If taking Temple World’s recommended flights from London, you’ll depart from Heathrow this morning and fly direct to Muscat, arriving 19:35 local time.  A group transfer will be arranged from the airport to the hotel, which is a comfortable cliff-top resort overlooking the Gulf of Oman,  25 minutes by road from the airport.

For those not flying from London, or arranging their own travel, you can arrive any time today, as there are no excursions planned. Check in at the hotel is from 3pm.  If you are making your own flight arrangements and arriving before or after the group flight, you will need a private transfer – we can book these for you if you wish.  

The group will meet for the first time over a late dinner at the hotel this evening, to allow time for those arriving from London to check in after the direct daytime flight.  Oman is four hours ahead of UK time,  so dining at 10pm is actually only 6pm UK time.

Overnight: Crowne Plaza Muscat or similar  | Meals: D

Today, after breakfast, meet your local guide and begin your first explorations.   Start with a visit to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. One of the most beautiful modern mosques in the world, it is admired for its grand architecture, exquisite chandeliers, and the famous hand-woven carpet in the prayer hall.  The main minaret is 90 metres high and the building and courtyards can accommodate an incredible 20,000 worshippers.

Afterwards, continue to the Matrah Souq, a lively traditional marketplace where the aroma of frankincense and spices fills the air, and stalls are lined with handicrafts, silverware, and souvenirs.

The tour then proceeds to the National Museum, which presents Oman’s rich heritage and culture through its galleries of artifacts, manuscripts, and traditional arts. Conclude the sightseeing with a photo stop at the al-Alam Palace, the ceremonial residence of His Majesty the Sultan, flanked by the historic Mirani and Jalali Forts, both dating back to the Portuguese era, offering a striking backdrop of Muscat’s heritage against the sea and mountains.

Overnight: Crowne Plaza Muscat or similar  | Meals: B, L, D

Leave Muscat after breakfast,  and drive inland to Rustaq on the Batinah plain, a former capital of Oman.  The town is surrounded by thousands of date palms and is known for its ancient castle, which stands as a reminder of its historic importance.

After enjoying a picnic lunch, continue to the impressive Nakhl Fort, a 17th-century stronghold of the Yarubid dynasty, now restored as a museum showcasing traditional Omani architecture and heritage.

From here, travel to Hamra, where a visit to the fascinating Bait al-Safah Museum offers a glimpse into Oman’s past. Here, local women demonstrate traditional practices such as the extraction of juniper oil, grinding of coffee beans, and other age-old customs, providing an authentic insight into everyday life in old Oman.

Check into our hotel for the night, a 30-room eco-hotel with (as the name suggests) incredible views over the al-Hamra Valley.

Overnight: The View,  Hamra or similar  | Meals: B, L, D

This morning, drive into the Wadi al-Nakhr, a dramatic canyon often referred to as Oman’s “Grand Canyon,” where towering cliffs, rocky landscapes, and clusters of palm trees create a striking natural setting.

Continue to the oasis town of Bahla, once a center of power under the prosperous Banu Nebhan tribe, who ruled central Oman between the 12th and 15th centuries. Here, visit the monumental Bahla Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest in Oman, standing as a testament to the town’s former importance.

Then on to the equally impressive Jabreen Fort built in 1675. Unlike other forts built for defence, Jabreen was designed as a palace of learning and the arts, with richly decorated ceilings, intricately carved doors, and hidden passages.

Afterwards, drive on to the town of Nizwa to check into our hotel for the next two nights which is located nearby in the foothills of the rugged Hajar Mountains.  There will be a little free time on arrival to relax and freshen up before dinner.

Overnight: Golden Tulip Hotel, Nizwa  or similar | Meals: B, L, D

After breakfast, enjoy a morning walking tour of Nizwa, exploring its colourful souq and historic fort.  The ancient capital of Oman and a key center for culture, religion, and trade, particularly from the 6th to 7th centuries CE, Nizwa was a hub for Islamic scholarship and a pivotal point on ancient trade routes.

Continue by road to Birkat al-Mouz, a charming village in the foothills of the mountains where where the ancient falaj system of irrigation, dating back as early as 500CE is still in operation. Ingeniously designed to divide water equally among all residents, the system is now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage practice.

From here, ascend into the cool mountain air of the Jabal al-Akhdar, the ‘Green Mountain’ renowned for its breathtaking views and terraced landscapes. Take a guided walk through a traditional village, where stone houses overlook lush terraces of pomegranate and rose gardens. In spring, the valley comes alive with the fragrance of freshly distilled rose water, a tradition carefully preserved by the local villagers for generations.

Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Golden Tulip Hotel, Nizwa  or similar | Meals: B, L, D

After breakfast, check out and travel to Manah to visit the newly opened Oman Through The Ages Museum and learn about the geological and historical evolution of the Sultanate through a series of state-of-the-art exhibitions.

Then travel to Muscat Airport, to catch a domestic flight in the early evening to Salalah in Dhofar Governorate  (domestic flight is included in the tour cost).  Dhofar, the southern part of Oman,  is one of the very few places in the world where Boswellia sacra, the source of the best quality of frankincense, grows.

On arrival, check in at our new hotel for a two night stay, and enjoy dinner together.  Juweira Boutique Hotel is an adult-only hotel set on the picturesque marina promenade of Salalah Beach, with a lovely swimming pool.

Overnight: Juweira Boutique Hotel or similar | Meals: B, L, D

After breakfast, explore Salalah and surrounds. Start at the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, then continue to the modern but pleasant Shati al- Haffa Souq.

Then, visit The Museum of the Frankincense Land,  which explains how the Dhofar region became the centre of the world’s Frankincense trade.  Also visit the adjacent UNESCO World Heritage-listed ruins of Zafar at al-Baleed.  Zafar was one of two hugely significant medieval ports controlling the frankincense trade between the 13^th – 15^thcenturies,  and was mentioned by both Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta in their writings during this time.

Next, travel east along the coast to the town of Mirbat, the other frankincense trading hub in medieval times,  but unlike Zafar remained a prosperous port until the end of the 19^th Century. The town is overlooked by a 17^th Century fortress built to protect the town from the Portuguese, who had occupied the region for over 100 years.  Mirbat is also the site of a famous battle on 9 July 1972 during the Dhofar Rebellion, where nine members of the British S.A.S. alongside a small Omani detachment were attacked by over 300 insurgents whose aim was to take control of the port.  In what is commonly referred to as ‘The SAS’s Rorke’s Drift’, the small garrison held against the onslaught until crucial air support and ground reinforcements arrived on the scene.

Continue to visit scenic Wadi Darbat where one of Oman’s rare lakes can be seen.; there is water in it even during the dry season, although its famous waterfalls are likely to have reduced to a trickle by November.

The day’s sightseeing concludes at UNESCO-Listed  Sumhuram, on the eastern bank of Khor Rori.  In antiquity it was one of the most important ports in the world, and is the country’s earliest known frankincense trading post.  Archaeologists are still excavating the ruins, and have found remains dating from the 1st century BC to 3rd century AD, when it is thought the port was abandoned due to the encroachment of silt.

Overnight: Juweira Boutique Hotel or similar | Meals: B, L, D

After breakfast, depart Salalah and strike inland in 4x4s through the Jabal Qara to reach Wadi Dawkah, a stony semi-desert where frankincense trees grow in the wild.

Then, continue driving north to the ruins of Shisr, which some scholars have contentiously posited is the ‘Lost City’ of Ubar, a fabled Arabian frankincense-trading city of legendary wealth and unknown location.   Whether the scant remains are indeed the city of legend or just wishful thinking, the site whilst small is another trace of the region’s vital ancient trading route. It is UNESCO World heritage listed as ‘the remains of a caravan oasis’ along with the frankincense trees of Wadi Dawkah (seen earlier) and ports of Khor Rori and al-Baleed.

Arrive in the Empty Quarter late this afternoon. This enormous sand sea, shared between Oman and Saudi Arabia, has been a formidable barrier for centuries. The first documented journeys by non-residents were made by British explorers Bertram Thomas and St. John Philby only in the 1930s, with later travels by Wilfred Thesiger in the late 1950s.  The drive into the Omani portion of the desert today is a long one, 320km and taking around five hours, plus stops.

Check in at a comfortable desert camp (all tents have private ensuite toilet facilities) located amongst the stunning, towering dunes.

Spend the late afternoon lazing in the camp’s open-air sulphur pool as you admire the desert sunset, and dine under a blanket of stars.

Overnight: Souly Lodge Empty Quarter or similar | Meals: B, L, D

Leave the sands of the Empty Quarter behind this morning for a long drive through the dramatic Moon Mountains (Jabal Qamar) to Dhofar’s cliff-lined coast and beautiful Mughsail beach with blowholes.

Mughsail Beach is known for diverse birdlife, especially waders like the Red-wattled Lapwing, Wood Sandpiper and Terek Sandpiper, although we will not be there at the ideal time of day for birds.  Also often present are Brown & Masked Booby, Persian Shearwater, Jouanin’s Petrel and Socotra Cormorant. In winter, the lagoon is visited by flamingos.

Arrive back into Salalah late this afternoon, and check back in at the hotel for the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Farewell dinner this evening.

Overnight: Juweira Boutique Hotel or similar | Meals: B, L, D

Today, the tour ends.

After breakfast, a group transfer will take those who have booked our recommended flights back to London will be transferred to Salalah airport for a daytime flight back to Muscat with onward connection to London.

Alternatively, anyone who wishes to stay on and relax for a few days further in one of Salalah or Muscat’s wonderful beach resorts can add extra nights to their trip if they wish – we have many beachfront recommendations in either location including the pampering Anantara al- Baleed (Salalah) and stunning  The Chedi (Muscat).  Please ask Lia, our groups coordinator, for a quote at lia@templeworld.com.

For those not leaving Salalah until later in the day today, we can arrange a private transfer to the airport. The rooms can be kept until 12:00.

It is also possible to continue to explore the region and neighboring countries (Musandam – the northern governate of Oman, or UAE, Saudi Arabia for example) via a private extension.  If flying to/from Oman via Dubai, Istanbul or other regional hub, we would also be delighted to quote for a 2-3 night city stop-over enroute.