Day 1MUSCAT
Upon arrival at Muscat International Airport, you will proceed directly to immigration procedures to obtain your visa. After baggage claim, transfer to the hotel in Muscat with the driver. Night at the hotel.
Day 2MUSCAT VISIT. OPTIONAL SUNSET CRUISE
Breakfast. Visit the capital of the sultanate, founded in the 1st century and located between the Arabian Peninsula, Asia and Africa. Visit the * Great Mosque of Sultan Qaboos, an architectural masterpiece built with sandstone and marble. Highlights include a beautiful Swarovski chandelier and a huge handcrafted Persian rug that adorn the main prayer room.
Departure to the Al Alam Palace, residence of the Sultan, to make a photographic stop outside. Walk in the vicinity to enjoy a beautiful view of the Palace and the Mirani fortress. Continuation by bus with a panoramic stop of the Portuguese fortresses, Jalali and Mirani (17th century) and the coast in the background. Later, the tour continues to the old part of the city. Visit the Bait Al Zubair Museum that houses several collections of objects representative of Omani culture. Departure to the Muttrah area and walk through the souk that maintains all its oriental atmosphere. Return to hotel, dinner and overnight
* Great Mosque: Ladies must cover arms, legs and hair. Knights must have their arms and legs covered. Open from Saturday to Wednesday from 08:00 to 11:00.
Optional Muscat Sunset Cruise (2 hours)
At 15:00, transfer without a guide to the "Sidab" marina in Muscat to board a motor boat for a 2-hour cruise that will allow you to admire the extensive Muscat coastline with the beautiful mix of mountainous landscapes, abandoned coves and the beautiful blue of the Indian Ocean during sunset.
(Excursion with supplement to be booked at the time of booking).
Day 3AMOUAGE FACTORY - JABRIN - BAHLA - AL HAMRA - MISFAT - NIZWA
Breakfast. Stop at the Omani perfume factory "Amouage", which follows the tradition of Arab perfume, whose perfumes use 120 natural components and are claimed to be the most expensive in the world. Continuation to the interior of Oman. We will head towards Jabrin, one of the most beautiful fortresses in Oman built in 1675 by Imam Sultan bin Bil'Arab as a second residence. It is famous for its polychrome ceilings. Photo stop of the Bahla fortress, a UNESCO heritage site.
Lunch at a local restaurant or picnic.
Visit the old village of Al Hamra to stroll through its green palm grove and through the alleys with mud houses still intact. Continuation to the small town of Misfah, a wonder built in the heart of a mountain where you can walk through its narrow streets and learn about the traditional irrigation systems (Falaj).
Arrival in Nizwa, capital of the interior and former capital of Oman. It was the capital of many Imams and enjoyed a prosperous period during the reign of the Ya'ruba dynasty, which was in power in the country from 1624 to 1744. It has one of the oldest mosques in the world (you cannot visit). Arrival at the hotel and accommodation. Dinner.
Day 4VISIT NIZWA - BIRKAT AL MAUZ - WAHIBA SANDS
After breakfast, we will visit Nizwa. Visit the fortress, with its imposing watchtower and from where you can enjoy a wonderful view of the Nizwa palm grove, the mountains, the dome of the mosque, etc. Time to stroll through the famous souk known for its crafts: ceramic khanjars, baskets, etc.
Then we will go to the desert "Wahiba Sands". Stop along the way in the village of Birkat Al Mauz, which has maintained its traditional atmosphere and character. Walk through the palm groves and panoramic photo stops of the area where palm groves intermingle with villages and mountains.
Continuation to the “Wahiba Sands” desert. An expert driver will transfer you in 4x4 vehicles to the camp. Walk through the dunes until you reach the top of a dune to watch the sunset. Time to relax and enjoy the desert. Dinner and overnight at the camp.
Day 5WAHIBA - WADI BANI KHALID - RAS AL JINZ / TORTUGAS
In the early morning you can watch the sunrise from the dunes. Breakfast and time to relax to enjoy the desert environment. Then departure in 4x4 vehicles. Continuation by bus to reach Wadi Bani Khalid in the Hajar Mountains, one of the most impressive natural icons of the Sultanate of Oman, a valley surrounded by mountains, palm groves and small villages. It is a paradisiacal place, with several natural pools. It is reached by taking a walk along the valley. Early dinner at the hotel. Next, visit the green turtle sanctuary * Ras Al Jinz (www.rasaljinz-turtlereserve.com) where they come at night to lay their eggs in the sand after a journey of several thousand kilometers from Asia and Africa. Night at the hotel.
* Turtles in Ras al Jinz:
- The visit with the local expert guides is carried out in English only. The guide is not allowed to translate simultaneously so as not to disturb the group explanations and avoid disturbing the turtles.
- There are 2 visits per day: one approx. at 21:00 and another approx. at 04:00. Duration approx. 2 hours. We generally book the 21:00 tour.
- The number of visitors is limited to a maximum of 100.
- The number of turtles can vary, depending on the season. The best season is from May to September.
- Important: In case of not seeing turtles during the visit, there is no refund.
- Visitors are obliged to remain silent and not use flashlights. Taking photos is not allowed.
Day 6SOUTH - WADI TIWI - QURIYAT - BIMAH SINKHOLE - MUSCAT - DUBAI
Breakfast. Departure to the South, bordering the coast, a landscape surrounded by hills. We will visit the shipyard where the famous wooden dhows (traditional sailing boats of Arab origin) and the Ayga white houses are still being manufactured. Continuation along the coastal road towards Wadi Tiwi, from where the water of the wadi forms a set of beautiful natural pools and waterfalls of different shades of green and blue protected by high mountains. Picnic lunch. Then we will go to Bimah Sinkhole, a crater under the sea 100 meters in diameter with crystal clear water. Finally we will visit Quriyat, a typical fishing village where you can get to know the salt flats and the Sahel village. Continuation to Muscat airport and flight to Dubai. Arrival in Dubai, assistance, transfer and accommodation.
(Flight operated by Emirates, Oman Air or Flydubai. 20 kg checked allowed).
Day 7FULL DAY DUBÁI WITH MONORAIL
Breakfast. Mixing the new with the old, Dubai is a unique and spectacular city. Photo stop at the iconic candle-shaped Burj Al Arab luxury hotel and the Jumeirah Mosque.
Explore the old “Bastakiya” neighborhood of Dubai with its traditional houses and the wind towers that served in the past as a natural air conditioning system. Then visit the Dubai Museum located in the “Al Fahidi” fortress. We will cross the Dubai creek with the traditional water taxi (abra) to visit the gold and spice souks.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Crossing the skyscrapers of the main artery "Sheikh Zayed", we will arrive at "Downtown". Explore the world's largest shopping mall Dubai Mall: look at the aquarium from the outside through the giant glass and stroll along the luxurious “avenue of fashion”. You will be able to take a picture of the tallest building in the world "Burj Khalifa" (828m).
Continue along the beautiful Jumeirah road to the artificial island "The Palm" for a photo stop at the Hotel Atlantis. Return to land aboard the "Monorail" for a beautiful view of the island, the coastline and the Dubai skyline.
Day 8AM: OPTIONAL VISIT SHARJAH - PM: SAFARI WITH BARBECUE DINNER
AM: OPTIONAL EXCURSION TO SHARJAH IN SPANISH (SHARED
Departure for Sharjah, cultural capital of the UAE. Begin the tour with a visit to the magnificent Al Noor Mosque (Mosque of Lights), influenced by classical Ottoman Turkish architecture. Enter the Souq Al Arsah and explore the many quaint shops selling local handicrafts. Continue to Al Hisn Fort, built in 1823, formerly the residence of the ruling family. Visit the fascinating Museum of Islamic Civilization displaying more than 5,000 artifacts from the Islamic world. Conclude the tour with a short stop at Souq Al Jubail, a newly opened state-of-the-art market inspired by the impressive heritage of Islamic architecture. Back to the hotel.
PM: SAFARI WITH BARBECUE DINNER (Excursion with English speaking driver).
Professional drivers will take you away from the busy city through the natural dunes. The adventure begins when the driver ascends and descends through the golden sand dunes in a modern 4x4. After the amazing dune tour and photo stops, you will have a chance to enjoy the beautiful sunset. Time to relax in a cozy Bedouin camp where you will be greeted with Arabic hospitality. Savor a barbecue dinner by the fire and enjoy the company of Arab folklore and a belly dancer. You will enjoy: shisha, henna tattoos and camel ride.
Notes: In Dubai there are many camps of different quality and aesthetics. Magic Arabia offers a cozy and good quality safari. The desert is a 45 minute drive from Dubai. 6 pax / vehicle. Included: Buffet dinner, water, soft drinks, show, camels, henna.
Optional - The fountain show:
For guests wishing to visit the fountain show in front of the Dubai Mall upon returning to Dubai, it is possible to drop it off here after the Desert Safari. The return to your hotel will be at the customer's expense. There are many taxis in the Dubai Mall. The other participants will be taken directly to the hotel.
Day 9DUBAI
Breakfast and check out before 12:00. Transfer with driver to Dubai airport 3 hours before flight departure. End of our services.
Included
- Accommodation in hotels mentioned in standard room, incl. breakfast
- Spanish-speaking guide during all visits (excluding transportation)
- Airport-hotel transfer with driver Meals according to the program.
- Entrance fees to all visits mentioned in the program
- Mineral water on all excursions
- New free entry to Nizwa Fortress
Excluded
- Flights
- Oman Tourist Visa (5 OMR / 15 USD for 10 days, 20OMR / 55 USD for 30 days)
- Personal travel insurance
- Meals and drinks not mentioned in the program
- Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, drinks, etc.)
- Tips for the guide, drivers, porters and other service personnel
- Tips for drivers and guide (recommended 3 USD / pax / day for drivers and 5 USD / pax / day for tour guides)
- Porters at hotels and at the airport
- VAT: 2020 tax included
