Excursions in Oman

Excursions can only be offered as part of a full package booked through Voyana Holidays.

Muscat offers the visitor a unique opportunity to witness a modern commercial centre existing in harmony with its traditional culture. With its natural harbour, Muscat means "Anchorage" & lies in a natural volcanic bowl. This tour of the Grand Mosque (except Thursday & Friday) & Bait Al Zubair Museum (except Friday) is a brief introduction that traces Oman's history and development. Drive along the waterfront Corniche visiting the Fish Market & the colourful Muttrah Souq. Then proceed for a photo stop to the magnificent Al Alam Palace, official palace of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos flanked by the 16th century Portuguese forts Mirani & Jalali. (Ladies fully covered with scarf and shorts not allowed for men)

Nizwa, capital of the interior, is the birthplace of Islam in the Sultanate of Oman. Nizwa boasts of the famous Round Tower Fort built in the 17th century, and its Souq renowned for its Friday cattle auction, intricately hand-carved "Khanjars" (daggers) & ornamental silver jewellery. Jabrin, the finest of Oman's castles built in the late 17th century, became a seat of Omani learning. The castle displays the highest achievement in Omani ceiling painting & beautifully executed woodcarvings. En-route 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.

Transfer from your Muscat hotel to the pier side to embark on a boat as you search the seas for Dolphins and Whales. Watching wild dolphins is a thrilling way to start the day and the lucky may even come across one of the many species of whales that can be found just a few kilometres from Muscat's rugged coast. Not every trip guarantees a sighting, but you are sure to enjoy a trip out to sea and enhance your knowledge of nature's most fascinating marine mammals. With an on-board cetacean specialist, who will give a brief presentation on Oman's whales and dolphins and help you understand their behaviour, ecology and lifestyle. Also provided will be underwater microphone in order to hear the beautiful whale and dolphin songs. Soft drinks, tea and coffee with on-board breakfast.

This tour along the coastline to Sur offers breathtaking glimpses of the blue waters of the Gulf of Oman offset by pristine white beaches. The first stop is the Bimah Sinkhole, a spectacular limestone crater with blue green water at the bottom. On clear sunny days while driving along the coast one might chance to see sharks in the deep blue water or fleet footed Gazelle sprint across the landscape. There is also stop at the beautiful Fin's beach. The pretty Tiwi village provides a surprising contrast with its lush green wadi and plantations. The ruins of Bibi Miriam's Tomb can be seen at the village of Qalhat. Visit the Dhow building yard. (Walking shoes recommended) and drive back to Muscat on the tarmac route.

The Wahiba Sands, a vast mass of undulating red and white, sea of sand and dunes rising up to 200 metres are also host to a variety of flora and fauna. The ever-changing patterns of the dunes are a photographer's delight. Visit a Bedouin house in this wilderness. In stark contrast to this is Wadi Bani Khalid. It comprises of small pretty villages embedded in the mountains. The Wadi has clear deep blue water. It is advisable to wear light comfortable clothing and walking shoes.

A full day tour along the Batinah coast. Our first stop is the Seeb Fish Souq by the seaside. Drive through the date palms to the sparkling springs and Fort at Nakhl. Visit the beautiful Wakan Village famous for its terrace farming. Your 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.

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 photo stop at the Round Tower Fort before proceeding ahead. The next stop takes you 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.

Depart from Muscat and proceed to visit the Nizwa Round tower Fort & the Nizwa Souk. Drive to the pretty village of Birkat Al Mauz. Enjoy a walk through the lush green date plantations. Proceed to Wadi Al Madeen, where the entry permits have to be shown. From here a 36 km stretch of winding road takes one to Jebel Al Akhdar (2000 mts above sea level) the green jewel of the Al Hajjar mountain ranges, a truly unique spot in the Arabian Peninsula. Enjoy the cool climate up in the mountains. Al Jebel Al Akhdar is famed for its fruit orchards typically laid out terrace style along the slopes of mountains, which are endowed with natural springs and aflaj. A large variety of fresh fruits such as peaches, apricot, fig, grapes, apple, pears, plums, almonds and walnuts are grown here. The region is well known for the pomegranate fruit, which is of a very superior quality. The villages of Saiq, Wadi Bani Habib (the village of the old houses) & Al Ain dot the landscape. The villages overlook a spectacular landscape of dramatic peaks, gorges and wadis. The roses of Jabal Al Akhdar fill the air with fragrance when in full bloom (March / April). Rose water is distilled in the homes of the villagers. Lunch at the Jebel Akhdar hotel. It is advisable to wear light comfortable clothing and walking shoes. (Permits require a day to process)

Transfer from the hotel to the pier side to embark on a relaxed dhow (fishermen's boat) cruise. See Muscat through the eyes of ancient seafarers who plied this route for centuries. Have a brief stop at a natural cove where you can take photographs of the spectacular Al Bustan Palace Hotel. Soft drinks, tea, coffee and dates served on board before we return back to the pier for the transfer to the hotel.

Salalah (Oman's Southern Dhofar Region)

Visit the Biblical "Nabi Ayoub" Prophet Job's Tomb, perched high up in the "Jebel" (mountains). En-route, are spectacular views of the plains, mountain landscape and emerald green pastureland. Proceed to Mughsail Beach where you can see the "Blow-holes" these are perforations in the limestone rock through which sea water gushes during high tide. Experience the Hairpin Bend Roads for approximately 15/20kms, which will take you to a wadi. The views are breathtaking due to heights involved. This is the road that takes you to the Yemen border. At the nearby bird sanctuary, one may see seasonal birds. En-route, the stark shape of leafless Frankincense Trees dot the landscape. Once traded as a commodity more precious than gold, frankincense harvested in Dhofar is rated the best in the world.

Visit the fishing village of Taqa, an old town with an interesting Castle surrounded by watchtowers and Taqa stone houses. Proceed onward to Khor Rori creek, the site of the ruined city of Samhuram, (visit from outside) capital of ancient Arabia's exotic frankincense trade. Excavations have produced evidence of an ancient city with trade links by sea to Far Eastern destinations and with even distant Greece. Mirbat, the ancient capital of Dhofar, was an important town as early as the 9th century for its trade in frankincense, horses and slaves. See some of the old houses famous for its woodcarvings. If lucky, you might see boat loads of fish arriving into the harbour. One of Dhofar's best-known historic sites is Bin Ali's Tomb. The twin domed structure, tomb of Mohamed bin Ali who died in 1135 AD is a fine example of medieval architecture. Return via Ayn Razat, (Thu - Fri Only) manicured gardens fed by natural underground springs.

Salalah, the "garden city" of the south, is a tropical paradise. Visit a Garden Farm, which has groves of coconut, banana, papaya and vegetables. Visit the Old Ruined Houses still in existence today. Photo stop of the beautiful Shanfari Mosque with its exquisite artwork and stained tiles. Visit the site of Prophet Saleh's Sacred Camel Footprint. See the clear camel footprint on the rock. Visit Al Husn Souq where frankincense crystals of Dhofar and typical Dhofari frankincense burners are sold. Witness the sale of cattle and guns in the market. Walk along the city's promenade (waterfront Corniche) where single storied houses are dwarfed by tall, swaying palms. Al Husn Palace, summer residence of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos stands at one end of the promenade. Return via the Museum, which is famous for the Dhofari costumes in the south. (Sat - Wed only).

Proceed on a full day to Ubar. The ruins of the fabled city of Ubar, chronicled in classical works, as the "Atlantis of the sands" is among a series of exciting archaeologists excavations currently underway along the route. In the Rub-Al Khali (The Empty Quarter) area you will experience dune driving before returning to the hotel.

Excursions can only be offered as part of a full package booked through Voyana Holidays.