Al Bandar, Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah

Sultanate in Style

Romantic Luxury + 1 more + 2 more

Oman’s finest landscapes and most luxurious stays.

20 days

from £9,099 pp

Musandam Moments

Wildlife & Nature Adventure + 1 more + 2 more

Explore the Musandam Peninsula, Oman's 'Norway of Arabia'.

12 days

from £4,745 pp

Ultimate Oman

Wildlife & Nature Ultimate + 3 more + 3 more

Our most comprehensive 16-day grand tour of Oman.

16 days

from £6,580 pp

Gentle Oman

Classic Wildlife & Nature + 3 more + 3 more

A relaxed journey through Oman’s desert, mountains, and culture.

9 days

from £3,345 pp

Unexplored Oman

Wildlife & Nature Off-the-beaten-track + 2 more + 3 more

Experience Oman, beyond the usual tourist trail.

13 days

from £4,065 pp

Go Local in Oman

Wildlife & Nature Go Local + 2 more + 3 more

Experience the real Oman, with locals leading the way.

11 days

from £5,320 pp

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in Oman

Sunset Dhow Cruise - Muscat

Dhows are the traditional workhorses of the Arabian seas, sleek wooden craft which are to this day built by hand just down the coast at Sur. Although they have lateen-rigged sails, most are motorised as well, and they make an ideal platform for a cruise around the coast of Muscat. To the north of Muscat the coast isn’t that spectacular, mainly being flat beach sloping a short distance up to the inland plain. South of Muscat is where you’ll cruise to admire the jagged cliffs, rock arches and hidden coves. While you can take a dhow cruise during the day, for Muscat we recommend the sunset departure, which is a two-hour boat trip and offers wonderful views back to Muscat all lit up at night. Omani Kahwa (coffee) and dates are served during the cruise, and guests should note that this is a shared group trip.

Golf in Muscat

There are now two grass courses in Muscat, Muscat Hills and Almouj. Almouj is slightly out of the city at the new Wave development and has been designed as a traditional links course. Muscat Hills is close to the commercial heart of Muscat and is typical of purpose-built courses, with nicely shaped fairways and dramatic water hazards. If you want to try something a little different, there are numerous sand courses in the capital: you carry a small piece of Astroturf around with you and hit off this (provided you are on the fairway!), and the greens use a mixture of oil and sand to create a smooth putting surface. It’s a novel way of playing golf and definitely worth a try!

The Sumail Gap

The Sumail Gap has always been the key strategic link between the interior of the country, dominated by the town of Nizwa, and the coastal plain, dominated by Muscat. It’s the only easily passable route through the Hajar Mountains and controlling it was vital to anyone with pretentions to rule. Although it is now graced by a sweeping modern highway, this historic importance is evident in the forts and watchtowers that litter the route. Towns like Fanja are ringed by walls and linked by bridges over rocky wadis that turn into racing torrents when rain falls. It’s a wonderful drive and a great way to introduce yourself to the interior of the country.

The Batinah Plain

To the north of Muscat and lying between the coast and the Hajar Mountains, lies the Batinah Plain, a fertile area providing much of Oman’s food and agriculture. For those interested in the history and architecture of Oman, it is worth a visit, either as a day trip from Muscat, or perhaps on the way to Bani Awf, the off-road route through the mountains to Nizwa. Dotted along the base of the mountains are a series of springs and wadi mouths. These had great strategic importance historically, and magnificent forts, notably Rustaq and Nakhl, were built to defend them. These forts have been built on plugs of rock, incorporating the naturally impregnable slopes into the design of the walls. The walls and fabric of the forts has been restored to its exact original state, and the various bits of furniture and weaponry on display give an accurate idea of what life was like in these forts.