Classic Oman (9 days)

Your classic Oman journey begins in the capital, Muscat. Upon arrival, you will be met off the plane and escorted through the airport with expedited service at immigration. A private car will transfer you to your luxury hotel. Check in, unwind, and relax for the rest of the day. Do as the locals do and avoid the midday heat by staying indoor. If your hotel is situated seaside, enjoy a swim in the cool waters. Wrap up your first day in this laidback country by trying its under-appreciated cuisine, a cultural transfusion of Persian, north African, India, and Arab influences.

Today is all about Muscat, a picturesque port city spread along the Gulf of Oman. Lacking the futuristic skyscrapers and mega malls of its flashier neighbors, Muscat is a slice of rustic peace, boasting scenes of palm trees, mountains, and sea and modestly dressed locals in traditional clothing. Pay attention to the array of architecture styles you will see today, including Arab, Portuguese, Persian, Indian, African, and modern Western influences. Admire the Grand Mosque, built with sandstone and marble. Drive through the Ministry quarter, with stops at the Opera House and the Sultan's palace, before heading out to the city to see the old Portuguese forts. At Bait Al Zubair Museum, see a fine collection of traditional costumes, antique jewelry, and weapons. Finally, in the late afternoon, stroll Muttra Souq, an old market of narrow, perfume-laden alleyways packed with shops selling frankincense, stained-glass lamps, Bedu jewelry, and other exotic paraphanelia.

After breakfast, leave the city - and roads - behind as you traverse the rugged landscape off-track in a 4x4. First, head to Wadi Al Arbeieen, one of Oman's most beautiful wadis. Make your way between the deep canyon walls to an oasis of clear blue-green pools and running river. Here, enjoy a picnic lunch. Visit the nearby Wadi Tiwi which is famed for its old traditional villages surrounded by lush plantations of dates and bananas. Then, make your way to the coastal city of Sur where you will visit a dhow factory to see the construction of these Omani wooden boats, as well as the lighthouse. The final stretch for today takes you to Wahiba Sands, a desert landscape of dunes that stretch over 125 miles and has been home to the Bedouin nomads for thousands of years. Watch a desert sunset from the top of a high dune before arriving at your desert camp resort.

Early risers can enjoy the spectacular sunrise over the deep red sands of Wahiba. Fill up with a campside breakfast before heading out to Wadi Bani Khalid, a site comprising a tiny collection of small houses embedded in the mountains and overlooking a deep valley with azure waters nested below. Take a refreshing dip in the cool, clear waters. Return to your desert camp and enjoy the rest of the day as you wish. Activities arranged by the hotel may include camel riding, ATVs, village visits, and more.

After breakfast at the camp, check out. First, visit the ruins of Al Manzifat village where you can stroll through the narrow alleys ingeniously designed to protect it against raids and tribal wars. Make a stop at the ancient city ruins of Birkat Al Maouz where you can take a walk back in time. Observe the active falaj, an ancient irrigation channel, and enjoy the quiet of the date palms and banana plantations. Drive onward to your destination, Jabal Akhdar, a massive mountain range with dramatic peaks and canyons. There are several Omani villages on and around the mountain range. The most famous production in this area is distilled rosewater, made from a prized variety that grows on the mountain. Arrive at your mountaintop retreat and spend the rest of the day at leisure. In the evening, do not miss the opportunity to do stargazing, as Princess Diana once did in this area.

Spend your day in and around your resort as you wish. Available excursions may include hikes around the mountain terrain, discovering the nearby town of Nizwa, a lesson on the local rock formations from the in-house geologist, exploring castles and forts, and more.

It is time to come down from the mountains and make your way back to Muscat airport for a flight to Salalah in the south of Oman. Hemmed in by a mountain range, this coastal city is blessed with an annual monsoon that transforms the desert terrain into a lush, green landscape. The first stop is the Frankincense Land Museum which recounts the city's maritime trade and traditions. Then take a walk around the archaeological park next door, the primary settlement in the area during the 8th-16th centuries. Make stops at Sultan Qaboos Mosque and Al Husn Palace to admire the architecture before strolling through Haffah Souk.

On your final day, hit the road early with visits to the fishing village of Taqa, an old town with an interesting castle surrounded by watchtowers and Taqa stone houses. It’s then on to Khor Rori creek, the site of the ancient capital Arabia’s frankincense trade. An afternoon visit takes you to the tomb of a Biblical Prophet, Job, which is perched high up in the “Jebels” (mountains). The journey up is quite spectacular, and there’s plenty of opportunity to stop and admire the view before returning to Salalah City and your hotel in the evening.

After breakfast, enjoy some time at leisure, perhaps taking another stroll through the souk or along the beach. Come time, take a private transfer to the airport for your flight onward.