LAND EXCURSIONS & TOURS 2017

Welcome to Oman

Official Name: Sultanate of Oman Head of State: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said (Since 1970) Currency: (O.R.) Omani Riyals (US$1=0.385 OR; £1=0.479 OR; 1 Euro=0.413 OR *as of Jan 2017) Capital: Muscat Other Main Cities: Nizwa, Sur, Nizwa, Salalah, Sohar Population: Estimate Total population 2016 - 4,441,448 Total Surface Area: 309,500 km 2 / (119,500 square miles) Bordering Countries: Yemen Arab Republic, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates Time: GMT + 4 hours Intl. Dial Code: +968 Religion: Islam Language: Arabic is the native language of the country. However, English is widely spoken. Credit Card usage: Visa, Master Card, American Express. All Major credit cards are accepted in the main hotels, shopping

malls and most shops. However, in traditional souks, cash is the most preferred means for a transaction. Visa: Citizens from over 60 countries may obtain visit visas valid for a one-month stay on arrival. (For further information, link to: http://www.rop.gov.om/) Dress Code: Oman is among the liberal countries in the Middle East. Still, please be conservative in your style of

dressing. In order to respect the local customs, women should not wear strappy sundresses, miniskirts, shorts or low necked dresses in public places (e.g. offices, souks, shopping areas in the city and interior towns). It is best for women to cover their arms and legs, especially when you visit tourist sites, shopping malls, souks and restaurants. Dress codes are strictly enforced at some locations particularly at the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and other sites of religious significance.

Photography: Please do not take photographs of locals without their permission. Women in particular should not be

photographed. It is forbidden to take pictures of military facilities, borders and airports. Alcohol Consumption: Please refrain from consuming alcohol in public places. This is strictly against the law. Alcohol is bought

and sold only against a permit. Alcohol can only be consumed in licensed pubs and bars. At duty free outlets, alcohol is limited to a bottle per person.

Useful websites: http://www.tourismoman.com.au/ http://www.destinationoman.com/index.html

MYSTICAL MUSCAT TOUR

A tour of Muscat showcases the seamless blend of traditional culture with a bustling modern capital. TOUR DETAILS:

- Our tour of the Grand Mosque, an architectural wonder both on the inside and outside. - The major feature of the mosque is the main prayer hall, where a single carpet of 4,343 square meters is laid out along

with a Swarovski crystal chandelier with gold plated metal work & 1,122 lights hanging from the dome. - Visit to the Bait Al Zubair Museum which offers tourists a brief introduction of ancient and modern Muscat. - The tour continues with a drive along the fascinating corniche coastline and a visit to the fish market. - Also explore the old Muttrah Souk with its wide range of distinctive antique silver and spice stalls. - Stroll through the historic streets around Al Alam Palace, official residence of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, flanked by the

16th Century Portuguese forts of Mirani & Jalali.

Notes:

The Grand Mosque opens to tourists daily from 9 am to 11 am except Friday.

Grand Mosques and Museums are closed on Fridays & government holidays.

Children under the age of 10 years old are not permitted inside the mosque.

Dress code: Women should wear attire covering their arms, legs and also cover their head with a scarf and men should wear normal shirt and full length trousers (no shorts permitted).

Pictured below: Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque Pictured below: Main Prayer Hall

Prices:

RO 60.000 per car (saloon car / 2 adults) Pictured below: Al Alam Palace

RO 80.000 per car (4WD / 2 persons)

RO 5.000 for each additional adult

RO 3.000 for each additional child (from 5 to 10 years old) Duration: 4 hours – 100 kms – AM tour Tour includes:

Fully air conditioned vehicle

English speaking guide / driver

Entrance fee to Museum

Bottled water or soft drinks during the excursion

FASCINATING FORTS TOUR (FASCINATING FORTS OF NIZWA, BAHLA AND JABREEN)

Nizwa (Arabic: نزوى‎ )et si yticit ge l eh si Ad Dakhiliyah Region and was previously the capital of Oman. The City is located about 170 km (2 hours) from Muscat. Nizwa Fort was built over 12 years in the 17th century by Sultan bin Saif al-Yaruba, the first‎imam‎of‎the‎Ya’aruba‎dynasty,‎the‎fort‎is‎famed‎for‎its‎40m-tall round tower.

TOUR DETAILS: - Nizwa is enchanting with its forts, the most famous being the Round Tower Fort, built in 1668 and laying claim to be the

biggest fort in the Arabian Peninsula. It has an external diameter of 150 feet and is over 115 feet in height. - There is a bustling souq which is renowned for the Friday cattle auction as well as intricately carved Khanjars and

ornamental silver Bedouin jewellery. - A‎visit‎to‎the‎fort‎is‎followed‎by‎a‎tour‎of‎the‎Bahla‎Fort,‎a‎UNESCO‎‘World‎Heritage‎Site’.‎Believed‎to‎be‎the‎Persian‎

origin, it overlooks the village of Bahla, considered to be the pottery capital of Oman. - The tour continues with a visit is to the Jabreen Fort,‎one‎of‎Oman’s‎most‎magnificent forts, built in the 17th century

with painted ceilings and engraved wood carvings. - Enroute to Muscat visit the pretty village of Birkat Al Mauz situated at the foothills of Jebel Akhdar (Green Mountains).

Enjoy a walk through its oasis and dense date plantations.

Prices:

RO 170.000 per car (4WD / 2 persons)

RO 135.000 per car (saloon car / 2 persons)

RO 15.000 for each additional adult

RO 7.000 for each additional child (from 5 to 10 years old)

Duration: 8 hours – 500 kms

Note: Fort timings are Sunday – Thursday 09:00-16:00 & Fridays 08:00-11:00

Tour includes:

Air conditioned saloon car / 4WD vehicle

English speaking guide / driver

Entrance to Forts

Lunch in a local restaurant

Bottled water or soft drinks during the excursion Main attractions: Nizwa Fort, Bhala Fort and Jabreen Fort.

WADI WALK TOUR (to Bimmah Sinkhole and Wadi Shab)

An ideal choice for those wanting to experience‎Oman’s‎scenic‎beauty.‎ A popular trip with adventurers, this tour has quickly become‎a‎‘must-do’.

Bimmah Sinkhole, located in Hawiyat Najm Park (مـتـنزه هـويـة نـجـم), literally meaning Meteor Fall Park in Arabic, is considered by many to be the world's most stunning sinkhole. This cavernous limestone bowl is so beautiful it has become a tourist attraction as visitors can take a dip in the vibrant emerald-tinted waters of its 20m-deep pool.

Wadi Shab (Arabic: وادي شاب) is arguably one of the most gorgeous destinations in Oman. Beyond the breathtaking entrance, the wadi rewards you with views of aquamarine pools, waterfalls and terraced plantations; kingfishers add glorious splashes of colour.

TOUR DETAILS: - Depart in the morning with a visit to Quriyat, a quaint fishing village. - The drive along the coast offers tantalizing glimpses of the sea. - Our next stop is at the Bimmah sinkhole, a limestone crater with blue green water at the bottom. - The tour moves to Wadi Shab, for those inclined, it is possible to walk right upto the source of the Wadi through lush

green plantations of lemon, banana and dates. The fairly easy walk on a rocky path is dotted with pools and waterfalls. Note: comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

Pictured below: Bimmah Sinkhole Pictured below: Wadi Shab Waterfall

Prices: Pictured below: Wadi Shab ‘Keyhole’

RO 170.000 per car (4WD / 2 persons) RO 135.000 per car (saloon car / 2 persons)

RO 15.000 for each additional adult

RO 7.000 for each additional child (from 5 to 10 years old) Duration: 8 hours – 425 kms Tour includes:

Air conditioned 4WD vehicle

English speaking guide / driver

Picnic box lunch

Bottled water or soft drinks during excursion

Main attractions: Qurayat- The Fishing Village, Bimmah Sinkhole & Wadi Shab.

MUSCAT – The Charming Capital TOUR DETAILS:

- Visit the Royal Opera House Muscat which is the leading arts and culture organization in the Sultanate of Oman. The vision of the Opera House is to serve as a centre of excellence in global cultural engagement.

- Proceed to Shatti Al Qurum and visit the Omani Heritage Gallery which is a unique outlet through which native artisans can market their goods.

- Visit the Bateel date store with an impressive variety of date products on display, chocolate dates, date filled biscuits, dates with nuts and dried fruits, bottled sparkling date juice and a variety of other itrems available for purchase.

- Visit Bait Al Adam Museum which holds a unique collection of currency, paintings, photographs, guns etc. - On the outskirts of Muscat we visit the House of Amouage (not open on Fridays and Saturdays).

Pictured below: The exterior of the Royal Opera House Muscat

Prices:

RO 170.000 per car (4WD / 2 adults)

RO 15.000 for each additional adult

RO 7.000 for each additional child (from 5 to 10 years old) Pictured below: The interior of the Royal Opera House Muscat

Duration: 4 hours – 120 kms – AM Tour

Tour includes:

Air conditioned 4WD vehicle

English speaking guide / driver

Entrance fees to the Forts

Picnic box lunch or lunch in a local restaurant

Bottled water/ or soft drinks during excursion

BATINAH BASH (to Nakhal Fort)

A full day tour along the Batinah coast, taking you deep into one of the most rugged landscapes of northern Oman.

Nakhal Fort (Arabic: قلعة نخل‎ ( Qalʿa Nakhal) is a large fortification in the Al Batinah Region located approximately 120 kilometres (75 miles) to the west of Muscat.

TOUR DETAILS: - Your first stop is at Seeb Fish Souq, where the fishermen are coming with their days catch. - From here we drive through the date palms to the sparkling springs heading to the Nakhal Fort. - Nakhal Fort is‎ spectacularly‎perched‎on‎a‎ rocky‎prominence‎on‎ the‎ foothills‎of‎Western‎Hajar‎Mountains.‎The‎ fort’s‎

origin is pre-Islamic‎with‎major‎contributions‎by‎the‎Al‎Ya’ruba‎and‎the‎Al‎Bu‎Sayed‎dynasties. - After a tour of the fort, we move inland to visit the beautiful Wakan Village, famous for its terrace farming. - Our next stop is Wadi Abhyad which has large patches of white sedimentation and when translated means white wadi. - The drive winds through the mountains with small pools of water dotting the wadi bed.

Pictured below: Nakhal Fort

Prices:

RO 170 per car (4WD / 2 persons)

RO 15.000 for each additional adult

RO 7.000 for each additional child (from 5 to 10 years old)

Duration: 8 hours – 425 kms by 4WD

Tour includes:

Air conditioned 4WD vehicle

English speaking guide / driver

Entrance to Fort

Picnic box lunch

Bottled water /or soft drinks during the excursion Main attractions: Visit Fish Souq, Wakan village, Wadi Abhyad & Nakhal Fort. Note: It is advisable to wear light clothing and appropriate walking shoes.

MAJESTIC MOUNTAINS TOUR (to Nakhal Fort, Bilad Sayt and Wadi Bani Awf)

Bilad Sayt is a mountain village in Oman. The village is located on the NE slope of the Al Hajar Mountains near the highest peak in the Sultanate of Oman, Jebel Shams. Wadi Bani Awf (Arabic: بني عوف .covers a large area with several villages and is well known for its beautiful scenery (وادي

TOUR DETAILS:

- Our first stop is Nakhal Fort perched on a rocky outcrop. - Proceeding to Al Awabi we take a turn off to Wadi Bani Awf. This picturesque drives takes you back thousands of years,

clearly shown in the sedimentary mountains. - We are now driving towards the most beautiful remote village of Bilad Sayt, in the Western Hajars. Exploring this

tranquil village on foot uncovers its patchwork of terrace farming and traditional houses laid out against the rocky slopes. Enjoy a picnic lunch here in perfect surroundings.

- After the visit to the village we proceed to the Snake Gorge where one can enjoy a short walk (weather permitting) along this canyon floor renowned for its natural beauty.

- A short distance brings us to Wadi Sahtan where you will meet the traditional Omani beekeepers of the area. Finally you will get to examine the door at the Al Hazm Fort before returning to Muscat.

Pictured below: Bilad Sayt Village Pictured below: Wadi Bani Awf

Pictured below: Al Hazm Fort

Prices:

RO 170 per car (4WD / 2 persons)

RO 15.000 for each additional adult

RO 7.000 for each additional child (from 5 to 10 years old)

Duration: 9 hours – 475 kms – 4WD vehicle

Tour includes:

Air conditioned 4WD vehicle

English speaking guide / driver

Entrance fees to the Forts

Picnic lunch

Bottled water or soft drinks during excursion

Note: It is advisable to wear light clothing and appropriate walking shoes.

WAHIBA WILDERNESS

This trip is most definitely an experience like no other. Even the nocturnally inclined will agree that early wake up was well worth the trouble! Wahiba Sands is a desert region named for the Bani Wahiba tribe. The area covers 12,500 square kms (4,800 sq miles), a vast mass of sand with some dunes rising up to 200 metres. Wadi Bani Khalid (Arabic: وادي بني خالد ) is located about 203 km from Muscat. It is the best-known wadi of the Sharqiyah region. Its stream maintains a constant flow of water throughout the year.

TOUR DETAILS: - First we will head out to the Wahiba Sands on to the undulating masses of red and white dunes that stretch as far as

the eye can see. - The ever-changing patterns of the dunes are a photographers delight. - Visit a Bedouin home in this wilderness. - The next stop is Wadi bani Khalid. In sharp contrast to the desert, this deep blue is beautiful in deed. It has clear deep

blue waters, where the shades of the palm trees are inviting for a relaxing siesta!

- It comprises of small pretty villages embedded in the mountains.

Pictured below: Desert Sunrise

Prices:

RO 170 per car (4WD / 2 persons)

RO 10.000 for every additional person

RO 15.000 for each additional adult

RO 7.000 for each additional child (from 4 to 10 years old)

Note: Below three years old free of charge.

Duration: 10 hours – approx. 550 kms – 4WD vehicle

Tour includes:

Air conditioned 4WD vehicle

English speaking guide / driver

Picnic Lunch

Bottled water /or soft drinks during the excursion

Note: It is advisable to wear light clothing and appropriate walking shoes.

OMAN’S GRAND CANYON (JEBEL AKHDAR – THE GREEN MOUTAIN)

Jebel Shams (Arabic: is a mountain located in northeastern Oman north of Al Hamra town. Also known as ,( جبل شمس‘Mountain‎of‎the‎Sun’‎it‎stands‎around 3,000 metres (around 9,800 feet) high and is the highest point in Oman and the whole of eastern Arabia.

Jebel Akhdar (Arabic: (جبل األخضر is part of the Al Hajar Mountains range in Oman, which extends about 300 km (186 miles) northwest to southeast, between 50–100 km (31–62 miles) inland from the Gulf of Oman coast. It is a very popular sightseeing area located 150 km (93 miles) from Muscat.

TOUR DETAILS: - 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 to Wadi Nakher located in the depth of the deepest

canyon. - Visit Misfah a pretty mountain village with stone dwellings still in existence. - While heading for Jebel Shams stop at the terrace farming village of Wadi Ghul. - In the Jebel Akhdar range Jebel Shams, the highest peak offers a spectacular view.

Prices:

RO 170.000 per car (4WD / 2 adults)

RO 15.000 for each additional adult

RO 7.000 for each additional child (from 4 to 10 years old)

Note: Below three years old free of charge.

Duration: 9 hours – approx. 560 kms – 4WD vehicle

Tour includes:

Air conditioned 4WD vehicle

English speaking guide / driver

Picnic box lunch or lunch in a local restaurant

Bottled water/ or soft drinks during excursion

Note: It is advisable to wear light clothing and appropriate walking shoes.