Upon arrival at Muscat International Airport, you will be met and escorted to a lounge to relax while our representative retrieves your luggage and handles the immigration procedure for you. Then you will be transferred to your hotel in Muscat for overnight.
 Your first stop is the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. Built by the late sultan for the 25th anniversary of his accession, it is one of the largest mosques in the world. The mosque is an architectural masterpiece and houses some outstanding works of art.
Continue to the Royal Opera House, the leading arts and culture organization in Oman.
Continue to Al Alam Palace, where the sultan receives state guests. The palace is flanked by two 16th-century, Portugese fortresses, Al Jalali and Al Mirani.
Then visit Bait Al Zubair museum, which celebrates the culture and heritage of Oman with extensive permanent collections as well as special visiting exhibits.
Continue along the corniche to Muttrah Souk, the oldest and largest market in Oman. You will have time to explore the picturesque, narrow alleys, where the air is filled with the scent of frankincense and sandalwood. Shop for Omani souvenirs such as pottery, paintings, shisha pipes, framed khanjars, leatherwork and incense.
Drive to Nizwa, the former capital and religious center of Oman. If your stay falls on a Friday, the first highlight is the animal market. Then stroll through the vegetable, silver and general markets before entering the round tower fort, Oman’s most visited national monument.
Continue to Bait Al Safah, a renovated building run by women of the village, who demonstrate traditional practices such as milling, cooking and more.
Afterwards, visit the old village of Al Hamra, restored to show how Omanis lived in previous centuries. Lunch en route.
We’ll pass Bilad Sayt, a small mountain village, as we make a thrilling drive back to Muscat through the Wadi Bani Awf.
Enter the dune landscape of the Sharqiyah region and visit the old city of Ibra. On Wednesday mornings, the women’s souk is held here, the only market in Oman where merchants and clients are all women. Men are “banned” from the scene and meet at a nearby coffee shop to enjoy a chat.
In the desert, visit a Bedouin family for tea and dates and a camel ride.
Enjoy the drive through the changing shapes and colors of the dunes, from white in the morning to ocher, almost red in the afternoon. Lunch en route.
Finally, we will have some time in the evergreen Wadi Bani Khalid, where you may enjoy a swim or walk.
Then drive to the Muscat airport for your flight to Salalah. Upon arrival in Salalah, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for overnight.
Drive along a scenic road to Taqa. In former times, incense and horses were exported from its harbor, which was guarded by the Qasbar Fort at the top of the cliff. Visit the 19th-century Taqa castle.
Before proceeding to Sumhuram, we will stop on top of the hill for a stunning view over the village and the Indian Ocean.
On the cliff above Khor Rori, the Dhofar region's largest bay, see the ruins of the fortress and palace of Sumhuram, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and possibly the home of the Queen of Sheba. The Sumhuram port was an important center for the trade of frankincense, myrrh and slaves from the 1st to the 7th century. Lunch en route.
Just outside Mirbat, you can see Bin Ali’s tomb with its white double domes. The tomb is surrounded by a large, unusually shaped cemetery with engraved headstones.
Stop at the beautiful natural springs of Ayn Razat. Then drive into the Qara Mountains to see the tomb of the prophet Job, known locally as Nabi Ayoub.
Continue to the magnificent sandy beach of Mughsayl, surrounded by dramatic cliffs. Sea water shooting up through the famous blow holes here can reach a height of 30 meters.
Experience some hairpin curves for 15-20 km en route to a wadi with breath-taking views. At the nearby bird sanctuary, you may see seasonal birds. The stark shape of leafless Frankincense trees dots the landscape. Once traded as a commodity more precious than gold, frankincense harvested in Dhofar is rated the best in the world.
Return to your hotel for overnight.
Begin with a city tour of Salalah, known as the “perfume capital of Arabia” and the largest city in the Dhofar region. Sultan Qaboos was born here in 1940 and we’ll pass his local palace during this morning’s touring.
Continue to the Al Baleed archaeological park, a UNESCO world heritage site. Al Baleed was an important trading port for frankincense and myrrh between the 7th and 14th centuries.
Pass the royal palace on the way to Haffa souk, where the fragrances of the orient come together. Lunch en route.
End the tour with a scenic drive through the garden-like fruit plantations. Stop at a fruit stall for a refreshing coconut milk or try the small sweet local bananas or papayas and guavas.
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You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Dubai. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel in Abu Dhabi for overnight.
Begin your tour of Abu Dhabi with a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the world's largest mosques. The mosque incorporates architectural styles from different Muslim civilizations and is a place of worship and cultural diversity. Initiated by the late president H.E. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan AL Nahyan, the founder of the UAE, the mosque features 82 domes, more than 1,000 columns, 24-carat gold gilded chandeliers and the world's largest hand-knotted carpet.
Continue to visit Heritage Village Abu Dhabi. Travel back in time to experience what life was like in the past in the UAE. Watch traditional pottery making, glassblowing, weaving and other artisan crafting. The traditional souk (market) resembles a bustling trading hub of days past and offers a great opportunity to take home locally made souvenirs.
Enjoy lunch at the iconic Emirates Palace Hotel.
Then make a quick stop for fresh air and photos at the corniche and the breakwater of Abu Dhabi.
Stop briefly at the date market to savor the many wonderful varieties of dates from the region.
Then head to Saadiyat Island and the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum, a stunning architectural space spanning 24,000 square meters and housing a multitude of exhibits.
Our first stop today is the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital for some insight into the tradition of falconry. Visit the examination room to observe pampered, beloved falcons having routine procedures, like pedicures and feather repair.
Then visit Al Hosn Palace, once the home of the ruling family, today it is a beautiful museum, national archive and a memorial to Abu Dhabi's history.
Continue to Qasr Al Watan (Palace of Nations), a working Presidential Palace and a majestic cultural landmark. Learn about the history of the nation, its traditions and its ties with other countries as we visit the Great Hall, the Spirit of Collaboration Room, the Library and the House of Knowledge, among other public areas.
Enjoy afternoon tea along with the views from the observation floor of Etihad Towers, 300 meters above the capital.
Return to your hotel for overnight.
After checking out from your hotel, transfer to Bab Al Shams Desert Resort for check-in.
The rest of the day is at your leisure to enjoy the resort and desert beauty.
After a free morning in the desert, you will be transferred to Dubai for hotel check-in and overnight. The afternoon is at your leisure.
Today we explore the traditional side of Dubai. Begin with a photo stop at the world-famous Burj Al Arab Hotel. Built on an artificial island, Burj Al Arab is an architectural wonder and a definite must-see on your visit to Dubai. Continue for another photo stop at Jumeirah Mosque, an architectural landmark in Dubai. Then visit Shingagha Museum to learn more about Dubai Creek and the development of trade in Dubai. Also within the museum is the Perfume House with exhibits on the history and culture of local perfume making using regional ingredients such as musk, rose, myrtle flowers and saffron.
Enjoy an authentic experience of Emirati culture at the Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU). This non-profit organization is located in the Bastakiya area of Dubai in a traditional wind-tower house. A homemade lunch will be served while a local Emirati guide speaks about the culture, tradition, and everyday lives of the Emirati people. Open dialogue and questions are encouraged, with the aim of promoting understanding and tolerance.
Enjoy some free time to browse in the Textiles Market.
Then we cross Dubai Creek on an abras (traditional water taxi).
Now in the heart of Old Dubai, enjoy the dazzling gold and the beautiful aroma of the local spices at the famous Gold and Spice Souks.
Finally today, visit the Dubai Frame, a new architectural landmark in Dubai Zabeel Park that holds the record for the largest frame in the world. Enjoy a bird’s eye view of Dubai’s old and new skylines from 150 meters in the sky.
Today is all about the modern, WOW side of Dubai! First, visit the Souk Madinat Jumeirah, a stunning market built in the old Arabian style with many shops, restaurants and cafes. Then board the monorail for an elevated view of the manmade Palm Jumeirah Island built in the shape of a Palm Tree and home to luxurious villas, residential buildings, and iconic resorts such as Atlantis the Palm.
Then ascend 240 meters up the Palm Tower for more stunning views of the Palm Jumeirah and the incomparable Dubai skyline.
At the Dubai Marina, take in views of luxury yachts and the modern high-rise towers and their unique architecture.
Take a short walk and a photo stop at Jumeirah Beach Residence, known as JBR. It's one of Dubai’s trendiest residential communities with more than 40 residential towers, restaurants, cafes, and a public beach.
For the grand finale of your Dubai visit, enjoy sunset from 124th floor observation deck of the world’s tallest building! No building in modern history has aroused so much curiosity and intrigue as has Burj Khalifa. Throughout the elevator ride to the top, a multi-media presentation shares the history of Dubai and the building of Burj Khalifa. Then marvel at the expansive views as the sun drops below the watery horizon.
Return to your hotel for overnight.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Dubai airport for your departure flight.
PLEASE NOTE: The sequence of touring may change depending on day of arrival.
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