Tour Aladin – 11 days incl. Musandam

Day 1
The tour departs Muscat in the morning towards Sur. After a photo stop at the Bamah sinkhole (swimming in the sinkhole lake is possible) and the long white Beach of Fins, we arrive in Wadi Shab. This Wadi is a enormous canyon gorge that is lined with palm trees and impressive indications of what the power of the water coming down from the mountains can do in nature.
With a 45 minute hike up through the canyon Wadi, we arrive at one of several crystal clear water pools. Tourists can swim on through the warm waters from pool to pool. Eventually we come to the last pool where an opening among the enormous rocks allows us to swim into an incredible crevice cave with a small waterfall. Inside, the sunlight filters in from the outside, turning the water into a beautiful turquoise blue whilst water showers down one side of the cave from the wadi beyond. The tour continues to Sur where we will spend the first night.
Overnight in Sur Hotel.

Day 2
In the morning we will show you the City of Sur with some old fortresses and the famous Arabian Dhow Factory, where you can see traditional wooden Dhows being built.
After Lunch we will drive on south along the coast until Ras Al Hadd. The afternoon you can walk around the Village or relax on a beach. In the evening we take you to the Turtle sanctuary at Ras Al Jinz. Here we will go on a guided beautiful walking tour on the beach at night under the stars, where we have a high chance of seeing omans great sea turtles stumbling on to the beach to build a nest and lay the eggs. If you are lucky, you can even see baby turtles hatching from some nests.
Overnight in Ras al Hadd Hotel/Camp.

Day 3
You spend a the morning relaxing at the beach before driving on to Wadi Bani Khalid, one of the biggest and most beautiful Wadis in Oman. Here you can swim, sunbath, relax and have a picnic in the beautiful scenic wadi canyons.
In the late afternoon we continue to our desert camp in the Wahiba Sands desert, where you take part in an adventurous 4×4 Sanddune drive, The we will watch the stunning sunset of the desert on one of the big sand dunes. We finish the day with a Dinner at the camp and a nice relaxing time around a romantic campfire.
Overnight in Desert Camp.

Day 4
In the morning we drive to city of Ibra. There we will visit the colourful the local Market (Souq) and the old ancient Village of Ibra. After Lunch we drive on towards Nizwa, the old capital city of Oman. We will arrive there in the afternoon, and after the Hotel check-in you have free leisure time for the rest of the day.
Overnight in Nizwa Hotel.

Day 5
We start the day early to visit the Nizwa Souq. It is among the largest of its kind in Oman. A wide variety of vendors offer their goods in the streets of the souk from 05:00 am to about 10:00 am each morning. Here you can find fish, meat, vegetables, pottery, jewellery, handicrafts and souvenirs which are sold in authentic old market halls that few places can boast. Especially interesting is the Friday cattle market, when the locals from the nearby Villages come to sell their donkeys, goats, cattle, sheep and chickens in a circus style open market place.
Next to the Souq is Nizwa Fortress. The fort is a museum today and offers splendid views of this ancient town and the surrounding mountains. You can walk around in this impressive fortress and visit its many rooms, passages and towers.The fort is an architectural testimony to the economic and military achievements of the early Yaruba dynasty from the mid-17th century. It was a military stronghold designed to withstand even the strongest of attacks at the time. Even along the corridors, many traps were laid to deter any intruders that might have penetrated the defences.
From Nizwa we drive to Misfath al Abreen. This picture village lies on a steep slope at the foot of Jebel Shams, a few kilometres from the village of Al Hamra and consists of old homes and narrow streets. It has a large Falaj system which supplies water for many orchards, date palms and vegetables. It is worth to spend at least 1 ½ hours walking around the village. There are marked footpaths through the village and surrounding area.
Your next stop is the Jabrin Castle (the castle was originally designed as a residential palace in 1670 by Sultan bin Saif Al in the Ya’arubi Dynasty. An extensive renovation was carried out in 1984. The interior includes various furniture and traditional utensils to provide visitors with a taste of period castle lifestyle. The building itself is decorated with elaborate wood carvings, ceiling paintings and stucco work. The castle is open to visitors.)
Overnight in Nizwa Hotel.

Day 6
Today we drive up the Jebel Shams Mountain. On the way there we make a stop to the ancient village of AL Hamra to visit a cute little museum, which opened up in one of the old restored houses within the village. Some Omani woman will show you around a traditional 7 bedroom house. They will also demonstrate how they used to make coffee, food and pottery in the old days. After the small tour you will be lead into a Majilis (Omani living room) to have Omani coffee/tea and dates.
From there we start the drive up the Jebel Shams to the Resort where we spend the night. After our check-in, you have leisure time for the rest of the day. You can spend the afternoon walking around the famous Grand Canyon of Oman. There are many different walking paths to choose from (easy short or difficult and long). The Canyon edge offers spectacular views of the wadis and valleys below.
Overnight in Jebel Shams Resort.

Day 7
In the morning we drive down the mountain on the other side (east) into the Wadi Bani Awf. This mountain road drive is one of the most adventurous in Oman, offering exiciting offroad experience and fantastic views. Once we reach the Valley (Wadi Bani Awf), the road leads us through the Wadi for about 1 ½ hours while passing numerous small villages. From the end of the Wadi it takes a 1 hour drive back to Muscat.
Overnight in Muscat.

Day 8
You take a morning flight to Musandam (1 hour) rest of the day for leisure.
Overnight in Atana Musandam Hotel.

Day 9
You will go on an Arabic Dhow day tour. The Boat is a large original wooden Dhow which fits about 20 people. There are sitting places decorated with carpets and cushions in the sun or in the shade. The cruise takes you along the beautiful steep cliffs of the Musandam Peninsula. In one of its many hidden bays, you have the possibility to swim and snorkel. Then we take you dolphin watching in another part of the bay. You can enjoy lunch and coffee/tea on the boat. The boat will take you back in the afternoon.
Overnight in Atana Musandam Hotel.

Day 10
First we will show you the City of Khasab. This small town is quiet and very layed back. Then take a small tour in the Khasab Castle. The Portuguese constructed the fortress in the beginning of the 17th century until their retreat from the region. This castle which housed the Wali and his family in recent centuries and which once held prisoners, has been restored and transformed into a regional museum. In the courtyard of the castle are boats and houses representative of unique heritage of Musandam.
Then we will take you on a panoramic journey into the barren interior. This tour will give you an opportunity to enjoy the dramatic scenery of Musandam’s mountains, speckled with fossils dating back several million years. We drive to Jebel Harim (2087 metres), the highest mountain in Musandam. On the way we pass the Bedouin village of Sayh situated at 1100 metres above sea level. This is a calm and peaceful village where one can cherish the beauty of Musandam in the plateau of the village.
Then we continue to Rowdah village, where we can see a pre-Islamic graveyard, and to Khawr Najid, a place with a stunning view overlooking Indian Ocean side. Finally we take to see the natural park of Acacia trees at Khalidiya and return back to Khasab.
Overnight in Atana Musandam Hotel.

Day 11
Leisure Day. In the afternoon you will fly back to Muscat.