The Intercontinental Muscat

Ultimate Oman

Wildlife & Nature Ultimate + 3 more + 3 more

Our most comprehensive 16-day grand tour of Oman.

16 days

from £6,580 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

Adventurous Oman

Wildlife & Nature Adventure + 2 more + 3 more

12 days of self-drive adventure around Oman's highlights.

13 days

from £3,270 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

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.

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.

The Royal Opera House

A sign of Oman’s commitment to culture is the recent opening of the Royal Opera House in 2011. The building is a real tribute to Omani architecture with wind towers, pointed arch windows and a fort-like appearance – it really is a stunning building. If you’re interested in opera and want a genuinely unusual element to your tour of Oman, it’s always worth seeing what’s going to be on during your time in Muscat. We can request a tour of the opera house (subject to availability) during your full-day tour of Muscat, or you can easily ask your hotel to organise a taxi and pop by the opera house under your own steam, wandering around the gorgeous architecture at your own pace.