Camping tours to Oman
| country: | Oman |
| location: | Middle East |
| departures: | This tour is tailor-made so can depart on any day year-round |
| price: | From £2265 (9 days) excluding flights |
| more info: | Price includes services of an English-speaking driver/guide in a 4WD, 3 nights accommodation in hotels on BB, 5 nights camping on full board with all camping equipment and airport transfers. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
check out similar holiday ideas...
introduction to Camping tours to Oman
This fantastic 9 day/8 night overland camping adventure in Oman, follows the spectacular coastline south from Muscat all the way to Salalah in the Dhofar region in the south of the country. You will be camping out under the stars and travelling through the desert in a 4wd vehicle.
Experience the culture of local Bedouin villages and spend time with the locals on this camping tour in Oman . You will visit a Turtle Sanctuary and learn more about the conservation and research work going on there. You will also visit the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary on this tour, established in 1994 to help protect oryx and to conserve desert habitat and threatened species.
Experience traditional life in Oman, visit local fishing villages and enjoy exhilarating rides through the desert dunes. Wherever possible we try to arrange this tour around the Full Moon to fully maximise on your camping experience.
Please note: This is a long, mainly off-road trek, in 4WD Land-cruisers, the distance covered exceeding 1500 kms.
A sea and sand holiday with a difference, the trip includes 5 consecutive nights camping with no modern conveniences! However, for those in good health and with the spirit of adventure, this overland camping expedition provides a wonderful opportunity to discover the ‘real’ Oman on an unforgettable coastal journey in the sun, and beneath an awe-inspiring canopy of stars.
Please note: We try to arrange around the Full Moon as possible, to maximise clients experience camping in the desert. Therefore in our opinion, the best times to go will be: Sep 04, Oct 04, Nov 02, Dec 02 & 31.
Experience the culture of local Bedouin villages and spend time with the locals on this camping tour in Oman . You will visit a Turtle Sanctuary and learn more about the conservation and research work going on there. You will also visit the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary on this tour, established in 1994 to help protect oryx and to conserve desert habitat and threatened species.
Experience traditional life in Oman, visit local fishing villages and enjoy exhilarating rides through the desert dunes. Wherever possible we try to arrange this tour around the Full Moon to fully maximise on your camping experience.
Please note: This is a long, mainly off-road trek, in 4WD Land-cruisers, the distance covered exceeding 1500 kms.
A sea and sand holiday with a difference, the trip includes 5 consecutive nights camping with no modern conveniences! However, for those in good health and with the spirit of adventure, this overland camping expedition provides a wonderful opportunity to discover the ‘real’ Oman on an unforgettable coastal journey in the sun, and beneath an awe-inspiring canopy of stars.
best time to go
The best time to travel is from October through to April as the temperatures are warm during the day and mild in the evening. During the summer from May to September – the sun is very hot making this tour rather uncomfortable. Please note: We try to arrange around the Full Moon as possible, to maximise clients experience camping in the desert. Therefore in our opinion, the best times to go will be: Sep 04, Oct 04, Nov 02, Dec 02 & 31.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrival Muscat from London. Transfer to your chosen hotel in Muscat. |
| Day 2: | Muscat to Ras Al Junayz. Taking the coastal route south-east, we drive via Quriyat (fishing village with a beautiful beach) and the exotic Wadi Shab to the town of Sur. Overnight at the Sur Beach Hotel. |
| Day 3: | Sur to Turtle Beach. After a sightseeing tour of Sur, and a boat ride along the coast, we continue to the turtle nesting beach at Ras Al Junayz, hoping to see turtles at night. Overnight camp on the beach. |
| Day 4: | Ras Al Junayz to Ras Ar Ruways. We continue on graded roads to the edge of the spectacular Wahiba Sands (a perfect specimen of a sand sea) which we cross either via the beach track (at low tide) or over the dunes (high tide) - either way, a beautiful, exhilarating drive. Overnight on the beach at Ras ar Ruways, on the southern edge of the desert. |
| Day 5: | Ras Ar Ruways to Jaalouni. Turning inland, we head south west across country to Jaalouni, where we visit the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary in the company of Bedouin guides. Overnight camp. |
| Day 6: | Jaalouni to Ras al Madrakah. After a glimpse of local wildlife, mainly gazelle and oryx, in the Jiddat al Harasis region, we drive back east to see the striking white cliffs of Ras Madrakah, jutting out into the Arabian sea, and the ghostly wrecks of ships beneath them; we also admire the natural contrast of black rocks, white beach and deep blue ocean where we set up camp for the night. |
| Day 7: | Madrakah to Wadi Shuwaymiah. Following the coast again, we reach the magnificent pink lagoons of Al Kahil; entering the Dhofar region of southern Oman we reach Wadi Shuwaymiah, just inland near Shalim, the last camp on our journey. |
| Day 8: | Wadi Shuwaymiah to Salalah. A little further inland, we drive through the oilfields of Marmul; then, on the highway from Thumrayt, we approach our final destination from the north via the Qara mountains. Overnight at chosen hotel. |
| Day 9: | Depart. Time to relax prior to the late morning transfer to the airport for the flight via Muscat back to the UK. End of services. |
how this holiday makes a difference
|
Environment:
This tour visits the Ras Al Junayz beach, one of the largest nesting areas for green turtles in the Indian Ocean. An average of 30,000 turtles nest at this beach. The Ras Al-Junayz Turtle and Nature Reserve was established in 1996 to better protect Oman’s Sea turtles and their natural environment. Clients are encouraged to donate to the research centre. The total protected area is 120km with a 45km of coastline, extending for 1km into the sea. The Ras Al – Junayz Scientific and Visitors Centre offers a unique Ecotourism experience – an unparalleled encounter with sea turtles. It also houses a research library and research facilities for marine biology and archaeology promoting social responsibility and sound environmental practices. The tour also visits the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary – established in 1994 to help protect oryx and to conserve desert habitat and threatened species. It covers approximately 27,500 sq. km of central Oman and lies equidistant from Muscat and Salalah. Community: This trip visits several local communities in the Wahiba Sands Desert allowing clients to purchase handicrafts made by the locals. Any money from the sale of the handicrafts helps the local Bedouins to support their families. Local Bedouin guides are hired to explain their way of life to clients on parts of this tour. This enables them to earn a regular living from the visiting tourists. All waste from the campsites is and taken away and recycled. There is no evidence left of any travellers staying in the desert. |
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. |
check out similar holiday ideas...