4 days Eastern & Western Al Hajar Mountains

Day 1: Muscat – Bimmah Sinkhole – Wadi Shab or Wadi Tiwi – Sur City – Stay at Wahiba Sands
Day 2: Wahiba Sands – Wadi Bani Khalid – Stay at Nizwa
Day 3: Nizwa – Jibreen Castle - Bahla - Misfat Al Abriyeen - Jabal Shams - Nizwa
Day 4: Nizwa – Birkat Al Mouz – Al Jabal Al Akhdar - Muscat

The tour starts from your hotel in Muscat by driving on the coastal highway for 1.5hrs towards Bimmah Sinkhole, which is the first stop. Bimmah Sinkhole: A local myth says that a star fell from the sky and struck this crater. Geologists confirm that it is formed by a collapse of the surface layer due to the dissolution of underlying limestone. The sparkling lake is about 20 meters deep and offers pleasant cooling. You can swim in this lake. Expected time to spend = 30min
Wadi Shab is next (25min from Sinkhole). The trek starts with a short boat ride between the wadi edges, and from there you will walk for around 40min along the canyon until you reach the waterfall. From there, you have to swim until you reach the waterfall through a small slot in a cave. The driver will accompany you all the way to the pools. Bring sunscreen and water shoes. A waterproof bag will be provided. Expected time to spend = 3hrs.
Sur City (45min from Wadi Shab) - home to the Dhow shipyards. Sur is a friendly fishing town, which was once Oman's main trade center with East Africa because of the Dhow shipyards. Dhows are still being built in Sur. In Sur, you will visit the fishing port, drive along the coast, and stop at the shipyard. Visit the lighthouse and walk around the old part. Expected time to spend = 1.5hr including a lunch break.
After that, drive 1hr45min towards Wahiba Sands to experience the thrill of the huge sand dunes. 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 head 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, you will head towards Wadi Bani Khalid for a 50min drive. 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 3hrs towards Nizwa, including a lunch break. Stay at a hotel in Nizwa.
Start the 3rd day with a 40min drive to attend 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 1hr. On the way to Jabal Shams, stop for a photo at the ancient UNESCO Bahla Fort. Jebel Shams: Literally translated: Mountain of the Sun. It is the highest mountain in the Arabian Peninsula, and its peak is just over 3000 meters above sea level. The 1hr drive to the top is adventurous; you pass the old village of Ghul with its green terraced fields. A few kilometers further, you reach the Omani Grand Canyon. 30min stop. Then drive back towards Al Hamra town for lunch. Misfaat AlAbreen is the last stop of the day, which is one of the best villages to see in action. 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.
Spend the night at Nizwa.
Start the last day 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.
Next is Birkat Al Mouz ruins, which is a 30-minute drive from Nizwa to witness the old settlements surrounded by oasis and watered by aqueducts. Expected to spend 45mn.
Al Jabal Al Akhder is a 40min drive from Birkat Al Mouz, known for its spectacular mountain views, plantations, and climate. Up in the mountains, you will visit the plateau to watch the terraced views, stop at old villages, and end at Wadi Bani Habib walk. Expected to spend 2.5hrs, including a lunch break. Return to Muscat for about a 2.5hr drive.
End of the trip.