tour of Nakhl / Rustaq
Overnight @ (4* City hotel, Haffa House / Park Inn or similar on BB)
Pick up after breakfast @ 08:00. Then proceed to visit Rustaq and
Nakhl. Rustaq is famous for its hot water springs. The hot springs
(Ain Al Kisfa) are said to have medicinal value and in the olden
days people used to travel far and wide just to take a healing dip
in the waters and experience the nostalgia of days gone by. Also
visit the Al Hazm Fort in Rustaq (photo stop). The fort is known far
and wide for its beautiful gates which are adorned with verses from
the Holy Koran and flower etchings. The next stop is Nakhl which
also has the highest fort in Oman, standing proudly on top of a
hillock. Proceed to the Al Thowara Oasis where one can witness the
source of the natural springs. Enjoy a picnic lunch en-route.
Day 3:
Breakfast.
Tour to Wadi Bani Khalid and Wahiba Sands via Tarmac road
Drive to Sur for Turtles watching.
Overnight @ (Carapace Hotel on BB)
Wahiba Sands is a vast mass of undulating red and white sand dunes
rising up to 200 meters and stretching as far as the eye can
see.Enjoy an exhilarating round of “dune bashing” in 4 WDS. The
sands are the traditional homes of the nomads and the Bedouins, so
it is common to see them moving through the desert with their
camels. In the middle of the desert, stop to visit a Bedouin home.
Catch a glimpse of the pretty villages scattered all over Wadi Bani
Khalid as they cling precariously to the slopes of the rugged
mountain-side. Drive to Sur. After a refreshing shower and dinner,
drive to Ras Al Jinz - assemble in the main lobby of the of the
scientific research resort Carapace around 21:00 hrs. where the
rangers will divide you into groups of 10-15 people. Proceed on a 15
min walk to the place where the green turtles nest on the calm
beaches of Ras Al Jinz (people with walking problems – such as older
people will be transported by bus).The turtles can be seen late at
night (21hrs to 23hrs) and then again early in the morning (about 04
am). Enjoy this natural phenomenon - an experience that is
guaranteed to stay in your memory for a long time.
Day 4:
Breakfast.
Sur city Tour (dhow building site and Fishermen’s Harbor)
Return off road via Qalhat, Bibi Miriam’s tomb, Bimah Sinkhole and
Quriyat back to Muscat.
Check in @ Overnight @ (4* City hotel, Haffa House / Park Inn or
similar on BB)
After breakfast, drive in to the city of Sur. Visit the fishermen’s
harbor and witness the fishermen in action. Proceed on to the Dhow
building yard. Dhows are traditional Omani wooden fisher boats that
are even today, built by hand. On to the village of Qalhat where
Bibi Miriam’s tomb is located. Wadi Tiwi / Shab - the next stop. The
beautiful clear pools of the wadi oasis are a serene and rewarding
sight in the otherwise barren environment. Before we reach Muscat,
you will also see the Bimah Sinkhole, a natural hole in the ground
created by a collapsing mountain. The hole is filled with blue-green
sea water. Finally we pass through the village of Quriyat, guarded
by its 18th century fort.
Day 5:
Breakfast and proceed for Muscat city tour
**Check out by 12:00 / before tour – leave luggage at concierge
Departure transfer to Muscat International Airport for flight back
home.
The Mosque was built over a period of 6 years from 1995 to 2001. The
main chandelier is made of pure Swarovski crystal and the carpet
adorning the large prayer hall was woven by experts, made out of
pure Persian silk. The Mosque exterior is constructed with quality
Rajasthani Sandstone and the main halls as well as the smaller
prayer rooms are adorned with the finest Italian Marble. The Mosque
is surrounded by 5 minarets’, each of which symbolizes the holy five
vows taken by every devout Muslim to reinforce his faith in the
Almighty. Definitely a “must see!”
From the Mosque, proceed through the Embassy road (please note that
it is forbidden to take photographs) to the old part of Muscat city:
The Muttrah souk - a traditional Omani market. The souk offers a
wide range of goods, especially typical Omani souvenirs like
Frankincense, the Omani Dagger or Khanjar and beautiful silver
handicrafts and “Pashmina shawls”. The guide will escort you on the
stroll through the souk and assist wherever needed to obtain the
best deal (bargaining is part of the daily trade here!).
The next stop is the Bait Al Zubair Museum. The museum is a small
town house that has been converted to display the old archeological
findings and Omani traditions such as national dress and jewelry.
The Museum also has an interesting display of old pictures of Muscat
before the renaissance that started with his Majesty the Sultan
Qaboos’s reign in 1970.
From here we shall proceed to see the Sultan’s Palace (video filming
is prohibited) surrounded by the 2 Forts of Mirani and Jalali built
by the Portuguese in the 16th century during their rule of the
coastal cities of Oman.
INCLUSIONS & SPECIAL REMARKS:
• English speaking guide
• Bus, Coach or salon/4WD vehicle for the tour (depending on
passenger numbers and routing)
• Picnic lunches on all full days of the tour (or local restaurant)
• Mineral water on board vehicle – on all days of RT
• Entrance fees if and where applicable
• Accommodation at selected Hotels/Camp
• Accommodation at hotels in Muscat mentioned above or similar
alternatives
• Meal Plan at hotels as mentioned above in itinerary
• Sites as mentioned on the program description – kindly note some
sites that are subject to closure due to religious festivals,
Government holidays and some due to weather conditions and
seasonality.
• Operation of package upon request and subject to availability
• All taxes and service charges included
• Standard APT transfers included
**Fridays and Public Holidays – Grand Mosque and Museum closed!**
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