bench international tours - exotic oman tour

Exotic Oman Tour

Itinerary

Day 1 MuscatOn arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Overnight: Shangri-La Al Waha Hotel.
Day 2 MuscatAfter breakfast, you will take a full day tour starting with a visit to Azaiba, where you will find the Grand Mosque, standing in stately grandeur (open daily except Friday and a strict dress code applies). From here you will be taken into the heart of a world that has not changed in generations and capture the spirit of a bygone era. The Old Souq of Muttrah awaits you with sights, sounds and aroma. See the old city of Muscat and catch a glimpse of the old quarter. Make a stop at the Sultan’s Palace flanked by the 16th Century Portuguese forts of Jalali and Mirani. After lunch at a local restaurant you have a chance to discover the nearby beaches. Overnight: Shangri-La Al Waha Hotel.
Day 3 Nizwa – Bahla – JabrinToday you will visit the palaces of yesteryear. Travel by road in a Toyota Landcruiser via Fanjah, passing through the Sumail Gap, to Nizwa, the old capital. Visit the fort of the Yaruba dynasty and take lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon visit the ruins of Tanuf enroute to Bahla, the oldest recorded region of civilization in Oman, and UNESCO World Heritage listed. From here it is a short distance to the mighty bastion of Jabrin Castle, another famous historic landmark and the crown seat of the Yaruba Dynasty. Return to Nizwa for dinner. Overnight: Golden Tulip Nizwa Hotel
Day 4 Nizwa – WahibaAfter breakfast, start the day with a visit to the geological wonders of Al Hoota Caves. Drive to the thriving oasis of Mudharid and on to the undulating sands of the Wahiba. After lunch at a local restaurant, experience the traditional life style and hospitality of a Bedouin settlement. Later, check in at the camp and some dune bashing. Overnight: Desert Nights Camp.
Day 5 Wahiba – Wadi Bani Khalid – MuscatAfter breakfast take a short camel ride before heading into the mountains to Wadi Bani Khalid, an oasis of clear running waters and verdant plant life. Enjoy a swim and picnic lunch before driving back to Muscat, stopping enroute at Ibra and the old abandoned mercantile village of Al Mansfah. Overnight: Shangri-La Al Waha Hotel.
Day 6 West SalalahTransfer to the airport for flight to Salalah. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel before departing with your guide for the drive to the west of Salalah, crossing the Qara Mountains. Enjoy the beauty of the Dhofar Mountains and Job’s Tomb, where the remains of the Islamic prophet can be found. The tour continues towards Mughsayl as you pass by Frankincense trees with the aroma of holy incense. Overnight: Hilton Salalah.
Day 7 East SalalahAfter breakfast, travel towards the east and pass the Royal Farm and Marmura Palace enroute to Taqa and the ruins of the legendary Palace of the Queen of Sheba. After lunch at a local restaurant drive along the coastal road to Mirbat – the old city of Arabian horses and the Slave trade. After a stop at the 14th century Bin Ali Mosque, visit Mirbat Castle and old merchant houses before returning to Salalah for flight to Muscat. Overnight: Shangri-La Al Waha Hotel.
Day 8 DepartureTransfer to the airport for your departing flight and end of the tour.

INCLUDED:

• Airport transfers

• accommodation

• meals as indicated

• English speaking driver/guide

• touring & transfers in air-conditioned vehicles

• Entrance fee, permits, bottled water & soft drinks during tours

• Return Economy Class airfares between Muscat and Salalah

PER PERSON – 8 DAYS/7 NIGHTS TWIN
08 Jan – 12 Feb, 21 Feb – 26 Mar, 11-30 Apr & 01-15 Jul 10 $3950
13 – 20 Feb & 27 Mar – 10 Apr 10 $4210
May – Jun & Sep 10 $3760
16 Jul – Aug 10 $3890
Oct 10 $4315

Reductions apply for a minimum of 4. Tours in A/C 4WD (Maximum 4 Pax per 4WD). Seasonal supplements apply. Single and sole traveller prices on application.