Omani cuisine is influenced by Arab, Persian, Indian, Asian, Eastern Mediterranean and African cuisine. Rice is a staple and often includes a variety of flavours and ingredients, while fish and meat, such as chicken and lamb, feature prominently. Dishes are full of rich mixtures of spices, herbs and marinades. Dates are much loved and are an essential part of the Omani diet.

Curry, soups, fresh salads and vegetable dishes are all very common. Coffee is the national beverage, but tea is also drunk. Yoghurt drinks and soft drinks are also popular. Alcohol is not readily available but can be purchased in some hotels and likely to be quite expensive.

Non-Muslims are permitted to bring in two litres of alcohol by air only. Alcohol may be purchased at Muscat airport after having cleared immigration. Care must be taken not to cause offence through the use of alcohol and should not be consumed in public places apart from licensed premises, such as hotels and restaurants. It is generally not a problem to bring your own alcohol into hotels but please always ask the hotel first out of courtesy.

Please advise at time of booking if you have any dietary requirements.

Share a flavorful introduction to the country as you meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers over regional dishes—think saffron-scented rice, grilled meats, fresh salads, and sweet dates—paired with fragrant cardamom coffee. This relaxed evening sets an inviting tone for the days ahead.

Learn the etiquette of Omani hospitality in a setting inspired by the traditional majlis: generous plates for sharing, warm greetings, and time to connect. It’s a convivial start that helps the group gel while you sample regional dishes from Oman’s spice-laced culinary heritage.

Buckle up to travel by 4×4 into the Al Hajar range, tackling the gravel tracks and hairpins of Wadi Bani Awf. Pause amid palm groves and terraced fields in Bilad Sayt, a postcard-perfect village cupped by jagged peaks.

Continue to the soothing waters of the Nakhl hot springs, where warm streams trickle through a rocky gorge. Along the way, the mountains reveal layers of ancient oceanic rock, dramatic wadis, and timeless farming hamlets that speak to Oman’s resilient highland life.

Step into one of Oman’s finest forts on a guided visit to Jabrin Castle, famed for exquisitely hand-painted ceilings, carved stucco, and elegant archways surrounding a sunlit courtyard. Wander date stores, reception rooms, and defensive towers.

Built in the late 1600s by the Ya’aruba dynasty, Jabrin was more than a stronghold: it nurtured scholarship, hosting the study of astronomy, medicine and law. Its refined details and scholarly legacy reveal a cultivated chapter in Oman’s history.

Walk into the shadowy gorge of Wadi Nakhr, where sheer limestone cliffs soar overhead and boulder-strewn paths invite careful exploration. Emerge to panoramic lookouts over Wadi Ghul, a dramatic chasm carved by seasonal torrents.

Climb by road toward Jebel Shams, Oman’s highest peak, to survey the epic sweep of the Grand Canyon of the Middle East. Cooler air and far-reaching views provide a powerful sense of scale across the Al Hajar escarpments.

Wander the stepped lanes of Misfat al Abriyeen, a mountainside settlement of mud-and-stone dwellings framed by date palms and orchards. Paths thread between terraced gardens, shaded passageways, and village watchtowers.

Trace the burbling falaj irrigation channels that sustain the crops, an ingenious system perfected over centuries. Listen for the rustle of fronds and water as you pass gardens heavy with fruit—a living snapshot of traditional Omani highland life and terraced gardens ingenuity.

Discover the monumental round tower of Nizwa Fort, built to guard vital oases and caravan routes. Climb to the ramparts for views of palms and distant peaks, then delve into exhibits on tribal alliances and local crafts.

Continue into the souq, renowned for silverwork and khanjar daggers. This 17th-century stronghold and its vibrant market evoke Nizwa’s days as an intellectual and trading hub—where frankincense, livestock, and ideas once crossed the desert.

Stroll beneath the shade of towering palms in Birkat Al Mouz, where crumbling mudbrick lanes open to green plots heavy with fruit. Hear the hush of water and birdsong as gardens unfurl along the hillside.

Examine the UNESCO-listed Aflaj that feed these groves, including the celebrated Falaj Al-Khatmeen. This ancient gravity-fed network reveals how Omani communities harnessed mountain springs to sustain lifelines of date plantations in the desert fringe.

Walk along cliffside paths across Jebel Akhdar, where cool air and broad vistas frame orchards of pomegranates and apricots. Pass stone hamlets and mountain villages that cling to the escarpment above plunging wadis.

In spring, the rose terraces come alive and villagers distill fragrant waters in traditional stills. Any season, the high plateau offers tranquil routes and the chance to savor the cool high-plateau air far above the plains.

Visit the emerald pools and sculpted limestone of Wadi Bani Khalid, a palm-laced canyon whose clear waters glint beneath honey-colored cliffs. Footpaths and bridges offer gentle access to viewpoints and shaded rest spots.

Learn how seasonal flows and aflaj irrigation nourish small settlements tucked into the valley. The turquoise pools and palm-fringed canyon scenery make a serene counterpoint to the desert dunes—ideal to pause for photos and reflection.

Ride a dune drive across the rippling ridgelines of the Wahiba (Sharqiya) Sands, feeling the soft give of sand beneath the tires and the sweep of ochre horizons. The shifting light makes the desert a living canvas.

Afterward, visit a Bedouin home to learn about weaving, camel traditions, and the rhythms of nomadic life. Share Omani coffee and dates as your hosts explain this storied landscape and the customs that bind community to desert.

Scan tidal flats and pale sandbars at Bar Al Hikman, where nutrient-rich waters draw thousands of shorebirds—plovers, sandpipers, terns—and, in season, elegant greater flamingos. The mirror-calm shallows create superb viewing conditions.

Learn how monsoon upwellings feed this marine pantry and why the area is an Important Bird Area for Oman. With vast skies and sweeping horizons, it rewards patience—be sure to bring binoculars to catch the detail.

Pitch camp on remote sands where sugar-white dunes taper to turquoise surf and fishing skiffs dot the horizon. Drift to sleep to the hush of waves as you camp right on the beach, far from settlements and lights.

Wake early to scan for dolphins offshore and trace wind-rippled ridges along the Arabian Sea. With a star-filled desert sky overhead, this is coastal wilderness distilled—simple, elemental, and deeply restorative.

Take a short climb amid the ancient rocks of Wadi Shuram, where a palm oasis punctuates sweeping desert views. Your leader explains how uplift and erosion sculpted these stark, beautiful layers.

Continue to the Duqm Rock Garden, a field of fantastical, wind-sculpted formations spread across the flats. Textures shift from honeycombed stone to mushroom-like boulders—an open-air gallery shaped by time, salt, and wind.

Stroll the rugged promontories of Ras Madrakhah, where black headlands and white sand meet cobalt seas. The contrasts are striking, with wave-cut rocks framing luminous shallows and quiet coves.

Travel onward to the pink lagoons at Qahal, their blush tint linked to seasonal algae and salt. It’s a photographers’ dream: mirror-like water, wading birds, and abstract color fields shaped by wind and tide.

Journey deep into Wadi Shuwaymiyah, a secluded valley of towering limestone walls, palms, and clear pools. Short walks reveal hanging gardens and shaded corners alive with birdsong.

Settle into wild camping beneath sheer cliffs, where twilight lengthens and the desert silence gathers. The region shelters shy wildlife—ibex, gazelle, even hyena—hinting at the resilience of life in Oman’s far-flung wadis.

Venture into the Rub’ al Khali (Empty Quarter), a sea of vast dunes that roll to every horizon. Feel the scale of Arabia’s great interior as you traverse amber ridgelines and broad salt flats.

As the heat eases, watch sunset over the sands paint the crests with copper and rose. At camp, the sky opens to the Milky Way, and the desert’s immense quiet turns night into a moment of awe.

Explore the Ubar (Shisr) archaeological site, linked by legend to the Atlantis of the Sands. Walk among foundations of towers and storerooms that once served incense caravans threading the desert.

Part of Oman’s Land of Frankincense heritage, Ubar sits at the crossroads of ancient incense routes connecting Arabia with Rome and India. Your visit reveals the ingenuity—and fragility—of cities forged by trade in a harsh environment.

Feel the thrill of 4×4 dune-driving with expert desert drivers, cresting and descending sand slopes where traction and finesse are everything. The vehicle’s climb and sweep mirror the contours of colossal dunes.

A short, safety-briefed session introduces techniques for tackling steep slipfaces and soft sands. There’s time to pause for photos on high ridgelines—vast panoramas that distill the drama of the Empty Quarter.

Sail the coast on a traditional wooden vessel during a sunset dhow cruise, watching cliffs, mosques, and the Muttrah Corniche glow in the evening light. The silhouettes of coastal fortresses and city domes create a timeless skyline.

Tea, dates, and sea breezes set the mood as the shoreline slips by. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; availability may vary by season and weather conditions.

Join a Salalah evening city tour to browse Haffa Souq, where stalls overflow with frankincense resin, perfumes, and colorful textiles. Continue to palm-lined sands for a relaxed stroll along Al Haffa Beach.

Hear how the khareef monsoon shapes Dhofar’s culture and landscapes as you sample the easygoing coastal atmosphere. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, subject to local timings.

Explore Oman’s capital on a curated overview that takes in the exterior of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, the heritage-rich Bait Al Zubair Museum, and the bustling Muttrah Souq and fish market along the waterfront corniche. Capture a classic photo at Al Alam Palace, the ceremonial residence of the Sultan.

Absorb Muscat’s maritime character as you pass Portuguese-era forts guarding the harbor and elegant seaside districts. Exhibits of khanjars, textiles and tribal arts reveal the stories behind Oman’s traditions, trade routes and enduring desert-and-sea identity.