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Louisa and Amy are here to help give you the inside track.
Enjoy an Arabian adventure around Oman on this ten-day itinerary, staying in some of the world's finest hotels while exploring the capital city of Muscat, camping among the towering sand dunes of the Wahiba Sands, hiking the dramatic Hajar Mountain range and diving around the Daymaniyat Islands.
Itinerary at a Glance:
- Immerse yourself in Omani culture in Muscat, taking a private tour around the city, exploring the souqs and finishing with an Arabian cookery lesson at your hotel
- Sandboard down towering sand dunes whilst camping in the dunes of the Wahiba Sands
- Hike and cycle around the rugged Al Hajar mountain range
- Dive the marine life rich seas surrounding the Daymaniyat Islands, home to Oman's best diving
When To Travel
Leave London on your overnight direct flight to Muscat. The flight takes roughly seven-and-a-half hours so make sure the children's iPads are fully charged and loaded with their favourite films.
Your international flight lands in Muscat in the morning. Once you have cleared customs, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. Depending on which family-friendly hotel you're staying in, the journey should take between 15 and 50 minutes.
Once you've checked in to your hotel, spend the day exploring the hotel grounds, lounging in the pool or sea, unwinding with a relaxing spa treatment or sunbathing on the beach.
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Accommodation Options
Spend the next few days alternating between relaxing at the hotel and exploring Muscat. A cultural hub, Muscat is home to a wealth of architecturally spectacular mosques, vibrant souqs and a charming port.
Children and adults alike will love haggling for hidden treasures in the souqs, from traditional khanjars (Omani daggers - maybe just the grown-ups) and mountains of frankincense to Arabian jewellery. Back at the hotel, immerse yourselves in Omani culture with a family cooking lesson. Your family-friendly Muscat hotel will also feature a kid's club, so drop off the children to enjoy a traditional arts and crafts workshop whilst you relax on the beach.
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Accommodation Options
This morning, the family will head off for a private guided 4x4 adventure, spending the night in the desert under the stars in a Bedouin-style tent.
The journey is as much a part of the adventure as your destination, and you can stop for a quick dip in a collapsed sinkhole, walk through wadis, visit traditional villages, see Omani forts and dune bash in the dunes before reaching the desert camp in time for sunset. Enjoy dinner by a crackling fire before stargazing in the total absence of light pollution.
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After watching the sunrise from the top of a towering dune, try sandboarding, take to the dunes by 4x4 or visit a local Bedouin village before departing for the spectacular Al Hajar Mountains, where you will be spending the next couple of days.
For active families, hiking and cycling are some of the best ways to visit the local villages and forts, while private tours can also be arranged, including to Nizwa, an ancient city characterised by leafy palm trees, an impressive fort and historic sites that give an insight into the former capital's rich culture and heritage. Finish days tucking into delicious Omani cuisine back at the hotel while overlooking the rugged landscapes.
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Additional Activities
- Visit the 400-year-old town of Al Hamra and wander around some of the best preserved ancient houses of Oman.
- Take a leisurely walk, picnic in hand, to Wadi an Nakhur - climb to the summit and you'll be rewarded with views of Oman's own 'Grand Canyon'.
Today, after an early breakfast, you will head back to Muscat to embark upon your own private catamaran charter for the next part of your adventure. The 44-foot catamaran features four spacious cabins as well as a wealth of amenities to keep everyone happy, including paddle boards as well as fishing and snorkelling equipment. There's even a RIB inflatable dinghy for shore expeditions.
Once you have settled into your cabins you will set sail along Muscat's coastline with its historical forts, the Sultan's Palace and the port, reaching the Daymaniyat Islands a few hours later. Oman's only marine National Nature Reserve, the Daymaniyat Islands are a group of nine uninhabited islands located 12 miles off the Batinah Coast. Spend the afternoon snorkelling around the islands before dining on fresh seafood on deck.
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After a relaxing breakfast on board, it's time to dive. There are 15 dive sites dotted around the islands and suited to all levels of divers.
Plankton-rich waters mean that the visibility won't be superb, however the sheer abundance of marine life more than compensates - ranging from turtles and dolphins to moray eels and nudibranch. Whale sharks are even known to pass through the area. Spend the afternoon visiting the islands' deserted beaches or back beneath the waves.
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Whether you are in the mood to relax on board or would rather dive, snorkel or fish is up to you. After lunch you will continue your trip on to Bandar Khayran, a labyrinth of islands, beaches, mountains, bays and natural channels. You will stay overnight in Bandar Khayran and have the option of a dive or snorkel tour at night.
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Depending on what time your flight home is, you may have a relaxing morning or early start to sail back to Muscat marina, from where you will be privately transferred to the airport in plenty of time for your flight home. The direct flight to London will take roughly eight hours.
A Rough Idea of Price
This Itinerary
If you would like to book the exact itinerary mentioned above, with economy flights, during mid-season and staying in our preferred room category at our preferred hotels.
From
£4,440pp
Bare Necessities
If you would like to pare back the above itinerary by travelling at non-peak times, staying in a standard room and removing some or all of the guided activities.
From
£3,775pp
Bells & Whistles
If you are looking for something extra special and would like to add business or first class flights, stay in top room categories at some of the most luxurious hotels we work with, and add more activities and guiding.
From
£5,330pp
The Detail
We rarely boast about our service but we believe it's what sets us apart and makes us truly original, so please forgive this moment of unabashed self-promotion.
Louisa and Amy are our experts for this itinerary and as seasoned travellers they have the inside track on the most memorable adventures.
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