ARRIVAL TO MUSCAT | DAY 1 Accommodation: Hotel in Muscat
MUSCAT | DAY 2 Accommodation: wild camp | Meals: hotel breakfast, lunch and BBQ dinner.
Let the adventure begin! After breakfast, we meet for a group briefing around 08:00 and start the adventure. Today is about exploring Muscat. Our first stop is the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, an Islamic cultural centre of the country. Enjoy majestic architecture of the place and take the opportunity to understand more about Islam. The mosque is typically Omani in style, understated but elegant. Building commenced in 1995 and inside a massive 154-metre chandelier hangs over the world's second largest hand-woven carpet. Photography is permitted. Ladies are required to cover, make sure your arms and ankles are covered and bring an opaque scarf to cover your hair. Lunch. After lunch, we head to the heart of Old Muscat and take a trek an easy 1-2 hour trek that takes you to the mountains of Muttrah. As we hike up, make sure to look back for a breathtaking view of the Muscat bay with its old fort and a Frankincense tower. We then descend into a small wadi below and make our way down to Mutrah on the other side, finishing next to an ancient fort and Muttrah Souq, a local market. A short walk along the cornice and we are back to the cars. We then drive 1 hour to our camp at Halban for a night under the stars.
BILAD SAYT TREK | DAY 3 Accommodation: wild camp | Meals: breakfast, lunch and BBQ dinner. | Active time: 6 hours
Wake up to the sounds of nature and a stunning view of the mountain ridge in front of us. We enjoy a leisurely breakfast, pack up the camp and start our scenic 4x4 journey through Wadi Bani Auf. The trek starts from the hidden gem of the town Bilad Sayt heading up a 1000m ridge that overlooks Wadi Bani Awf and Al Hamra on the other side. This walk is a fantastic challenge and is well worth the effort for those looking to push themselves and will take us about 6 hours. Learn about a unique irrigation system, "falaj", and explore the terraced farms as we walk through the narrow streets of the village before taking one of the donkey trails that will lead us up. The route is steep and open in places giving an airy and exposed feeling as you look back onto the Wadi stretched far below. The reward for your effort is a perfect campsite with the views all the way across the valley with the light of the village below twinkling in the night. Enjoy our delicious BBQ, explore constellations, or just enjoy the fresh wind and a dark starry sky above.
MISFAT & JEBEL SHAMS | DAY 4 Accommodation: wild camp | Meals: breakfast, lunch and BBQ dinner. | Active time: 2+4 hours
Wake up with sunrise, enjoy our breakfast with the view and get ready for a mixed day of trekking and cultural visits. Today will take us all the way down to Misfat Al Abryeen. This ‘Mountain Oasis’ has it all, agricultural terraces and gardens, traditional mud houses built on solid rock and ancient Falaj systems. As you walk through the old alleys, you gain first-hand experience of the villagers’ lifestyle and explore the date plantations. We play around at the village, enjoy the views and explore the farmed terraces. We then take a 45-minute journey to Jebel Shams, the highest mountain in Oman. We enjoy our lunch up on the plateau and set to conquer Oman's Grand Canyon, as we hike one of the most stunning and famous trails in the country, the Balcony walk. We follow what used to be a donkey trail along the mountain edge to an abandoned village. Enjoy the breathtaking views of the canyon with Nakhr village more than a kilometre below us. The route is exposed in places, just enough to get your adrenaline going. Explore the maze of ancient houses, the mosque and fort remains at the village. Just beyond the settlement, there is traditional farm terracing and a small lake that feeds the area. A slight descent we enjoyed on our way to the village gets us working harder as we go back. Enjoy more spectacular views and sun-lit coves of the canyon. This adventure will take us about 4 hours in total. We then head to the campsite for a relaxing evening.
NIZWA & JABAL AKHDAR | DAY 5 Accommodation: wild camp | Meals: breakfast, lunch and BBQ dinner. | Active time: 1+3 hours
This morning we wake up at sunrise, enjoy breakfast and head down the mountain to Nizwa, the old capital. We will visit the old traditional souq where the local artisans sell food, typical sweets like Dates and Halwa and handicrafts. Nizwa is famous for its Silver crafts and Bahla a nearby town for its pottery. We visit the fort that now serves as a museum. Learn about Oman's history and culture as we go on a quest through the fort’s narrow galleries and multiple chambers. Once we have explored enough, we have lunch at a local restaurant and take a scenic journey to Jebel Akhdar. Before settling into the camp, we continue our cultural discovery. Today’s easy yet spectacular trek will take us through the cliff-hugging terraced farms, rose gardens and ancient falaj systems. The path takes us through the villages of Al Ayn (rose garden), Ash Shirayjah, and Sayq and offers magnificent views over canyon below. A great way to spend the afternoon enjoying outdoors and breathtaking views of the mountain. We then settle down for a relaxing night under the stars.
JABAL AKHDAR | DAY 6 Accommodation: hotel | Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. | Active time: 5 hours
Get ready for solid 4-5 hours walking today. After breakfast, we start the trek to Macqul. This route starts from our camp and winds down past the Village of Jarira and the rim of Quisha Canyon. This hike offers dramatic scenery, the rustic feel of the old abandoned villages hidden in the waids, alpine-like flora and fauna, local wildlife and unique rock formations. We enjoy a picnic lunch on route, stopping at some of the most scenic spots. This trek is also a great way to learn the history of the mountain and how the climate, lifestyle and wars have affected the local settlements. Once we reach Macqul, we meet the cars and start our journey back to Muscat. It takes around 2.5 hours to reach the capital.
FISHERMAN’S TRAIL | DAY 7-8 Accommodation: wild camp + hotel | Meals: breakfast, 2 lunches and BBQ dinner. | Active time: 7+4 hours
We leave our hotel after breakfast and make a 1-hour transfer to the fisherman's village Sifa, the start of our twoday coastal adventure. It is a stunning walk with some of the best swimming spots and the chance to see Gazelle and the elusive Arabian Tahr. This is a long and hot walk for the keen adventurer amongst you. The hike is split over two days with camping nigh on a secluded beach only accessible by boat or foot. There are only a few short and steep ascents and descents, however, the heat of the day and the humidity of walking by the sea can take its toll. Don’t let that put you off though as it is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the rugged coast of Oman. The first day will finish at Ras Abu Daud beach where we enjoy a night under the stars and fantastic swimming. Rising with the sun, we have a relaxed breakfast, swim and snorkel in the turquoise water of the Arabian sea before making tracks along the beach and up over the hills for the next part of our walk that will lead us into Quriyat, where the cars will be ready to transfer us back to Muscat.
DHOW CRUISE | DAY 9 Meals: breakfast and lunch.
This morning after breakfast, we jump onto a traditional Dhow, Omani wooden boat, and head to explore Oman's coast from another point of view. We head down the coast to Bandar Al Khairan and the enclosed bays to snorkel and relax. Buffet lunch will be served on board. Head back to Muscat in the afternoon to freshen up before those who are catching their flight go to the airport.
PRICING WHAT IS INCLUDED
WHAT TO BRING
Internationally Certified Instructors for the full duration of the adventure. Top of the range adventure and safety equipment for the adventures as per the itinerary Transport. All inclusive camping 8 nights. Hotel accommodation: 1 night. Catering as per the itinerary. Water and soft drinks. Closed-toe shoes, such as trainers or lightweight boots, are a must. You need something with good ankle support. Remember everyone must dress respectfully. Shoulders and knees must be covered. A change of clothes is required. Backpack. Waterproof camera. Hat, sunscreen and sunglasses are highly recommended.