Grand Hyatt

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

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

Musandam Moments

Wildlife & Nature Adventure + 1 more + 2 more

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

12 days

from £4,745 pp

Sultanate in Style

Romantic Luxury + 1 more + 2 more

Oman’s finest landscapes and most luxurious stays.

20 days

from £9,099 pp

Classic Oman

Classic Wildlife & Nature + 3 more + 3 more

Explore the highlights of Oman in one unforgettable trip.

10 days

from £3,980 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

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in Oman

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.

The Sur Coastal Road

The tarmac road linking Muscat and Sur is a relatively new development and has dramatically shortened this journey. You still pass sweeps of stunning white sand beaches, and through the picturesque wadis of Shab and Tiwi, where streams trickle out from steep, mighty canyons and through small fishing villages down to the sea. A short way from the road you can also stop at the ruins of ancient Qalhat, most notable for the distinctive tomb of a local saint, Bibi Maryam. At Bimmah you’ll find a sinkhole, a large collapsed cave dropping some 20 metres from the limestone surface to the clear water below. Just outside Sur the modern world intrudes in dramatic fashion, with the vast mechanical workings of the LNG plant, exporting gas, Oman’s most precious natural resource.

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.