TREASURES OF OMAN

Buffet Breakfast at hotel

0800 hrs. Depart from the Muscat hotel by coach. On the way we will visit the Grand Mosque at what may be the most exquisite mosque in Oman, It can accommodate up to 20,000 worshippers and consists of a main prayer hall, ladies’ prayer hall, covered passageways, a meeting hall, and library. A single handmade Iranian carpet of 1,700 million knots and weighing 27 tons covers the floor of the prayer hall.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Grand Mosque is open from Saturday to Thursday from 0800 – 1100 hrs. only. Ladies visiting the mosque are required to cover their head with scarf and do not wear shorts, beachwear or sleeveless outfits as they are to be fully covered.  Men are also to be full covered though short leave shirts are allowed. No eatable is allowed inside the mosque premises. Slip on shoes recommended.

Visit the Royal Opera House Muscat (except Friday) A towering beacon shedding light on the various trends of the Renaissance march towards growth. We drive via the waterfront Corniche and visit the Muttrah Souq one of the most popular Souqs in the Middle East. Take a walk in its labyrinthine alleyways beckoning with a myriad of merchandise, from imported fabrics to exotic Oriental spices, perfumes and richly handcrafted Artifacts.

Then depart for The National Museum is the Oman’s flagship cultural institution, showcasing the Sultanate’s cultural heritage from the earliest evidence of human settlement in the Oman Peninsula through to the present day. Then drive back hotel and will have some free time. Then proceed for a photo stop to the magnificent Al Alam Palace, official palace of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos flanked by the 16th century Portuguese forts Mirani & Jalali. After lunch at local restaurant, you will back to hotel and Afternoon at Leisure.

Dinner & Overnight at Hotel Al Falaj in Muscat.

Buffet Breakfast at hotel

0900 Hrs. Meet with your chef at the hotel lobby and proceed to Muttra Fish and vegetable market. You have opportunity choose from the fresh catch of the day; chef will recommend you the best local fish varieties. We also buy fresh vegetables from the market before we head to Muttra Souq to get indulge with local spices. After getting the ingredients, we head to National Hospitality Institute. Your experiments begin here with the ingredient you have bought from the market. Classes are designed to be fun, hands on and informative to transform your culinary skills to a level of confidence you can be proud of. You have opportunity to meet with the Omani students at the Institute and interact with them during the cooking session. After having enjoyed your lunch, return to the hotel.

After lunch proceed back to the hotel and rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight at Hotel Al Falaj in Muscat.

Buffet Breakfast at hotel.

0800 hrs. proceed to Wahiba Sands. Our first stop is at the Bimah sinkhole, a sinkhole filled of water about 200 meters inland. It contains fresh water mixed with sea water giving it a turquoise color, large concrete staircase sticks out among the natural landscape but offers a less precarious way down to the picturesque pool. People can go swimming there with little fish that are known to nibble people’s toes with non-harmful way.

When you will continue towards Sur take a brief stop at Wadi Tiwi (Phot o stop).  Proceed to Wahiba Sands which is homeland of The Bedouin families, tribe of the Wahiba breed goats and high-priced racing camels. By 4WD vehicle drive enjoy the roller coaster dunes of the Wahiba Sand and perhaps you may visit a Bedouin family. The overnight stay in a Camp is an unforgettable Experience!

Arrive Wahiba & Check in to camp.

Dinner and overnight in Thousand Nights Camp at Wahiba Sands.

Buffet Breakfast at hotel

0830 hrs. After having breakfast checkout and proceed to Wadi Bani Khalid. It comprises of small pretty villages embedded in the mountains. The Wadi has clear deep blue water.

We drive to Wadi Al Madeen a dry riverbed from here a 36 km stretch of winding road takes one to Jebel Akhdar (2000 mts above sea level) the green jewel of the Al Hajjar mountain ranges, a truly unique spot in the Arabian Peninsula. Enjoy the cool climate up in the mountains.

Explore Jebel Al Akhdar is famed for its fruit orchards typically laid out terrace style along the slopes of mountains, which are endowed with natural springs and aflaj. The villages of Saiq, Wadi Bani Habib (the village of the old houses) visit to village Roos & Al Ain dot the landscape. (Note: It is advisable to wear light comfortable clothing and walking shoes). Enjoy lunch at a local  Iranian restaurant.

Dinner & overnight at Sama hotel in Jabal Akhdar.

Buffet Breakfast at hotel
0800 hrs. After breakfast check out from the hotel and proceed to visit Nizwa Fort followed by Souq. Nizwa Fort was established in the 1850s by Imam Sultan bin Saif Al Ya’rubi and took around 12 years to be built because it lies over an underground stream. It is one of the most visited national attractions in Oman for the historical significance that it represents, being the main administrative seat of authority for Nizwa’s Wallis and Imams (rulers) during peace and war times.

Next visit Nizwa Souq which lies in the vicinity of the walls of the famous Nizwa Fort. Its building embraces both traditional and modern architectural lines. Through its many alleys and divisions, Nizwa Souq has remained for hundreds of year’s homes to several.

Post sightseeing continues to Muscat airport to connect an evening flight to Mumbai.