Oman Desert Adventure: Wahiba Sands & Empty Quarter (Christmas Departure)
Oman Desert Adventure: Wahiba Sands & Empty Quarter (Christmas Departure)
Oman Desert Adventure: Wahiba Sands & Empty Quarter (Christmas Departure)
11 Days Starting and ending in MUSCAT
Visiting: Muscat, Al Hamra, Jabrin, Nizwa, Wahiba Sands, Al Khaluf, Duqm, Souly Lodge Empty Quarter, Bedouin, Salalah
Tour operator:
Tour code:
OMA
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 12
Age range:
1-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Please contact Wild Frontiers with any specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Private Available:
Request A Private Tour
Tour Overview
Oman is one of Arabia’s true gems - a land of rugged coastlines and vast deserts where tradition and progress go hand in hand.This wonderful adventure takes us from the heart of its picturesque capital, deep into mountains and deserts of the Bedu and the old Omani Imamate. We will take in the breathless landscapes of the Hajar Mountains and the shifting sands of Wahiba, explore the old forts of Jabrin and Nizwa and journey into the vast emptiness of the Rub Al Khali, the Empty Quarter.It is a journey of incredible contrasts, following in the footsteps of the pioneering explorers of old and taking in some of the richest natural and cultural highlights that Arabia has to offer.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Tour Starts In Muscat
Location: Muscat
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Tulip Inn Downtown Muscat or similar
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
The tour starts from Oman’s International airport. We will head straight to the magnificent mosque of Sultan Qaboos, one of the largest in the Arab world, whose grand marble halls are capable of holding some 20,000 people. After which we will go to the hotel where we will have chance to freshen up before we begin our guided tour of the city. One of Arabia’s most picturesque cities, Muscat lies within the protective embrace of a ring of horse-shoe mountains that run down into the glittering waters of Muscat Bay. We will drive along the engaging sea-front to the Al Alam Palace and the 16th century Portuguese forts of Jalali and Mirani. En route back to the hotel we will have a chance to visit Muscat’s renowned Muttrah souk, one of the best in the region.
Day 2 : Muscat – Al Hamra
Location: Al Hamra, Muscat
Accommodation: Resort
Accommodation Name: Sama Heights Resort or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we will leave in good time and head to the Seeb fish market to witness firsthand the hustle and bustle of the market traders as they barter over the “fish of the day”. Continuing out of the city in 4WDs, we will head towards the Hajar Mountains, following the Batinah coast through the foothills to the picturesque setting of Wadi Bani Awf, and a picnic lunch amongst the hills of Oman’s rugged interior. This afternoon we then head to Misfath Al Abreen, one of Oman’s best kept secrets for a walk through the beautiful oasis. Taking in the stunning scenery and walking through the falaj (irrigation) system, seeing how the village farms and manages its agricultural land. We arrive at our mountain top camp later this afternoon.
Day 3 : Drive To Nizwa Via Jabrin
Location: Jabrin, Nizwa
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Falaj Daris or simliar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast we drive down to the oasis city of Nizwa. Once the capital of the powerful Omani Imamate, Nizwa imposing 17th century fort and bustling souk provide a wealth of scenic and cultural diversions. We will also visit the impressive fort at Jabrin today, possibly the finest of Oman’s 17th century fortresses, whose exquisite painted wooden ceilings provide eloquent testimony to the skills of the fort’s original builders. Following a brief photo stop to take in the UNESCO World Heritage setting of Bahla Fort, we will then head back to Nizwa.
Day 4 : Drive To Wahiba Sands
Location: Wahiba Sands
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Wild Desert
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Departing Nizwa this morning, our desert journey takes us on towards the vast, open landscapes of the Wahiba Sands, over 10,000 square kilometres of shifting sands and towering dunes that are home to isolated settlements of semi-nomadic Bedouin. Our journey will take us via the market town of Sinaw, where we will stop to strech our legs. We will continue into the seemingly endless sea of the Wahiba, driving through an ever changing landscape of colours and contours as we make our way on to our remote desert camp.
Day 5 : : Drive Across Wahiba Sands To Khaluf
Location: Al Khaluf, Wahiba Sands
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Khaluf Wild Beach
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we will drive out across the shifting sands of Wahiba towards the coast, and the pink shell beaches and white dunes of Khaluf on Oman’s eastern coast. Far from being devoid of life, these breath-taking desert landscapes are home to a rich array of wildlife, from the remarkable dew drinking beetles that haunt the predawn desert, to foxes, gazelles and over 100 species of birds; That said, in this vast landscape they can be very difficult to spot, so we will need to keep our eyes peeled! The drive will take four to five hours and we stop for lunch along the way, arriving in Khaluf in time to set up camp late afternoon. As we settle down for another evening under an Arabian sky, our drivers will prepare a delicious al fresco dinner.
Day 6 : Drive To Duqm Via Ras Al Madrakah
Location: Duqm
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: City Duqm or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today provides an ideal opportunity to make the most of Oman’s rugged coastline. We drive south, following to coast from Khaluf to Ras al Madrakah, which provides an ample array of viewpoints and photo opportunities, as we pass through a collection of fishing villages, beaches and wadis en route to tonight’s camp. On arrival at Ras al Madrakah there will be plenty of time to have a swim before driving to our modest hotel for the evening in the small port town of Duqm.
Day 7 : Drive Into The Empty Quarter
Location: Souly Lodge Empty Quarter
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Wild Desert
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we head inland to the vast emptiness of the Rub al Khali, 250,000 square miles of waterless desert that covers much of the southern half of the Arabian Peninsula. This is the heartland of the nomadic Bedouin, made famous by Wilfred Thesiger in his book ‘Arabian Sands’.
Day 8 : Empty Quarter
Location: Bedouin
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Wild Desert
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we will continue on through the hypnotic landscape and head further south, heading towards Al Hashman, where we will pitch camp for our final night under the stars.
Day 9 : Drive To Salalah
Location: Salalah
Accommodation: Resort
Accommodation Name: Salalah Beach Resort or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The journey on to the coastal city of Salalah today takes us from the desert to the Indian Ocean by way of the barren landscapes of the Qara Mountains. We will arrive into Salalah in the early afternoon giving everyone plenty of time to have a dip in the ocean before freshening up for dinner in the souk.
Day 10 : In Salalah
Location: Salalah
Accommodation: Resort
Accommodation Name: Salalah Beach Resort or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we stop at the Frankinsence Museum before taking a short drive out of Salalah passing the coconut and banana plantations and head to Khor Rori, a coastal inlet, where we’ll find the ruins of the old ancient port of Sumhuram, a fortified city said to have been used by the Queen of Sheba. In its day the city played an important part in the Frankincense trade. From the old port we will drive up into the Dhofar Mountains and stop by the baobab trees before heading back into town. The afternoon is free until the souk opens again in the early evening where we have time to do any last minute shopping.
Day 11 : Tour Ends In Salalah
Location: Salalah
Meals Included: Breakfast
Tour ends in Salalah: The tour ends after breakfast today
Day 12: Tour Ends In Salalah
Meals Included: Breakfast
Tour ends in Salalah.
What's Included
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TRANSPORT
On this tour is predominantly in 4WDs but a minibus may be used for your tour of Muscat.
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MEALS
10 x Breakfasts, 10 x Lunches, 10 x Dinners
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GROUP SIZE
Maximum: 12
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CARBON CONTRIBUTIONS
Contributions to carbon offset & tree planting projects for all bookings
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EXPERT TEAM
The full services of a Wild Frontiers Tour Leader with local guides where appropriate
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ACCOMMODATION
All accommodation as outlined in the itinerary
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ENTRANCE FEES
All entrance fees for sights mentioned in the itinerary
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FITNESS RATING
Low
What's Not Included
We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras. As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour
ationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatoryTips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documentsInternational .Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UKAirport .Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights.Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs
Visas
Visas are necessary for many of the destinations we travel to and while we aim to provide you with the most up-to-date information, requirements frequently change and as such for the latest advice we advise that you check with the relevant embassies or contact our recommended visa agency, Travcour www.travcour.com
For this tour UK passport holders currently require a visa for Oman.
Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements.
Further details will be sent out to you on booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the client.
Key Aspects to Consider
Anyone in a reasonable state of health, with an open mind and a sense of adventure should be perfectly able to cope with this tour, as many of the activities are optional.
As the crew will be with you throughout the desert (they will be driving you), it will be all hands to the deck when you get to camp in the evenings, so it will be a team effort to put up tents etc., so all help will be gratefully received!
Also for the camping nights please note that the facilities will be “au naturel” and there will be no showers, as all the water used will have to carried in the vehicles – that said there will a small amount of water each night to be able to have a quick wash.
If you fancy a tipple, whilst on holiday, it can be quite hard to get hold of alcohol outside of the main international hotels and therefore it may be worth picking up a bottle in Duty Free of your preferred drink to have while camping in the desert.
Check out our Q&As
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What is the maximum group size?
12
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Do you require a visa for this holiday?
For this tour UK passport holders currently require a visa for Oman.
Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements. -
Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
We have a complete Covid-19 hub here: https://www.wildfrontierstravel.com/en_GB/covid-hub
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 70% of passengers on our group tours are solo adventurers. Unlike many tour operators, we don’t believe in charging solo travellers a premium, so if you are happy to share a room with a fellow traveller of the same sex, you will pay exactly the same as a couple..Occasionally you may even end up with your own room. You can travel as a single traveller on any of our holidays, from our escorte
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 2002
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Do I need to be double-vaccinated against Covid-19 to travel with you?
In most cases, yes. Not only are many destinations making double-vaccination a requirement of entry to the country and/or access to restaurants, museums etc., but additionally on all our group tours for the foreseeable future, for everyone’s peace of mind, we are asking that all clients be double vaccinated.
Reviews from travellers on this tour
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Dec 23, 2025 - Jan 02, 2026Book with Confidence
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Wild Frontiers requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.