(A UNIT OF NOVA GROUP OF COMPANIES)
NOVA TRAVEL
Muscat, Oman’s port capital, sits on the Gulf of Oman surrounded by mountains and desert. With history dating back to antiquity, it mixes high-rises and upscale shopping malls with clifftop landmarks such as the 16th-century Portuguese forts, Al Jalali and Mirani, looming over Muscat Harbor. Its modern, marble-clad Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, with 50m dome and prodigious Persian carpet, can accommodate 20,000 people.
Nizwa is located approximately 170 km south-west of Muscat and is Oman's second most popular tourist destination. Much of Arabia's handicraft industries are based in Nizwa, including production of the traditional khanjar daggers still worn by everyone from police to immigration agents and hotel doormen. Nizwa Fort is a large complex of buildings that has recently been restored to the grandeur it originally had when built in the mid 17th century by a local religious leader. The fort was used for defence, as a palace and as a prison
Itinerary 9 Days
Day 1: Arrive Muscat
Arrive Muscat by noon and transfer from Airport to Hotel.Check in at Hotel and rest of day at leisure.
Overnight : Hotel Accommodation in Muscat
Meals : Dinner
Day 2: Muscat-Day Trip
Mid-morning visit the Grand Mosque*, followed by a tour of the city, including a visit to the Bait Al Zubair Museum, the sultan’s palace, and the forts of Al Jalali and Mirani. Remainder of afternoon at leisure.
Overnight : Hotel Accommodation in Muscat
Meals : Dinner
Day 3: Nakhal • Beit Al Na’man-Day Trip
Full-day tour, including Barka fish market and Nakhal fort, before driving to the warm springs of Nakhal, where a picnic lunch is served. Early afternoon visit to Rustaq fort before returning to Muscat. (B, L)
Overnight : Hotel Accommodation in Muscat
Meals : Dinner
Day 4: To Sur via Wadi Shab & Qalhat
Drive south by 4x4 along the coast from Muscat to Sur, passing the fishing village of Quriyat. Stops en route include Wadi Shab, a palmfringed lagoon, and Qalhat, an ancient city visited by Marco Polo. Then make an evening visit to the green turtle nesting site at Ras al Junaiz beach. (B)
Overnight : Hotel Accommodation in Muscat
Meals : Dinner
Day 5: To Wahiba Sands
Set off this morning for a scenic drive through the eastern Hajar mountains to Wahiba Sands. Stop at Wadi Bani Khalid, a picturesque river valley, then continue to the Wahiba Sands, home to the bedouin people. Stay overnight at 1,000 Nights Camp. (B, D)
Overnight : Hotel Accommodation in Muscat
Meals : Dinner
Day 6: To Nizwa
Early departure for Nizwa stopping en route at the bustling Sinaw market. Proceed to the Wadi Al Madeen checkpoint, which leads to Jebel Akhdar, a unique spot in the Arabian Peninsula with spectacular views. Continue to Nizwa. Evening at leisure.(B, D)
Overnight : Hotel Accommodation in Nizwa
Meals : Dinner
Day 7: Nizwa
Morning visit to the impressive new souk, then visit the massive Nizwa fort, which dominates the town. Drive past the date plantations in Al Hamra village and visit a traditional Omani house at Bait Al Safah. After lunch, continue to Bahla to visit a pottery maker and watch mud vessels being made. Continue to Jebel Shams, Oman’s highest peak, stopping en route at Wadi Ghul and Wadi Nakher farming villages before returning to Nizwa. (B, D)
Overnight : Hotel Accommodation in Nizwa
Meals : Dinner
Day 8: To Muscat via Bahla fort
Leave for Muscat. En route, visit Bahla fort, a Unesco world heritage site, before driving through the Sumail Gap to Muscat. Arrive back in Muscat in the late afternoon.
Overnight : Hotel Accommodation in Muscat
Meals : Farewell Diner
Day 9: Muscat
A morning visit to the magnificent Royal Opera House, the largest in the Middle East, before transferring to the airport for an afternoon flight from Muscat to back home. (B)
Oman: An Arabian Odyssey
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