OMAN

Day 1 | Thursday 22 January
Arrive Dubai
Depending on the time of your arrival in Dubai, you’ll have the afternoon to explore this unique city. In the evening we gather for introductions and a welcome dinner. Overnight Dubai (D)

Day 2 | Friday 23 January
To Khasab
This morning we head from Dubai to the Musandam Peninsula, a remote Oman region with a starkly different feel and pace from flashy, modern Dubai. There we cross the border into Oman and continue first to the port city of Khasab, our base for the next three nights. The city sits at the far northern end of the peninsula in a narrow plain squeezed in between the mountains – one of the few sizeable areas of flat coastal real estate in the entire peninsula. We arrive at the hotel in time for lunch, and after time to settle in, John will provide an introductory lecture, followed by an afternoon at leisure to take in the rugged coastal surroundings. Dinner tonight is in a local restaurant. Overnight Khasab (B, L, D)

Day 3 | Saturday 24 January
Khasab
Our day begins with a visit to the Khasab Fort, with its distinct crenelations. First built by the Portuguese during their occupation in the 17th-century, the castle was redesigned by the Omanis to serve its present-day function as a museum and open-air showcase for traditional boats, houses and other aspects of Omani culture. After lunch, we’ll drive a few kilometres to the small village of Wadi Tawi, home to a collection of beautiful petroglyphs. In fallen boulders we find carvings of warriors, ships and different kinds of animals. We then buckle in for a trek in a 4-wheel drive vehicle up Jebel Harim, the highest mountain in Musandam, to enjoy some breathtaking panoramas with views back to Khasab and onwards towards Dibba. Returning to the hotel, the evening is at leisure before we meet for dinner. Overnight Khasab (B, L, D)

Day 4 | Sunday 25 January
Musandam Peninsula Cruise
Today we depart for a full day cruise of the Musandam Peninsula Fjords, the only desert fjords on earth. From our dhow, a traditional masted wooden boat, we enjoy dramatic views of red striated cliffs plunging into green water, pass by Telegraph Island and Seebi Island, and explore small fishing villages along the coast, getting a sense of Omani rural life. There’s even a chance of seeing dolphins, rays and colourful fish. Lunch and other refreshments will be served onboard the dhow, buffet style. Overnight Khasab (B, L, D)

Day 5 | Monday 26 January
To Muscat
This morning we fly from the Khasab airport to Muscat, Oman’s capital. Located on the Gulf of Oman, the city is surrounded by mountains and desert, and combines a dizzying mix of ancient landmarks and contemporary structures, modern shopping and traditional souks. Upon arrival, there is time to freshen up at our hotel with lunch in a nearby restaurant. In the afternoon, we enjoy a sunset cruise aboard a traditional Omani Dhow as we cruise along Muscat’s dramatic coastline, passing by HM’s Palace, the small fishing towns of Al Haramel and Sidab, Riyam Park and Sultan Qaboos Port before returning to Marina Bander Rowdha. We finish the day with dinner in our hotel. Overnight Muscat (B, L, D)

Day 6 | Tuesday 27 January
Muscat
Today we’ll have a full-day orientation tour of Muscat. We begin with a visit to the impressive sandstone Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, featuring a 50m dome and a 91.5m minaret, along with a three-story library and a 4200m-wide Persian prayer rug. Next is the Royal Opera House, a striking snow-white building, before we pause for lunch togehter. Our afternoon begins with a tour the Omani National Museum, billed as Oman’s flagship cultural institution, which showcases Oman’s heritage from the first evidence of human occupation through the present. We then explore Muscat Harbour, which houses the Al Alam Palace with its striking blue and gold façade, used as a ceremonial palace by Sultan Qaboos, before wrapping up our day of touring with a visit to the Port of Muttrah, one of Oman’s main commercial ports and a centre of commerce, known for the huge Al Dhalam (“Darkness”) Souk, so named for the myriad of alleys lined with shops and stalls that block the sun during the day. Tonight we plan to have a private dinner in the 16th-century Al Mirani Fort, perched high above the western walls of Old Muscat harbour. Overnight Muscat (B, L, D)

Day 7 | Wednesday 28 January
To Nizwa
This morning we head inland to the ancient city of Nizwa, situated at the base of the Western Hajar Mountains on a plain with seasonal rivers and date plantations. Oman’s capital in the 6th and 7th-centuries, Nizwa is one of the ancient homes of Islam and a former centre of commerce, art and education. On arrival, we’ll visit the two-million-year-old Al Hoota Caves, which extend over 4.5km under Jabal Shams, Oman’s highest mountain. Likely used over the centuries as an escape route and hiding spot, the cave system contains four lakes and is home to a unique ecosystem with several rare animals, including the ‘Bu Naseh,’ or blind transparent fish. There will be a talk at the hotel before dinner at a local restaurant this evening. Overnight Nizwa (B, D)

Day 8 | Thursday 29 January
Nizwa Surrounds
We venture into the surrounds of Nizwa today, beginning with the Tanuf Ruins, the remains of a mud-brick village destroyed and abandoned during the Jabal Akhdar Wars in the 1950s. Set against the backdrop of the Al Hajar Mountains, it makes for prime photographic moments. We then visit nearby Jabrin Castle, an important centre of learning when it was built in 1675 by Imam Bil-Arab Bin Sultan. Known for its elaborately painted ceilings, it has a date store and many hidden corridors and rooms to explore. Finally, we stop by the villages of Al Ain and Bat, renowned for their well-preserved 4000-year-old beehive tombs. Returning to the hotel, the evening is at leisure. Overnight Nizwa (B, L)

Day 9 | Friday 30 January
To Sur
An early start to the day sees us explore Nizwa’s extensive marketplace, one of the oldest souqs in the country. Here we’ll find fresh market produce, an assortment of authentic Omani goods (in particular, silver work) and a beautiful glimpse into local culture, all housed behind the great, crenellated piece of city wall that overlooks the wadi. Just beyond the main market walls, we also find the centuries-old livestock market where goats, sheep and cattle are tied up to poles for buyers and spectators to admire before the bidding gets underway. Following our time here, we tour the superbly restored 17th-century fort, renowned for its unique circular design that showcases the brilliance of traditional Omani architecture, before we head to Jebel Akhdar, our base for the night, and the picturesque village of Birkat Al Mouz to explore the charming mud-brick houses set around lush banana and palm plantations. We conlcude the day with a leisurely walk between the small rural village of Al Ayn and the tiny hamlet of Al Aqur, clinging to the edge of the cliff, as we pass by the terraced farms that used the unique and complex falaj systems to cultivate this mountainous region, turning craggy landscapes into lush green fields. Dinner tonight will be in our hotel. Overnight Jebel Akhdar (B, L, D)

Day 10 | Saturday 31 January
To Wahiba Sands
From Jebel Akhdar we begin our descent into the heart of Oman, driving through the impressive trees and well-preserved ruins of Wadi Bani Habib toward the vast desert of Wahiba Sands, some 12,000 square kilometres of rolling dunes of red sand. Named for the Bani Wahiba tribe of the region, the towering piles of sand will shift between rich yellow and coppery orange when the sun is at lower angles. After enjoying a traditional dinner of local cuisine, we spend our desert night in the traditional way, under the stars in a deluxe Bedouin tent. Overnight Wahiba Sands (B, D)

Day 11 | Sunday 1 February
To Sur
Our day begins with a walk through the desert, where we live out our Lawrence of Arabia dreams gazing into the vast deserts towering dunes. We then make our way to the beautiful oasis of Wadi Bani Khalid, whose translucent blue waters are fringed with date palms and are ideal for a swim. Our day continues on to Sur, an important medieval port-city on Oman’s eastern tip still famous for its shipyards that produce traditional dhows. This placid town, with its striking traditional dwellings, reveals many fine old houses with carved doors and arabesque windows, and our simple hotel offers a perfect stop for the evening. Tonight there is lecture at the hotel. Overnight Sur (B, L)

Day 12 | Monday 2 February
To Salalah
Our journey continues today as we venture to the colourful city of Salalah, our base for the final three nights on tour. First returning to Muscat, where we board our flight, we stop on the way to view the ancient city of Qalhat, visited often by Marco Polo and merchant ships from India. Among the scattered ruins (currently under restoration) is the Mausoleum of Bibi Miriam, with its beautifully proportioned exterior and fine interior stucco work. Our flight brings us to Salalah in the late afternoon and after time to freshen up, there is a lecture in the hotel before we gather for dinner. Overnight Salalah (B, D)

Day 13 | Tuesday 3 February
Salalah
Nestled between the spectacular crescent of the Dhofar Mountains on one side and the blue waters of the Arabian Sea on the other, Salalah is known best for its June-September monsoon (khareef) season, which turns this desert region lush, almost tropical, and allows for banana and coconut gardens throughout the city. Even without monsoon season, though, there’s still plenty to explore. Today we begin at the newly excavated ruins of Khor Rawri, one of the main centres for trade in frankincense, spices and precious stones. A stroll through the quaint fishing village of Taqa then brings us to Taqah Castle, a 19th-century fort renovated as a museum showcasing exhibits of weapons, cookware, and more from the traditional Omani way of life. Our next stop is the historic port town of Mirbat, which features a small fort, complete with hexagonal tower and views along the coast. Returning to the hotel, we stop by the tomb of Mohammed bin Ali Al-Alawi, a descendant of the son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammed, before we enjoy an afternoon at leisure. Dinner tonight is in the hotel. Overnight Salalah (B, L, D)

Day 14 | Wednesday 4 February
The Land of Frankincense
For thousands of years, Omani families have lived amongst Wadi Dawkah’s frankincense trees, referred to as the ‘Gold of the Desert’. This small reserve in Oman’s Dhofar region is where we can still find a rare species of frankincense that thrives in the isolated wadis and offers the highest quality of Oman’s most famous export. Today we enjoy a tour of this frankincense plantation, learning about the 5000-year history, harvesting and preparation of this important Omani product. We then return to Salalah to visit the Frankincense Museum, which further illustrates how the trade of frankincense flourished in this region for many centuries. Our next stop is the ancient port of Al-Baleed, where Frankincense was shipped from here to Africa, India and China in exchange for spices and other commodities. After pausing for lunch back in Salalah, we end our exploration of frankincense at the Al Husn Souk, with the chance to purchase Dhofari Frankincense and perfumes. Our day concludes with a lecture in our hotel, followed by a farewell dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight Salalah (B, L, D)

Day 15 | Thursday 5 February
Depart Salalah
The tour ends after breakfast this morning. Individual transfers will be arranged to the airport for onward flights home and the flight from Salalah to a Gulf Hub airport – Dubai, Doha, or Abu Dhabi – will be included and arranged by Academy Travel. You may wish to enjoy a stopover in one of these cities and explore the many great museums on offer, from the new Louvre in Abu Dhabi to Doha’s stunning National Museum of Qatar, designed by Jean Nouvel. Please ask your travel consultant for recommendations. (B)