Oman Desert Adventure: Wahiba Sands & Empty Quarter
Oman Desert Adventure: Wahiba Sands & Empty Quarter
12 Days Starting and ending in MUSCAT
Visiting: Muscat, Al Hamra, Jabrin, Nizwa, Wahiba Sands, Al Khaluf, Duqm, Souly Lodge Empty Quarter, Bedouin, Salalah
Tour operator:
Tour code:
OMA
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 12
Age range:
1-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Please contact Wild Frontiers with any specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Private Available:
Request A Private Tour
Tour Overview
Oman is one of Arabia’s true gems - a land of rugged coastlines and vast deserts where tradition and progress go hand in hand.
This wonderful adventure takes us from the heart of its picturesque capital, deep into mountains and deserts of the Bedu and the old Omani Imamate. We will take in the breathless landscapes of the Hajar Mountains and the shifting sands of Wahiba, explore the old forts of Jabrin and Nizwa and journey into the vast emptiness of the Rub Al Khali, the Empty Quarter.
It is a journey of incredible contrasts, following in the footsteps of the pioneering explorers of old and taking in some of the richest natural and cultural highlights that Arabia has to offer.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Tour Starts In Muscat
Location: Muscat
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Al Falaj Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
The tour starts from Oman’s International airport to coincide with the suggested Group Tour flights. We will head straight to the magnificent mosque of Sultan Qaboos, one of the largest in the Arab world, whose grand marble halls are capable of holding some 20,000 people. After which we will begin our guided tour of the city. One of Arabia’s most picturesque cities, Muscat lies within the protective embrace of a ring of horse-shoe mountains that run down into the glittering waters of Muscat Bay. We will drive along the engaging sea-front to the Al Alam Palace and the 16th century Portuguese forts of Jalali and Mirani. We will also have a chance to visit Muscat’s renowned Muttrah souk, one of the best in the region. There will be free time in the afternoon for those that want to explore independently, or time to rest and freshen up.
Day 2: Muscat – Al Hamra
Location: Al Hamra, Muscat
Accommodation: Resort
Accommodation Name: Sama Heights Resort or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we will leave in good time and head to the Seeb fish market to witness firsthand the hustle and bustle of the market traders as they barter over the “fish of the day”. Continuing out of the city in 4WDs, we will head towards the Hajar Mountains, following the Batinah coast through the foothills to the picturesque setting of Wadi Bani Awf, and a picnic lunch amongst the hills of Oman’s rugged interior. This afternoon we then head to Misfath Al Abreen, one of Oman’s best kept secrets for a walk through the beautiful oasis. Taking in the stunning scenery and walking through the falaj (irrigation) system, seeing how the village farms and manages its agricultural land. We arrive at our mountain top camp later this afternoon.
Day 3: Grand Canyon Walk - Drive To Nizwa
Location: Jabrin, Nizwa
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Falaj Daris or simliar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we will experience one of the most notable hikes in the country, the Balcony Walk. This follows a stony donkey track, and winds around the rim of the mountain to the abandoned village of As Sab, a total of around 6 km. This hike offers amazing views over the Grand Canyon of Oman, Wadi Nakhur. The trail is narrow, with loose stones and at times uneven underfoot. We then continue on to Al Hamra and its incredibly atmospheric old town, where there are mud houses dating back 400 years which are still occupied. After lunch we drive down to the oasis city of Nizwa, once the capital of the powerful Omani Imamate. This afternoon we visit the famous Nizwa fort, built in the 17th century to guard the Sumail Gap during the struggle between the Sultan and the Radical Imams. This fort is one of the best examples of defensive architecture in the country, and it’s worth climbing to the top of the tower to get a great view of the old town and modern city with it’s surrounding date plantations.
Walking Distance: 6km, 3-4 hours
Day 4: Nizwa - Jabreen - Tanuf Village - Nizwa
Location: Wahiba Sands
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Falaj Daris or simliar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we will visit the bustling Nizwa souk before heading to the UNESCO World Heritage setting of Bahla Fort, for a brief photo stop. We continue on to the impressive fort at Jabreen, possibly the finest of Oman’s 17th century fortresses, whose exquisite painted wooden ceilings provide eloquent testimony to the skills of the fort’s original builders. After pausing to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, we continue our journey to Tanuf village where we explore the historic ruins. Inhabited until the 1950's, the village was damaged and subsequently abandoned during the Jabal Akhdar Wars. We then return to Nizwa for a leisurely evening before preparing for our upcoming wild camping adventure.
Day 5: Drive To Wahiba Sands
Location: Al Khaluf, Wahiba Sands
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Wild Desert Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Departing Nizwa this morning, our desert journey takes us on towards the vast, open landscapes of the Wahiba Sands, over 10,000 square kilometres of shifting sands and towering dunes that are home to isolated settlements of semi-nomadic Bedouin. Our journey will take us via the market town of Sinaw, where we will stop to strech our legs. We will continue into the seemingly endless sea of the Wahiba, driving through an ever changing landscape of colours and contours as we make our way on to our remote desert camp.
Day 6: Drive Across Wahiba Sands To Khaluf
Location: Duqm
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Khaluf Wild Beach Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we will drive out across the shifting sands of Wahiba towards the coast, and the pink shell beaches and white dunes of Khaluf on Oman’s eastern coast. Far from being devoid of life, these breath-taking desert landscapes are home to a rich array of wildlife, from the remarkable dew drinking beetles that haunt the predawn desert, to foxes, gazelles and over 100 species of birds; That said, in this vast landscape they can be very difficult to spot, so we will need to keep our eyes peeled! The drive will take four to five hours and we stop for lunch along the way, arriving in Khaluf in time to set up camp late afternoon. As we settle down for another evening under an Arabian sky, our drivers will prepare a delicious al fresco dinner.
*Depending on the weather, the group may need to camp slightly further away from the beach
Day 7: Drive To Duqm Via Sirab Beach
Location: Souly Lodge Empty Quarter
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: City Hotel Duqm or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today provides an ideal opportunity to make the most of Oman’s rugged coastline. We drive south, following to coast from Khaluf to Sirab beach, which provides an ample array of viewpoints and photo opportunities, as we pass through a collection of fishing villages, beaches and wadis en route to tonight’s accommodation. On arrival at Sirab beach, take in the beautiful views along the coast before driving to our modest hotel in the late afternoon in the small port town of Duqm.
*Driving time approx 6hrs
Day 8: Drive Into The Empty Quarter
Location: Bedouin
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Wild Desert Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we head inland to the vast emptiness of the Rub al Khali, 250,000 square miles of waterless desert that covers much of the southern half of the Arabian Peninsula. This is the heartland of the nomadic Bedouin, made famous by Wilfred Thesiger in his book ‘Arabian Sands’. This morning we drive from Duqm to Haima we passing through Jaluni where an Oryx Sanctuary is located, and if we are lucky we will be able spot Arabian Oryx en route. We then continue our drive through an area of flat sandy terrain to Maqshin where we stop for lunch. In the afternoon we drive through the vast dunes of the empty quarter until we reach our camping spot by a baby dune shaped like a half moon. Here we can relax and unwind under the star studded Arabian sky.
*Driving time approx 4hrs
Day 9: Empty Quarter
Location: Salalah
Accommodation: Resort
Accommodation Name: Wild Desert Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we will continue deep into the Empty Quarter, and on through the hypnotic landscape and head further south, heading towards Al Hashman. Here we will find a settlement of nomad Bedouins protected and nurtured by the Omani Govt. Lunch will be served at the Al Safah oasis before we return back to Rumalt Hashman where we will pitch camp for our final night under the stars.
*Driving time approx 5hrs
Day 10: Drive To Salalah
Location: Salalah
Accommodation: Resort
Accommodation Name: Salalah Beach Resort or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The journey on to the coastal city of Salalah today takes us from the desert to the Indian Ocean by way of the barren landscapes of the Qara Mountains. On arrival in Salalah we visit ‘Wadi ‘Dawka’ (UNESCO World heritage site) known as the "Frankincense Wadi’" for its collection of the naturally grown Frankincense trees. In the afternoon we will visit the Al Baleed Archeological Museum. Here we’ll find the ruins of an ancient port city, visited by Marco Polo and a city which he described as 'magnificent'. In its day, the city played an important part in the frankincense trade.
Day 11: In Salalah
Location: Salalah
Accommodation Name: Salalah Beach Resort or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we start the day with a visit to the Grand Mosque of Salalah, before driving up into the Dhofar Mountains to Wadi Darbat, a scenic spot for nature lovers. Wadi Darbat is a low lying seasonal waterfall, which comes into full force during the monsoon season between July and August, the strength of the waterfall varies throughout the rest of the year. In the Middle Eastern peninsula Salalah is the only place touched by the Indian Ocean monsoon making this area very unique. Next we proceed to Wadi Hanna where we will discover a fine cluster of Baobab Trees. This afternoon we will have some free time to visit the Al Husn Souq to do any last-minute shopping or relax on the beach before proceeding to a local restaurant for a final dinner in Salalah.
Day 12: Tour Ends In Salalah
Meals Included: Breakfast
Tour ends in Salalah.
What's Included
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MEALS
11 x Breakfasts11 x Lunches11 x Dinners
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TRANSPORT
4WDs in the desert, minibus may be used for your tour of Muscat.
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GROUP SIZE
Maximum: 12
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CARBON CONTRIBUTIONS
Contributions to climate and community projects for all bookings
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EXPERT TEAM
The full services of a Wild Frontiers Tour Leader with local guides where appropriate
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ACCOMMODATION
1 night x Premium
6 nights x Superior
4 nights x Simple -
ENTRANCE FEES
All entrance fees for sights mentioned in the itinerary
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FITNESS RATING
Low
What's Not Included
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We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras. As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tourationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatoryTips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documentsInternational .Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UKAirport .Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights.Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs
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ExcludedItem
We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras.
As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.
Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour
ationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatory
Tips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documents
International Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UK
Airport Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights
Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs
Visas
Visas are necessary for many of the destinations we travel to and while we aim to provide you with the most up-to-date information, requirements frequently change and as such for the latest advice we advise that you check with the relevant embassies or contact our recommended visa agency, Travcour www.travcour.com
For this tour UK passport holders currently require a visa for Oman.
Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements.
Further details will be sent out to you on booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the client.
Key Aspects to Consider
Anyone in a reasonable state of health, with an open mind and a sense of adventure should be perfectly able to cope with this tour, as many of the activities are optional.
As the crew will be with you throughout the desert (they will be driving you), it will be all hands to the deck when you get to camp in the evenings, so it will be a team effort to put up tents etc., so all help will be gratefully received!
For the camping nights please note that the facilities will be “au naturel” and there will be no showers, as all the water used will have to carried in the vehicles – that said there will a small amount of water each night to be able to have a quick wash.
Roll mats will be provided, however you will need to bring your own 2/3/4 season sleeping bag. A limited number of sleeping bags can be hired for an additional fee but availability is limited and they need to be reserved in advanced.
If you fancy a tipple, whilst on holiday, it can be quite hard to get hold of alcohol outside of the main international hotels and therefore it may be worth picking up a bottle in Duty Free of your preferred drink to have while camping in the desert.
This tour has a low fitness rating as the hiking on this tour is not strenuous however there are some walks where paths maybe uneven, narrow or slippery.
Responsible Travel
With local people, culture and eco-systems in mind, responsible travel and sustainable tourism are at the core of Wild Frontiers. We believe that a successful trip not only delivers a unique and unsurpassable journey for our travellers but also benefits the people and places we visit.
When designing our tours, we actively seek out experiences that have a positive impact on the communities and precious environments we visit - from supporting social enterprises; resting our heads in rural homestays; and eating at locally owned restaurants; to helping fund conservation projects that protect wildlife and their habitats.
Visit the Responsible Travel area of our website to read more, including the work of the Wild Frontiers Foundation through which we fundraise to aid community empowerment and education projects.
Travelling Solo
As a company approximately 70% of our clients are solo travellers, so it’s very unlikely you’ll be alone!
Our prices are typically based on twin-share accommodation but single supplements are not compulsory for any Wild Frontiers tour. If you prefer not to pay a single supplement we’ll pair you with someone else of the same sex for you to share with throughout the trip.
On this trip, if you do opt to pay for a single supplement then please note that it will cover you for all nights of the tour including all camping nights, when you would get your own tent.
Please note that paying a single supplement entitles you to lone occupancy of a single room. In many cases these rooms will be of the same size as a double/twin room, but in some cases they may be smaller.
Insurance
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours. You should be aware that due to some of the geographical areas visited and some of the activities included on certain of our trips some standard insurance policies may not always provide adequate cover. As such we strongly recommend that you purchase a policy that adequately covers your trip. Please see the Insurance section for more details.
Check out our Q&As
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What is the maximum group size?
12
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Do you require a visa for this holiday?
For this tour UK passport holders currently require a visa for Oman.
Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements. -
Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
We have a complete Covid-19 hub here: https://www.wildfrontierstravel.com/en_GB/covid-hub
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 70% of passengers on our group tours are solo adventurers. Unlike many tour operators, we don’t believe in charging solo travellers a premium, so if you are happy to share a room with a fellow traveller of the same sex, you will pay exactly the same as a couple..Occasionally you may even end up with your own room. You can travel as a single traveller on any of our holidays, from our escorte
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 2002
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Do I need to be double-vaccinated against Covid-19 to travel with you?
In most cases, yes. Not only are many destinations making double-vaccination a requirement of entry to the country and/or access to restaurants, museums etc., but additionally on all our group tours for the foreseeable future, for everyone’s peace of mind, we are asking that all clients be double vaccinated.
Reviews from travellers on this tour
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