Desert Caravan, Wahiba Sands, Oman

Highlights of Oman

  • TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAY IDEA

Duration

10 Days

Prices Start from

£5,200pp(ex. flights)

Oman is home to endless coastlines, a friendly and fascinating culture and smart, stylish hotels. Scattered with forts, deserts, green wadi’s, overlooked by towering granite mountains, this holiday idea to Oman offers a huge variety and is only a seven-hour flight from the UK.

Key Highlights of this Itinerary

Muscat Old Town, Muscat, Oman 1

Souqs of Muscat

Spend some time in Muscat to explore the mosque, souqs, and the mansion museum of Bait Zubair.

Bahla Fort, Nizwa, Oman 2

Nizwa and Mountains

Explore the forts, markets and mountain villages, which scatter this diverse landscape.

Wahiba Sands, Oman 3

Wahiba Sands

Spend a day or two in the complete peace of Wahiba Sands.

Frankincense Tree, Salalah, Oman 4

Salalah and the South

Discover the less visited Salalah, home to former spice ports and remote frankincense trees.

Why we like it

Oman can easily be explored with limited time. Walk the old walled town of Muscat, spend a night or two under the stars at Wahiba Sands, and marvel at the pretty villages embedded into the mountain ranges. Top this off with a few days of beach to ensure you have the perfect balance of fascinating culture with relaxation. All of this in the knowledge that you are travelling in a safe, visitor-friendly destination.

Explore our suggested itinerary

  • Day 1

    Muscat (The Chedi Muscat)

  • Day 2

    Muscat

  • Day 3

    Muscat - Wahiba Sands (Deserts Night Camp)

  • Day 4

    Wahiba Sands

  • Day 5

    Wahiba Sands - Jebel Akhdar (Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar)

  • Day 6

    Jebel Akhdar

  • Day 7

    Jebel Akhdar - Muscat - Salalah (Anantara Al Baleed)

  • Day 8 - 9

    Salalah

  • Day 10

    Salalah - Muscat (Shangri La Al Waha)

  • Day 11

    Depart Muscat

Day 1

Muscat (The Chedi Muscat)

Met on arrival and driven to the Chedi Muscat, or your chosen hotel.

Day 2

Muscat

Spend the day exploring old and new Muscat. A sunset wander along the corniche, haggle in the lively Muttrah souq or enjoy a night at the Opera.

Day 3

Muscat - Wahiba Sands (Deserts Night Camp)

Take a camel ride through the desert, visit a local Wadi or simply enjoy the tranquillity of your camp and the desert star-lit skies.

Day 4

Wahiba Sands

Day 5

Wahiba Sands - Jebel Akhdar (Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar)

Driven from Wahiba to the mountains, a complete change of scene.

Day 6

Jebel Akhdar

Walk amongst the dramatic mountain scenery. Here grand canyons meet farming terraces, abandoned villages, date palms and wild wadis.

Day 7

Jebel Akhdar - Muscat - Salalah (Anantara Al Baleed)

Return to Muscat for the short, scenic flight south to Salalah.

Day 8 - 9

Salalah

Spend two days on the beach with time to explore the local markets, former spice ports and souqs.

Day 10

Salalah - Muscat (Shangri La Al Waha)

Return to Muscat for your final night.

Day 11

Depart Muscat

Our travel experts can tailor this itinerary to suit you.

More Details

Royal Opera House, Muscat, Oman
Royal Opera House, Muscat, Oman
Decorative lamps, Muttrah Souq, Muscat, Oman
Muttrah Souq, Muscat, Oman
Beach with Umbrellas, Shangri La Muscat, Muscat, Oman
Shangri La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, Muscat, Oman
Grand Mosque, Muscat, Oman
Muscat, Oman

Experience Muscat

Two or three days are well spent in Muscat, time enough to discover this interesting city. Gain access to private museums, showcasing paintings, khanjars and photographs, watch a performance of the Royal Opera House and take a private boat charter for dolphin spotting. Time should also be allowed to relax on the beach at one of the luxury hotels.

 

Canvas Club, Wahiba Sands, Oman
Canvas Club Desert Camp, Wahiba Sands, Oman
Canvas Club, Wahiba Sands, Oman
Canvas Club Desert Camp, Wahiba Sands, Oman
Camel Caravan, Wahiba Sands, Oman
Oman
Tent, Desert Nights Camp, Wahiba Sands, Oman
Desert Nights Camp, Wahiba Sands, Oman

Mountains and Dunes

Wahiba Sands is a desert region home to the Bedouin Tribes, known for their hospitality and knowledge of the dunes. Hike up huge dunes, hire a sand board to surf these orange giants and spend time stargazing under warm night skies. In contrast are the towering peaks of the Jebel Akhdar mountains – home to terraced villages and hidden forts.

Nizwa Fort, Oman
Nizwa, Oman
Alila, Jebel Akhdar, Oman
Jebel Akhdar, Oman

Market Towns and Wadi

Visit the UNESCO market town of Nizwa and, if your visit falls on a Friday, you will have the chance to witness the atmospheric goat and cattle auction. The enormous 17th-century Nizwa Fort is not to be missed. The scenery dramatically changes here amongst the wadi’s. Fruit orchards laid out on the mountain terraces, with small villages dotting the landscape.

Frankincense Tree, Salalah, Oman
Southern Oman and Salalah, Oman
Salalah, Ruins, Oman
Salalah, Oman

Salalah

A visit to this southern region offers further insight into Oman and gives a deeper understanding of its history and landscapes. Due to the summer rainfall, or khareef, this part of Oman has a more tropical feel, with coconut groves and banana plantations. Home to frankincense trees, souqs, historical sites, the vast Empty Quarter and even the ‘Lost City of Ubar’ originally discovered by NASA, the south is well worth adding .

Accommodation

Below you can see some of the wonderful places we have recommended for this journey.

The Chedi Muscat £££££

  • Oman
  • Beach and Island Escapes

The Chedi Hotel offers spectacular views over the Gulf of Oman to one side and Muscat’s mountains on the other. The hotel combines traditional Omani architecture with comfort and luxury to create a wonderful retreat with all 158 rooms decorated to the highest standard.

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Desert Nights Camp £££££

  • Oman
  • Tented Camps

Desert Nights is a luxurious desert-style camp based in the heart of Wahiba Sands, Oman.

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Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort £££££

  • Oman

Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar, perched 2,000 metres above sea level on the curving rim of a great canyon, is a luxurious base from which to explore this mountainous region and its rich local culture.

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Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara £££££

  • Oman
  • Beach and Island Escapes

Between a beach and freshwater lagoon, Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara offers refreshing luxury in Oman’s southern region of Dhofar. Experience a beachfront oasis that is the first luxury villa resort of its kind in Salalah.

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Shangri La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa £££££

  • Oman
  • Beach and Island Escapes

The Shangri La consists of three separate hotels all around 124 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens. Al Waha caters primarily for families with kids clubs and activities, and then there is the 5-star Al Bandar and lastly the 6 star Al Husn, which has fewer rooms and suites and caters for the top end of the market.

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A note on price

Prices will vary depending on the time of year you are travelling. Prices do not include international flights. Please ask one of our Travel Experts for an accurate quote. Flights purchased through Steppes Travel departing from the UK are ATOL protected.

This Itinerary
Low Season
From £4,445 Per person
High Season
From £6,780 Per person

When to travel

Oman in January

Oman will generally experience cooler temperatures and occasional rainfall, making both January and February an ideal time to visit for comfortable sightseeing but as a result, some regions may become busier.

Oman in February

February is an ideal month to travel to Oman with over 10 hours of daily sunshine and average temperatures of 24°C, perfect for some winter sun.

Oman in March

As temperatures start to rise, March is a preferred time to travel to Oman in order to experience a warm climate, but without the intense humidity, that summer can bring.

Oman in April

Slightly warmer than March but cooler than the peak summer months of July and August, April can be a good time to travel to Oman with the country experiencing average temperatures of 35°C.

Oman in May

As May brings the start of summer, temperatures will be high throughout the country with marginally lower levels of humidity than the peak summer months.

Oman in June

Frome June through to August, the southern region of Dhofar catches the Indian Ocean monsoon rains, known as Khareef. This can be a welcome break from the intense summer heat, but makes Salalah, the capital city of Dhofar, very busy during this time.

Oman in July

Due to the high temperatures experienced in Oman during the months of July and August, this can be a less comfortable time to travel to the country unless you visit the Southern regions.

Oman in August

With Oman experiencing Khareef, the country’s monsoon season, visit the South of the country where the monsoon rains have created lush, green vegetation across the landscapes.

Oman in September

With both the monsoon season over and as summer draws to a close, September experiences high temperatures with very little rainfall.

Oman in October

The best time to visit the country is from late October through to mid-March with Oman experiencing temperatures ranging from 25°C to 35°C, with cooler balmy evenings.

Oman in November

The best time to visit the country is from late October through to mid-March with Oman experiencing temperatures ranging from 25°C to 35°C, with cooler balmy evenings.

Oman in December

December is the coolest time to visit Oman with a maximum average of 26°C. Mountainous regions, however, can experience considerably lower temperatures at night.

Holiday Inspiration

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