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Oman
Four nights in Salalah
Four nights in Oman's far south, among ancient incense ports, mountain springs and sea cliffs.
- Day by day
- 4 nights
- From
- €1,000 per person
- Best months
- January, February, March, April, October, November, December
Overview
For two thousand years, frankincense left Arabia from this coast. The ports that shipped it still stand in ruins by the sea, and the trees that produce it still grow in the hills behind. Salalah sits between the two, green with banana and coconut palms, warm when the rest of the Gulf is not. Each day takes a different direction. East along the coast to Mirbat and Taqah, old towns of mud-brick houses and drying sardines. West to the cliffs of Mughsail, where the sea bursts up through the rock. Up to Jabal Samhan, where Dhofar falls away to the ocean below. Everything runs on a private basis, with an English and Arabic-speaking driver-guide and four nights at a 4-star hotel in Salalah. Arranged with our trusted partner on the ground in Oman. The order of visits may shift for operational reasons. Every stop listed is kept.
Highlights
- Al Baleed and Sumhuram, ancient frankincense ports on the UNESCO World Heritage list
- The old town of Mirbat and the twin-domed tomb of Bin Ali
- Taqah, a fishing town of traditional Dhofari houses
- Wadi Darbat and the spring gardens of Ayn Razat
- The blowholes of Mughsail and Marneef Cave
- Views over Dhofar from Jabal Samhan
- English and Arabic-speaking driver-guide throughout
Day by day
Day 1
Arrival in Salalah
Your driver meets you at Salalah Airport for a private transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours. Overnight in Salalah.
Day 2
Salalah and Al Baleed
A morning in Salalah, the largest city in Dhofar and the birthplace of the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said. Drive between the coconut palms and banana groves that line the town. Continue to Al Baleed, the ruins of a medieval trading port that grew rich on frankincense, now an archaeological park on the edge of the sea. Overnight in Salalah.
Day 3
East and west of Salalah
Head east to Mirbat, once the capital of Dhofar, and walk its streets of old mud-brick houses. Visit the twin-domed tomb of Bin Ali, a rare piece of medieval architecture. Stop in Taqah, a fishing town known for its sun-dried sardines and traditional Dhofari houses. Continue to Sumhuram, an ancient port on the frankincense route, and the valley of Wadi Darbat, which turns into cascading waterfalls during the khareef season. Pause at the spring-fed gardens of Ayn Razat. In the afternoon, cross to the west coast for the blowholes of Mughsail, where the sea shoots up through the rock, and finish at Marneef Cave between the cliffs. Overnight in Salalah.
Day 4
Jabal Samhan
A full day in the mountains. The road climbs from the coast to Jabal Samhan, one of the highest points in Dhofar, around an hour from Salalah. From the top, the land drops away in long ridges towards the ocean. Bring a camera and take your time. Overnight in Salalah.
What is included
- 4 nights at a 4-star hotel in Salalah
- Daily breakfast
- Private airport transfers in Salalah
- Private vehicle with English and Arabic-speaking driver-guide
- All sightseeing and transfers on a private basis
What is not
- International and domestic flights
- Visa fees
- Museum, fort and archaeological site entrance fees
- Early check-in and late check-out
- Lunches and dinners
- Drinks, laundry, tips and other personal expenses
Where you will be
The countries this journey crosses.
Gallery
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