A Week in Oman

• Accommodation: 1 Premium night (desert resort), 2 Superior nights (hotels), 3 Classic nights (hotels)
• Travel by air-conditioned minibus and 4×4
• Group normally 4 to 15 plus leader. Minimum age: 16

All breakfasts, four lunches and five dinners are included. Omani cuisine is influenced by Arab, Persian, Indian, Asian, Eastern Mediterranean and African cuisine. Rice is a staple and often includes a variety of flavours and ingredients, while fish and meat, such as chicken and lamb, feature prominently. Dishes are full of rich mixtures of spices, herbs and marinades. Dates are much loved and are an essential part of the Omani diet. Curry, soups, fresh salads and vegetable dishes are all very common. Coffee is the national beverage but tea is also drunk. Yoghurt drinks and soft drinks are also popular. Alcohol is not readily available but can be purchased in some hotels and likely to be quite expensive. During the tour, you have the opportunity to taste and experience a variety of dishes and eat in local restaurants. Included lunches will be picnic lunches and other meals will be eaten in cafes/eateries. The night spent at the desert camp includes a barbecue with traditional dishes. Non-Muslims are permitted to bring in two litres of alcohol by air only. Alcohol may be purchased at Muscat airport after having cleared immigration. Care must be taken not to cause offence through the use of alcohol and should not be consumed in public places apart from licensed premises, such as hotels and restaurants. It is generally not a problem to bring your own alcohol into hotels but please always ask the hotel first out of courtesy. Please advise at time of booking if you have any dietary requirements.

Temperatures and humidity are high throughout the year on the coast. May to September is the hottest season, so we avoid scheduling trips at this time. Temperatures rise even higher inland, but here humidity is lower so higher temperatures are more tolerable and nights are cooler. In spring and autumn, expect sunny weather throughout with warm to hot days (around 35C/95F) and pleasant night temperatures. There is little chance of any rain except from December to February. February will be cooler. In December, days are warm (20C-25C/68F-77F).

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.  

This is a busy itinerary that visits the main highlights of Oman with a focus on providing a real taste of all this country offers. We travel by private air-conditioned minibus and 4×4 throughout. Although this is a cultural trip, some days can be long and tiring and there is some walking involved so a reasonable level of fitness is required. The people of Oman offer a very warm welcome to tourists. Oman is hot during the day, so care should be taken to drink lots of water. On Day 6, when departing Nizwa to Wadi Bani Auf, the stretch of graded road is very adventurous as it involves steep bends and bumpy roads which may not be suitable for vertigo sufferers.

Ramadan is expected to run from approximately 10 March-10 April 2024 and 28 February-29 March 2025. One of the most important periods in the Islamic calendar, it is a special time to visit a Muslim country. Each evening, the streets empty as people head home to break the fast, followed by an air of festivity upon their return. Our leaders and drivers choose to work at this time so we continue to run trips; however, their energy levels may be slightly lower than normal. Many tourist sites, restaurants and shops will have an amended schedule, but your tour leader will know how to adapt the itinerary to still experience all the inclusions on this trip and maximise your experience during this special time.