Crowne Plaza Muscat

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

Luxury Beach + 1 more + 2 more

Dubai & Dhows

Oman, Dubai

From Dubai’s skyline to Musandam’s fjords, this is Arabia at its best.

13 days

from £6,140 pp

Oman Family Holiday

Family Wildlife & Nature + 3 more + 3 more

12-Day family adventure with deserts, beaches, mountains & wildlife.

13 days

from £3,775 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

Dhofar Delights

Wildlife & Nature Culture & History + 1 more + 2 more

Discover Oman’s southern treasures on this 13-day holiday.

13 days

from £4,780 pp

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in Oman

Daymaniyat Islands

The Daymaniyats are a group of nine islands just under 20km off the coast of Muscat, and are considered the best place in the area to go scuba diving or snorkelling. This is the perfect secluded escape if you are spending lot of times in the city and want to get away from it all, leaving the chaos and traffic behind to find white crystal beaches and the clear waters. Visibility can be as good as 20-30 metres, and travellers here have been known to spot turtles and rays, and of course plenty of native species of fish. If you want to add this to your Oman itinerary, please let your specialist know and we can work this into your trip. Both snorkelling and diving trips can be taken out to the islands, and there are options for both full- and half-day excursions.

Diving

There is some wonderful diving to be had in Oman; the waters are warm, there is coral, and a huge variety of fish including, on occasion, behemoths like whale sharks. Wreck diving is another possibility (for the experienced) and trips out to stunning dive sites at the Daymaniyat Islands are available. Most of the beachside hotels have a dive centre where experienced divers can arrange dives and equipment hire, and beginners can take their first strokes into the underwater kingdom under the supervision of experts.

Muttrah to Riyam Park Hike

Just set back from the main road that snakes along Muscat's coastline at Muttrah, you'll find a hiking trail that takes you up into the hills behind the corniche, revealing beautiful views over the more scenic parts of the capital and over the water. The path is only two and a half kilometres long, so it would take just an hour or two to complete and is fairly accessible to hikers of all abilities. There are some steeper and rocky sections, so sturdy footwear is recommended, but you'll still find local families and people of all ages along the route. You can either start at Muttrah and finish in Riyam Park, or walk the other way around - either route is a pleasant way to link up two beautiful parts of the city. It's labelled as the C38 trail on Google Maps, so that should help you find the starting point, and the path is very straightforward to follow and complete independently without a guide.

Omani Grand Canyon Day Trip

Jebel Shams and nearby Wadi Ghul is known locally as the Omani Grand Canyon, a magnificent landscape that's well worth a visit on any trip to Oman. We usually recommend that touring clients take a couple of nights during their trip to actually stay in the mountain – there are many accommodation options up here – but if that's not possible then a day trip to witness this immense scenery is absolutely doable. This guided trip with a private guide leaves Muscat in the early morning, and as you make your way south from Muscat you'll stop at the traditional village of Al Hamra as well as the town of Nizwa with its imposing fort. As you venture on, the scenery continues to open up and the pinnacle of the day (quite literally!) will be looking out over the sublime surroundings at the top of the mountains. A picnic lunch is also included in this trip.