Jabal Akhdar - Wahiba Sands - Sur

AMOUAGE (THE GIFT OF KINGS):

Fancy the chance to see the workings behind one of the most luxurious perfume brands in the world? A knowledgeable guide will walk you around the Visitors Centre and talk you through the history, raw ingredients and various production stages of the Amouage range. You will smell fantastic for the rest of the day after being given a rare opportunity to sample these world famous fragrances.

Al Jabal Al Akhdar (The Green Mountain):

The personality of the Jabal Al-Akhdar is singular. Its wadis, plateaus, peaks and terraced hillside all enjoy cooler temperatures and higher rainfall than elsewhere in Oman, which give this mountain region a gentler face than others. You will start your uphill journey in the village of Birkat al-Mawz that was named after its extensive banana cultivation and the pools of mountain water which collect here. There are some attractive old houses here and a 17th century Mosque. The village is the gateway into Wadi Ma’idin, which carves its way through the mountainside. Follow the blacktop road for 36km up onto Sayq Plateau, a vast upland expanse lying at 2,000m above sea level. The Plateau has been inhabited and cultivated for many years but, until the blacktop road was completed in recent years, it remained virtually inaccessible to visitors. There are many interesting sights up here - walk down the steps into wonderful Wadi Bani Habib with its crumbling abandoned houses and cultivated wadi bed where garlic is grown in the clay soil in the middle and pomegranate trees cling to the side near the rocks; pay a visit to Al-Ayn village where you can walk through traditional houses stacked on the mountainside; find the magnificent views of the villages of Al-Ayn and Al-’Aqr hanging on the mountainsides; drive up to the highest point of the Jabal Al-Akhdar to absorb the scenes beneath you; seek out the famed Jabal roses growing near the peak or simply walk around in the cooler air enjoying the pockets of green fecundity and growth in this unforgiving rocky terrain.

Nizwa (The Fort & Souq)

Rising from the lush greenery and dates palms fed by the longest falaj system in the country, Nizwa city is a great place to spend the morning. You can not miss Nizwa Fort, an impressive piece of 17th century architecture whose 40m central tower soars above the rest of the building. Clamber up to the top for glorious views of the city and mountains beyond. Pay a visit to Nizwa souq, which remains central to the life of the city providing locals with their daily needs and the souvenir-hunting visitor with Omani silver, halwa and excellent Khanjars. Although it is open every day, if you can manage it head to Nizwa Souq on a Friday morning when you will see the wonderful commotion of the goat and cattle auctions, a truly authentic experience.

Bahla (The Fort & Its Potters):

It is rumored that the potters of Bahla have magic in their fingers and, whether this is true or not, this small town just 40km from Nizwa is well worth a visit. It is home to one of Oman’s biggest and most elaborate forts and the only one inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The site is believed to have accommodated a fort since pre-Islamic times but the present- day structure was built in the 13th century and extensively rebuilt in the 1600s. It was then  closed for extensive renovation and reopened at the end of 2012. It is an enormous structure, which could occupy you for several hours if you wish to explore its rooms, towers, Mosques and wells in detail. Outside the Fort walls take a leisurely stroll amongst some of the fine old houses keeping your eyes peeled for sections of the ancient city walls. And then to those magic craftsmen, Bahla’s potters dominate the lovely old Souq where the distinctive earthenware pottery and the tiny workshops that produce it can be found at every turn.

Jabreen Castle (Oman's Most Splendid):

Standing alone on an empty plain, stark against the Jebel Akhdar mountain range in the background, Jabreen Castle will creep into your imagination as soon as you lay eyes on it. Widely regarded as Oman’s most spendid castle, it was built during a period of of peace, and its simple majesty reflects that. It is less fortified than other castles in the country and gives one the sense of calm, contemplation and of being a home recently abandoned. In reality it was only inhabited for a couple of decades before being deserted and sinking into disrepair until recent years. It is not a ‘museum-style’ place, full of artifacts and trinkets to look at but this is more than made up for by its exquisite design features unmatched in Oman and something a little bit magical which is hard to put your finger on.


SINAW:

Set between the Wahibah Sands and the edge of the Empty Quarter, Sinaw surprisingly show a lot of activity for an outpost town. This is where the Bedouins come to do business. In the heart of the city in the square behind the green doors, all the hustle and bustle of a Middle Eastern market are at its finest. It is very easy to get caught up in the spirit. Just watch yourself, though. You might find yourself going home with a newly purchased racing camel. Sinaw Souq is amongst one of the oldest preserved souqs in Oman and while the location of the souq is fairly new and the Sultanate has put a lot of money in renovating it, this souk has been around for a very long time. The Active souq is busiest on Thursday mornings when around 120 shops open for business. It is a real shopper’s haven because the souq sells practically everything.

THE WAHIBA SANDS:

A trip into the Wahiba (or Sharqiya) Sands is the perfect way to get taste of storybook Arabian desert. The rosy, windswept, ever moving dunes of the Sands are everything you imagine they will be. Bedu families still exist here eking out a traditional nomadic existence raising livestock with little but an exceptional understanding of the harsh environment in which they live. Living an incredible life far removed from that of most Omanis, the Bedu women are bold, brightly dressed and often to be seen behind the wheel of an ancient pick up hurtling up and down dunes. Whilst in the Sands with us you will get a glimpse of this lifestyle when you share coffee and dates with a Bedu family, look at some of the handicrafts made by the family and maybe have some henna painting done. You can also choose to so some ‘Dune Bashing’ – hurtling around the dunes in a 4WD handled by an experienced desert driver. If you wish to overnight in one of the well-equipped desert camps, you will see the desert at its most glorious as the sun sets and get the chance to go for a camel ride.

Wadi Bani Khalid:

Water flows all year round in this very beautiful and popular natural retreat. A zigzag drive up the mountainside will get you to the entrance of this long river bed populated with villages and fertile plantations. The water flowing from several springs collects in deep, clear pools that are made easily accessible by a series of paths and bridges. You may swim but remain respectful to the local people by staying well covered. As long as the water levels are not too high you can explore further into the undeveloped parts of the wadi and, not for the faint hearted, take some sturdy walking shoes and a torch and seek out the Moqal Cave.

Al Kamil Wa L-Wafi:

The old town of Al-Kamil sits, surrounded by trees, on the Muscat to Sur highway where it forks east to Sur and south to Al-Ashkara. An attractive place with crumbling watchtowers and a nice souq, the recent addition of the Castle Museum to Al-Kamil makes a welcome break in your journey. This restored grand old family house is an eccentric but fascinating place packed full of objects collected by the family over the years.

Sur Dhow Factory:

The old town of Sur faces out to the sea from whence its fortunes came. As the capital of the Sharqiya region, it has an illustrious past as one of the most important ports in the region, a key point of trade with East Africa and India. The forts and watchtowers, which circle the town, give a hint at its past significance. Head to the harbor to find its main attraction, the traditional dhow building yard that still manufactures wooden boats as it has for hundreds of years. Oman is immensely proud of its maritime heritage and, although demand has decreased, Sur still makes boats for customers all over the world, which are proof of the quality of their workmanship. The yard is a laid back place which you may wander around at your leisure.

Ra'as Al Hadd (Home of the Turtles):

The stunning beaches of Ra’as al-Hadd are not only appealing to Oman’s human visitors. Many turtles visit the most easterly point of the Sultanate to lay their precious eggs every year. To see these massive aquatic animals lumbering onto the shore to lay their eggs and to see the hundreds of tiny hatchlings scuttling down to the sea are rare sights indeed. Oman takes its responsibility seriously with regard to regulation and management of this phenomena and visitors are asked to respect the strict rules regarding photography and interference with the turtles. You will stay in a nearby hotel and will then be driven to one of the nesting sites in the evening OR early morning to get your best chance of seeing the turtles in action.

Wadi Tiwi:

Similar in form to Wadi Shab this wadi has the advantage of being discoverable by vehicle. You can wind your way through the, sometimes narrow, wadi enjoying the plantations and the pools from the comfort of your car. As in Wadi Shab, birds and butterflies abound and you will be given some fantastic photo opportunities.

White Sands Beach:

A beautiful small stretch of beach with gleaming white sand and sapphire waters interrupts the rocky coastline not far from Wadis Shab and Tiwi. If you wish to venture into the water, the snorkeling is great but if you would simply like to stretch your legs this is a wonderful place for beachcombing.

The Bimmah Sinkhole:

Recently mooted as the most beautiful sinkhole in the world, the cerulean waters of Bimmah Sinkhole attract thousands of visitors every year. It was created by the collapse of a soft limestone ceiling in an underground cavern which is rather less poetic than the Arabic name of ‘Meteor Fall Park’ suggests. The sinkhole is a beautiful natural phenomenon and a great place to stop for photos or a quick swim.

Quriyat & Wadi Dayqah:

‘Quriyat’ is the plural of Quriya meaning village, so called because, although a modestly sized town, it is a collective of around 30 distinct communities. It sits on the coast 80km from Muscat, an old fishing port that boasts a pretty seafront and harbor and an attractive 200- year-old fort – another one that has recently reopened after substantial renovation. Not far from the town is the impressive Wadi Dayqah Dam, which was completed in 2012 in a bid to assist with the management of the limited water resources in the Sultanate. In Oman’s predominantly arid landscape it is a wonder to see such an enormous body of clear blue water.