Tour Code: 8

WADI ARBAYEEN

Duration 8 hours 340 Kms

This tour provides us with many interesting contrasts. We proceed towards the fishing town of Quriyat through the stark mountain terrain. Drive through this fishing village visiting the 400 year old Quriyat fort before heading for the fish souk where a variety of fish is traded for local consumption as well as export. Drive along the picturesque waterfront.
There is good chance of spotting flamingos and eagles at an inland stream. From here we proceed towards the coast and visit the spectacular bimah sinhole which is limestone crater with blue green water at the bottom. We then start on an adventurous route cutting through the mountains. At the end of the drive, wadi arbayeen awaits with its deep pools of water set among the date palms. Enjoy a picnic lunch here and drive back via wadi mazara.

Tour Code: 9

WAHIBA WILDERNESS

Duration 10 Hours- 550 Kms by 4WD

The Wahiba Sands, a vast mass of undulating red and white sea of sand and dunes rising up to 200 meters, are also host a variety of flora and fauna. The ever-changing patterns of the dunes are a photographer’s delight. Visit a Bedouin house in this wilderness. In stark contrast to this is wadi bani khalid. It comprises of small pretty villages embedded in the mountains. The wadi has clear deep blue water.

(It is advisable to wear light comfortable clothing and walking shoes).

Tour Code: 10

OMAN’S GRAND CANYON

Duration 10 Hours – 560 kms by 4WD

Drive to the foothills of the Jebel Akhdar mountain range. Our first stop is at the Nizwa Souq famed for its antiques and silver jewellery. A brief photostop at the Round Tower Fort before proceeding ahead. Our next stop takes us to Wadi Nakher located in the depth of our deepest canyon. Visit misfah, a pretty mountain village with stone dwelling still in existence. While heading for jebel shams, stop at the terrace farming village of Wadi ghul. In the Jebel Akhdar range, Jebel Shams has the highest peak and offers a spectacular view.

(It is advisable to wear light comfortable clothing and walking shoes).

Tour Code: 11

JABEL AL AKDHAR TRAIL

Duration 8 Hours- 340 kms by 4WD

We depart from Muscat and proceed to visit the nizwa round tower fort and the nizwa souk. Drive to pretty village of Birkat Al Mauz. Enjoy a walk through the lush green date plantations. We proceed to Wadi Al Madeen. From here a 36 km stretch of winding road leads us to jebel Akhdar (2000m above sea level) the green jewel of the Al Hajjar mountain ranges, a truly unique spot in the Arabian peninsula. Enjoy the cool climate up in the mountains.
A Jebel Al Akhdar is famed for its fruit orchards, laid out terrace style along the slopes of mountains, which are endowed with natural springs and aflaj. A large variety of fresh fruits such as peaches,apricot,fig,grapes,apple,pears,plums,almound,walnuts are grown here. The region iswell known for the pomegranate fruit which is of a very superior quality. The villages of saiq, wadi bani habib(the village of the old houses) & Al Ain dot the landscape. The villages overlook a spectacular landscape of dramatic peak, gorges and wadis. The roses of Jabal Al Akhdar fill the air with fragrance when in full bloom(March/April). Rose water is distilled in the homes of the villagers. Lunch at the Jebel Akhdar hotel.

(It is advisable to wear light comfortable clothing and walking shoes).

Tour Code: 12

BIRD WATCHING TRIP

Thursdays only. Wadi mijlas and Quriyat (8am to 5pm)

Drive through the eastern hajar mountains. Turn off the main quriyat road down the dramatic wadi Mijlas with its towering cliffs and boulder-strewn dry river bed. Bird to be looked out for Egyptian vulture, sand partridge, Indian roller, desert lark, yellow-vented bulbul, Hume’s wheatear, house bunting. Proceed to quriyat. Drive through a mixture of small farm and mature native trees to rubbish dump. This is not very salubrious places but serves as a magnet for birds! Birds that can be viewed (depending on the time of year) are: grey francolin, Indian roller, little green bee-eater, tawny pipit, black redstart, desert wheatear, red-tailed wheatear, desert lesser whitethroat, purple sunbird, Arabian babbler, isabelline (Red-tailed) shrike, southern grey shrike and Indian silverbill. At the sewage farm we have a good chance of viewing the greater spotted eagle, imperial eagle, steppe eagle and bonelli’s eagle as well as Egyptian and lappet-faced vultures.
We will then head to the seashore dotted with number of creeks and logoons. We would hope to view grey heron, squacco heron, spoonbill, greater flamingo, osprey, lesser sand plover, greater sand plover, sanderling, redshank, greenshank, common kingfisher. Picnic lunch can be had enroute. The return route is over the escarpment with dramatic views over the plain and the hajar mountains and then to Muscat.

Tour code: 13

SERENE SALALAH

3 Hours – 50 Kms – AM tour

Salalah ,the “garden city” of the south, is a tropical paradise. Visit a garden farm,which has groves of coconut,banana,papaya and vegetables. View the old ruined houses still in existence today. Photos stop of the beautiful shanfari mosque with its exquisite artwork and stained tiles. Visit the site of prophet saleh’s scared camel footprint. See the clear camel footprint on the rock. Visit Al Husn Souq where frankincense crystals of Dhofar and typical Dhofari frankincense burners are sold. Witness the sale of cattle and guns in the market. Walk along the city’s promenade (waterfront cornice) where single storeyed houses are dwarfed by tall, swaying palm. Al Husn Palace, summer residence of his Majesty Sultan Qaboos, stands at one end of the promenade. Visit the balid museum located in the archeological site (SAT – WED ONLY).

Tour codes: 14

FABLED CASTLES

Duration 4 Hours – 150 kms – AM tour

Visit the fishing village of taqa, an old town with an interesting castle surrounded by watchtowers and taqa stone houses. Proceed onward to khor rori creek, the site of the ruined city of samhuram and capital of ancient arabia’s frankincense trade. Excavation has produced evidence of an ancient city with trade links by sea to far eastern destinations and with even distant Greece. mirbat, the ancient capital of dhofar, was an important town as early as the 9th century for its trade in frankincense, horses and slaves. See some of the old houses famous for their woodcarvings. If you are lucky you will see boatloads of fish arriving into the harbor. One of dhofar’s best-known historic sites is bin ali’s tomb. The twin domed structure; tomb of Mohamed bin ali who died in 1135 AD is a fine example of medieval architecture.

Tour Code: 15

FRANKINCENSE TRAIL

Duration 4 Hours – 180 KM – PM tour

Visit the biblical “nabi Ayoub” Prophet Job’s Tomb, perched high up in the “jebels”(mountains). Enroute are spectacular views of the plains, mountain landscape and emerald green pastureland. Proceed to mughsail meach where “blow-holes”-(perforations in the limestone rock) through which sea water gushes during high tide. Experience the hairpin bend roads for approximately 15/20 kms, which will take you to wadi. The views are breathtaking due to heights involved. This is the road that takes you to the Yemen border. At the nearby bird sanctuary, one may see seasonal birds. Enroute, the stark shape of leafless frankincense trees dot the landscape. Once traded as a commodity more precious than gold, frankincense harvested in dhofar is rated the best in the world.