# The grand tour of northern Oman in 10 days Ten days around northern Oman: Muscat, the forts of Nizwa, two nights on the rim of Oman's Grand Canyon at Jebel Shams, a night in a Wahiba desert camp, a night at the Ras al Jinz turtle reserve, then back along the coast past Wadi Shab for two beach nights in Muscat. Source : https://sabaro-travel.com/en/ideas/oman-grand-nord-10-jours/ ## A clockwise loop This trip traces a loop from Muscat. It heads inland first to the Hajar Mountains, crosses the country eastwards to the Wahiba dunes, reaches the easternmost tip of Arabia at Ras al Jinz, then returns to the capital along the coast road. The order has a reason: the two beach nights come at the end, to rest before the flight, and the coast road, the most scenic, is driven by day after the turtles. | Stop | Nights | Where to stay | Reference | |---|---|---|---| | Muscat | 2 | Mandarin Oriental Muscat | 30 min from the airport | | Nizwa | 1 | Antique Inn | 150 km from the airport | | Jebel Shams | 2 | Jebel Shams Resort | 37 km from Al Hamra | | Wahiba Sands | 1 | Thousand Nights Camp | edge of the dunes 185 km from the airport | | Ras al Jinz | 1 | turtle reserve | 45 km from Sur | | Muscat | 2 | Jumeirah Muscat Bay | 40 min from the airport | The season runs from October to April, which covers desert nights (September to April) and Wadi Shab (September to May). You need a car with driver or a hired 4x4: the last stretch to the camps and the Jebel Shams road are 4x4 only. ## Muscat, two nights The [Mandarin Oriental Muscat](/en/hotels/mandarin-oriental-muscat/), opened in 2024 in Shatti Al Qurum, faces the Gulf of Oman. Its Deluxe rooms measure 55 m² with a balcony; there is a kids' club for ages 4 to 12 and a spa with a hammam. Rates start from around €440 a night with breakfast in March 2027. On day two, the 4.5-hour guided tour included in this trip takes in the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, open to non-Muslims from Saturday to Thursday, 8 to 11 am local time, Mutrah souk and Al Alam Palace. In the afternoon, the National Museum tells the country's story across 14 galleries. ## Nizwa, one night Nizwa is about 1 hour 40 minutes' drive from Muscat. The day is about forts: Nizwa, with its 34 m round tower; Bahla, Oman's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed in 1987; and Jabreen Castle, built in 1675, with painted ceilings. The night is at the [Antique Inn](/en/hotels/antique-inn-nizwa/), a restored 300-year-old mudbrick house a few minutes' walk from the fort, from around €100 a night: a simple character hotel with a small pool. ## Jebel Shams, two nights ### On the way: Al Hamra, Misfat and Al Hoota Cave The road to Jebel Shams has three stops: - **old Al Hamra**, a 400-year-old village of mudbrick houses two to four storeys high; - **Misfat al Abriyeen**, an oasis village at 900 m perched on a rock and watered by a falaj more than 2,000 years old, named in 2021 on the World Tourism Organization's list of best tourism villages; - **Al Hoota Cave**, a show cave in the Al Hamra district; the one-hour guided visit, from around €21 per person, is included in this trip. ### Jebel Shams Resort Jebel Shams rises to about 3,000 m and is, according to Oman's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the highest point of the Arabian Peninsula. [Jebel Shams Resort](/en/hotels/jebel-shams-resort/) is a few steps from the viewpoint over Oman's Grand Canyon, 37 km from Al Hamra, over a steep pass where a 4x4 is recommended. Its 28 m² Sunset Chalets have a terrace and a glass door facing the canyon; there is a pool, a restaurant and a campfire area. It is a mid-range adventure base, from around €145 a night with breakfast. ### The Balcony Walk Day five is for the Balcony Walk, waymarked trail W6. It starts at Khateem, runs along cliffs a kilometre high and reaches the abandoned village of As Sab, in about three hours there and back. The trailhead is close to the hotel. Start early, with water and good shoes. ## The Wahiba Sands, one night This is the longest drive of the trip, crossing the interior eastwards to Al Wasil, one of the gateways to the dunes. The Sharqiya Sands, or Wahiba, cover about 10,000 km² of yellow to orange dunes. The camps collect their guests at the edge of the sand, as the track is 4x4 only. [Thousand Nights Camp](/en/hotels/thousand-nights-camp/) lies beyond the busiest area. It offers Bedouin tents and air-conditioned sand houses, a small pool, described as the only one in a Wahiba camp, and a restaurant serving barbecue and *shuwa*, meat slow-cooked under embers. Activities include sandboarding, a sunset camel ride and stargazing, some at extra cost. The camp serves no alcohol and electricity is limited. Rates start from around €150 a night, room only. ## Ras al Jinz, one night On day seven, stop at Wadi Bani Khalid, one of the most fertile valleys in the country, with pools and waterfalls, before heading on to Sur and Ras al Jinz. The [Ras al Jinz Turtle Reserve](/en/hotels/ras-al-jinz-turtle-reserve/) is the only place in Oman where turtle watching is allowed. You sleep in a Carapace room or an air-conditioned eco-tent; both guided viewings, at 9 pm and 5 am local time, and breakfast are included. Green turtles nest all year, though fewer come ashore from October to April than in summer. Rates start from around €230 a night. No flash and no torches on the beach. ## The coast road and Muscat, two nights On day eight, the coast road takes you back to Muscat in about 3 hours 40 minutes without stops. Make three: - **Qalhat**, an ancient city listed by UNESCO in 2018, of which the early 14th-century mausoleum of Bibi Maryam still stands; - **Wadi Shab**, about 175 km from the airport: a boat crossing, a walk, pools and a cave with a waterfall, with no shops in the wadi; - **Bimmah Sinkhole**, a water-filled sinkhole in a municipal park by the road. The trip ends at [Jumeirah Muscat Bay](/en/hotels/jumeirah-muscat-bay/), opened in 2022 in a sheltered cove at Bandar Jissah, 15 minutes from central Muscat. It has three pools, one of them adults-only, a private beach and the Talise spa. Rates start from around €420 a night with breakfast. Day nine is free for the beach, and day ten is departure day. ## Caution and rules - **Wadis.** From October to March, flash floods can be deadly, as in 2024. Stay out of wadis when heavy rain is forecast and for at least a day afterwards. The paths in Wadi Shab and Wadi Bani Khalid are not secured. - **Desert.** Governments advise driving in convoys of at least two vehicles; the camp track is done with the camp's transfer. - **Roads.** It is best not to drive at night outside Muscat because of animals on the road. - **Regional situation.** Since the Iranian strikes in the Gulf, foreign ministries have not all given the same advice; the [Oman travel situation](/en/guides/situation-oman/) guide has the details. Yours: (Depends on the traveller's country: see the table on https://sabaro-travel.com/en/ideas/oman-grand-nord-10-jours/) Each area has its own page: [Muscat](/en/oman/muscat/), [Nizwa](/en/oman/nizwa/), [Jebel Shams](/en/oman/jebel-shams/), [Wahiba Sands](/en/oman/wahiba-sands/) and [Sur and Ras al Jinz](/en/oman/sur-and-ras-al-jinz/). The guides to [driving in Oman](/en/guides/conduire-oman/), [a night in the desert](/en/guides/nuit-desert-oman/) and [Oman's wadis](/en/guides/wadis-oman/) fill in the details. Prices are recorded including taxes, with any local taxes on top. ## Frequently asked questions ### Can I drive myself? Yes, in a 4x4. Whether your driving licence is accepted depends on the country that issued it: the [driving in Oman](/en/guides/conduire-oman/) guide explains. For the Wahiba camps you leave the car at the edge of the dunes and follow the camp's transfer. ### Will I see turtles in winter? Yes, green turtles nest at Ras al Jinz all year, though less often from October to April. The best hatching season is May to September. ### Is the Balcony Walk difficult? It is a waymarked trail of about three hours there and back, along cliffs a kilometre high. Good shoes and care are needed. ### Can I shorten the trip? Yes: [Desert and turtles in 5 days](/en/ideas/oman-desert-tortues-5-jours/) keeps the eastern part, and [Muscat, Jebel Akhdar and Nizwa in 7 days](/en/ideas/oman-mascate-jebel-akhdar-nizwa-7-jours/) the mountains. ### When is the best time to go? From October to April. Mountain nights are cold from December to March, and the desert season runs from September to April.