Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Oman - Muscat - Jebel Akhdar
100% customisable for you
Overnight flight, arriving the next day.
You can look forward to a warm welcome and priority clearance through customs formalities at Muscat airport, Be driven across the Hajar to the Jebel Akhdar mountains in a comfortable air-conditioned 4x4 vehicle with a guide. It takes about two and a half hours without stopping, but it's definitely worth taking a few breaks along the way to explore the beautiful sights of the inland areas. For example: the old village of Birkat Al Mouz, its palm grove and its traditional irrigation system, the 'falaj', that's still in use today.
Included in the itinerary - Private day tour of the towns and villages of Hajar. The city of Nizwa can be found at the bottom of a valley thick with palms and flanked by the highest peaks of Oman. As recently as 50 years ago, tourists did not venture into this ultra-conservative city. The sultanate's second largest city was recently modernised after a major urban development project but has not lost its historical character or originality. It's pleasant to visit since it has opened up to the world and to tourism. A detour through Nizwa will also reveal Oman's rich architectural heritage. Many citadels and forts built during the Yaruba dynasty in the 17th century reveal Portuguese influence. The road around the old city's fort offers panoramic views of the Hajar mountains and the dome of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. Continue through the mountains, to the village of Misfat Al Abriyeen. Surrounded by palms and hanging from the side of a canyon beside the small town of Al Hamra, Misfat Al Abriyeen is one of the most beautiful villages in the country. Take the opportunity to meet the inhabitants and visit a traditional Omani house, located in the heart of the ancient city.
Then, climb to reach the Saiq plateau, at the top of Jebel Akhdar. Three-night stay in a luxurious hotel with a distinct character, perched on the impressive plateau, some 6,500ft above sea level. It is a chic and fashionable contemporary eagle's nest. Scattered across the cliff-side, the attractive swimming pool and 78 stone suites and villas are all part of their surroundings in the dizzying heights. Inside, warm tones match contemporary shapes as well as traditional crafts. Dark wooden furniture and carved marble bathtubs blend well with woven baskets and works from the local pottery maker. Take time to admire the wilderness and plunging canyons of the beautiful mountain from your shaded balcony.
Known poetically as the 'green mountain with three hundred wadis', Jebel Akhdar is generally considered as traditional Oman. Everywhere, the landscape is spotted with spectacular reliefs, small stone or pebble villages unchanged for centuries, old forts, orchards, and terraced crops. It was the Bani Riyam tribe who worked the land that could be cultivated and made the area famous for growing roses, pomegranates, apricots and olive trees. The essential irrigation by a system of underground aqueducts called 'falaj' has been in place for a long time. From village to village, discover a surprisingly sophisticated, fertile and beautiful mountain life.
Included in the itinerary - Private guided walk through the splendours of Saiq. This hike is an opportunity to explore the traditional life of the mountain, around the village of Al Ayn, known for its cultivation of roses, and the abandoned village of Wadi Bani Habib. Level: Medium. Mountainous and rugged terrain. This four-hour hike is accompanied by a local guide.
Enjoy a free day to soak up this beautiful area and relax in the hotel.
Return to Muscat. The drive takes approximately two and a half hours. Four-night stay in a beautiful, world-class hotel right on the beach. There's a total change of scene and the mix of influences is fascinating. The rooms overlook either the mountains of Muscat or the Indian Ocean. Discover the on-site private beach and two very photogenic mirror pools. There is an excellent spa with a third outdoor swimming pool that is 338ft long, the longest in the Middle East.
The Omani capital is the point of transition between desert and sea as well as past and modernity. The walls of the old city and the Sultan's blue and gold palace, a symbol of rebirth, have dictated the architecture of the modern city, where buildings have height restrictions and follow a colour code of sand-yellow and white. The three main districts are Muscat, Ruwi and Muttrah. Soak up the lovely atmosphere. Stroll along the Portuguese forts, in the souq, at the fish market in the port of Muttrah and in front of the Sayyida Fatima bint Ali Mosque. Admire the splendour of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and its 35 Swarovski crystal chandeliers.
Included in the itinerary - Spend half a day exploring Muscat, with a local guide. Your expert guide will give you an insight into daily life and teach you about the region's history. teach you about Oman. Over the years, they have gotten to know every nook and cranny of the city in great detail. The market, the Muttrah souq, the coastal road, Riyam Park and the giant censer are symbols of the city. During this informal walk, including the detour through the great mosque, discuss daily life in the Sultanate of Oman and garner a wealth of tips for the rest of the trip. This tour lasts about four hours, including the air-conditioned 4x4 transfers from the hotel along with refreshments. Tours can be completely customised to suit your interests.
Included in the itinerary – Private day tour of the Omani coast road in a 4x4 vehicle. In the morning, the private guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel in a comfortable 4x4, ready for a great road trip. Criss-crossing between wadis, oases, mountains and the ocean, a magnificent road runs along the Gulf of Oman in a southward direction, offering visitors spectacular views. Leave early enough to stop at Wadi Dayqah and Wadi Arbaeen, green gorges that seem like mirages. Embedded in ochre limestone ravines, the waters of Wadi Shab and Wadi Tiwi, two parallel wadis that descend from eastern Hajar, have the clarity and colour of emeralds. They flow between date palms and banana trees, framed by steep cliffs, they spring off mounds of boulders, falling and curling into natural pools. This region is one of the most scenic in the country and is particularly great for hiking and swimming.
Optional - Private tour of the Daymaniyat Islands. Off the coast of Muscat, discover a pristine landscape with swathes of white sand, turquoise lagoons and the surreal vision of camels splashing through the shallows along the beaches. These islands are known as a nesting place for seabirds. The ideal visibility is popular with photographers, and divers can appreciate the countless fish, such as blackspotted rubberlips, giant trevallies, parrot fish, red mullets, unicornfish and surgeonfish. This day on the water includes getting up close and personal with lobsters, large stingrays and a few leopard sharks. A driver will take you to Barka where a private motorboat awaits. The captain is at the helm with masks and snorkels and a delicious barbecue lunch will be served later.
Private transfer to the airport. Catch your flight home.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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