Oman 5-Day Private Tour: Nizwa, Wahiba Sands & Wadi Shab
Five days threading Oman's wadis, forts and desert without building the itinerary yourself.
A 5-day private guided tour from Muscat that covers Nizwa, Wahiba Sands, Wadi Shab and the high peaks of Jebel Shams, with a driver, entry fees and four nights in hotels and a desert camp included. Your guide speaks English and the pickup starts from your Muscat hotel. Lunch is on your own each day.
Step-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Muscat to Ras Al Hadd via Wadis
- Pass by Bimmah Sinkhole
- Hike and swim in Wadi Shab
- Photo stop at Wadi Tiwi
- Visit Wadi Tiwi plantations
Day 2: Sur and Wahiba Sands Desert
- Explore Sur city and fort
- Visit Arabian Dhow Factory
- See Omani Ghazal Farm
- Swim and relax at Wadi Bani Khalid
- 4x4 drive and sunset in Wahiba Sands
- Dinner and campfire at desert camp
Day 3: Wahiba Sands to Nizwa via Historic Sites
- Watch sunrise in Wahiba Sands
- Visit Zukait Tower Tombs
- Explore Jebel Akhdar mountains
- Visit Birkat Al Mouz village
- See Al Kattmyn irrigation system
- Arrive in Nizwa city
Day 4: Nizwa and Surrounding Villages
- Tour Nizwa Fort
- Browse Nizwa Souq
- Visit Al Hamra Old Village
- Explore Misfah Al Arbyeen village
- Visit Jebel Shams mountain
Day 5: Grand Canyon and Historic Forts
- Visit Wadi Ghul (Oman's Grand Canyon)
- Tour Bait Al Safa Museum
- Explore Bahla Fort
- Visit Jabreen Castle
What’s included
- Pickup and drop-off from your Muscat hotel.
- a private 4WD vehicle and English-speaking guide for all five days.
- four nights in hotels (Turtle Beach Resort, Al Diyar Hotel in Nizwa, and Sama Heights on Jebel Shams) plus one night at AlSalam Camp in Wahiba Sands.
- entry fees for Bahla Fort, Nizwa Fort, Jabreen Castle, the Dhow Factory, Wadi Shab boat access, Bait Al Safa Museum and turtle watching.
- bottled water throughout the tour.
- breakfast and dinner each day.
Times
- Every day 08:30
Before you book
Operated by Sunshine Tours Oman
Prices and times updated 8 days ago
Need assistance?Message us on WhatsApp or by emailTraveler reviews
The experience
The route moves east first. Day one takes you to Wadi Shab, a canyon gorge lined with palms where a 35-minute hike leads to crystal-clear pools. You swim from pool to pool, then through an opening in the rocks into a crevice cave with a small waterfall: sunlight filters through and turns the water turquoise. You overnight at Turtle Beach Resort on the coast. The next morning heads south to Sur, where you see the Dhow Factory and watch traditional wooden boats being built, then inland to Wadi Bani Khalid, one of Oman's largest wadis, where you can swim and rest in the canyon. By evening you reach Wahiba Sands desert and stay at a camp. A 4×4 drive across the dunes ends with sunset and dinner around a campfire.
Day three starts with sunrise over the dunes before breakfast. You visit Zukait Tower Tombs, a UNESCO Bronze Age site near Izki, then climb to Jebel Akhdar (the Green Mountain), which rises to 2,980 meters. The route drops to Birkat Al Mouz, a 400-year-old village built into a mountainside, and passes through one of Oman's five UNESCO-listed irrigation systems before reaching Nizwa. Day four explores Nizwa Fort, built in the seventeenth century, and the Nizwa Souk, where you can browse Omani silver and handmade crafts. Then comes Al Hamra, a 400-year-old town sitting above a 700–1000-year-old abandoned village, and Misfat Al Abriyeen, a mountain village 1,000 meters up. You stay at Sama Heights on Jebel Shams, the highest peak in Oman and the first place to see sunrise in the country.
The final day descends to Wadi Ghul, called the Grand Canyon of Oman, then visits Bait Al Safa Museum, a "living museum" shaped like an old Omani house. You see Bahla Fort, a UNESCO site from 1987 that reopened after restoration, and Jabreen Castle before returning to Muscat. Entry fees for Bahla Fort, Nizwa Fort, Jabreen Castle, the Dhow Factory, Wadi Shab boat access, Bait Al Safa Museum and turtle watching are all included. Bottled water travels with you each day. The 4WD vehicle is comfortable and the guide is English-speaking.
Is this one for you?Five days is long enough to reach the high peaks and the desert without rushing the wadis and villages, but short enough to fit into a week-long trip to Oman. If you have only three days, the route compresses. If you have seven, it expands to include more time at each stop.
Compare the 10 alternatives
Top questions
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 6 days before the start.
What's the swimming like on this tour?
Wadi Shab on day one is the main swim: a 35-minute hike through a canyon leads to emerald pools where you swim from one to the next and into a cave with a waterfall. Wadi Bani Khalid on day two also has large pools for swimming and relaxing in the canyon scenery.
Do I need to arrange my own meals?
Lunch is not included, so you choose where and what to eat each day. Breakfast and dinner are provided at your hotels and the desert camp.
Which nights do I spend in the desert?
One night is at AlSalam Camp in Wahiba Sands on day two. The other four nights are in hotels: Turtle Beach Resort on the coast, Al Diyar Hotel in Nizwa, and Sama Heights on Jebel Shams.
How high do we go on Jebel Shams?
Jebel Shams rises to 2,980 meters and is Oman's highest mountain peak. You stay at a hotel on the mountain and watch sunrise from the top, the first place in Oman to see it each day.
What happens on the drive through Wahiba Sands?
After you arrive at the desert camp on day two, you can relax or join a 4×4 drive across the sand dunes. The day ends with sunset watched from one of the big dunes, followed by dinner and time around a campfire at the camp.
Are the UNESCO sites included?
Yes, entry to Bahla Fort, Nizwa Fort, Bait Al Safa Museum and the Zukait Tower Tombs (a UNESCO Bronze Age site) are all included. You also visit one of Oman's five UNESCO-listed irrigation systems near Nizwa.
Oman 5-Day Private Tour: Nizwa, Wahiba Sands & Wadi Shab
5d · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 1,776 per person
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.