“From spectacular mountains, wind-blown deserts and a pristine coastline, Oman is the obvious choice for those seeking out the modern face of Arabia while still sensing its ancient soul.”
lonely planet
Oman combines natural beauty, a long history, interesting culture, and warm hospitality in a way that feels authentic and untouched. You might not have Oman on your bucket list but it is an increasingly popular destination, considered one of the best places for active travelers to visit on the Arabian Peninsula or, indeed, in the entire Middle East.
Oman is a large country – about the size of Italy or Norway – and yet has only 5.5 million inhabitants, ranking it 213th in terms of population density on a list of the world’s 242 countries and territories. Compared to nearby destinations like Dubai or Jordan, Oman sees far fewer tourists, so it feels peaceful, authentic, and unspoiled. Is is easy to find quiet wadis, uncrowded hiking trails, and serene beaches. Even the capital, Muscat, feels down to earth rather than overwhelming. This all means our Oman Hiking Exploratory Adventure is the perfect vacation for active travelers looking to explore off the beaten path in a country stock full of nature treasures.
Why Oman is Special
Oman offers a rare blend of natural beauty, deep culture, and genuine hospitality — all wrapped in a peaceful, uncrowded setting. Here’s what makes Oman truly unique:
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Timeless Traditions: Oman has preserved its identity — from ancient falaj irrigation systems to traditional souks, Bedouin lifestyles, and dhow boat craftsmanship.
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Incredible Landscapes: Explore dramatic mountains, lush oases, endless sand dunes, hidden wadis, precipitous sea cliffs, and pristine beaches — all in one trip.
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Real Arabian Culture: Unlike flashier Gulf states, Oman feels authentic and grounded. People still wear traditional dress and hospitality is deeply ingrained in daily life.
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Spiritual and Serene: The country’s Islamic culture is respectful and calming and, even in cities, things move at a gentle, dignified pace.
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Adventure and Tranquility: Whether you’re hiking rugged cliffs, camping under desert stars, swimming coral reefs, or sipping tea in a quiet village, there’s always a balance of thrill and peace.
- Safety: Oman is considered one of the safer countries on the Arabian peninsula and in the Middle East, which makes it appealing. The US State Department rates it a two (out of four) on its travel advisory list. By comparison, most of Mexico is rated a two, three, or four. The first sentence of the travel summary reads “Residents and visitors generally find Oman to be safe, and protests have been rare, peaceful, and closely monitored by the government.” We avoid the southern area of the country near Yemen and travel with a local, increasing the security of our group.
Oman Hiking & Other Activities
Our tour starts and ends in Muscat but we spend little time in the capitol city. We explore the country on foot, with most days involving a hike. Our hiking is moderate. We are in the mountains some days and the terrain is rough, so you should be familiar with hiking in mountains. However, our distances are reasonable (2 – 6 miles) and we avoid big elevation climbs (nothing over 1,300 feet in elevation gain). No particular expertise is required.
We’ll also experience an “aquatic hike”, where we explore a narrow canyon, including wading and swimming (more like dog paddling) through pristine pools. As long as you are comfortable in the water, this is quite easy and fun. (If you are not a strong swimmer, we have floats.) We have the option to try a via ferrata, a sort of rock climbing route where you are roped into iron rungs to keep safe. We’ll visit looming castles, beautiful mosques (such as the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque), bustling souks (markets), and ancient tombs. We’ll swim in the Arabian Sea!
Read more about the new Exploratory Adventures we’re adding to the schedule!
What is an Exploratory Adventure?
Our Exploratory Adventures are unique opportunities to travel with Zephyr’s founder Allan Wright as he scouts out a new location in what is usually an exotic destination.
This will be our first trip to Oman. Allan has done a ton of research, he will be joining us as a guide on the tour, and we are working with an outstanding local operator. At the same time, those coming on this tour will be in the vanguard of our travelers – and really, in the vanguard of all Western travelers – going to Oman. We will make decisions on the fly to change our itinerary to overcome obstacles or take advantage of opportunities that arise.
We have run Exploratory Adventures before and it is exactly this spontaneity that appeals to some travelers. You will be the pioneers on this tour and we’ll involve you in the decisions we make as we go. We will not be fixed to a firm schedule and so can extend a hike, skip a cultural site, or spend more time on the beach if we so choose. This will allow us to get an unfiltered look at Oman and its people. So if you are a seasoned traveler, tolerant of local cultures, and looking for a little adventure, this is the tour for you.
Learn more about the Exploratory Adventures >
Join Us On Our Oman Hiking Tour
Oman is the kind of place that stays with you — quietly beautiful, humbly rich, and soul-soothing. While it is relatively unvisited now, especially by Americans, Oman is growing in popularity and now might be the best time to see the country. As an Exploratory Adventure, this will be a small group of only three to twelve adventurous travelers. We look forward to welcoming you on our Oman Hiking Adventure! Please note we do not yet have this set up for Private Tours, which will be available starting in 2026.
Details
- Dates: December 29 - January 6, 2026
- Cost Per Person: $4,975
- Single Supplement: $600
- Private Tour Minimum: 4
- Activities: Hiking, Canyoning, Via Ferrata, Snorkeling
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Guides: Allan Wright, Local Guide
Other Info: Single supplement does not include night five when we are sleeping in tents in the desert.
Book this TourTrip Highlights
- Hike along the rim of Wadi Ghul, also called "Arabia's Grand Canyon", with incredible views below
- Go canyoning in Snake Canyon - hiking, wading, swimming, and jumping off small ledges into pools
- Sleep in a tent or under the stars in the Wahiba Sands desert
- Optionally do a "Via Ferrata" course (sort of like rock climbing while being hooked into iron supports) in the Jebel Shams mountains
- Snorkel and look for giant turtles in the blue waters of the Gulf of Oman, part of the Arabian Sea
- Learn about the fascinating culture of Oman through its people, food, and historic sites
Day 1: CANYONING IN SNAKE CANYON
This morning we pick you up at our designated hotel in Muscat, the capital city of Oman. After introductions, we'll visit the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, the largest mosque in the country. We'll learn about Islam's importance in Oman as we view the interior of the mosque, including ornate chandeliers and Persian rugs. Then it is into our 4WD vehicles and the start of our adventure, with a morning drive to Wadi (a term describing an oasis or a dry valley except during the rainy season) Bani Awf. The drive takes us off the paved roads, up a rural valley, past several villages, and along green palm groves. We'll stop for lunch in an old house converted to a guesthouse before venturing on to Snake Canyon. The canyon is very narrow - in some parts you can touch both walls at the same time - and has a stream running down it. We'll go canyoning, which involves hiking, wading, swimming, and jumping off small ledges into pools as we make our way down the canyon. Canyoning is fun and no special skills are required. We'll overnight tonight in a nearby guesthouse located on a farm and enjoy our first Omani dinner together.
Day 2: HIKING IN WADI BANI AWF
After breakfast in our guesthouse, we'll check out and begin a hike in the mountains above Wadi Bani Awf. Our path will take us up through the (probably dry) river bed and up into the mountains. We'll reach a small village and then continue on to a larger second village, where the locals make their living with agriculture, often date tree farming. Those seeking a shorter hike will jump in our vehicles here after a hike of about four hours. Others can choose to continue up and over a pass down to the main road, another couple hours walk. We'll then all drive to the Sharaf Al Alamain Pass, the only roadway through the Western Hajar mountains, with spectacular views on the way down. In the afternoon we'll have the option to walk to the mountain village of Misfat Al Abreyeen, one of the most beautiful villages in Oman, before heading to our guesthouse for cleaning up and dinner.
Day 3: WADI GHUL, ARABIA'S GRAND CANYON
Bait As Safah is a traditional Omani house located in the old city of Al Hamra. We'll drive there after breakfast and the women of the village will show us how they make Omani bread, coffee, carpets, and different creams and lotions made from mountain plants. Then it is off to the main event of the day, when we walk along the canyon rim of Wadi Ghul, also called "Arabia's Grand Canyon". The walk is easy but the views are outstanding, including of the highest point in Oman. We eventually arrive to an old village built into the cliff. The village was abandoned in the 90's when the road was built but, previously, five to ten families were living there. We return the way we came and transfer to the town of Nizwa, an historical town that was the capital of the country at one point, where we'll check into our hotel with time to swim in one of the two pools before dinner.
Day 4: JEBEL SHAMS MOUNTAINS
This morning we'll have a pleasant and gentle hike that winds through the bottom of a wadi or on old paths a bit above. There will hopefully be a stream flowing through the wadi with pools just big enough to dip our toes or even jump in for a quick dunk. In the afternoon, we'll walk on the slopes of Jebel (mountain) Akhdar through the villages of Al Aqoor, Al An, and Sharegah. We'll pass terraced fields where people grow roses and pomegranates. At the end of the walk, we'll reach a "via ferrata", which is iron way in Italian, a sort of rock climbing course where we are harnessed into iron rungs the entire time, giving us an incredible adventure capped with a 120-meter zip line. Those opting out of the via ferrata will go by car to explore several nearby towns. We stay the night again in Nizwa.
Day 5: WAHIBA SANDS DESERT
Today is a bit of a travel day as we drive south to the Wahiba Sands desert. First, though, we explore the Nizwa Souk, or market. With Nizwa being the cultural center of the mountain peoples of Oman, the Nizwa Souk is one of the best in the country. Friday is market day, called "Souq Al Jumaa", and brings visitors from the nearby mountains as well as Bedouins from the desert. The livestock souq is particularly but we'll also have time to wander through the fish, vegetable, and meat markets and find people selling mountain honey, dates, and incense. Then it is in the vehicles for a three-hour drive to the Wahiba Sands desert. Upon reaching the desert we'll stop to deflate the tires so we can drive across the sands to find the perfect isolated spot to camp. This is real camping in tents but with a soft sand cushion and with dinner prepared by our local guide. We'll also get out into the desert dunes on foot to explore, with perhaps a night walk to see the stars!
Day 6: AQUATIC HIKING IN WADI AL HWIR
After breakfast we'll pack up camp and depart the desert for Wadi Al Hwir, one of the most beautiful wadis of Oman. We start from an oasis in the valley and walk across its luxurious palm garden, make our way between large boulders, and eventually arrive to two wonderful pools with waterfalls. In one of these we can jump off the cliff into the water - up to a ten-meter (33-foot) drop if you brave enough! This is "aquatic hiking" because we then walk in the water, wade at times, and even swim through several long pools as the walls enclose the stream bed on either side. (Think of The Narrows hike in Utah's Zion National Park if you have been there.) This is an amazing experience that will be pure adventure. After our excursion, we'll transfer on to the city of Sur and check into our hotel in time for dinner.
Day 7: WADI TIWI
After breakfast we'll transfer less than an hour to Wadi Tiwi for a nice loop hike in a beautiful valley with a stream flowing all year long. We'll pass huge palm groves on terraces along the water, several villages, and impressive cliffs. We have several options for our hike today, one of which involves swimming through a pool in the stream if we want to repeat our fun from the day before. This is a relatively long but fairly easy hike of four to five hours and we'll eat lunch on the trail. In the late afternoon we'll transfer to a simple countryside hotel located in the wadi, next to the water and palm groves.
Day 8: WADI TIWI
After breakfast we'll transfer to the bay of Bandar Khiran. The bay on the Arabian Sea is very rocky and has many small coves. We leave our vehicles at a high point overlooking the water, with exceptional views, and walk down an easy path to reach a white sand beach. We can go swimming and snorkeling, where we'll see marine life with many multi-colored fish, corals, and even possibly large turtles. We'll have lunch on the beach. This is an easy final but fun day of recreation. Afterwards we'll drive to Muttrah Souq, which has a beautifully-painted wooden roof and stained glass windows. The souq is organized by product type: gold, silver, gifts, carpets, clothes, etc. There are small streets filled with shops branching out from the main market building and this is the perfect place, near the end of our trip, for you to shop for souvenirs, spices to use at home, etc. We'll end with a final night in Ruwi, the commercial heart of Muscat, in a four-star hotel that has a fitness room, steam room, two swimming pools, two bars, and two restaurants.
Day 9 - DEPARTURE
Our hotel in Ruwi is a 30-minute drive to the Muscat airport. Because some flights leave early this day, we have no activities planned. You can get a taxi or private transfer to the airport when needed.
Trip Accommodations
Omani hotels often seem to be either big tourist hotels or smaller local guesthouses. We choose the smaller hotels and guesthouses most nights, in part because they have more charm and in part because they are often the only option in rural areas. Some (as you will see below) do not even have websites. We also spend one night camping in the desert but then luxuriate with a four-star hotel on the final night.
Night 1 - Bait Bimah, Wadi Bani Awf: Bait Bimah is located at the base of Snake Canyon, so is the main hotel for exploring the region. It is very small and has a combination of private rooms (like ours) and dormitories, so attracts adventurous travelers. The hotel is simple but has an outdoor seating area with beautiful views of the mountains.
Night 2 - Misfat Old House, Misfat al Abryeen: This small, traditional guesthouse is run by a local family that serves traditional Omani meals. It is near the mountains and the perfect base for us to explore the area.
Nights 3 & 4 - Old Town Hotel, Nizwa: This boutique hotel has a nice rooftop lounging area also used for breakfast, large and modern rooms (although small bathrooms), and friendly service. The best part, though, is the location - smack in the old town of Nizwa, allowing us to wander as we please during our free time.
Night 5 - Desert Camping, Wahabi Sands: We will spend one night in the Wahabi Sands desert. This will be basic camping in regular tents, although we'll have large thick mattresses and soft sands underneath us plus a Omani meal cooked over a stove by our guide.
Night 6 - Al-Ayjah Plaza Hotel, Sur: This simple but comfortable hotel is located in the city of Sur, on the Gulf of Oman about two hours south of Muscat. It has an excellent restaurant and breakfast buffet. We might walk to the nearby Al Ayjah Watchtower to view the sunset over the bay.
Night 7 - Wadi al Arbeyeen Resort: This very nice resort is located on the edge of a lagoon, with rooms overlooking the garden. The scrumptious evening meal, if we are lucky, will be followed by traditional music played around a fire in the yard. This is classic Omani - no website but a 4.8 rating on Trip Advisor.
Night 8 - Al Falaj Hotel, Rawi, Muscat: This four-star hotel has a fitness room, steam room, two swimming pools, two bars, and two restaurants. The hotel is located in the heart of the commercial district of Muscat and we'll enjoy a final banquet Omani dinner this evening.
Book this TourArrival & Departure
We will meet at in the morning of Day 1 at a designated hotel in the center of Muscat, the capital of Oman and the city with its main airport. You should plan to arrive at least the day before. There are no direct flights to Oman from the US so you will be connecting. The major airlines to Muscat are Etihad (connect through Abu Dhabi), Qatar, and Emirates (connect through Dubai). There are options for both afternoon departures from the US (which would be difficult to sleep) and evening departures (much better). Consider doing an overnight stopover in your connection city.
We will spend our final night of the tour in that same Muscat hotel, which is about 30 minutes from the airport. You are free to depart at any time you need to catch your flight. There are generally very early morning departures and evening departures back to the US.
What's Included
- Two Zephyr guides (one local) accompany each trip, with a third added as necessary. Private trips that are small might have only one local guide.
- Double occupancy lodging is included. If you are traveling solo, you may ask us to find a traveler to share a room with you but will need to pay a single supplement to have your own room if we cannot match you.
- All meals are included on this trip!
- All your transportation is included once you meet your guides on the first day.
- All group activities are included.
- NOT INCLUDED Beverages, desserts, gratuities to your guides, personal expenses, and travel to and from the destination.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Oman is November through March. High temperatures are reasonable and low overnight temps are still warm. Even in February, the rainiest month, there are only on average five days of rain per month.
Extending your vacation
You will need to arrive in Muscat the day before the tour unless you take a very early flight from a nearby city. We don't tour Muscat much so it is a good opportunity to book a local guide on your own to see the capital. We also recommend creating a one or two-day layover in your connecting city to add a second Middle Eastern country to your visit.
Ability Level
This Adventure is rated Moderate. The hiking is not peak bagging but does require good balance and comfort on uneven terrain. We do some more adventure activities, like canyoning, but will have options for shorter hikes that avoid this.
Type of people who will enjoy this tour
This adventure is ideal for those looking for a real adventure. While popular among a certain class of travelers, Oman is still rarely visited by your average tourist. The tourism infrastructure is solid and our local guiding company partner is excellent but, nevertheless, you should be prepared for schedules to change and hiccups to occur.
Changes to Your Itinerary
While everything under “What is Included” will remain the same, the actual restaurants, hotels, and activities listed in our itineraries are subject to modifications. Changes that are out of our control are common – a restaurant closes or loses its awesome chef, a winery changes its visiting hours, a hotel gets remodeled, a road or trail undergoes construction. You are entrusting us to create an outstanding vacation for you and so it is possible we may take the liberty of making necessary changes (even at the last minute, during the guides’ scout trip) to the itinerary that will improve your overall trip experience.
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February 18, 2025
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