Rub Al Khali Expedition

Program

Day 1:
Muscat
Arrival at Muscat Airport. Customs formalities and meeting with the tour guide. Transfer to the hotel, with a stop to admire the Grand Mosque. Before reaching the hotel, along the road you pass by the Embassies and Ministries.
The rooms are ready around 12.00 (early check-in is subject to availability). Around 13.00, departure for lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon city tour. We start with the Muttrah district and the old souq, where you can immediately make some purchases. Continue along the Corniche and Ryam Road, the first paved road in Oman, until you reach the old part of the city, where you can visit the Bait Al Zubair museum. A short walk to the Alam Palace, nestled between the Portuguese forts of Jalali and Mirani. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Muscat.

Day 2:
Muscat - Wadis - Wahiba Sands (290 kilometers, approximately 5 hours)
Breakfast at the hotel and check-out around 7:30. Departure of the expedition in 4x4. Lunch along the way. Today we pass through Wadi Al Tayyin, between the Hajar Mountains, and then descend among the golden sand dunes of the Whaiba Sands Desert. "Wadi Al Ta'iyeen" is located in the Al Sharqiyah South Governate and stretches for 80km across the Hajar Mountains. It is a wide valley dotted with acacia trees and small hills facing mountains on both sides. There are some ruins at the foot of the mountain visible on the left side of the road, as you continue through agricultural villages to Al Subul, where Wadi Al Tayyin and Wadi Ad Dayqah join, a narrow valley that is difficult to drive through. You arrive at the fixed camp in the desert before sunset. Dinner and overnight at camp (fixed camp).

Day 3:
Wahiba Sands - Mahoot (350 kilometers, 6 hours 30minutes approximately)
Breakfast at the camp and check-out. Restart with the 4x4, following the western part of Wahiba Sands in a south-easterly direction. Lunch en route. You pass by car along the beach between the white dunes that flow into the sea. The camp is set up on one of the pristine beaches along the Omani coast. Dinner and overnight in a tent.

Day 4:
Mahoot - Al Ghaftain (420 kilometers, about 8 hours)
Breakfast and departure. After several photographic stops along the Omani coast, we leave the coast to go inland and into the Rub Al Khali desert. Stop in Hayma to stock up on food and provisions to prepare to face the largest sand desert in the world the next day. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 5:
Rub Al Khali (about 150 – 200 kilometers per day, 5-6 hours' drive per day)
After refueling with petrol and water, we set off to explore the southern part of the Rub al Khali, without a pre-arranged programmed. With the GPS you navigate through this sea of sand, without ever getting close to the Yemeni border. They cross dune after dune and, even if our expedition leader is an expert in deserts, it may be that in some difficult passages you have to stop and study the route, or cover-ups happen - it's part of the adventure!!
In the late afternoon we look for a location to set up camp and, in the morning, - while the staff loads the cars - travelers have the opportunity to walk to admire the desert from another point of view.
Breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Overnight in tents.

Day 6:
Rub Al Khali
The exploration of the Rub al Khali desert continues.
Breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Overnight in tents.

Day 7:
Rub Al Khali
The exploration of the Rub al Khali desert continues.
Breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Overnight in tents.

Day 8:
Rub Al Khali - Salalah
Before leaving the Rub Al Khali desert to return to civilization, we stop to visit the remains of the enduring city of Ubar, the Atlantis of the sands. On the way to Salalah, stop at Wadi Dowkah to see the frankincense plants, then finally reach the sea again.
Dinner and overnight in Salalah.

Day 9:
Salalah
Morning at your complete disposal. In the afternoon transfer to Salalah Airport for your return flight. Possibility of sea extension to Salalah.

Price includes

- Accommodations 8 nights with Breakfast
- Meals as mentioned in the program
- 4x4 (maximum 4 persons + 1 driver per jeep)
- English Speaking Guide driver
- Water on board
- Entrance fee according to the program
- All Service Taxes & VAT

Note: 4 nights camping in igloo tent (only mattress and tent provided)

Price does not include

- Any item for personal nature
- Visa for Oman
- Meals other than mentioned
- Tips and Porterage
- Anything other than mentioned in the included services column
- No Early check-in or Late Check-out

Itinerary

Accommodations provided in each place