Desert, City and Beach: An Arabian Adventure from Muscat to Abu Dhabi

Your first full day in Oman is all about discovering the beautiful capital city of Muscat. Head out with a knowledgeable expat guide who has become a real local after living in the city for so long. The tour is relaxed, informal and designed around you. You can visit a collection of beautiful sites, including the Mutrah souq, the Corniche (waterside promenade) and Riyam Park with its huge monument of a censer (incense burner) that has become the symbol of the city. This is also a great opportunity to catch a glimpse of daily life in Oman and to get any tips and recommendations for your onward travels. At the end of your private tour, you’ll still have plenty of time to admire two of the capital’s recent major achievements, both of which opened in 2011: the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque (the largest mosque in Oman) and the Royal Opera House (a beautiful example of contemporary Islamic architecture).

This morning, you’ll pick up your hire car and embark on an adventurous day exploring the natural wonders that surround Muscat. We recommend heading to Wadi Shab and Wadi Tiwi, two parallel wadis sunken in ochre limestone ravines. The emerald waters flow between date palms and banana trees and form beautiful natural pools. This region is one of the most scenic in the country and is perfect for a spot of hiking and swimming. Head back to your hotel this evening for a delicious meal and a good night’s rest.

It’s time to bid farewell to the Omani capital and drive deeper south into the heart of the country. Your next destination, Jabal al Akhdar, is only a two-hour drive away, but there is plenty to see and do along the way. Start with a stop in Oman’s old capital, Nizwa, a beautiful city known for its 17th-century fort and the quality of the goldsmith’s working in the souq. In the Al Hamra district, you can see some of the oldest buildings in the country, as well as stalls brimming with halva, a delicious oriental sesame delicacy. Continue on to Birkat Al Mouz, a village brimming with fascinating sights. There is the old mosque, a lush palm grove, crumbling remains of adobe houses and UNESCO-listed falaj (ancient irrigation systems). Round off the day by settling into a luxurious hotel in Jabal al Akhdar, where you’ll be staying for the next two nights.

The Jabal Al Akhdar region is known – and adored – for its traditional character. There are oases surrounded by mountains, ancient falaj and classic stone and adobe villages, all of which have been left virtually untouched for centuries. Today you’ll be visiting two charming villages in Jebel: Al Aqr and Al Ayn. These lands were long worked by the Bani Riyam tribe, who made the area famous for its cultivation of roses, pomegranates, apricots and olives. Head back to your hotel for one final Omani dinner before a change of country tomorrow.

Fuel up on breakfast this morning as today you’re travelling to the UAE. Jump back into your hire car and drive two hours to Muscat airport to catch a quick one-hour flight to Abu Dhabi. On arrival you’ll be met by a member of our team, who will privately transfer you to your home for the next two nights: a luxurious seaside hotel on Saadiyat Island. Spend the rest of today relaxing on the beach before tucking into a delicious dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.

After an afternoon lounging on the beach yesterday it’ll be high time for a dose of culture. Today you’ll be armed with entrance tickets to the long-awaited and widely heralded Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum. With its ultra-modern geometrical design blended with ancient Islamic architectural inspirations, Jean Nouvel's building is a work of art in and of itself. The museum's exhibitions are fully in keeping with its vision of being a universal museum, with collections ranging from Egyptian, Greek and Central Asian antiquities to contemporary art. China’s art history is documented from the period of the Northern and Southern dynasties (fifth to sixth centuries) right up to the works of contemporary artist Ai Weiwei. And there is even a museum designed for youngsters. The rest of today is yours to play with. Our Concierge will be on hand with information and recommendations for what to see and do in the city. We can also arrange for you to head out with a knowledgeable private guide to get an inside look into this majestic city.

Your epic adventure through Oman and the UAE is coming to a close and what better way to finish than a couple of nights in the heart of the desert? This morning, you’ll be privately transferred to the vast golden dunes of the Rub al Khali, a two-hour drive away. Your home for the next two night is a luxurious hotel set in the heart of the desert. Enjoy the next two days relaxing in this superb natural setting. When you’re ready for a bit of action, we can arrange a private 4x4 safari in the desert.