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Best time
Oct-Apr
Price
From £ 2,950 pp
Ideal length
10 days
Flight time
7hrs
Currency
Omani rial
Language
Arabic
For many, Lawrence of Arabia represents a golden age of intrepid travel that’s long been lost. But you’ll follow in the sandy footsteps of Lawrence and live the explorer’s dream in Oman, his former stomping ground. This Oman itinerary over ten days will have you truly compelled by the country’s mystical Middle Eastern magic.
Uncover the beauty of this exotic off-the-beaten-track destination, starting your journey among the opulence of Al Bustan Palace, a luxury hotel in Muscat. Take a deep dive into Omani culture right from the off as you wander the huge Sultan Qaboos Mosque, one of the largest in the world, and awaken your senses as you stroll through an Omani souk and browse an incredible array of goods, infused by the distinct aromas of incense and spices. See the decadent Al Alam Palace before being truly immersed in Middle Eastern culture and practices, getting involved in Omani life by trying your hand at traditional crafts and some homely cooking. You’ll also be drawn to the sweet-smelling Amouage factory – one of Muscat’s lesser-celebrated sights – before leaving the city for the mountains, pit-stopping at Jabreen Castle en route.
It won’t be long before Oman’s epic Al Hajar Mountains are in sight. This is a region famed for its rugged beauty, terraced fruit orchards and tiny mountain villages and you’ll spend the next couple of days on this adventure holiday in Oman visiting a local village and hiking through farmland and wadis. Your nights will be spent at Alila Jabal Akhdar, a luxury resort that blends harmoniously with its rocky environment thanks to its use of stone and wood.
Next on this Oman itinerary, you’ll leapfrog to two of its most spectacular sandscapes. First, feel as if you’re Lawrence of Arabia himself with a night in the desert at Thousand Nights Camp, where you can bed down like a Bedouin under a starry sky at night and head out on camel safaris and dune bashing excursions by day. Finish your Omani adventure on its east coast with a night at the Ras Al Jinz Scientific Centre. Here, you’ll have an experience you’re never likely to forget, with the centre providing a safe refuge for nesting green turtles; once darkness falls, you’ll -have an unparalleled glimpse of them making their way up the sand to nest. Enjoy one final night in Muscat on your luxury Oman tour and leave feeling like you’ve lived in Lawrence of Arabia’s sandals for ten days.
Experience highlights
- Experience the vibrant bustle of a traditional Oman market at Muttrah Souk, where you’ll wander through passages lined with a tantalising array of delectable treats alongside delicate trinkets and fresh spices.
- Admire the unrivalled architectural character of the Royal Opera House, Oman’s premier destination for music, arts, and culture. Boasting a pristine exterior and a sophisticated feel, you’ll be granted a backstage pass to witness this world-leading institution from a unique perspective, enjoying a coffee with its curator.
- Lunch with the ladies of Sidab, a group of local women – housewives, mothers, and daughters – who share a passion for traditional Omani crafts and techniques, from home cooking to sewing and intricate henna creations.
- Enjoy a coffee with the curator of the Bait Adam Museum to gain an interesting insight into the museum’s quirky collection of currency, paintings, photographs and more.
- Set sail on a relaxed dhow cruise, where you’ll ride a traditional wooden fisherman’s boat to witness the Muscat coast through the eyes of ancient seafarers who plied the same route for centuries.
- Delight in the thrill of dune bashing across the desolate desert of Wahiba Sands to experience a feeling of complete freedom.
- Spend a morning exploring historic Nizwa, where you can wander its ancient souk and marvel at its iconic round tower fort.
- Visit Ras al Jinz Scientific Centre, a sanctuary for green turtles, where you’ll walk to the beach at night with trained guides to watch the turtles coming into nest on the sands.
- Revel in the remarkable sights of the Bimah Sinkhole, a spectacular natural pool created from a giant limestone crater with clear blue green water at the bottom – truly a sight to behold.
Experience highlights
Step inside Al Bustan Palace and be wowed by its cathedral-like lobby
Enjoy a guided visit of the huge Sultan Qaboos Mosque
Peruse the local wares on sale at the bustling Muttrah Souk
Pause for a glimpse of the Al Alam Palace, the Sultan's official residency
Tuck into a local lunch with the ladies of Sidab
Get a behind-the-scenes tour of the Royal Opera House with its curator
See how Amouage's exclusive perfumes are made with a tour of its factory
Relax on a twilight cruise along the coast of Muscat
Revel in the sandstone glory of Jabreen Castle
Perched over a yawning canyon with misty eyed views, you'll stay at Alila Jabal Akhdar
Visit two villages hiding among the mountains, Al Ayn and Wadi Bani Habib
You can also go hiking among the craggy limestone beauty of the Saiq Plateau
Wander the time-honoured souk of Nizwa, which has been used for centuries
Feel like a Bedouin for the night at Thousand Nights Camp
Enjoy the sunset casting its fiery glow over Wahiba Sands
Have a coffee with a local Bedouin family while you're in the desert
Take in the oasis-like splendour of Wadi Bani Khalid
Spend the night at a turtle sanctuary, the Ras Al Jinz Scientific Centre
Witness turtles crawling up the sands to lay their eggs on the beach
Spy the blue-green waters of Bimmah Sinkhole
Spend another night on Al Bustan Palace's golden beach before your flight home
Request your tailor-made itinerary to Oman
Where you’ll stay
Al Bustan Palace, Muscat
First built for Sultan Qaboos in the 1980s to welcome esteemed dignitaries, the Al Bustan Palace hasn’t stopped extending a royal welcome to all its guests ever since. When it comes to first impressions, the resort will knock your socks off with its marble-coated lobby which, at thirty eight metres high, is the tallest atrium in Oman. The royal theme continues with the mahogany, teal and silver-decorated rooms, afternoon tea and the 24-carat gold facials offered in its Six Senses Spa. There’s even a floor exclusively reserved for the Sultan – exactly how a palace should be.
Alila Jabal Akhdar, Jebel Akhdar
At Alila Jabal Akhdar, you don’t just stay in the mountains but feel like you’re a part of them. This is partly owing to the resort’s stone-and-wood design but also thanks to its epic position overlooking a rugged ravine. It’s hard not to relax in the cool mountain air up here but Alila also has a raft of experiences to unlock the surrounding Al Hajar Mountains, from walks among the dawn-lit mountains with your own Omani guide to learning how rosewater is made.
Thousand Nights Camp, Wahiba Sands
Embrace your inner Bedouin at Thousand Nights Camp, pitched among the ochre-tinged dunes of Wahiba Sands. Modelled on a nomadic camp, its traditional wool-lined tents and wandering camels make you feel as if you’ve stepped back in time to the Arabia of old, while guided desert treks make you feel like T. E. Lawrence. Become completely immersed in the magical ambience of the Omani desert, where silence, rippling sands and starry night skies are guaranteed on this authentic Bedouin escape.
Ras Al Jinz Scientific Centre, Ras Al Jinz
The tent-like accommodation is both comfy and stylish, but at the Ras Al Jinz Scientific Centre it’s unlikely you’ll spend much time in your room. That’s because it’s not often you get to stay somewhere that’s like a turtle sanctuary. Dedicated to the preservation of green turtles, this eco-tourism project offers guests the incredible opportunity to witness turtles nesting in their natural environment with after-dark excursions, while expert guides add a fascinating commentary to this phenomenon.
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