In 2026 we ran both an Oman Multisport Adventure and a Bolivia Multisport Adventure. Both tours were part of our new Exploratory Adventure series. Beyond that, they have a surprising amount of similarities.
Dramatic Landscapes
Both Oman and Bolivia have dramatic landscapes that are one of the main reasons for visiting each country. Oman has desert dunes in the Wahiba Sands, deep wadis (canyons) with lush vegetation, the rugged Hajar Mountains, turquoise sinkholes, and a wild coastline. Bolivia has the famous Andes mountains, high-altitude lakes including Titiicaca, and the rainforest. We visit all these locations on our tours.
Interesting Activities
Hiking is our main activity in each country. In Oman we hike through the wadis and up into the mountains but also spend time exploring villages and cities along our route. In Bolivia the highlight is hiking in the Cordillera Real mountain range. Both both tours offer more than hiking. In Oman we go canyoning (walking and swimming down a stream-filled slot canyon) and snorkeling plus spend time in the desert. In Bolivia we kayak, bicycle, and river raft. There is a ton to do in both countries.
Cultural Depth
One of the most interesting aspects of the two countries is the cultural depth we experience. Bolivia has the highest percentage of indigenous locals of any South American country and it shows in the clothing, customs, music, and faces of the people. Oman is a conservative Muslim country where locals where traditional dress and we hear the call to prayer five times a day. Both countries are absolutely fascinating for their strong cultures that are so different from where we live at home – truly the purpose for traveling.
Relatively Untouristed
One of the main components of our Exploratory Adventures is that we visit areas that are relatively untouristed. Oman sees very few Americans at all (most of us could never place it on a map) and we enjoy hikes where we see no one except local villagers. Bolivia receives many fewer visitors than its famous neighbors such as Peru, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina and, again, we hardly saw tourists when we were there.
Highly Welcoming
Fascinatingly, for countries that have such a strong local culture and are so lightly visited by tourists, both Oman and Bolivia are highly welcoming to outsiders. While Oman is a conservative muslim country, they welcome foreigners and do not expect those foreigners to believe the same things they do or have the same dressing or eating habits. Bolivians are extremely proud of their country and loving showing it off to visitors. This makes both countries not only enticingly exotic but welcoming at the same time.
There are fascinating travel destinations all over the world that are ripe for exploration. You can still book our Bolivia Multisport Adventure and Oman Multisport Adventure as a private tour and we are returning to Oman with a public tour in December of 2027 when we hope the situation in the Middle East will again be calm.