Recommended

A Week in Oman

Name: A Week in Oman
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.8 (10 reviews)

10 reviews

Activity

Culture

Overview

Explore ancient and natural wonders in the Pearl of Arabia

Oman, the most beautiful of the Gulf States, has a rich culture and ancient heritage waiting to be discovered during this one-week cultural adventure. Starting in the capital of Muscat, we gaze in awe at the Grand Mosque, wander through the colourful Mutrah Souq and see the Omani capital and coastline through seafarers’ eyes on a traditional dhow cruise.

We spend a night deep in the desert and navigate the dunes of the Wahiba Sands in 4x4s; marvel at stunning views over the Grand Canyon of Arabia from Jebel Shams, the highest mountain in Oman; wade in the cooling, turquoise waters of an idyllic desert oasis and uncover historic forts before witnessing the weekly live auction cattle market in Nizwa, an event not to be missed!

One of Our Top Recommended Trips for 2026… Here’s Why
When it comes to trending destinations, nowhere saw a bigger surge in interest than Oman for us this year. Saying that, it’s still off most people’s travel radar, so if you’re thinking of going, now’s the time − Thomas Manchester, destination expert

Key Information

Trip Code: AXV
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Oman
Carbon Footprint: 42kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All accommodation: 1 Premium night (desert resort), 2 Superior nights (hotels), 3 Classic nights (hotels)
All breakfasts, four lunches and five dinners
Immersive itinerary with all transport and listed activities
Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure
Group arrival and departure transfers available

Don't Forget To

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations.

Highlights

Discover Oman’s highlights: ancient heritage, Bedouin culture and vast landscapes
See the Muscat coast from a traditional dhow
Take a 4x4 ride through the dunes to our remote resort in the Wahiba Desert
Gaze over the ‘Grand Canyon of Arabia’ from the slopes of Jebel Shams
Witness the lively weekly cattle market in Nizwa
Visit a Bedouin family and learn about their customs over kahwa

Itinerary

First Destination: Muscat
Next Destination: Muscat

Meals included:None

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Muscat
Next Destination: Muscat

Arrive at the start hotel before midday to ensure you can join the main group briefing and the dhow cruise in the afternoon.

After the briefing, we are picked up from our hotel and travel through the old part of Muscat to visit the Sidab Women’s Association where we can interact with the local women and enjoy a coffee together. Next, we pay a short visit to the Bait Al Zubair Museum before a photo stop outside the gates of the Sultan’s palace. After a short transfer to the marina, we embark on a relaxed dhow cruise (traditional fisherman’s boat) to see the Muscat coast through the eyes of the ancient seafarers who plied this route for centuries. During the cruise, soft drinks, tea, coffee and dates will be served.

In the evening, we stop at a restaurant for dinner and will be transported back through the centuries on a visit to the bustling, colourful Mutrah Souq. Here there will be lots of photo opportunities and the chance to observe the local way of life while wandering around this traditional Arab market.

Note: On some departures, some of the sightseeing detailed above will be done on Day 2 instead. Your leader will advise of your exact schedule locally.

Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel Muscat (or similar)

After a hotel breakfast, we check out and visit the Grand Mosque, the highlight of the Omani capital. The handmade carpets, chandeliers and the ceiling of the great dome in the main prayer room are must-sees.

Please note: Women should be fully covered and carry a headscarf; men should wear trousers.

We then drive (approximately 1hr 30min) to the Bimah Sinkhole, a spectacular limestone crater with blue-green water at the bottom, and Wadi Tiwi where we enjoy a walk and picnic lunch before transferring (approximately one hour) to our hotel in Sur, where we spend the night.

After an early dinner, we drive (approximately one hour) to Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve. Oman is an important area for green turtles in the Indian Ocean and the green back turtles are heavily protected by the government of Oman. In fact, more than 275 of the Sultanate’s beaches double as nesting grounds for five of the seven recognised sea turtle species, the most common being the green back.

Here we are led to the beach by an ecologist to see turtles return to their beach to lay eggs. (Please note, the main nesting season is June to August; at other times of the year, there may or not be turtles every night but a visit to the reserve is still worthwhile).

Accommodation: Sur Plaza (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning after breakfast, we transfer (approximately 1hr 45min) to the desert oasis of Wadi Bani Khalid to relax and enjoy a swim in the beautiful turquoise pools. We also have a picnic lunch before continuing (approximately 60 to 90 minutes) to the Wahiba Desert.

Please note, occasionally wild swimming in the wadi may not be possible due to safety reasons if, for example, water levels are high following rainfall or if it is raining at the time of your visit as the rocks can be slippery – your leader will inform you if swimming is not advisable.

Here, on the edge of the desert, we change vehicles from the minibus to 4WDs to begin our desert experience.

The Wahiba Sands, a vast mass of undulating red and white sands and dunes rising up to 655ft (200m) are also host to a variety of flora and fauna. The ever-changing patterns of the dunes are a photographer’s delight. We drive towards the dunes and our desert accommodation (approximately one hour) to check-in for the evening.

During our time at the camp, there is sometimes the opportunity to take a camel ride (optional – extra cost).

Accommodation: Arabian Nights Resort (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We have breakfast at our desert accommodation before checking out and driving towards the ancient city of Nizwa, the former capital of Oman. En route, we visit a Bedouin family and enjoy kahwa (Omani coffee) and spend time with them learning about their customs and traditional way of life.

We continue our drive via Birkat al Mouz, one of the best-known village ruins in the region. We walk through its oasis and date plantations before continuing to Nizwa. With the two sets of ruins, a large banana plantation and the scenic surroundings, the site is also home to the old Falaj irrigation system listed as a Unesco World Heritage site.

Upon arrival in Nizwa, we check into our hotel where we spend the next two nights.

Accommodation: Al Diyar Hotel (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast at the hotel, we take a short drive (approximately 30 minutes) to visit Jabrin, the finest of Oman’s castles built in the late 17^th century, which became a seat of Omani learning. The castle displays the highest achievement in Omani ceiling painting and beautifully executed woodcarvings.

We also pause at Bahla Fort for a photo, the only Unesco-listed fort in the country and lovingly restored over many years before transferring (approximately 1hr 30min) to Wadi Nakhr for a short walk. We have lunch in a restaurant before proceeding to Jebel Shams, the highest mountain in Oman, and where we can enjoy spectacular views of the ‘Grand Canyon of Arabia’.

Later in the afternoon, we transfer (approximately 45 minutes) to the village of Misfat Al Arbayeen, passing the ruins of an old fort on the way. We continue through narrow alleys between old stone houses and take a short walk in Al Hamra village before returning (approximately 30 minutes) to Nizwa for the evening.

Accommodation: Al Diyar Hotel (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is a long day and we start our morning with a visit to the live cattle auction market in Nizwa, the one day of the week where this ancient city truly comes alive with farmers and traders arriving from near and far to barter and trade in one of the most renowned markets in the Middle East.

We visit the impressive Nizwa Fort, built in the 17^th century to defend the natural wealth and strategic location of the city. Later we visit the renowned souq, famous for intricately handcarved khanjars (traditional curved daggers), silver jewellery and livestock trading.

Departing Nizwa, we continue to Wadi Bani Auf; this stretch of graded road is very adventurous as it involves steep bends and bumpy roads. In wet conditions, it may not be possible to drive this section of road due to safety. If this occurs, we take an alternative route.

We then stop at the charming mountain village of Bilad Sayt, where one is struck by the beauty of the landscape. Lunch today will be a packed lunch.

This afternoon, we have a photo stop at Nakhal Fort and hot spring. The exact date on which this ancient fort was built is unknown, but many believe it was constructed in pre-Islamic times, more than 1,500 years ago.

We then transfer back to Muscat for our final evening in the capital city of Oman.

Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel Muscat (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The tour ends this morning and it’s time to begin our return journey home. If you’d like a bit more time to explore Oman, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, deposit-only payments, and full ATOL protection available.

Call us on 0203 733 5948

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Accommodation

Hotels and Wahiba Sands desert resort

We spend five nights in hotels and one night in a desert resort with a spectacular location in Wahiba Sands. Below are the accommodations we typically use:

Muscat: Radisson Blu Hotel Muscat (nights 1 and 6)

A Week in Oman

We start and finish at this 153-room Radisson Blu resort, just 9mi (15km) from Muscat International Airport. There’s local and international cuisine at Olivos Restaurant and plenty of drinks at the Lazy Lizard bar. Alternatively, you may prefer a dip in the temperature-controlled outdoor pool or to relax on a sun lounger.

Sur: Sur Plaza (night 2)

A Week in Oman

Enjoy traditional Omani hospitality during our stay at the 89-room Sur Plaza. There’s a pool and gym, while the Oyster Restaurant (which serves a mixture of local and international cuisines) has views over the mountains.

Wahiba Sands: Arabian Nights Resort (night 3)

A Week in Oman

Spend an unforgettable night at this desert resort, which is only reachable by 4×4. Despite the remote location of the resort, the villa-style rooms are comfortable and there’s even a pool for a quick dip in the desert. There’s also a restaurant serving local and international dishes, plus a pool bar mixing up cocktails.

Nizwa: Al Diyar Hotel (nights 4-5)

A Week in Oman

Modest and traditional, Al Diyar provides a well-located place to stay for our adventures. It also has two outdoor pools and a restaurant, while Nizwa Souq is around five minutes’ drive away.

Worth knowing

With accommodation in Oman, couples – particularly unmarried couples – may be automatically allocated twin beds rather than doubles, unless requested otherwise. Please advise us at the time of booking if you are travelling as a couple and would like to request a double bed.
Accommodation in Nizwa is limited and the stay here is of a simpler level than the rest of the trip. We sometimes use other hotels in Nizwa – not all have pools.

Essential Information

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

This is a busy itinerary that visits the main highlights of Oman with a focus on providing a real taste of all this country offers. We travel by private air-conditioned minibus and 4×4 throughout. Although this is a cultural trip, some days can be long and tiring and there is some walking involved so a reasonable level of fitness is required. The people of Oman offer a very warm welcome to tourists. Oman is hot during the day, so care should be taken to drink lots of water. On Day 6, when departing Nizwa to Wadi Bani Auf, the stretch of graded road is very adventurous as it involves steep bends and bumpy roads which may not be suitable for vertigo sufferers.

Ramadan is expected to run from approximately 10 March-10 April 2024 and 28 February-29 March 2025. One of the most important periods in the Islamic calendar, it is a special time to visit a Muslim country. Each evening, the streets empty as people head home to break the fast, followed by an air of festivity upon their return. Our leaders and drivers choose to work at this time so we continue to run trips; however, their energy levels may be slightly lower than normal. Many tourist sites, restaurants and shops will have an amended schedule, but your tour leader will know how to adapt the itinerary to still experience all the inclusions on this trip and maximise your experience during this special time.

Key information

Start hotel: Radisson Blu Hotel Muscat, Sultan Qaboos Street Al Khuwair Muscat PC 133 Al Kuleiah St, Al Khuwair St, 939
Phone: +968 24 487777
Recommended arrival time: Arrive at the start hotel before midday to ensure you can join the main group briefing and the dhow cruise in the afternoon
Airport: Muscat Airport (MCT)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately 20 minutes’ drive from the airport. Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.

If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

Catching your return flight

There’s a group departure transfer to the airport for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.

Oman

Nationals from Britain, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand do not require a visa for stays of up to 14 days. To qualify for the visa exemption, you must meet certain requirements, including having a confirmed hotel booking, health insurance and a return ticket – you should have hard copies of these to hand upon arrival. Visit the Foreign Ministry of Oman website for a full list of the 103 visa-exempt countries and for more information.

If your stay is more than 14 days, or your nationality is not on the exempt list, then you require a visa. We recommend applying for an e-visa before you travel. Applications can be made through the Royal Oman Police Portal.

As visa processes can change, we advise checking with your local Omani embassy or consulate.

All breakfasts, four lunches and five dinners are included.

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.

During the tour, you have the opportunity to taste and experience a variety of dishes and eat in local restaurants. Included lunches will be picnic lunches and other meals will be eaten in cafes/eateries. The night spent at the desert camp includes a barbecue with traditional dishes.

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.

Temperatures and humidity are high throughout the year on the coast. May to September is the hottest season, so we avoid scheduling trips at this time. Temperatures rise even higher inland, but here humidity is lower so higher temperatures are more tolerable and nights are cooler. In spring and autumn, expect sunny weather throughout with warm to hot days (around 35C/95F) and pleasant night temperatures. There is little chance of any rain except from December to February. February will be cooler. In December, days are warm (20C-25C/68F-77F).

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

Reviews

I very much recommend this one week exploration of the cultural and ancient heritage of wonderful Oman. It's a busy tour but all forms of travel and accommodation are very comfortable. The people we met throughout the tour were all proud of their heritage and extremely friendly. Oman is a...

L H

Added October 2023

Stunning landscapes!

An excellent holiday in an amazing country - we fitted so much into a week it felt like we'd been there for a fortnight! The tour has a great mix of activities in different locations from cities, to desert, to mountains, which gives a great flavour of Oman. The locals...

Most Inspirational Moment

The desert and mountains were breathtaking.

Suggestions

I'd like to add that the visit to the turtle sanctuary, although wonderful to see them, was a bit of a challenge emotionally - it felt very invasive and we must have disturbed the turtles. This is down to the way the sanctuary run the tours (large groups of people crowding around each turtle on the beach, and stumbling in the sand where they have laid their eggs), and I can't help but think there is a better way of doing it. It felt unethical.

NIcole Finnan

Our leader (Qais) was very experienced and had a great sense of humour - the Omani people in general were incredibly welcoming everywhere we went.

Read all reviews

A Week in Oman

Activity Level

Comfort Level

Activity

Overview

Explore ancient and natural wonders in the Pearl of Arabia

Key Information

What's Included

Don't Forget To

Highlights

Itinerary

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, deposit-only payments, and full ATOL protection available.

Your Group, Your Adventure

Accommodation

Hotels and Wahiba Sands desert resort

Essential Information

Key information

Getting to the start hotel

Catching your return flight

Oman

Reviews

A special week

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Week in Oman

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Suggestions

A really beautiful adventure

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Suggestions

Oman

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Suggestions

Full on week.

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Suggestions

A busy but very worthwhile week exploring the Pearl of Arabia

Stunning landscapes!

Most Inspirational Moment

Suggestions

Out of this world

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Suggestions

A week in wonderful Oman

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Suggestions

Fantastic Oman holiday

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

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