Tour Highlights
The Sultanate of Oman has one of the oldest civilizations in the Arabian Peninsula, dating back thousands of years with notable periods of greatness in the ancient world and in medieval times.
Like other great civilizations, Oman faded from prominence - until the recent resurgence under the wise and able leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said. All along, the country was active in many ways and has an interesting history that is still relevant today and has left many tangible traces in prominent landmarks and a highly developed culture.
Alchohal
Non-Muslims
are permitted to bring in two litres of alcohol by air only. Care must
be taken not to cause offence through the use of alcohol. In particular,
alcohol should not be consumed in public places apart from licensed
premises, such as hotels & restaurants. It is illegal to carry
liquor in your car. In addition, the police take a serious view of
traffic offences in which alcohol is involved and fines may be imposed.
Currency
The
unit of currency is Omani Rial (RO 1 = US$ 2.63), which is divided into
1000 Baizas. Notes are available in denominations of RO 50, 20, 10, 5,
1, 1/2 Rial, 250, 200 and 100 Baizas. Coins are also in use for units
under one (1) Rial.
Dress
Oman is a Muslim country and it
is important that, as guests of the country, everyone should respect the
local customs. It is recommended that women not wear strappy
sundresses, miniskirts, shorts or low necked dresses in public places
(e.g. offices, souks, town and shopping areas). The most suitable wear
in public is shoulders covered and below knee length skirts with a top
that is appropriately long (below the hip) is also acceptable.
Men should wear shirts and long trousers. Shorts or beachwear should not be worn except at the beach or pool area.
Electricity
Is 220-240 Volts at 50 cycles AC.
ATM Machines
Can be found at convenient locations throughout the country including the arrival hall at the Airport.
Emergency Numbers
Fire: 9999
Royal Oman Police: 24701099
Khoula Hospital: 24560455
Royal Hospital: 24599000
General
The
interior of Oman has some spectacular mountain scenery and colorful
village environs to offer the outdoor explorer. The beaches have
excellent quality sand grains. The countryside is dotted with large
forts dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. Tarmac road networks link
the remotest areas. Motels in the interior offer comfortable overnight
lodging for those desiring a base. In short, there is a great variety of
exploring possibilities both, for the day-tripper and for the overnight
camper.
We cannot, however, overemphasize the need to respect local
villagers and their customs in our sightseeing adventures. The ability
to explore freely is a privilege that must not be misused. Some
principles of etiquette are outlined below. Please follow them carefully
so that no one causes offences and we can all continue to enjoy the
impressive countryside.
Greetings
The people of Oman
offer a very warm welcome to guests. You will find that traditional Arab
greetings are still widely observed and it is good manners to exchange
greetings and handshakes when meeting Omanis. These courtesies should be
observed in commercial dealings (e.g. shopping in the souq) and on a
personal level.
Litter
Remove all your litter when leaving a picnic or campsite.
Photography
Do
not take photographs of individuals without their permission. Women in
particular, do not like being photographed. It is forbidden to take
pictures of military facilities, borders and airports. Observe ‘NO
PHOTOGRAPHY’ signs.
Time
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is plus 4 hours
VILLAGE ETIQUETTE
Drive
slowly through villages to avoid raising too much dust. Watch out for
children & animals. Be courteous to villagers - a few words of
greetings or a smile is only polite. Do not go into a home without being
invited. Remember certain areas of the village may be restricted to
women only. This must be strictly observed.
WATER/SWIMMING
The
falaj is usually a vital source of water for nearby villages. Do not
foul, block or damage falaj walls or dams. Do not swim or allow your
children to play in water immediately above a village, as it may be the
village’s drinking water. One can take the opportunity to swim at the
beaches. Driving on beaches is prohibited.
AVERAGE WEATHER
October to March the weather is cool . May through August is usually hot and humid with September & April being warm. Temperatures in the interior regions are both higher and lower than the averages reported for the coastal areas. Average monthly temperatures are roughly as follows:
Temperature (Degree Celsius): Average day time | ||||||||||||
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Mct | 25 | 27 | 30 | 33 | 39 | 41 | 39 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 30 | 26 |
Sll | 29 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 29 |
Temperature (Degree Fahrenheit): Average day time | ||||||||||||
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Mct | 77 | 81 | 86 | 91 | 106 | 107 | 106 | 99 | 97 | 95 | 86 | 79 |
Sll | 84 | 82 | 86 | 90 | 91 | 91 | 84 | 84 | 84 | 88 | 91 | 84 |
Note: Muscat gets minimum 9-10 hrs of sunshine per day throughout the year
Detailed Day Wise Itinerary
- Day 01: Arrival Musccat
Arrival Muscat International Airport. After Immigration clearance and baggage collection proceed to the arrival hall.
Meet the chauffeur in the arrival hall holding placard in guests name and proceed to the Hotel
Overnight stay at Muscat Hotel of your choice (B) - DAY 02: HALF DAY MYSTICAL MUSCAT TOUR ( 04 HOURS)
0830 Hrs: Muscat offers the visitor a unique opportunity to witness a modern commercial centre existing in harmony with its traditional culture. With its natural harbour, Muscat means “Anchorage” & lies in a natural volcanic bowl. Our tour of the Grand Mosque (except Friday) & Bait Al Zubair Museum (except Friday) is a brief introduction that traces Oman’s history and development. Drive along the waterfront Corniche visiting he colourful Muttrah Souq & Fish Market .We proceed for a photo stop to the magnificent Al Alam Palace, official palace of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos flanked by the 16th century Portugese forts Mirani & Jalali.
(Ladies fully covered and to carry a head scarf and men in trousers.
Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at Muscat Hotel of your choice (B)
- Day 03: Muscat - sur- ras al hadd
0800 Hrs. We depart by 4WD to Ras Al Junaiz via the scenic and rugged coastal route. This tour offers breath-taking glimpses of the blue waters of the Gulf of Oman offset by pristine white beaches.
We drive past the fishing village of Quriyat. There is a good chance of spotting Flamingos and Eagles at an inland stream. Visit the picturesque Wadi Arabayeen with its deep pools of water set among the date palms. We then proceed to the Bimah sinkhole, a spectacular limestone crater with blue green water at the bottom. On clear sunny days while driving along the coast one might chance to see sharks in the deep blue waters or fleet footed Gazelles sprint across the landscape.
Photo stop of the mausoleum of Bibi Miriam at Qalhat stands as testimony of a bygone era. As we continue from here the road winds through mountain terrain offering breath-taking glimpses of the blue waters of the ocean enroute.
Check into the hotel.
1930 Hrs: We proceed to the Ras Al Jinz Scientific Centre where we are escorted to the beach by trained guides to watch the turtles coming into nest on the sands. DAY 04: RAS AL HADD- WAHIBA SANDS-MUSCAT
0800 Hrs. We proceed to visit Wadi Bani Khalid. It comprises of small pretty villages embedded in the mountains. The Wadi has clear deep blue water. It is advisable to wear light comfortable clothing and walking shoes.
The Wahiba Sands, a vast mass of undulating red and white sea of sand and dunes rising up to 200 meters are also host to a variety of flora and fauna. The ever-changing patterns of the dunes are a photographer’s delight. Experience a roller coaster like feeling as our experienced drivers drive you over the dunes. The Wahiba Sands is also home to the traditional Bedouin tribe who are known for their hospitality and their knowledge of the sands. We will stop by a Bedouin family in their traditional and simple habitat. Return to Muscat at approximately 1630hrs & drop off at the Airport to catch flight back home.