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Forts, wadis and souks of Oman
Cultural Oman | 10 days
Boasting more than 1,000km of pristine coastline, Oman offers superb marine life, ancient forts, fertile wadis and craggy mountain scenery in what is still an emerging tourism destination. A 10-day itinerary gives the ideal combination of beach relaxation with a colourful tour of the coast and interior taking in Sur and Nizwa.
Day 1: Fly to Dubai
Days 2&3: Shopping and sightseeing in Dubai
Day 4: Fly to Salalah, capital of Dhofar in southern Oman
Day 5: 4WD to Thesiger’s ‘Empty Quarter’ to camp out under the stars
Day 6: Fly to Muscat, capital of Oman
Day 7: Visit the old town of Muscat and stroll around the palace of Sultan Qaboos
Day 8: Drive through the Hajar Mountains to the deserted beaches at Sur and visit Wadi Shab
Day 9: See the water pools and deep canyons at Wadi Bani Khalid, try camel riding at Wahiba and tour the imposing fort at Nizwa
Day 10: Visit Nizwa’s souk, renowned for its Bedouin silver jewellery
Day 11: Rustaq
Days 12&13: Relax on Muscat’s beautiful beaches
Day 14: Fly to London
guide price £2,725 per person
Trip reports for the Middle East
Fiona’s travel tips
TOP TIP: The Musandam Peninsula is just a 90 minute drive from Dubai — an easy way to combine the two countries.
READ: Wilfred Thesiger’s Across the Empty Quarter.
BEST TIME TO GO:
Jordan and Syria: Spring and autumn
Lebanon: year round
UAE/Oman: October to April
JOURNEY TIME:
Jordan: 5½ hours (direct)
Lebanon: 4½ hours (direct)
Oman: 9 hours (indirect)
Syria: 6¾ hours (direct)
UAE: 6¾ hours (direct)
Clients’ comments
“One of the very best holidays we have had. In fact we are seriously talking about going back to Oman next year. The agency was excellent….The guide and the trips were more than adequate, and the rest days perfect. Thank you for your efforts”.
Mrs Joan Dampney, Oman
“We had a truly memorable trip to Jordan from start to finish and cannot thank you enough for putting it together so professionally and in such a short space of time. One of the best holidays we have ever had.”
Paul Crayford, Jordan
“We wanted to write and thank you for arranging our recent holiday. It was superb and we had a very happy time. I wrote a little travelogue – I’ve attached it for your possible interest (less a travelogue and more a novel...it’s 5 pages long!) The itinerary was fine, we saw and experienced a great deal but never felt rushed. Loved all of it, I think my ‘travelogue’ speaks for that; planned experiences were as hoped but, as so often, it's the unexpected things that make you smile which are mostly to do with the people you meet. A most wonderful experience was up in the mountains and stopping at a ‘lay-by’ where suddenly we were aware of goats and a Bedouin and two tatty chairs and a little table placed to overlook this beautiful valley below which was the Dana Nature Reserve; the Bedouin produced two plastic cups of the most exquisite Arabic tea and there we sat, drinking in both the tea and this wonderful place which was silent and still and the air so fresh. Asked if I may take a photo of him, the Bedouin seriously and graciously adjusted his headdress and beamed into the camera. Such happenings as this and many others could not have been possible if we’d come on a tour holiday.”
Stewart and Sue Thomson, Jordan, April 2011