Sur Grand Hotel

Unexplored Oman

Experience Oman, beyond the usual tourist trail.

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

from £4,065 pp

including flights

Sultanate in Style

Romantic Luxury + 1 more + 2 more

Oman’s finest landscapes and most luxurious stays.

20 days

from £9,099 pp

including flights

Dhofar Delights

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

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

from £4,780 pp

including flights

Classic Oman

Classic Wildlife & Nature + 3 more + 3 more

Explore the highlights of Oman in one unforgettable trip.

10 days

from £3,980 pp

including flights

Dubai & Dhows

Oman, Dubai

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

Luxury Beach + 1 more + 2 more

from £6,140 pp

including flights

Oman Family Holiday

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

Family Wildlife & Nature + 3 more + 3 more

from £3,775 pp

including flights

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in Oman

Turtle Watching

Green turtles nest on the knuckle of the Arabian Peninsula where it juts into the Indian Ocean near Sur, a headland known as Ras al-Jinz (Headland of the Genies). Turtle watching is more regulated than in the past, and you’ll need to join a group heading down to the beach from the Ras al-Jinz Visitor Centre. Turtle watching in Oman can be a bit disappointing; partly this is because group sizes can get large and unwieldy and partly because it’s not unknown for the turtles to be denied the space and privacy they need when nesting. In addition, although some turtles nest year-round, the main nesting season is June to September, which is the height of summer and too hot for most people to consider visiting Oman!

The Coastal Road to Muscat

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, and a short way from the road you can 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.

Hiking in Wadi Shab

Wadi hiking is a very popular activity in Oman, for both travellers to the country and locals on days out. Down the coastline east of Muscat there are a few wadis that wend down from the mountains, but the walks and swimming that Wadi Shab provides are among our favourite. You start by catching a little boat over the mouth of the river to reach the hiking trails, then you have miles ahead of glorious footpath to explore. The route is dotted with pools for you to slip into to cool off, and if you keep going far enough you'll reach waterfalls and caves all flanked by dramatic rock scenery. The paths through the wadi are mostly flat so the walking itself isn't particularly technical – although it is rocky so sturdy footwear is definitely advised – making it a perfect if you have young ones in tow too.