Oman Tours & Vacations

Small Group Tours & Tailor-Made Vacations

Overview

A small group tour to Oman is the best way of combining breathtaking natural beauty with a well-preserved cultural heritage. Peaceful and tranquil, Oman occupies the south-eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, where it has long been an important gateway for trade between Africa and Asia. Our group tours and adventure holidays in Oman are one of the best ways to explore what is arguably the ...

Read More

Meet the Expert

Speak to a specialist to start planning your trip to Oman

Start your journey

Group tours

Travel to Oman with like-minded people on one of our small group tours (usually max size 12), featuring knowledgeable local guides and an expert tour leader.

TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAYS

Whether you want to travel on one of our award-winning itineraries or build your own journey from scratch, our expert consultants will help create the perfect tour for your tastes and budget. Below are a few suggestions of the kind of private tours we can offer, all of which can be tailored to you.

SUGGESTED ITINERARIES

HIGHLIGHTS OF OMAN

BEST EXPERIENCES

TOP PLACES TO VISIT

Empty Quarter

Rub' al Khali directly translates to "Quarter of Emptiness" and it is no surprise as it is the largest sand desert on Earth. The arid sands span 250,000 square miles, covering much of the southern Arabian ...

Muscat

The ancient city of Muscat, the capital of Oman, sits between crystal-clear blue waters and the Hajar Mountains, with the evocatively named Empty Quarter beyond. It offers the visitor an insight into ...

Nizwa

A palm oasis situated in a plain and surrounded by Oman’s highest mountains, Nizwa was the capital of Oman from 751 to 1154 AD and is still regarded as the country’s cultural centre. It was ...

Salalah

Salalah is the capital of Dhofar, Oman’s southernmost province, and is a vibrant, colourful place that has its roots in the profitable frankincense trade that proliferated in the region. An important ...

Wahiba Sands

The Wahiba Sands are one of the country’s most isolated desert areas where majestic dunes blown by the wind tower above the desert floor. As the sun moves through the sky the sands reflect a multitude ...

Jebel Akhdar & Jebel Shams

The limestone peaks of Al Hajar form the highest mountain range in eastern Arabia, paralleling the coast of the Gulf of Oman and stretching south-eastward in a 700 km arc. Rising up out of the surrounding ...

OUR FAVOURITE PLACES TO STAY

Luxury | Tented Camp

1000 Nights Camp, Wahiba Sands

1000 Nights Camp is the only one of its kind at Wahiba Sands, where you can travel further into the sands away from the main 'traffic' of this now quite busy area. The deluxe camp has 73 hand-made…
Luxury | Hotel

Al Bustan Palace, Muscat

Experience an Oman luxury hotel where you can enjoy in an array of water sports, savour exquisite cuisine and, just minutes away, discover the rich history and traditions of an Arabian nation. A recent…
Luxury | Resort

Alila Jabal Akhdar, Jebel Akhdar

Built to fit in with the rugged and dramatic surroundings of the Al Hajar Mountains, Alila Jabal Akhdar is an eco-friendly hotel with stunning views over the gorge and sumptuous grounds filled with…
Luxury | Hotel

Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar, Jebel Akhdar

Al Jabal Al Akhdar is part of the fabled Al Hajar Mountains and is home to the highest 5 star luxury resort in the Middle East. 2,000 metres above sea level, the Anantara is placed on the edge of a…
Simple | Wild Camp

Empty Quarter Wild Camp, Empty Quarter

Your wild camp will be set up this evening in a remote area of the desert in a truly epic location. And what an experience it will be... The size of the dunes, the colour of the dunes and the scale on…
Luxury | Tented Camp

Hud Hud Shared Camp - Wahiba Sands, Wahiba Sands

Despite being mobile tents the Hud Hud Camps are designed with luxury and sustainability in mind. No electric light, other than solar, is used throughout the night providing a romantic candle lit…
Simple | Wild Camp

Khaluf Wild Beach Camp, Khaluf

Your camp will be in the desert dunes close to the coast. Watch the most stunning sunset, sit around a campfire and catch shooting stars, seemingly without another soul alive in the universe. This…
Luxury | Resort

The Chedi, Muscat

The Chedi arguably Oman’s finest ‘design’ hotel. The minimalist style of the hotel's low-rise buildings, spread throughout the beautifully landscaped gardens, derives from traditional Omani…

Discover more

WHEN TO GO

You should come prepared for hot sunny days and the heat is generally dry. As ever you can expect extremes in the desert, though temperatures should never be too hot or too cold. In the British summertime the heat can be extraordinary and our general advice if travelling then is get near some air conditioning!

Best Time To Visit Oman > 

Meet the expert, Dan

Dan is our Middle East expert, who has travelled extensively in the region.

Speak to Daniel by calling
+44 (0)20 3944 6258

Omani food is often overlooked which is a shame as it's a sumptuous blend of South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine. My favourite dish and bit of a national icon is the wonderfully fragrant Shuwa.

USEFUL INFORMATION

Health and Vaccinations 

 There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Oman though you should be up-to-date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. We recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments. 

 Currency 

In Oman the official unit of currency is the Omani Rial (OMR). 

To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com

Cultural Sensitivity 

 On our tours you will frequently interact with local people, each with their own distinct customs and traditions. We therefore ask you to be considerate and to treat them with respect. Your tour-leaders and guides will always be able to advise you accordingly.  

Oman is a Muslim country, and it is important that, as guests of the country, we respect the local customs. When in Muscat we will visit the grand mosque of Sultan Quaboos. While at the mosque, both ladies and gentlemen will need to dress conservatively.
Ladies will need to cover their heads with a scarf and wear a loose fitting, long sleeved shirt that covers arms as well as long skirt or trousers. Gentlemen are asked to wear a long-sleeved collared shirt with long trousers.  

Language & Religion 

Arabic is the official language of Oman, and English and Asian languages such as Hindi, Urdu, and Baluchi are also widely spoken. Swahili is spoken by some, a legacy of Oman´s former East African presence. English is widely used in business. 

 Islam is the official religion, although other religions are tolerated under the country´s Basic Law. Muslims make up 86 percent of the population.
Three-fourths of the Muslims are Ibadis, a minority sect dating from the 8th century. Most of the remainder adhere to Sunni Islam and the rest to Shia Islam. Indian Hindus account for 13 percent of the population. There are also small numbers of non-Omani Christians. 

Time 

Oman is 4 hours ahead of GMT. 

A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com 

Food and drink 

The food is mainly Arabic, Lebanese, Turkish, and Indian. Many Omanis make a distinction between "Arabic" food and "Omani" food, with the former being the description of the standard dishes found throughout the Arabian Peninsula.  

Omani food tends to be less spicy and served in quite large portions - whole fish are not uncommon at lunch in some local restaurants. As benefits of a country with a long coastline, seafood is quite a common dish, particularly shark, which is surprisingly tasty.  

Travelling Solo In Oman

All of our small group tours are designed to cater for solo travellers: the number of solo travellers will vary from tour to tour, but usually over half will be travelling alone. Get all of the excitement of discovering new places combined with the security of travelling with an organised group, with like minded people.