Oman Impressions

As per the latest announcement; Oman government allows nationalities from European/ American certain Asian countries can get a free tourist visa for Oman for 14 days stay but non-extendable.  As a second option, tourists can apply Oman visa in advance through  www.evisa.rop.gov.om / www.rop.gov.om and payment to be made through e-payment gateway in the site. Upon approval of visa application by immigration authorities, the client will receive intimation through email. The clients should carry the print of e-visa document and present to immigration on arrival to stamp visa in passport. The Present Visa fees are OMR 5.00 (USD 14.00)per Visa for 10 days stay and  USD 53.00 (OMR 20) per person for 30 day visa. (Visa policies and Visa charges are subject to change as per Oman GOVT).

After immigration and baggage check, you will enter at the general arrival hall and will be met by our representative cum driver who will assist you to comfortably embark your vehicle and leave for Hotel.  You will arrive at hotel. Check In time is 14:00 hrs. Hotel will try to allocate rooms upon arrival if same is available otherwise, guests can use hotel facilities till the time room allocated to them by check in time at 14:00 hrs. Rest of the day at leisure at the hotel. 
Overnight at Al Falaj Hotel or similar.

After breakfast, @ 0830 am, meet your guide at hotel lobby and embark your vehicle \ and drive towards Grand Mosque. Reach Grand Mosque and visit. Grand Mosque is one of the largest Mosques in the world and at one time, it can accommodate 20,000 worshippers. Grand Mosque has beautiful art work, chandeliers and one piece carpet covering entire prayer hall.

To visit Mosque, one has to be dressed in conservative manner. One should not wear revealing or transparent clothes and should be covered from head to toe. Ladies have to cover their head with a scarf. Grand Mosque is open for the tourists from Saturday to Thursday from 08:00 hrs to 11:00 hrs.

After the visit of Grand Mosque leave for tour of Old Muscat. You will first drive towards Bait Al Zubair Museum; it consists of a concise collection reflecting the splendid Omani Heritage. The collection includes traditional Omani Weapons such as swords, daggers, rifles & their accessories, along with jewelry, cosmetics & costumes from various regions of Oman.
Later, arrive at the official palace of His Majesty, Sultan Qaboos. Al Alam Palce is flanked by two Portuguese fort Jalali and Mirani. Jalali Fort has been completely refurbished and now used as a Museum for guests of State and Royal Family. This will be an outside photo stop only as visit to Palace and Fort is not possible due to security reasons.

Later  drive along the corniche side and arrive muttrah souq .Muttrah Souq is one of the oldest souq in Oman and the narrow alleys of souq with mystic smell of sandel wood make a great atmosphere. It is a place where you can communicate with local people and can buy souveniors for friends and family. Return to the hotel after noon around 1300 Hrs. Afternoon at leisure at hotel.

Overnight at Al Falaj Hotel or similar.

OPTIONAL: SUNSET DHOW CRUISE- SIC BASIS { Operates   on Thursday , Friday , Saturday  & Monday}
You will be transported to Marina Bandar, where you will board the traditional Arabic Dhow made of wood. Enjoy a Sunset cruise through the Muscat coast with snacks and juices on board. Return transfer to the hotel

Dhow Cruise {Sharing basis}:  USD65 per person. 
The above cost includes
Return transfers from Hotel in SIC basis
02 Hrs dhow cruise on sharing basis

Breakfast and check out from Hotel.

Moring around 0830 Hrs , meet your Guide at hotel lobby and embark on you vehicle for exploring interior part of Oman . you will be driving on the black top road and  reach at Quriyat at around 10:00 hrs

Quriyat Village, a very large fishing village between the lagoon and the sea. The fisherman goes every morning in sea to catch fishes and then they sell in the market (located at the beach).  The port of Quriyat is still guarded by a watchtower. We will have a short photo stop at this village and later continue our drive to Wadi Arbyn.
We will be driving for some time on black top road and then enter in Wady Arbyn. ‘Wadi’ in Arabic means dead river bed.  This is one of the interesting off road drive in this region and after enjoying the off road drive, you will exit from Wadi at around 12:00 hrs to drive towards Bima Sink hole

On arriving at Sink hole, a spectacular limestone crater with blue green water at the bottom and this stop will also be a rest stop. Enjoy sometime at the Bima Sinkhole before continuing your drive to the white sandy beach of Fins.  

Later drive Wadi Tiwi. This wadi has old village with many farms of banana, papaya, etc. Enjoy a short walk in this old village / farms and continue your drive to Sur. On arrival check in to the Hotel in Sur.

After early dinner at hotel (Dinner charges are not included on the package cost), by 2000 Hrs leave to Turtle reserve to visit. Green turtles travel 100s of kilometer every year for nestling. It is a unique opportunity to sight turtles in their natural inhabitant. The turtle watching tours are lead in various groups by local naturalists. By 2100-Hrs join one of the groups along with your guide. (Sighting Turtles are not guaranteed since it is a natural Turtle reserve) Later return to the hotel.

Overnight at Sur Plaza hotel or similar.

Breakfast and check out from Sur Plaza Hotel.

By 0830 Hrs board the vehicle and continue for Wahiba sands . Conduct orientation drive of the city with a visit to the Dhow Building yard and local souq, fish market of the city before continuing your drive to Wadi bani Khalid.

“Wadi bani Khaled’ in arabic means natural oasis. Arrive Wadi Bani Khaled and visit. Wadi Bani Khaled stands a complete contrast to Wahiba Sands. It is like an oasis in the desert with clear green natural spring water pools.  Enjoy a walk in the Wadi or swim in wadi (no towels from our end).

Later continue you drive to Wahiba sands.
The 'Wahiba Sands' often described as a perfect example of Sand Sea consists of large ranges of dunes running from North to South, some attaining a height of about 100 mts and orange in color. 
Our experienced drivers will take you on a dune drive tour through the undulating sand dunes to experience the thrills of dune driving. After dune drive, visit Bedouin house and meet Bedouin ladies to know more about their life in desert. Enjoy Omani coffee and dates at their house and what ladies do to survive in desert. Evening watch the spectacular sunset from top of Sand dunes.

Dinner and overnight at Arabian Oryx Camp Camp.

Breakfast at the camp and check our from the Camp, board your 04Wds by 0830 Hrs to exit from Desert. By 0900 Hrs you reach black top road and drive for Nizwa after enroute stop at Al Mudarib an old village near Ibra.  
Later arrive at Jabreen and visit. Jabrin is the finest of Oman`s castle built in the late 17th century, which became a seat of Omani learning. This castle has extremely well-planned layouts with room for the wali, the ladies’ room, the kitchen, the majlis etc. Most of the ceilings are decorated with beautiful paintings with Islamic motifs. The view from the top of the castle is mesmerizing...
Later drive to Bahla and Visit the fort

Bahla was known as mystical village and famous for Arabian potteries.   Visit the magnificent mud fort from 12th century which is listed as UNESCO world heritage sites.  The Bahla fort represents the typical Omani military fortress, and the area was fenced with 12 kms radius of fort walls. After visit of Bahla fort,
Arrive at the old village of Al Hamra and walk through this village. Many of the mud houses found here are dated from 400 years old and some of them are still exist. The old falaj systems are still used for irrigation.
Later drive to hotel and check in to Golden Tulip Nizwa Hotel.
Rest of the day at leisure at hotel. 

Breakfast and check out from Golden Tulip Nizwa Hotel, @ 0830 am embark on your 04WD vehicle and drive to cultural city of Oman.

Arrive at Souq and visit.  This  is an old traditionl souq and there are different spaces/ buildings allocated for vegetables, meat, soveniers, spices etc. Stroll around the souq  . Every Friday, there is cattle market at the souq wherein cattle sellers auction their cattles to locals. They move with cattles in the souq and do the bidding for their cattles. This a old market for cattles and atmosphere is electrifying especially before Eid.

After visit of Souq, walk towards the Fort.

Nizwa fort with its enormous round tower built in the 17th century by Imam Sultan Bin Saif Al Ya’ aruba to defend the route to the interior. The fort dominates the entire area, with the town having grown around the edifice. Access to the top is only by means of a narrow twisting staircase barred by heavy wooden doors, studded with metal. From the top of the tower one can get a bird’s eye view of the Nizwa city.

Later visit Birkat Al  Mauz.
Birkat Al mauz is a place where locals grow date palm trees. Pass through the old village and the farms of date palm trees. Your guide will explain the complete cultivation process as well as old irrigation system in Oman – Falaj System.
Thereafter drive to Mussanah for check in at Barcelo Mussanah Hotel.

Dinner and overnight at Barcelo Mussanah Hotel. 

Breakfast at  Hotel, Embark your vehicle  and  leave towards Barkha where you visit the fish and vegetable market at the beach. You will witness fresh catch coming in from the Arabian sea.

From here, drive to one of the most fascinating museum of Oman, Bait Al Ghasham house.

Arrive at Bait Al Ghasham and visit. It goes as far back as the reign of Sayyid Said Bin Sultan Al Busaidi (1791-1856) which means that the age of the house is around 200 years. It was named Bait Al Ghasham House after its previous owner Sayyid Mohammed bin Ahmed bin Nasser Al - Ghasham Busaidi. He was a minister of Sultan Taimur bin Feisal as well as Wali of Muttrah and known under this nickname. He lived in this house with his family and later it has been sold and lived by generations of the Omani Royal Family of Al Busaidi dynasty. The same old traditional materials were used for the restoration such as slurry, Omani Sarooj, Omani plaster, flat mountain stones and different types of wood. The house is 40 meters long and 30 meters wide, consisting of 15 rooms of different usage spread over two floors as well as watchtowers, date store and a big yard.

After the visit of the museum, embark your vehicle and pass by the Nakhl Village to arrive at Al Thowarah Springs. This warm water full of minerals has been offering relief from the dry surroundings for centuries. Here you will see the Falaj system, which is a cleverly constructed irrigation system. Spend some time at Hot Springs and return to hotel. (Please bring your own Towel). Return to Barcelo Mussanah Hotel.

Afternoon free at leisure at Hotel.  

Dinner and Overnight at Barcelo Mussanah Hotel. 

Breakfast at Hotel. 
Normal Hotel Check out time is 12 NOON. Departure transfer to airport to connect the flight for next destination.