Incredible Oman

Day 1 - Thursday 19 October 2023

Melbourne - Oman (Meals in flight D)

Welcome to Sisterhood Womens Travel. Your tour hostess and fellow travellers will meet you at the designated departure point at Melbourne Airport for your flight to Oman. Sit back, relax and enjoy the inflight entertainment of the airlines.

Welcome to Oman!  Arriving in the evening we will be met upon arrival at the airport by our local representative and transferred to our hotel.

Salalah is Oman's southernmost city in the province of Dhofar, an area famous for long white beaches, ruggedly beautiful landscapes, vast deserts, and a rich history rooted in the ancient frankincense trade. There is a subtle African flavour here not found elsewhere in Oman, a laidback city surrounded by flame trees, lush banana and coconut plantations.

Dinner at our hotel.

Overnight - Crowne Plaza Resort (or similar)

Day 2 - Friday 20 October 2023

Salalah - Mughsayl - Al Fazayah - Beach - Salalah (B,L,D)

This morning we drive west initially through dusty wadis to Raykhut, then behind soaring cliff tops with spectacular ocean views to Mughsayl. This is a beautiful beach area, great for swimming, and bird watching. Here we will see the best frankincense groves in the region - one of the few types of vegetation to survive in this arid habitat.

Continue driving up to the plateau of Jebel Qamar for a spectacular view of the coastline. Then along a mountain road with breathtaking scenery to Al Fazayah Beach for a picnic lunch.. 

Later in the evening we will have a walk through the aromatic alleyways of the Old Haffa Souq, famous for frankincense and perfumes made by local Dhofari women. Each woman has her own secret recipe!

Dinner in a local restaurant.

Overnight - Crowne Plaza Resort (or similar)

Day 3 - Saturday 21 October 2023

Salalah - Taqah - Jemel Samhan - Sumhurum - Salalah (B,L,D)

After breakfast we drive east to explore the fishing village of Taqah. Here we will visit the very interesting Taqah Fort, a fine example of coastal fort architecture displaying the traditional interior of a Dhofari house with the original floor plan, furnishings and architectural features.

Leaving the coast, we drive up into the mountain range of Jebel Samhan, past limestone caves, acacia and frankincense trees, to the plateau at 1300m for a breathtaking view of the east coast and the Jebel Qara mountain range. Descending to the fishing village of Mirbat where we will see old Dhofari-style houses and learn about the importance of the frankincense trade in this region.

Lunch in one of the restaurants overlooking the sea. Our final stop today will be at the Unesco World Heritage Site of Sumhuram, formerly one of the major ports of Southern Arabia and a major conduit for the international frankincense trade network. The ruins have been extensively excavated and restored, with a lovely natural setting between the hills and the coast.

Return to Salalah for dinner in the hotel.

Overnight - Crowne Plaza Resort (or similar)

Day 4 - Sunday 22 October 2023

Salalah - Muscat (B,L,D)

This morning we are transferred to the airport for the flight to Muscat. We are met upon arrival by our guide for a tour of the city. Commencing with the Bait Al Zubair Museum to view a fine collection of traditional clothing, antique jewellery and weapons.

Then moving on to the forts of Mirani and Jalali that were constructed by the Portuguese during the 16th century, and the magnificent Al Alam Palace (exterior only), the official residence of His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik, the ruler of Oman.

We finish our sightseeing with a walk along the Corniche then a visit to the vibrant Muttrah Souq, an exotic market precinct right on the harbour. By the time we arrive, the souq will be coming alive for the evening. Here we will find a labyrinth of stalls selling everything from brass lions, ceramics, silk, nuts and dried fruit, with the aroma of spices and frankincense filling the air.

After the sightseeing we will be transferred to our hotel for check in.

Dinner tonight in the hotel.

Overnight - Muscat Holiday Hotel  (or similar)

Day 5 - Monday 23 October 2023

Muscat (B,L,D)

Full day sightseeing commences this morning with a visit to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, completed in 2002. It is home to one of the largest Swarovski Crystal Chandeliers in the world and the world’s largest one-piece hand stitched Persian carpet. The whole structure reveals rapturous homages to several architectural styles across the Islamic world.

Drive through the embassy district before visiting the Royal Opera House, this beautiful building reflecting the unique contemporary Omani architecture. Visit the National Museum, opened in 2016, showcasing the nation’s heritage from the earliest human settlement in the Oman Peninsula through to the present day. 

This afternoon, we'll drive to the marina to board a traditional dhow for a 2 hour sunset cruise. 

Dinner tonight in the hotel.

Overnight - Muscat Holiday Hotel (or similar)

Day 6 - Tuesday 24 October 2023

Muscat - Barka - Nakhal - Rustaq - Muscat (B,L,D)

We begin our sightseeing this morning at the Amouage Perfumery, where we can learn about perfume production and sample some varieties. Amouage perfumes which incorporate frankincense, rosewater and myrrh, were created in the 1980s to try to revive Oman’s perfume making tradition.

Drive to the lively fish and vegetable market in Barka that takes place every morning on the beach. Moving on to Nakhal, a village surrounded by thousands of date palms, where we will visit the beautifully restored Nakhal Fort, with a sweeping panorama of the plantations and mountains that can be enjoyed from the top of the fort. 

Continue driving through the foothills of the Al Hajar Mountains to Ain Thawara and the hot springs, then to the fortress in Rustaq, an imposing structure built on three levels, and one of the oldest in Oman.

Return to Muscat for dinner

Overnight - Muscat Holiday Hotel (or similar)

Day 7 - Wednesday 25 October 2023

Muscat - Ibra - Wahiba Sands (B,L,D)

Drive to the town of Ibra where Wednesdays are dedicated to a thriving women’s market. It is a market operated and run by women, exclusively for women; men are usually not permitted to enter – whether to conduct business or to patronise sellers.

The market caters to women within and outside the region, to view the display of clothes, food, artefacts and handmade crafts. The day’s proceedings begin quite early in the morning to make the most of the pleasant morning hours until 1pm, when the ladies close up shop and call it a day – until the following Wednesday!

Lunch today will be in the home of a local Omani family. Drive on to the great Wahiba Sands where dunes 200 km long and 100 km wide run south from the Eastern Hajar Mountains to the Arabian Sea. The dunes are 100-150 metres high in shades of orange through to amber. Bedouin camps are dotted along the tracks and trails and there are sporadic stands of single-species woodlands. Where the sands meet the ocean there are outcrops of beautiful aolianite (sand compressed into rock) then the beaches mellow into soft shades of yellows and whites.

We spend the night in the very comfortable Desert Rose Camp

Day 8 - Thursday 26 October 2023

Wahiba Sands - Sinaw - Nizwa (B,L,D)

This morning we leave our desert camp and drive to the town of Sinaw which bursts into life every Thursday for a colourful market where the bedu sell anything and everything, but particularly camels. So many camels!

Drive on to visit the restored forts at Bahla and Jibrin, then on to Nizwa.

Overnight - Golden Tulip Hotel (or similar)

Day 9 - Friday 27 October 2023

Nizwa - Jebel Shams (B,L,D)

This morning we begin with a visit to Nizwa’s great 17th-century fort, one of the most impressive in all of Oman. The fort was designed with various ingenious devices used to repel invaders. Among these were ‘murder holes’, slots through which defenders could pour boiling date syrup on the heads of attackers as they climbed its stairs!

Continue on to the livestock market where farmers from around the country come to buy/sell cattle, goats and camels. It is quite a spectacle! We also spend time exploring Nizwa’s souq, which is renowned for its intricately hand-carved silver daggers, and ornately designed silver jewellery.

 After lunch we visit the mud brick town of Al Hamra, set below Jebel Shams and overlooking an extensive date oasis. It is interesting for its well-preserved houses built in the Yemeni style. 

Drive up a dramatic, twisting road to the village of Misfat Al Abriyeen. From here we have an extraordinary view of agricultural terraces, valleys and old houses built from local stone. We will learn about the falaj system, the traditional Omani irrigation channels where water is channelled from underground sources to support agriculture and domestic use. 

Continuing our exploration of the Al-Dakhiliyah Region, this dramatic, mountainous area has spectacular scenery, including Jebel Shams, at 3009m, Oman’s highest mountain. 

Overnight - Jebel Shams Hotel (or similar)

Day 10- Saturday 28 October 2023

Jebel Shams - Jebel Akhdar (B,L,D)

This morning we have an easy 1km walk along the ‘The Balcony’; a trail starting in Al Khatim Village, offering spectacular views down into the great chasm of Wadi Nakhr, popularly known as the ‘Grand Canyon’ of Oman.The scenery here is some of the most dramatic anywhere in Oman.

Drive on to Jebel Akhdar (3000m), part of the Al Hajar mountain range, and another spectacular part of Oman.The region is an important agricultural area growing dates, pomegranates, nuts and is famous for the rare rock roses that is used in many traditional Omani fragrances.

In fact, the climatic conditions of Jebel Akhdar have made it an important location for the cultivation of a wide variety of different crops, subsequently leading to the development of terrace farming techniques to capitalise on the precious water supply. Bee farms are another traditional activity of the region as the bees collect pollen from the native flowers blooming on the mountainside.

Overnight - Jebel Akhdar Hotel (or similar)

Day 11 - Sunday 29 October 2023

Jebel Akhdar - Birkat Al Mawz - Muscat (B,L,D)

This morning we leave our mountain retreat and drive to the oasis town of Birkat al Mawz (‘Pool of Bananas’). Here we view the old mud brick settlement, and a well kept date oasis that extends for just under 2km.

Continue on to Muscat.  Check in and dinner tonight at our hotel.

Overnight - Muscat Holiday Hotel (or similar)

Day 12 - Monday 30 October 2023

Muscat - Khasab (B,L,D)

This morning we transfer to the airport for our flight to Khasab, situated in the Musandam Peninsula, an area with spectacular mountains plunging into turquoise waters, rocky bays and isolated fishing villages.

Dinner tonight at our hotel.

Check in at the Hotel Atana Musandam (or similar)

** Our agent has advised that we cannot do the drive from Muscat to Khasab on 30 October, as now only commercial vehicles are permitted to use that road, so a flight will now be arranged (at an additional cost).

Day 13 - Tuesday 31 October 2023

Khasab - Musandam Peninsula Cruise - Khasab (B,L,D)

Morning transfer to Khasab harbour where we will board our traditional dhow for a full day cruise exploring the western inlet, Khaw ash Shamm, to view the stunning fjords of Musandam, with its villages clinging to the sides of the majestic Hajar Mountains, and the famous Telegraphic Island.

Return to Khasab

Overnight.- Hotel Atana Musandam (or similar)

Day 14 - Wednesday 1 November 2023

Khasab - Dubai (B,)

Drive along the coast this morning past Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman and Sharjah and finally to Dubai

Overnight - Al Seef Heritage Hotel (or similar)

Day 15 - Thursday 2 November 2023

Dubai (B)

This morning we commence our half day sightseeing at the 825m-high Burj Khalifa to savour breathtaking Dubai vistas from the 124th-floor observation deck. A brilliant way to get our
bearings!

From Jumeirah we take an abra (small wooden taxi boat) to “old” Dubai, centred along Dubai Creek. Alight on the Deira side to stroll the dhow wharves, where the traditional boats load goods bound for ports around the peninsula.

It’s fascinating to survey the cargo – from colossal flat-screen televisions to small cars. Moving on to the Spice Souq where we can still get a feel for old Arabia at the restored Heritage House, an 1890 former pearl merchant's house that is the city's best museum and a tourist's only chance to get a sense of early 20thcentury Dubai.

Rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight - Al Seef Heritage Hotel (or similar)

Day 16- Friday 3 November 2023

Dubai (B)

A day at leisure in Dubai to explore.  There is plenty to see and do and our tour hostess will be happy to arrange any additional sightseeing. 

Tonight we'll regroup for a farewell dinner and enjoy our visit to the famous fountains for a fabulous end to our fabulous tour to Oman.

Day 17 - Saturday 4 November 2023

Flight Home Dubai - Melbourne (Meals in flight)

Today a transfer to the airport to begin our journey home.  Sit back, relax and enjoy the inflight entertainment of our airlines as we head towards home.

Day 18 - Sunday 5 November 2023

Welcome Home

What a fantastic adventure we've enjoyed.  Thank you for travelling with Sisterhood Womens Travel and we look forward to welcoming you back for your next adventure.