Welcome To Exotic Orient Tours

DISCOVER OMAN – SELF DRIVE EXPERIENCE

Day 1: Arrival Transfer

Arrival Muscat

Arrive in Muscat, the scenic capital city of Oman. On arrival at Muscat International Airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. The standard check-in time is 1400hrs. Meet our representative at the hotel lobby around 1700hrs for the delivery of a self-drive car. Overnight stay in Muscat

Day 2 : Explore Muscat

After breakfast, proceed for a tour of Muscat city. Visit to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque (open for visitors from Saturdays to Thursdays from 0800-1100hrs only) which is one the largest mosques in the world with beautiful art works, chandelier & a one piece carpet covering the entire prayer hall measuring approx. 4300 square meters. After visits, proceed for a visit of the Natural History Museum which boasts of a giant fossil. Then visit the famous Royal Opera House. Proceed to the “AL ALAM PALACE” (photo stop only – entry is not permitted) flanked by the two Portuguese Forts of “JALALI & MIRANI”. Continue your drive along the Corniche (waterfront) to the “Mutrah Souq”, one of the oldest markets in Oman. The narrow alleys of the souq and the smell of mystic frankincense and sandalwood in the air are typical of this souq. Overnight stay in Muscat.

Standard Room (B)

Day 3: Muscat – Nakhal – Wadi Bani Awf – Al Hamra

After breakfast, start the first leg of your adventurous road trip in Oman. Drive towards the city of Nakhal and visit the magnificent Nakhal Fort. The narrow road through the town winds up to the Hot Springs of Ayn Al Thuwarah, which is a popular picnic spot. Continue to enter Wadi Bani Awf, known as snake canyon for the series of winding roads through mountains which leads you to the village of Al Hamra. Visit the beautiful villages of Bilad Sayt and Hat on the way. Arrive at Al Hamra. Overnight stay in Misfah

Standard Room (B,D)

Day 4: Al Hamra – Misfah–Jabal Shams

After breakfast, visit the historical village of Misfat Al Abriyyin, one of the oldest villages of Oman where civilization is there. You may go for a short walk in and around the village, but make sure you wear something covering your knees. If time permits, you may also visit the Al Hoota Caves, one of the biggest natural caves in the world.(Subject to operational) After visits, proceed to Jabal Shams, the Grand Canyon of Oman. En route, you may stop at Wadi Ghul, the farming village in the mountains. Oman’s highest mountain, Jebel Shams (Mountain of the Sun; 3009m), is best known not for its peak but for the view into the spectacularly deep Wadi Ghul lying alongside it.

Overnight stay in Jabal Shams

Standard Room (B, D)

Day 5: Jabal Shams – Bahla – Jabrin – Nizwa – Jabal Akhdar

After breakfast, check out from the hotel/resort and drive to Bahla and visit the UNESCO World Heritage monument, the majestic Bahla Fort, the oldest and biggest fort in the country. You will also visit the 17th-century Jabreen Castle, one of the most beautiful castles in the Sultanate. After visits, proceed to the historic town of Nizwa, with its giant fort and high-walled souq, which lies on a plain surrounded by a thick palm oasis and some of Oman’s highest mountains. Visit Nizwa Souq which is still the best place to buy silver in the country, followed by a visit to the most visited national monument in Oman, the Nizwa Fort. After the visits, proceed to Jabal Akhdar.

Overnight stay at Jabal Akhdar

Standard Room (B, D)

Day 6: Explore Jabal Akhdar

Jabal Akhdar is known as the green mountains of Oman. Jebel Akhdar refers not to a mountain as such, but to an area that encompasses the great Saiq Plateau, 2000m above sea level. It is well hidden in a labyrinth of wadis and terraces. Visit the terrace plantations, the village of Saiq & Wadi Bani Habib.

Overnight stay in Jabal Akhdar

Standard Room (B, D)

Day 7: Jabal Akhdar – Wadi Bani Khalid – Wahiba Sands

After breakfast, check out and drive to the palm-fringed Wadi Bani Khalid, the ever-green oasis of the entire Sharqiyah region. The river never dries out completely throughout the year there is a continuous water current. After the visits, continue to the Wahiba Sands and enjoy the drive through the stunning dunes of the Sultanate. Located approx. 220 km southeast of Muscat, Wahiba Sands aka Sharqiya Sands, is a vast mass of undulating Red and White Sea of sand and dunes rising to 200 meters. The region also hosts a variety of flora and fauna. Home to the Bedouin, the sands offer visitors a glimpse of a traditional way of life that is fast disappearing as modern conveniences limit the need for a nomadic existence.

Overnight stay in Wahiba Sands

Standard Room (B, D)

Day 8 : Wahiba Sands – Ras Al Hadd

Today you will head towards the southeastern direction to the coastal area. On the way, you will be visiting several traditional villages of Oman like Al Kamil Wal Wafi, Jalan Bani Bu Hassan, Jalan Bani Bu Ali. By passing all the villages you will reach Al Ashkharah, one of the most beautiful and scenic beaches of Oman. Afterwards you will drive further to the north on the coastal road. You will pass scenic Ru’Ays Beach to reach Ras Al Hadd. Ras Al Hadd will be the camping destination for you tonight. If you want, you can visit Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve to see the green turtles that are coming after a journey of thousands of kilometers to lay their eggs.

Overnight stay in Sur

Standard Room (B, D)

Day 9

Ras Al Hadd – Sur – Wadi Tiwi – Bimmah - Muscat

Check-out from the hotel and drive back to Muscat via coastal road. Today is the last leg of the entire journey. Drive to Sur, the marine city of Oman. Here you can see how the dhows are getting prepared. Later the road leads through scenic countryside and rugged mountains to the small fishing towns. On the coastal road, you stop for some pictures at Bibi Miriam Mausoleum in Qalhat, Wadi Tiwi, and Fins Beach. You may also stop at the limestone Sinkhole in Bimmah before reaching Muscat.

On arrival, drop off the car at Muscat International Airport or hotel.