Empty Quarter Desert sunset tour from Salalah: Lost City of Ubar

Watch the sunset from the tallest dunes in one of the world's largest sand deserts.

A private 4x4 tour departing Salalah in the afternoon, traveling through the Dhofar mountains to the Empty Quarter Desert with stops at a camel farm, the UNESCO-protected Wadi Dawka frankincense forest, and the archaeological site of the Lost City of Ubar. The tour peaks with a two-hour stop on the golden dunes to watch the sunset, and includes an English-speaking guide, water, snacks and air-conditioned transport for up to six passengers. The journey takes roughly seven to eight hours total, including drive time.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sunset adventure in Empty Quarter Desert

• Pick up around 13:30
• Drive through Dhofar mountains and stop for photos
• Pass Thumrait town
• Visit camel farm and learn about camels
• Drive to Wadi Dawka frankincense trees
• Explore Wadi Dawka UNESCO site
• Drive to Lost City of Ubar
• Visit Lost City of Ubar UNESCO site
• Drive to Empty Quarter Desert
• Sand bashing on golden dunes
• Watch sunset from tall dune

The experience

The route starts with a pickup around 1:30 p.m. and climbs through the Dhofar mountains toward the desert interior, passing through landscape where you'll stop for photos. The drive takes you past Thumrait, a historic waypoint on the ancient Arabian caravan routes, before reaching a camel farm about 30 minutes into the journey. There you learn how camels shaped Omani life and see the rare black camels native to the region: a 30-minute stop that grounds the desert experience in the animals that made it crossable.

From the farm, the route continues roughly 20 minutes to Wadi Dawka, a UNESCO World Heritage Site protecting Boswellia Sacra frankincense trees, the species that produces the highest-grade resin. You walk among these iconic trees for about 30 minutes, then drive another 20 minutes to the Lost City of Ubar in Al Shisr. This archaeological site, also called the Atlantis of the Sands, was a crucial hub on ancient trade routes. You spend 40 minutes exploring the ruins and learning its history from your guide.

The final 30-minute drive takes you into the Empty Quarter itself: Al Rub' Al Khali, one of the world's largest sand deserts. The tour arranges a setup on one of the tallest dunes where you watch the sunset over the fine golden sands for two hours. This is the centerpiece: the moment the light changes across the dunes and the desert quiets. You'll have time to walk the soft sand, photograph the landscape and sit with the scale of the place. The guide handles all navigation and timing. You bring only the willingness to be still and watch.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned 4x4 transport for up to six passengers.
• English-speaking guide for the full journey.
• water and snacks.
• hotel or location pickup in Salalah.
• stops at a camel farm, Wadi Dawka frankincense forest and the Lost City of Ubar archaeological site.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (10 to 75 years) · Child (2 to 9 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 14 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Go Safari Salalah Tours

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so the pace and timing stay with your group alone: useful if you want to linger on a particular dune or skip ahead without waiting for other travelers. The two-hour sunset setup is fixed, so you're not rushing through the desert. The trade-off is that the total journey runs seven to eight hours with drive time included, so it's a full afternoon and early evening commitment.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

25 verified traveler reviews

5 ★25

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 9 years).

What's the camel farm stop actually like on this tour?

The camel farm visit lasts about 30 minutes and focuses on the role camels have played in Omani culture and trade. You'll see different camel types, including the black camels unique to Oman, and learn why they were essential to desert survival and commerce.

How much time do you actually spend watching the sunset in the Empty Quarter?

The sunset stop is two hours long, arranged on one of the tallest dunes. This gives you time to walk on the sand, take photos and simply sit as the light changes across the landscape.

What is Wadi Dawka and why is it on this route?

Wadi Dawka is a UNESCO World Heritage Site protecting Boswellia Sacra frankincense trees, the species that produces the highest-quality frankincense resin. The 30-minute stop lets you walk among these iconic trees and understand why frankincense was once as valuable as gold along the Arabian trade routes.

Is the Lost City of Ubar worth the stop, or is it mostly ruins?

The Lost City of Ubar, also known as the Atlantis of the Sands, is an archaeological site in Al Shisr that was a major hub on ancient caravan routes. Your guide explains its history and significance during a 40-minute stop, connecting the physical remains to the trade networks that made it crucial centuries ago.

What's included in the tour price, and what costs extra?

The tour includes transport by private air-conditioned 4x4, an English-speaking guide, water and snacks, and pickup from your Salalah location. The entrance fee to the Lost City of Ubar archaeological site (3 OMR per person) is separate, as are gratuities and any lunch or dinner you choose to add.