2 days Eastern & Western Al Hajar Mountains

Day 1: Muscat - Wadi Bani Khalid - Wahiba Sands - Stay at desert camp
Day 2: Wahiba Sands - Nizwa – Misfat Al Abreen – Bahla fort – Jibreen castle - Muscat

The tour starts from your hotel in Muscat by driving on Muscat – Sur highway for 2.5hrs towards Wadi Bani Khalid, which is the first stop. Expected time to spend is 2 hrs. Wadi Bani Khalid, an oasis in the middle of the mountains. It is one of the most beautiful wadis in Oman, and the natural pools with clear deep blue water offer you the chance to take a refreshing dip. After the wadi, drive 50min towards Bidyah town for Traditional lunch. After that, the camp driver will pick you up in his 4WD vehicle to experience the thrill of the huge sand dunes at Wahiba Sands. This fascinating mass of towering dunes (some reaching nearly 200 meters), beautifully sculpted by the wind, is a delight for nature lovers and photographers! You will be welcomed at the desert camp with dates and Arabic coffee, and you will be briefed on the available activities and timings before you head to your tent. Camel riding and dune bashing services are available at the camp for additional fees. Closer to the sunset, you should go to the top of the dunes to watch the sunset. Before dinner, you will have the chance to try Bedouin dresses, and after dinner, spend some time around the campfire before you sleep quietly in your tent.

On the second day after breakfast, the driver will bring you to the town and from there head towards Nizwa city for a 2hrs drive. Start the tour with a visit to Nizwa traditional Souq (market), where the locals trade both traditional and imported goods, from vegetables, Halwa, dates, and silver. After that, visit Nizwa fort. Group tours are operated at the fort every hour. Nizwa, the cultural capital and a wealth of ancient monuments, is one of the largest cities in Oman and the prominent 17th-century fortress in the center, built over a period of more than a decade. The fortress has a 40-meter round tower that offers fantastic views of the surrounding Hajar Mountains and the date plantations. Expected time to spend 2 hrs. Misfaat AlAbreen is next, which is a 40min drive from Nizwa. It is one of the oldest villages in this region, and it has traditional 400-year-old mud houses that are still inhabited. Narrow streets lead to a few simple guest houses amid the houses of the villagers. The villagers still practice subsistence farming, which has been the case for centuries because of the ancient technique of Falaj systems! 1 hr stop. After that, drive 30min for a photo stop at the ancient UNESCO Bahla fort. End the day with a visit to the 17th-century Jibreen castle, which is considered the best castle in Oman. An audio guide will be provided at the castle. Expected time to spend 1 hr. Return to Muscat for about a 2hrs drive. End of the trip.