Oman: Caves, Waves and Wilderness

From undulating sand dunes, stretching as far as the eye can see, to rich, lush mountain oases - Oman is a land of breathtakingly diverse landscapes. Wadis, deserts, mountains and caves, lakes, canyons and dense forest - Oman will satisfy the most curious and intrepid of travellers. The country also boasts 1,700 kilometres of coastline! Stretching from the enclave of Musandam in the north - which looks out over the Straights of Hormuz - then down along the entire eastern flank of the country, the Omani coast makes it a must-see destination for dive enthusiasts and beach lovers. Musandam, the Norway of Arabia, boasts a network of fjords, where placid waters have been gently carving grooves through the soaring Hajar mountains for millennia.

Still undiscovered as a tourist destination, Oman has excellent virgin diving, offering underwater attractions to rival the world's great dive spots with whales, dolphins, sharks and mantas making regular visits as well as coral reefs and their colourful inhabitants. With the nation's people being renowned as ship-builders and seatraders for many centuries and with Oman a stopping point on some of the world's most legendary trade routes, there's no doubting the importance of the sea throughout Oman's history.

Inland is a climbers paradise, with mountains, steep cliffs and canyons for every ability whether you prefer to explore in trainers and a rucksack or with crampons and a pick. Heading below ground, you'll find the world's second largest cave at Al Sharqiya, where cave enthusiasts can experience a truly unique rope drop. The main chamber is large enough to house the Pyramids of Giza and illuminated by two shafts of sky light from bores in the roof through which one descends. Explorers will relish the playground of underground lakes and tunnels, deep canyons and jagged gorges. The tunnel networks can be visited with a guide and passageways stretch for two kilometres, dotted with cave pools, stalactite and stalagmite formations. Beginners will appreciate the less daunting Hoti cave, which also comprises an underground lake system.

Craggy rocks and sea cliffs make Oman a first-class rock-climbing location and around 160 climbs have been pioneered in both the north and south of the country. The Jebel Akhdar mountains are particularly attractive, and soar to 2,980 metres. More experienced climbers will enjoy the rocky heights of Jebel Misht in Nizwa, the largest rock face in the Arabian peninsula. Sheer rock faces provide the tough sport, whilst trekking trails, wadis and mountain ranges are perfect for hikers and ramblers.

The Grand Canyon of Oman is located at Wadi Nakhr Gorge, a network of deep fissures in the rocky rubble, some of which plunge to 1,500 feet. The views from the rim of the canyon are exhilarating, as is the trek up to the canyon through the hilltop village of Al Khateem. Hikers and trekkers will also enjoy Snake Canyon an hour from Muscat, a 200 metre deep fissure named for the winding path it cuts through the rock. A trek down here can involve jumping into pools, over boulders and past waterfalls. For uphill climbs, head to Jebel Shams, the "mountain of the sun" which towers at 2000 metres.

Oman teems with wildlife of all kinds. Over 400 species of birds, from exotic sunbirds and golden orioles to Imperial eagles live on or migrate yearly to Oman. Bird-watchers and animal spotters will marvel at the variety to see in Al Wusta, 130 species of birds, including the shimmering-plumed sunbird, sand grouse and bustard - once endangered species that have been reintroduced to Omani nature.

Two of the best places to bird watch are Qurum National Park and the Al Ansab Lagoon, both within easy reach of Muscat where you will find herons, ospreys and Egyptian vultures, amongst others. For raptor spotting, head to the enclave of Musandam where eagles reign. Dhofar's rainy climate and rich vegetation provides excellent bird-spotting territory. The protected area of the Daymaniyat Islands is a nature reserve for teems of birds. This is one spot where humans do not have access for bird-watching, but the cool waters around the islands make for some of the best diving in Oman.

Divers will come across dazzling corals, reef sharks, barracuda, manta rays, surgeonfish, and possibly even whale sharks. A small number of hawksbill turtles also visit the islands for nesting. For some serious turtle action, however, Ras al Jinz is hard to beat. Up to 30,000 marine turtles make the beaches of Oman their nesting place every year. The Ras al Jinz Scientific and Visitor's Centre can organise expert guides for turtle watching as well as archeological visits.

Responsible travel offers visitors to Oman a glimpse into another world, reaching little explored territories and discovering the natural beauty of its many landscapes. The following holidays all benefit local people, bring investment into communities and community projects in Oman and explore the flora and fauna of the country without endangering it, using the insider knowledge of local guides and resident experts.

Explore little-known Musandam by dhow. Board a traditional dhow for a cruise up the Arabian fjordlands in this northern enclave of Oman. Sleep under the stars at night, snorkel by day and visit traditional fisherman's villages, accessible only by boat where you will meet local artisans and eat freshly caught fish.

Still on the northern peninsula, this marine conservation holiday will bring you up close and personal with the exotic inhabitants of Musandam's corals and coves. After a couple day's training with the team, you will join experts in marine flora and fauna discovering rare and beautiful underwater species, including turtles and sting rays and a host of coral dwelling fish such as the Arabian butterflyfish. You will learn whilst having fun, performing reef checks and helping to sustain this natural paradise.

Those with a love of wilderness conservation will suit our Arabian leopard conservation holiday. This big cat roams the southern region of Dhofar, in the Samhan Nature Reserve. As part of a research group, you will survey the leopards hunting grounds, working alongside locals and scientists in an area of outstanding beauty.

For Arabian nights under the stars, explorations into exhilarating environments and a spot of wadi-bashing, book our tailor-made camping tour from Muscat along the rugged coast, passing the turtle nesting beaches of Ras Al Junayz, down to the verdant mountains of Salalah. You will also visit the Arabian Oryx sanctuary and experience Bedouin life in the landscape of rolling amber sand dune waves at Jaalouni.

Local Al Wahibi tribe members will guide you, by camel of course, on starlit treks through Oman's deserts and wadis on this trekking holiday. Following ancient walkways of the Bedu peoples, you will learn to navigate by the stars walking across all kinds of terrain, from rugged mountain paths to the shifting sands of Whahabi and through small fishing villages along the coast. You will have a chance to swim in the emerald cave pools of Wadi shab as well as the clean, clear waters of Oman's great swathes of beach.