ESSENTIAL OMAN

Day 1 Arrive in Oman

Land in Muscat and travel by 4x4 vehicle through the high, wadi-riven Al Hajar mountains to the magnificent Alila Jabal Akhdar. Perched on the edge of a ravine, high up in the Al Hajar Mountains, the Alila Jabal Akhdar offers spectacular views of the gorge below. Constructed from natural wood and local stone, the hotel blends almost invisibly into the mountainside. Each of the guest suites take inspiration from elements of Omani design and offer dramatic views of the surrounding mountains. Active days can be spent hiking along canyon trails, visiting typical villages or challenging yourself on the Via Ferrata circuit. If relaxation is the order of the day dip into the indoor or outdoor swimming pools, join a cookery class and enjoy stargazing with the resident astral guide. In the sanctuary of the spa, soothe away any tension with a Mystical Mountain Experience including a combination of purifying therapies, as well as a sunrise or sunset tai chi session. The hotel's all-day restaurant, Juniper, is named after the trees that grow in the highlands of Oman. It serves sumptuous Arabian specialities against the backdrop of the mesmerising landscape. The Rose Lounge provides an ambient setting for aperitifs or post-dinner drinks, where signature cocktails showcase local ingredients such as fresh pomegranate and juniper. This little hotel sits on the lip of a mighty canyon and overlooks the peaks and chasms of Jebel Akhdar - the Green Mountain. The Sahab is a low-rise boutique hotel featuring landscaped gardens, outdoor terraces for relaxed dining and an elegant pool close to the canyon's edge. The air here is fresh and the sunrises are sublime, best enjoyed with local dates and cardamom-laced Arabic coffee. The rest of the day is free for you to relax after your journey and to begin absorbing the tranquillity of these beautiful surroundings.

Overnight: Alila Jabal Akhdar

Day 2 Nizwa and Birkat Al Mauz

After a leisurely morning, join your guide for a private walking tour of the local area. Explore the dramatic wadis and traditional Omani villages that are scattered among the fertile terraces, where roses and pomegranates grow in abundance. This walking tour offers an immersion into a rich variety of landscapes, flora and fauna and local history, and it is the perfect way to get some exercise and enjoy the magnitude and tranquillity of the surrounding mountains.

Overnight: Alila Jabal Akhdar

Day 3 Village Walk in the Jabal Al Akhdar Range

After a leisurely morning, join your guide for a private walking tour of the local area. Explore the dramatic wadis and traditional Omani villages that are scattered among the fertile terraces, where roses and pomegranates grow in abundance. This walking tour offers an immersion into a rich variety of landscapes, flora and fauna and local history, and it is the perfect way to get some exercise and enjoy the magnitude and tranquillity of the surrounding mountains.

Overnight: Alila Jabal Akhdar

Day 4 From the Mountains to the Wahiba Sands

Depart the mountains today, descending first to the impressive fortress of Jabrin. Visit the mighty fort and castle, Oman's finest, discovering exquisite woodcarvings, painted ceilings, and a mosque and madrassa on the top floor as well as a number of protective murder-holes, escape hatches and other fascinating intricacies. After lunch, drive south to the rolling dunes of the Wahiba Sands, home to Bedouin herdsmen and prize camel breeders. Enter the desert before sunset and enjoy some exhilarating dune-driving before arriving into your camp nestled amongst the dunes.

Hidden in the mesmerising golden dunes of Wahiba Sands, the Desert Nights Camp offers fixed Bedouin-inspired tents, where solid walls meet graceful tented roofs. This is not your average camping under canvas, but desert accommodation with a touch of luxury. The air-conditioned, en suite tented suites feature a bedroom under a linen canopy, furnished with brightly coloured cushions and rugs, and an Omani-style sit-out with spectacular views of the sands. A selection of one-bedroom villas with private pool are also a recent addition.

Overnight: Desert Nights Camp

Day 5 Sur, Wadi Shab and Muscat

Early risers today can scale a dune to watch the sun rise over the rolling sea of sand. In the dawn light, a short nature walk reveals the tracks of all the creatures frequenting the dunes during the night. After a leisurely breakfast, enjoy some time driving through the dunes before heading towards the coast, where you will first reach the fishing and dhow-building port of Sur. See the dhow factory where magnificent wooden vessels are crafted by hand to traditional designs and, if the conditions allow, you may even see the flamingos wading in the lagoon. Continue your journey along the coast to Wadi Shab, where the very presence of water, let alone such inviting clear pools, seems like a minor miracle. Cross the wadi in a rowboat, then walk upstream through majestic scenery to find a clear, deep pool of translucent water, fringed with palms. After a swim and a picnic, continue to Muscat for three nights by the sea.

Overnight: The Chedi Muscat

Day 6 A Day on the Beach

Today is free for you to relax at your hotel by the beach, enjoy the swimming pool and recover from the adventures of the previous days.

Option. Take a privately-chartered motorboat to see the huge pods of spinner dolphin that make this coastline their home. Then try your hand at fishing and snorkel in the warm, turtle-rich waters.

Overnight: The Chedi Muscat

Day 7 Exploring Muscat

Rise early and meet your guide for an opportunity to explore Muscat. The city is a complete contrast to neighbouring Dubai and the benign, modernising presence of the late Sultan Qaboos can be felt everywhere - in the amazing magnificent Grand Mosque, the sparkling Opera House and even in the port at Muttrah, where a vast private yacht sits proudly amongst the plethora of small fishing boats which bring in the daily catch for sale at the busy fish market. Your private tour of the city also takes in the bustling souq with its heady aromas of frankincense and exotic spices, and also the Bait al Zubair Museum for a perfectly weighted introduction to Omani history and heritage.

Overnight: The Chedi Muscat

Day 8 Depart

Transfer to the airport and fly home.