Oman holidays, Arabian sands
| country: | Oman |
| departures: | 2009: 19 Dec 2010: 13 Feb, 27 Feb, 27 Mar, 3 Apr, 23 Oct, 30 Oct, 11 Dec, 18 Dec 2011: 5 Feb, 12 Feb, 26 Feb, 26 Mar, 2 Apr |
| price: | From £1197 - £1569 (9 days) including flights from the UK. From £755 - £830 excluding flights |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
read 1 travellers review
the amazing things you'll be doing
A stimulating adventure across a diversity of terrains and cultures in the beautiful yet little known Sultanate of Oman. From its majestic Green Mountains to the soaring dunes of the Wahiba Sands; from the oil-rich affluence of Muscat, to the timelessness of holy Nizwa, we make an unforgettable journey.
After discovering Muscat - Oman's progressive capital - we load up for a 4WD adventure along the coast. We visit the dhow-builders of Sur before immersing ourselves deep into the natural beauty of this amazing country, as we enjoy the pleasure of swimming in freshwater pools at Wadi Shab and wild camping on deserted beaches.
Journeying inland into the ethereal stillness of the Wahiba Sands - an awe-inspiring 'sea' of dunes up to 200m in height - we camp under the stars in this vast isolated wilderness, distant from modern civilisation hoping to meet bedouin families as we go.
In and around the holy city of Nizwa we gain an insight into yet another side of Oman. We discover a country where water is perhaps more precious still than oil; where hillside villages are painstakingly terraced and medieval falaj irrigation systems are still in use. A culture steeped in tradition, livestock auctions are likely to be as animated today as they were in the heyday of the nearby 17th-century Jabrin fort. Next we traverse the Akhdar ('green') Mountains for stunning views of Arabia's own Grand Canyon and return to Muscat.
After discovering Muscat - Oman's progressive capital - we load up for a 4WD adventure along the coast. We visit the dhow-builders of Sur before immersing ourselves deep into the natural beauty of this amazing country, as we enjoy the pleasure of swimming in freshwater pools at Wadi Shab and wild camping on deserted beaches.
Journeying inland into the ethereal stillness of the Wahiba Sands - an awe-inspiring 'sea' of dunes up to 200m in height - we camp under the stars in this vast isolated wilderness, distant from modern civilisation hoping to meet bedouin families as we go.
In and around the holy city of Nizwa we gain an insight into yet another side of Oman. We discover a country where water is perhaps more precious still than oil; where hillside villages are painstakingly terraced and medieval falaj irrigation systems are still in use. A culture steeped in tradition, livestock auctions are likely to be as animated today as they were in the heyday of the nearby 17th-century Jabrin fort. Next we traverse the Akhdar ('green') Mountains for stunning views of Arabia's own Grand Canyon and return to Muscat.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Fly London/Muscat |
| Day 2: | Arrive Muscat; tour of the capital |
| Day 3: | Drive via Wadi Shab to Finns Beach |
| Day 4: | Drive via Sur's dhow shipyards to Qahid; beach camp |
| Day 5: | Drive through the desert; camp in the Wahiba Sands |
| Day 6: | Continue to Nizwa |
| Day 7: | In Nizwa; full day excursion to Tanuf and Jabrin fort |
| Day 8: | Visit Nizwa goat auction; drive via Jebel Shams ('Grand Canyon') to Muscat |
| Day 9: | Fly London |
travellers' tales
Camping in the desert was the most memorable part. (more)
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places. award winner
This tourism business won an Award in our 2008 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Daily Telegraph, World Travel Market, Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society and BBC World News.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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All accommodation is locally owned and in which you experience great food, most of which is sourced locally. This not only provides direct employment within the hotel, but also has the effect of percolating money beyond to small businesses that supply the hotel and in this way money is spread throughout the region we visit.
 As a company we aim to encourage interaction with local communities while showing respect for local culture, beliefs and traditions, as well as the importance of respecting the natural surroundings in order to protect places for generations to come. This helps break down cultural barriers and fosters a spirit of mutual respect and understanding. Our Tour Leaders are trained by us in the importance of responsible tourism with guidance given on how they can make a difference. An amazing number of people benefit from this trip, from restaurateurs to local guides, drivers of buses and 4WD vehicles - even the local bedouin from whom travellers buy fruit. This means that unlike a more conventional ‘package holiday’ the money we spend contributes towards generating an income for a vast number of people. We travel by small charter bus, not large coach, and 4WDs. Money spent on entrance fees contributes to the ongoing maintenance of desert castles whilst our visit to the Wahiba Sands and to see the turtles helps fix in locals' minds the importance of conservation to their future. As well as the above, we support a variety of charities and projects worldwide which support vulnerable communities and habitats including Friends of Conservation, Hope Worldwide and Send A Cow. We are also actively engaged with UK travel industry bodies which promote best practice in responsible tourism, such as Tourism Concern, The Travel Foundation and AITO. Our commitment to responsible tourism is not limited to our overseas operation and we have measures to ensure our UK office operates according to our responsible tourism policy. Carbon offsets for all flights booked with us are included in the tour cost. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |