10-day itinerary in Oman

After a 7-hour flight, you arrive in Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman! Pick up your hire car at the airport, and your Omani adventure begins the next morning.

Nestling between the ocean and the mountains, Muscat is not a capital city that resembles neighbouring big cities such as Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Skyscrapers are absent from the landscape, but gardens are quite common.

The ideal way to start the day is with a visit to the Great Mosque of Sultan Qaboos, the largest in the country. It is best known for housing the world's largest handmade carpet, as well as the world's largest chandelier, set in 24-carat gold! It's a truly grandiose visit!

The mosque is open every day from 8am to 11am, except Fridays. Admission is free. Legs and arms must be covered, as well as hair for women. It is possible for non-Muslims to enter the prayer rooms, provided they remove their shoes of course.

Next, don't miss the Mutrah district, home to the city's main tourist attractions. We recommend that you park in one of the free car parks along the oceanfront. Take the opportunity to walk along the corniche, a popular walk with Omanis.

Continue with a visit to the Mutrah souk on the corniche. Entirely covered, you'll find jewellery shops, pashminas, lighting and all sorts of souvenirs. The atmosphere in this souk is very relaxed, and you can wander around calmly without being pestered by the vendors. The souks are open from 8am to 1pm and from 5pm to 9pm.

Depending on the time you have available, you can also visit Mutrah Fort, go through old Muscat and see the Sultan's Palace, or visit the National Museum of Oman.

This morning, it's on to Nakhal that you head and where this road trip really begins! It's around 1 hour's drive to Nakhal fort, which is one of the most impressive to visit. The view from the upper terraces is particularly worth the diversions.

You arrive in the afternoon in Misfat, a pretty little village perched in the mountains. Misfat has a very special atmosphere, as if time has stood still. What's most striking is the contrast of this oasis of greenery in the middle of an arid landscape. Enjoy shady walks in the palm grove, and if you wish, you can take one of the hiking trails through the mountains.

You take the road to Nizwa, around 1 hour from the peaceful village of Misfat. This not-to-be-missed stopover in Oman is the country's former capital. You'll go to Nizwa to discover its fort, its souks and taste the halwa, a local sweet made from rose water, sugar and spices, reputed to be the best in the country.

Located at the foot of the fort, Nizwa's old souk is the best place to immerse yourself in local life. The atmosphere is lively, the products varied (pottery, incense, spices, dates, fruit and vegetables, etc.) and the smells bewitching! Beware, as in many cities, the souks open in the morning and late afternoon only. If you visit Nizwa on a Friday, try to arrive before 9am to take advantage of the livestock market. Here, men come to auction off their animals (camels, cows, birds, etc.). An interesting local cultural event to watch.

This morning, it's off to the majestic mountains of Jabal Akhdar! Literally known as "the green mountain", the Jabal Akhdar is a plateau at an altitude of around 2,000m where orchards, plantations of all kinds and mountain villages stand side by side.

Don't miss the sunset from Diana's ViewPoint. The view from this vantage point, with the old village of Wadi Bani Habib below, is nothing short of magical.

We recommend you spend the night at the Anantara Al Jabal Al Akdhar. Perched on the Saiq plateau and overlooking a canyon in the heart of the Jabal Al Akdhar, this is one of the most beautiful hotels in the country, and an experience in itself!

This morning, you leave the breathtaking landscapes of Jabal Akhdar to discover the eastern coast of Oman, where the scenery is just as incredible. After around 3? hours on the road, make your first stop at Bimmah Sinkhole, a natural curiosity not to be missed! It's a large, magical turquoise water hole. Take the opportunity to picnic and swim in this natural pool.

In the early afternoon, you will head to Wadi Shab, one of the best-known and most beautiful wadis in the sultanate. To get there, you must board a small boat, and you can choose to leave with or without a guide. The last boat to return without a guide is at 5.30pm at the latest.

Once on the other side of the river, it's a 45-minute walk through the heart of the canyon, along the steep walls, to reach the pools. A spectacular natural spectacle awaits you! Don't hesitate to venture a little further than the first pool to make the most of this little corner of paradise!

You will spend the night in the nearby town of Tiwi.

This morning, take advantage of a quieter morning to relax. Take the opportunity to stroll along Tiwi Beach, also known as Pebble Beach. This pebble beach is one of the most beautiful in Oman.

You now set off again to explore Wadi Tiwi. Nicknamed "the gorge of 9 villages", Wadi Tiwi allows you to discover another, more authentic facet of the wadis, where the villagers have built their houses.

The site may be difficult to get to, but it offers a superb walk through hamlets, date palms and terraced fields, while soaking up the local way of life. Not forgetting, of course, the natural pools for a refreshing dip. The walk along the trails ends with a superb panorama from Mybam, a traditional village nestling at an altitude of almost 800 metres.

After this heavenly afternoon, you head for Sour to spend the night.

Take advantage of this morning to discover the small town of Sour. Punctuated by the tides and the comings and goings of boats, this maritime town is very pleasant. Start your visit in old Sour, separated from the rest of the town by an arm of the sea, and in particular at the Al Ayjah lighthouse to enjoy the view of the corniche. The corniche is also the ideal place to soak up local life.

In the afternoon, head to Ras Al Hadd, just 45 minutes away by car, to enjoy half a day lazing on the beach! Ras al Hadd is a coastal village, famous for the sea turtles that come here in their hundreds to lay their eggs, and where there's not much to do apart from relax and enjoy!

The Ras Al Jinz reserve allows you to observe the turtles laying their eggs, but we advise you to stay away. Unfortunately, the visits are far from respecting the 'rules' for observing these wild animals and are rather an example of the negative impact that tourism can have on biodiversity.

The end of your stay in Oman is approaching, but you're about to enjoy one of the best experiences of your trip, because tonight you'll be sleeping in the desert! The Sharqiyah Sands desert is easy to get to: it's around 2 hours 15 minutes' drive from Ras Al Hadd.

Also known as the Wahiba Sands, this desert in the Sultanate of Oman stretches for 180 kilometres from north to south and 80 kilometres from east to west. Reaching heights of up to 200 metres, the dunes offer a landscape of shades of ochre and red!

We advise you to get there as soon as possible to take full advantage of this majestic setting and the many activities available to discover the sand dunes: camel riding, dune bashing, quad biking, meeting the Bedouin... In any case, prepare yourself for an unforgettable experience, especially at sunset when the dunes take on incredible colours.