Oman Desert Odyssey

Name: Oman Desert Odyssey
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.7 (3 reviews)

3 reviews

Activity

Culture

Overview

Embrace your adventurous spirit in the Pearl of Arabia and journey deep into remote deserts and wadis

Embark on the ultimate Oman adventure, going off-track to explore plunging wadis, remote deserts, ancient forts and rolling dunes. Guided by an expert tour leader, we go deeper into the country than ever before, from the vast desert of the Empty Quarter and dunes of the Wahiba Sands to the culturally rich capital of Muscat. Capping it all, we spend three nights camping in the wild, an intimate way to experience the raw beauty of the Middle East.

Key Information

Trip Code: AXX
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Oman
Carbon Footprint: 54.6kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All accommodation: 1 Superior night (desert resort), 6 Classic nights (hotels), 3 Simple nights (wild camping)
All breakfasts, three lunches and eight dinners
Immersive itinerary with all transport (mostly by 4×4) 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

Go deeper than ever into the remote landscapes of Oman
Experience the wild deserts and dunes of the Empty Quarter and Wahiba Sands
Walk through Wadi Nakhr, the Grand Canyon of the Middle East
Spend three nights wild camping – our staff handle all the chores!
Explore the cultural highlights of Muscat, a thrilling start to the adventure

Itinerary

First Destination: Muscat
Next Destination: Salalah

Accommodation:Radisson Blu, Muscat (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

Accommodation:Sama Jabal Shams (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:Al Diyar Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Sama Jabal Akhdar (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:Arabian Nights Resort (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:Wild beach camp in Khaluf
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Accommodation:Season Inn Hotel Duqm (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:Wild camping in Wadi Shuwaymiyah
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Accommodation:Camping in the Empty Quarter
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Accommodation:Intercity Salalah (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Muscat
Next Destination: Salalah

Our adventure begins early afternoon in Muscat, the coastal capital of Oman. We get straight into the action with a tour of the city highlights.

It begins with a visit to the outside of the Grand Mosque and the Bait Al Zubair Museum, which introduces us to the history and development of the country.

We then drive along the waterfront corniche, visiting the fish market and Muttrah Souq, before a photo stop at Al Alam Palace, official residence of the Omani royals. There may be time for a visit to the Old Muscat area, a walk along the corniche, or a sunset dhow cruise.

If you arrive in Muscat early, you may wish to visit the inside of the Grand Mosque on your own, which open from 8am to 11 am.

Your tour leader then ensures a big Omani welcome by arranging a group dinner.

Accommodation:Radisson Blu, Muscat (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

Set off this morning for a 4×4 ride (4hr 30min) through the Hajar Mountains. Our first stop is the Nakhl hot springs, where we can take photos and climb down the stairs to the water.

Jump back in the 4x4s for an adventurous one-hour drive through Wadi Bani Awf, a valley where steep bends and bumpy roads lead us to Bilad Sayt, considered among the most picturesque mountain villages in Oman with terraced farms and date plantations.

The road then winds through the peaks to Al Hamra at the foot of the Hajar range, a village of Yemini-style mud houses and more date plantations.

Accommodation:Sama Jabal Shams (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, we visit Jabrin Castle. Built in 1675, it was once a place for the study of astrology, medicine and law, while the hand-painted ceilings are particularly impressive.

Next, we head into Wadi Nakhr, an 8mi (12km) long valley through the Hajar Mountains. With towering cliffs, some more than 3,280ft (1,000m) high, it has been nicknamed the Grand Canyon of the Middle East and is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular natural wonders in Oman.

After a walk through the wadi, we visit the old mountain village of Misfah, where we can see mud-and-stone dwellings and learn about traditional life in the Omani mountains.

As we continue our journey, we stop in the Wadi Ghul to see the towering cliffs, before visiting Jebel Shams, the highest peak in the Jebel Akhdar range, for spectacular views.

In the evening, we head to Nizwa, an ancient city that served as the capital in the sixth and seventh centuries.

Accommodation:Al Diyar Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

See two city landmarks this morning: the impressive Nizwa Fort, built in the 17th century to defend the natural wealth and strategic location of the city, and the renowned souq, famous for intricately hand-carved khanjars (traditional curved daggers), silver jewellery and livestock trading.

After, we head to the village of Birkat Al Mouz, where we walk through lush date plantations. It’s then onto a 22mi (36km) stretch of winding road that takes us to Jebel Al Akhdar, where we can enjoy the cool climate 6,560ft (2,000m) above sea level.

Reaching Al Ain, we embark on a walk through mountain villages for a chance to see traditional life and dramatic views over peaks, gorges and wadis. Come in March or April and you’ll likely see roses in full bloom; the villagers even make rose water in their homes.

Accommodation:Sama Jabal Akhdar (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Our desert adventure begins today as we drive (four hours in total) to the golden dunes of the Wahiba Sands, also known as the Sharqiya Sands. En route, we visit the desert oasis of Wadi Bani Khalid.

Arriving at our Wahiba Sands resort, we visit a Bedouin house to spend time with the hosts and learn about their customs and traditional lifestyle. We also explore the dunes on a one-hour 4×4 ride, before enjoying our first night in the Omani desert – an unforgettable adventure.

Accommodation:Arabian Nights Resort (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Embark on a four-hour drive across the desert after breakfast, riding the sand waves. Upon reaching Qahid, we continue to Shannah, a route that follows the Arabian Sea on one side and desert dunes on the other.

After lunch, we continue to Bar Al Hikman, a birder’s paradise with thousands of small shore birds and often flamingos. We then proceed to Filin, a desalination plant, before finishing in the fishing village of Khaluf, where, if we’re lucky, we can spot dolphins out to sea. Tonight, we camp right on the beach.

Accommodation:Wild beach camp in Khaluf
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Leaving Khaluf, we depart for Duqm, a port city that has grown rapidly from a fishing village. En route, we visit Wadi Shuram to see the oldest rocks in Oman, pass through a small palm tree oasis and climb a hill for 15 minutes to enjoy a stretching view over the wild desert.

We reach our Duqm hotel mid-afternoon, but not before a stop at the Rock Garden, an intriguing collection of boulders cast into unique shapes by nature.

Accommodation:Season Inn Hotel Duqm (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Today we drive (one hour) to Ras Madrakhah, a beach of white sands, dark rocks and blue ocean. We then transfer (two hours) to Qahal, where algae turns the lagoons pink.

Finally, we head into Wadi Shuwaymiyah (2hr 30min), one the most spectacular valleys in Oman and home to hyenas, camels, ibex and gazelles. Here, we enjoy a night of wild camping.

Accommodation:Wild camping in Wadi Shuwaymiyah
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we continue our journey (five hours) to the Empty Quarter, the largest sand desert in the world, covering parts of Oman, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Yemen.

Our route takes us up the mountains to Marmul, an oil region, before heading west to Thumrait. We then drive north to Ubar, which we visit tomorrow, before arriving at our wild campsite in the Empty Quarter.

Accommodation:Camping in the Empty Quarter
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we drive (1hr 30min) to explore the ruins of Ubar. Labelled in classical works as the Atlantis of the Sands, a city lost to the desert, Ubar was a major trading hub for frankincense more than 5,000 years ago, connecting Oman with Mesopotamia, Rome and India.

Next, we have a dune-driving experience (20 minutes) before transferring (2hr 30min) to Salalah. In the evening, you might like to join a city tour, visiting the souq and beach.

Accommodation:Intercity Salalah (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

The adventure ends today, and we begin our return journeys home. If you’d like a little more adventure, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

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Accommodation

Hotels and wild camping

We aim to secure locally owned accommodation that is well located, offers good value for money, and plenty of comfort. To help you find your ideal adventure, each trip is given a Comfort Level rating, which indicates the overall standard of accommodation. For more on our ratings, see our Comfort Level guidelines.

Accommodation: The itinerary indicates the typical accommodation used on each day; however, these may need to be changed for alternative accommodation of a similar standard.

Camping: There are three nights of wild camping, a fantastic way to experience the desert with the opportunity to watch the sun go down over the dunes. We use small igloo-style tents with mattresses and sleeping bags provided. There are no toilet or wash facilities. The three camping nights are broken up with a night in the hotel after the first night.

Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we room solo passengers together. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement. Speak to your sales representative to book.

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.

Essential Information

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

Itinerary: This is a busy itinerary visiting remote mountains, deserts and wadis (valleys). Although this is a cultural trip, some days can be long and tiring and there is some walking involved so reasonable fitness levels are required.

Climate: Oman is hot during the day, so take care to drink lots of water.

Travel: We mostly travel by 4×4, which allows us to access the more remote parts of Oman, including steep mountain roads, desert dunes and more.

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: You should arrive by mid-morning in time for the tour of Muscat
Airport: Muscat Airport (MCT)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately 20 minutes’ drive from the airport. We provide one group arrival transfer from the airport. 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. Please speak to your sales representative for the time and to book your seat. 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.

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.

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 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

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Geoffrey Norman

Added January 2026

Oman Odyssey

We really enjoyed the dramatic contrast in Oman's geography, which almost seemed to change at every corner, from its rugged limestone peaks, rocky canyons and refreshing wadis, extensive sand dunes through to the sub-tropical coastal plains.

Most Inspirational Moment

Sunset over the golden dunes near to the Arabian Nights Resort and star gazing in the Empty Quarter.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Qais was very experienced and extremely knowledgeable and passionate about Oman. The drivers all spoke good English, and were very friendly, helpful and caring.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It got quite cold at night (low single figures) in the mountains and on the final night of camping in the desert, so recommend cold weather clothing. The trip notes state that there are no washing or toilet facilities whilst camping, but on the first two nights a toilet tent with sit chemical toilet was provided. On the last night, in the Empty Quarter, there were showers (cold!) and a toilet block. Food throughout the trip was tasty, and portions were large, and cheap. We often shared meals between two people, with a meal costing under 3OMR.

Kevin Nicholas

Added January 2026

Oman Desert Odyssey

Our trip to Oman was unforgettable. With no preconceived expectations, we were amazed by its dramatic mountains, deep canyons, lush wadis, vast deserts, and beautiful coastline. It’s a remarkably safe country, and most people speak enough English to make travelling easy. We had a few memorable moments, including our tent collapsing at both the beach and the wadi camps due to strong winds. We also witnessed a blue‑green algae bloom that created glowing phosphorescence in the sea, though it sadly left thousands of dead fish along the shore — not the best beach for swimming. Driving through the desert and exploring the dunes was a highlight, and our desert hotel felt especially luxurious after a night of beach camping. Overall, experiencing Oman’s diversity and natural beauty was truly special.

Most Inspirational Moment

The endless deserts and wide, dry plains were breathtaking, as were the stunning mosques — especially the one in Muscat.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was knowledgeable, though at times seemed a little tired and less enthusiastic than some of our previous leaders. The 4x4 drivers, however, were very engaging and happily answered most of our questions along the way.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It gets very cold in the mountains, and the mountain hotel isn’t really set up for winter as it’s mainly a summer property. The desert can also drop below freezing at night, so follow Exodus’ advice and pack warm clothing. I took a duvet coat and even slept in it while camping. Expect the unexpected — the unpredictability of both the trip and the country is part of what makes it so enjoyable.

Lucy Crabb

Added January 2026

A trip with such variation in environment; deserts, mountains, beaches, wadis...

I was lucky enough to join this trip as an Exodus staff member, and enjoyed very minute! There were areas where other tourists were few and far between, and whilst I was prepared for beautiful deserts, the mountains were stunning. We were able to eat amazing meals for less than £2, and camping under the stars was unreal.