Salalah Desert Day Trip: Dunes, Ubar & Frankincense Trees

Empty Quarter tour: explore ancient ruins and legendary trade route trees in a vast desert adventure

A full-day desert safari from Salalah combining dune driving in the Empty Quarter with stops at two UNESCO sites: the archaeological ruins of Ubar and Wadi Dawkah, where over 1,200 frankincense trees grow naturally. An English-speaking Omani guide leads the tour by 4WD, with hotel pickup, water, snacks and time to trek the dunes and watch sunset on the sand.

Step-by-step itinerary

Desert safari and cultural exploration

• Start tour from Salalah at 8:00 AM
• Drive to the Empty Quarter desert
• Explore sand dunes and try sand boarding
• Visit the Lost City of Ubar archaeological site
• Stop at a traditional camel farm
• Explore Wadi Dawkah frankincense trees
• Return to Salalah

The experience

The day starts at 8:00 AM with pickup from your hotel and a drive into the Empty Quarter, the world's largest sand desert. You travel by 4WD through golden dunes with time to trek on foot and try sandboarding if you want it. The landscape is open and vast: the kind of place where a photograph captures something most travelers never see of Oman. Sunset happens on the desert itself, not from a viewpoint.

The route includes two UNESCO Heritage sites that most visitors to Salalah skip. Ubar, also called the Lost City of Shisr, was buried under sand for centuries until archaeologists rediscovered it in the early 1990s. It sits about 55 kilometers from the main road and roughly three hours' drive from Salalah. The ruins show where frankincense traders once built a settlement in one of the world's harshest places, so remote it earned the nickname "Atlantis of the Sands." Your guide explains the history and what the excavations revealed about the incense trade that made this kingdom matter.

Wadi Dawkah is the final stop, a natural garden on Salalah's northern side holding more than 1,200 frankincense trees. These are the source of Dhofari frankincense, considered the finest in the world. A signboard at the entrance explains how the sap is tapped: each tree yields three to four kilograms of luban per season. You walk among the trees and see how they grow in this wadi, connected to the same trade routes that built Ubar. The tour also includes a visit to a traditional camel farm where you meet the animals and learn their role in desert life and local culture.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Salalah.
• transport by 4WD vehicle.
• experienced English-speaking Omani guide.
• bottled water and snacks throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 1): free

GroupUp to 12 · max 4 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 12 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Beautiful Salalah Tours

Is this one for you?Book this shared 4WD tour if you want a guide-led route through desert and archaeology in one day. Skip it if the full-day pace with active sand dune trekking doesn't suit your schedule or fitness level.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 1): free.

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 24 h before the start.

How long does the Salalah desert day trip take, and what time does it start?

The tour runs eight to nine hours total, departing at 8:00 AM from your hotel with pickup included. The full day covers the Empty Quarter, Ubar, the camel farm and Wadi Dawkah before returning.

What is Ubar, and why is it called the Lost City?

Ubar was an ancient kingdom in Dhofar that vanished under desert sands centuries ago. Archaeologists rediscovered the ruins at Shisr in the early 1990s, finding evidence of a settlement built on the frankincense trade. It earned the name "Atlantis of the Sands" because of how completely it disappeared and how remote the location remains.

What can I do at Wadi Dawkah, and why is it famous?

Wadi Dawkah is a UNESCO Heritage site with over 1,200 naturally growing frankincense trees. You walk among them and learn how the sap is harvested: each tree produces three to four kilograms of luban per season. Dhofari frankincense is considered the best in the world, and this wadi was central to the ancient trade that shaped the region.

What happens in the Empty Quarter, and is sandboarding included?

The Empty Quarter is the world's largest sand desert and the main focus of the day. You drive by 4WD through the dunes, trek on foot across the sand, and have the option to try sandboarding. Sunset is watched from the desert itself, not from a vehicle or viewpoint.

What is included in the tour, and what should I bring?

The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, transport by 4WD, an experienced English-speaking Omani guide, bottled water and snacks. Wear sun protection, bring a camera and wear shoes suitable for walking on sand. The guide will advise on what else to pack for a full day in the desert.