
Trip Ref #10416
DURATION
8 nights
LOCATION
Oman
ANNUAL LEAVE
6 days
SEASON
Oct-Apr
GROUP SIZE
Up to 12 people
MEETING POINT
Muscat International Airport, Oman
ACCOMMODATION
Classic
Hotel · Glamping · Wild camping · Guesthouse
DIFFICULTY
Moderate
No hiking or canyoning experience needed, just a reasonable level of fitness and the ability to handle 3-5 hours of activity a day
Slide through the deep canyons, caves and waterfalls of Snake Gorge, and summit Jebel Shams (3009m), the highest mountain in Oman.
Bounce through the dunes of Wahiba Sands in a desert jeep, and sleep in a remote Bedouin camp under the stars.
Discover ancient villages, desert forts and medieval souks and explore the twin oases of Wadi Tiwi and Wadi Shab.
Day 1
Welcome to Muscat
Fly into the city of Muscat, where your host will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel to kick back after your flight. In the early afternoon, you’ll meet your crew at the hotel before heading out to discover the city's standout sights, from the National Museum to the historic old town, and Al Alam Palace. Watch the sunset from the beach and head for dinner to sample some middle-eastern food.
Day 2
Off to Hatt Mountains
Hiking
2-3hrs · 6-8km
Driving
3-4hrs
Start the day with a visit to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque (please dress conservatively) and a Kahwa (traditional Omani coffee) before loading up the 4x4 and heading towards the Hatt Mountains, stopping to stretch your legs in the ancient village of Imti. It's then back in the 4x4 to continue your journey to your camp at the foot of Jebel Shams, the perfect place to pause and admire the striking desert mountain scenery and get your first taste of camping, Bedouin style. You'll walk to one of the high points for sunset before returning to camp for an Omani barbecue dinner around the campfire under a blanket of stars.
Day 3
Snake Gorge Canyon
Canyoning
3hrs
Driving
4hrs
Fuel up on brekkie, then head down an adventurous off-road track to Oman’s largest natural water park, Snake Gorge. Get pumped for jumps, slides and scrambles as you make your way through the gorge, traversing caves and swimming across cool pools as the rocky walls rise 100m above you. Refuel with lunch under the palm trees at a nearby farm and once dry it's time to hop back in the 4x4 and head up the Jebel Shams range to your next wild camp spot, a 2200m high spot with stunning panoramic views. Tuck into a civilised dinner in the comfort of tonight's camp.
Day 4
Summit Jebel Shams (3,009m)
Hiking
7-8hrs · 16km · 809m up · 809m down
Today is a biggy to reach the summit of the highest mountain in Oman, Jebel Shams. Hike above Oman's Grand Canyon, pass by abandoned villages and keep an eye out for swooping spotted eagles and the goats who guard this area. The mountains here are craggy and parched but the views are eye-popping. From the summit, you'll be rewarded with sweeping views of Wadi Al Sahtan and the rest of Oman. You’ll then descend back down to the mountain village of Misfat Al Abriyeen, where a hot meal and a comfy bed will be waiting for you.
Day 5
Misfat Al Abriyeen
Hiking
2-3hrs
Driving
1hr
Start the day by exploring Misfat Al Abriyeen, Oman’s mud village on foot, stopping off at the Omani Honey Exhibition. As you walk from Misfat to the village of Al Hamra, you'll pass agricultural terraces, gardens, plantations, beautiful alleys, and old houses built on the rocks. Nestled in the higher ranges of the Jebel Sham mountains, both villages were built more than 400 years ago by nomadic tribes travelling through the region. After a bit of lunch, you’ll then drive to tonight’s destination, the oasis town of Nizwa, home to the famous fort and its nearby souk.
Day 6
Nizwa to Wahiba Sands
Driving
2-3hrs
Start the day with a visit to the old neighbourhood of Al-Aqr, and then walk to the oldest part of Nizwa's souk, dedicated to craftsmanship and famous for the traditional Omani dagger known as a Khanjar, a symbol of bravery. Pass by Nizwa Fort with its cylindrical tower and learn about Oman’s long history and proud culture. After lunch, you'll jump back into the 4x4 and head to a remote Bedouin camp deep in the Wahiba Sands desert to relax and marvel at the stars and enjoy some traditional Arab cuisine.
Day 7
From Wahiba Sands to Wadi Hawir
Canyoning
4-5hrs
Driving
3-4hrs
Today you'll have the option of a sunrise hike up a nearby sand dune and catch the deep reds of the desert landscape. Spend the morning playing in the dunes, try your luck sand boarding or relax at camp. Then it's time to pack up the 4x4 and bounce around the dunes towards Wadi Wadi Hawir, another prime canyon to navigate our way along, with stunning pools, slides and waterfalls overlooked by steep cliff faces and swaying palm trees. At sunset, you'll head to the coastal town of Sur, with its striking traditional dwellings. Enjoy a cooked meal and a good night’s sleep after the days activities.
Day 8
Wadi Tiwi and Wadi Shab
Swimming
2-3hrs
Driving
2-3hrs
Grab an Omani coffee and watch the sunrise before hitting the road to the beautiful wadis of Wadi Tiwi and Wadi Shab. Be ready for plenty of swimming, scrambling and waterfall showers - today you'll be doing a combination of swimming, walking and canyoning through the wadis. Later head back to Muscat stopping at the mysterious and water-filled Bimmah Sinkhole, famous for its turquoise colour. Take a dip if you like, then return to the capital for a relaxing night and some free time exploring the city at your own pace.
Day 9
Transfer to Airport
Relax over a last breakfast and say your final goodbyes with your team, then return to the airport where your Omani adventure will come to an end.
Included
Guides
Local, professional, English-speaking guides
Accommodation
3 nights in a hotel, 2 in a guesthouse, 2 in a Bedouin camp and 1 wild camping
Meals
Munch on tasty food throughout
Transfers
To and from the airport and everything in-between
Equipment
All your camping and canyoning gear
Permits
All your permits and entry fees
Not Included
Flights to and from the meeting point
Travel insurance
Personal expenses
Tips for your guides
Visas where required
Day 1
Hotel · Twin share
Day 2
Glamping · Twin tent
Day 3
Wild camping · Twin tent
Day 4 – Day 5
Guesthouse · Twin share
Day 6
Glamping · Twin tent
Day 7
Hotel · Twin share
Day 8
Hotel · Twin share
Day 9
Departure day
What is the food like?
Sitting on a historic crossroads between east and west, Oman has always been a melting pot of cultures and you will find a variety of Omani cuisines and Middle-Eastern restaurants. In terms of traditional Omani Food - be sure to try Shiwa, a dish of slow-cooked lamb served with rice that's traditionally eaten with your hands, a traditional Omani coffee or 'Kahwa' and the plump local dates.
Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for - please just request on your passenger info form.
What is the accommodation like?
Muscat
During your time in Muscat, you'll stay at either the boutique hotel Carnelian, or Hotel Ramada Encore by Wyndham. You'll stay in twin-share rooms by default (king-sized beds available for couples on request) that offer air conditioning along with an onsite restaurant, outdoor swimming pool and a sun terrace. There is no shortage of things to do in the area, explore the Natural History Museum and check out Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.
Bedouin Mountain Camp
You'll spend one night at the Sama Heights Jebel Shams Bedouin Camp, located at the foot of Jebel Shams. It consists of several communal areas for dining and sitting outside. The camp features local stone houses, equipped with raised beds and private bathrooms.
Wild Camping
You will spend one night wild camping in the Omani mountains - without a doubt the best way to soak up the wild nature. You'll have a choice of sleeping options: a tent under the stars, a Bedouin tent (sleeping up to 4 people), or if 'glamping' is more your style - a cosy caravan. Sleeping mats and sleeping bags are provided.
Misfat Al-Abriyeen
You'll spend one night in the village of Misfat Al Abriyeen at the Al Misfah Hospitality Inn. The inn is a restored ancient house overlooking green palm groves. The accommodation is comfortable with a traditional atmosphere and hospitality.
Nizwa
You'll spend one night in the Niza Antique Inn, surrounded by an ancient neighbourhood right in the heart of old Nizwa. You'll stay in twin-share rooms by default (king-sized beds available for couples on request) and the inn features air-conditioned accommodation, a restaurant, outdoor pool, and a rooftop terrace.
Bedouin Desert Camp
You'll spend one night at the Bedouin desert camp amidst the sand dunes, which consists of several communal dining areas and an outside lounge. The en suite tents are large canvas square style tents with a raised bed, mattress and furniture in each.
Sur
You'll spend one night at the Sur Plaza Hotel, in the picturesque town of Sur. You'll stay in twin-share rooms by default (king-sized beds available for couples on request) the hotel features comfortably furnished and spacious rooms, a restaurant and an outdoor pool.
Upgrades
For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room and tent can be booked for an extra charge, see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking (this is subject to availability).
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Muscat International Airport
Anytime on Day 1
Ends
Muscat International Airport
Anytime on Day 9
Transfers
Your adventure begins at Muscat International Airport (MCT), where your guide will meet you on arrival on Day 1 and drop you off on departure on Day 9. If you arrive early or extend your stay, your host can arrange a private transfer for you. See Optional Extras for pricing.
Travel options
There are frequent flights to Muscat (MCT) from major airports across the UK, Europe and US.
Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear
In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.
What's included?
- All camping equipment
- Canyoning gear (life jacket and helmet)
What do I need to bring?
BAGS
Soft duffel bag or rucksack
Daypack (25+ litres)for personal belongings while hiking
Drybags for the canyoning
CLOTHES
Lightweight down jacket
Fleece or warm mid-layer
Lightweight trousers/shorts/skirts
T-shirts
Underwear & socks
Swimwear
Sunglasses
Sunhat/cap
Something to sleep in
Waterproof hiking boots (worn-in) for walking sections in the canyons, plus ideally a pair of light 'wet shoes' with decent grip
Flip flops or sandals (for around camp)
**When visiting a mosque, it's important to show respect by dressing appropriately, even in the heat. Women should cover their arms and legs and wear a headscarf; trousers or a long skirt are recommended. Men are required to wear trousers and long-sleeved shirts.
OTHER
Waterproof cover for you phone/camera
Universal travel plug adapter
Power bank or solar charger
Passports (and visas)
Travel Insurance documents
Earplugs
Suncream
Personal first-aid kit (inc. blister treatment)
Quick-dry towel
Alcohol hand-gel
Headtorch or torch
Reusable water bottle (x1 litre)
Biodegradable wet-wipes
Energy bars and snacks
Pre/Post Trip Accommodation Single/Double/Twin Room
Payable Before Departure
Pre/Post Trip Accommodation Single/Double/Twin Room
… Per Night
Optional Private Room and Tent Upgrade
Payable Before Departure
Optional Private Room and Tent Upgrade
… Per Person
Airport Transfer One Way
Payable Before Departure
Airport Transfer One Way
… Per Person
What an amazing trip!! Highly recommend and had a thoroughly great experience. A few things to note:
- Yes, it may not be the cheapest trip but all meals, snacks and transfers are included. I took out 100 Omani Rials when we landed (around £200) and that covered my whole trip, including additional activities like renting quad bikes in the desert and snorkelling with the turtles. If not interested in additional activities, you could take out even less, 50 Rials would be plenty.
- You can take either a suitcase or a rucksack, they are both equally easy to transport between hotels.
- Highly recommend leggings for the canyoning.
- A small towel will be sufficient, it’s to dry yourself off after the canyoning, but we were mostly dry from walking back to the car in the sun.
- Previous comments mention to take snacks for the big hike day, but Nabeel and the team have made a number of updates to the itinerary to make it flow better, so I barely ate any of my snacks. There is also a stop to a supermarket before the hike so you can pick anything up there. I’d recommend to pack a few things you like but don’t overpack.
- The food is absolutely amazing on the trip! There is always lots of it so embrace it and enjoy! A huge thank you to Nabeel and a special shout out to Jaifar, what an amazing guide and made the trip really special.
This was a fabulous trip. Oman is made for adventures. In addition to canyoning and hiking, we added quad biking and snorkeling. The country is beautiful, people are kind and polite, and the food is incredible. All hotels were super clean.
- Bring a long sleeve rash top and tights/leggings. It will protect your skin from scratches.
- There is very little spending money required as the trip covers majority of food and expenses.
Great experience and exposure to a different culture. Go into it with curiosity and willingness to learn rather than compare. Your world will open up and you will have an opportunity to physically push yourself. I highly recommend adhering to the kit list (although head lamp wasn't really needed). If you bring a reusable water bottle you will find some spots to refill them, or even at the hotels. Don't take a taxi from the hotel, it will cost significantly more, and be proactive in asking for your included transfer! This is such a fun and beautiful adventure.
This was a great trip! The local guides were incredible - very knowledgeable and well organised. We loved all of the activities, accommodation and food. What a lovely way to explore such a beautiful country
This is an absolutely amazing trip with a myriad of different activities and highlights! Hiking Oman's Grand Canyon and Jebel Shams, exploring the fascinating cultures of Muscat, Nizwa, and the wonderfully atmospheric Misfat al Abriyeen "mud village" built into the rock. Playing and walking in the incomparable dune scenery of Wahiba Sands and swimming and canyoning through beautiful wadis. Nabeel's organisation and company was fantastic from start to finish, and Jaifar is a superb guide and so much fun to spend time with! We ate far too much delicious food (hard to restrain ourselves after lots of active days!) and the fresh fruit juices were delicious. A close-knit lovely group and overall a wonderful experience - you must do this trip!
Activity and Itinerary-wise this is was my favorite MBA trip. The scenery is stunning and the hikes and canyonings are a lot of fun.Logistics, however, were not outstanding, and this is the only reason why I am not rating this trip 5/5. There was some confusion with our hotel bookings and one or two very late meals. Make sure your dry bag has stripes as you are going to hike with them and also that your water shoes have good grip.
I really enjoyed this trip. The scenery was epic and the guides were very warm and friendly. They were incredibly accommodating, great fun to be around and helped everyone maximise their enjoyment of the canyoning. I was gently cajoled into various jumps, abseils and caves that were outside my comfort zone but utterly thrilling in the moment and very memorable. We also had a fabulous group - that's 2 from 2 on my MBA trips 👌. My next trip is booked!
The 2nd of 3 canyoning days deserves a special mention - it was particularly exquisite. So much fun that the time flew by... And everyone's blown away by the photos. The Insta fodder is limitless.
There were one or two wrinkles: a struggle to find a hotel, briefings that could be more detailed and I'd suggest packed lunches to avoid the very late lunches we had on a couple of occasions. And the last day didn't quite hit the heights of the others so perhaps worth juggling things round there. It's a fairly new trip so those tweaks are to be expected. Certainly don't let it put you off.
A few things to bear in mind if you're considering booking this trip: 1) All the food and soft drinks is included so the trip is better value than it might seem. 2) You will need to bring snacks as per the kit list. They're crucial given the late lunches. 3) Full length arms on a rash vest will be a big help. 4) The timings and schedule are fluid - that's the way the guides roll. On the plus side you can influence the schedule. 5) I don't eat meat and I was fine. I had quite a bit of fish which is available everywhere. Most places have falafel and good salads so proper vegetarians would be fine too. 6) Water shoes with good grip and a decent sole (i.e. not wafer thin) will maximise your enjoyment of the canyoning. 7) There's not really an opportunity to pay for washing so bring travel wash or plenty of DRI fit gear. 8) Oman is a Pepsi country. Supermarkets do sell Coke Zero though! 9) Chips are used as a garnish. So a rice and chip butty is a possibility should you be that way inclined. 10) The Omani attitude to bread and rice is that more is always better. I loosened my belt a couple of notches and lent into that part of the culture!
I cannot recommend this trip highly enough - stunning scenery, a brilliant group, great value for money, and fab guides. It would be very difficult to pick a single highlight in a trip that included cities, mountains, canyons, desert and traditional mud towns, but the canyoning in particular exceeded my expectations and was far more fun (and challenging!) than anything I've done in the UK. Jaifar is a brilliant guide with endless energy who made sure everyone was always having fun, even when we (I!) were wobbling over the more difficult bits of bouldering or needing hauling up/onto rocks. Special mention also to Khalil for acting as a human ladder on more than one occasion! Wahiba Sands was also a huge highlight for me, as was Nizwa, and the swimming at Wadi Hawir - some of the most breathtaking scenery I've ever seen, made even better (in the case of Wadi Hawir) by the fact that for much of the day we didn't see anyone else. The accommodation and food throughout was even better than expected, and confirmed that this trip is incredibly good value. A big thank you is also due to Nabeel, not just for his knowledge and support at the beginning and end of the trip, but also for continuing to help out those of us who stayed on a few extra days after the tour ended - he went above and beyond. My extra advice: definitely pack leggings (I didn't, but they would have been helpful for canyoning!) and for women, be aware you'll need to cover shoulders and knees in most places. Most importantly, if you're thinking of signing up, do it - Oman should be at the top of everyone's travel list, and you will be in capable hands throughout if you book with MBA.
Fantastic trip - great range of activities (especially the canyoning, which words can't do justice to), sights and guides. Felt like we really got to know Oman and its and very welcoming people whilst also enjoying lots of adrenaline rushes. There was the odd niggle, and I'd change the itinerary a bit, but nothing that took the shine off a great overall experience!
The most fantastic adventure and intro to a country and culture with the loveliest, most welcoming hosts. They looked after us fantastically, packing our trip with fun. The wadi pools are just heaven. Can’t wait to come back and explore more. 💙💙💙💙
We've crunched the numbers to work out the total carbon footprint of this trip, and plant enough trees to suck 2x as much back out the atmosphere.
What's the number?
It works out on average at 356kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.
The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal for 2023 to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.
But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:
- Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you in it).
- A return economy class flight London - New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
- 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.
What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. For every person booked with us since 2016 we’re planting enough trees to suck at least 2x more carbon out the atmosphere than is emitted by their trips. All native trees, as part of amazing projects that are re-foresting degraded land, tackling the biodiversity crisis and supporting local communities at the same time. We go further than that too, also funding re-wilding projects worldwide to help protect important keystone species from extinction. See the reforestation and re-wilding schemes we support. See our carbon action plan.
Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.
You should have a good overall level of fitness, although no previous experience in any of the activities is required. You'll generally be active for 3-5 hours each day, with plenty of breaks to rest and recharge. What’s more important is being comfortable with heights. There will be a few exposed sections so those with vertigo may not be too comfortable. Your guide will never be far away to help you get through it though.
You'll be led by an experienced and safety-focused guide. Expect to be in and out of water a lot, negotiating obstacles, and jumping off rocks into deep blue pools. Some of the water jumps are up to 3 meters high.
For Omanis, wadis are their life-force - deep canyons that criss-cross the mountains and deserts, with turquoise waters that flow over waterfalls and into crystal clear pools that demand you dive in and cool off. They're also a haven for wildlife and flowers and a trip to one for a hike, swim, climb, off-road drive or a picnic is always a highlight of any visit to Oman. On this trip, you'll visit some of your host's favourite wadi's that few tourists ever see.
Sure can! Over 50% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion but there is an expectation to tip for good service. Your guide will help with advice, however, we suggest the below as a guideline per person:
Guide: $5 per person per day Driver: $3 per person per day
Of course, you are free to tip more or less, and the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality - a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
As you might expect, the weather in Oman is hot, sunny and dry all year round, with daytime temperatures that rarely drop below 20°C. Summer can be very hot, with temperatures topping 35°C and little rainfall. Nights can be a little cooler, especially in the Jebel Shams mountains, with temperatures dropping to 5-10 degrees during the night and as cold as 0 degrees in January/February (bring a windproof jacket and a hoodie to stay warm). The really hot months between May and September should be avoided.
As you will be travelling with a vehicle, your luggage will need to travel with you so we advise keeping it reasonably small and light.
We recommend checking out the country specific information here and also talking to a travel nurse.
Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.
Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.
We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!
We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.
If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.
All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.
You're in good company. Our adventures are typically made up of a mix of solo travellers and small groups of two or three friends who simply love adventure, pushing themselves and meeting awesome like-minded people. See here for more info about our lovely bunch of Much Better Adventurers.
Want to book a private trip? Just tap ‘Private Group’ in the dates and prices tab.
Your trip is led by carefully curated local hosts and expert guides. See here for more info about the guides we work with.
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