Salalah Desert Overnight Tour: Frankincense & Lost City of Ubar

Two UNESCO sites and a night under the dunes of the Empty Quarter

An overnight tour from Salalah visits Wadi Dawka, a UNESCO World Heritage site with the region's largest naturally grown frankincense trees, and the Lost City of Ubar, an ancient settlement archaeologists rediscovered in 1992. The tour includes dinner and breakfast, a live guide speaking English or Arabic, and hotel pickup. The route crosses the Rub al Khali (Empty Quarter) desert with time for a sunset over the dunes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Frankincense and Desert Sites

• Visit Wadi Dawka Frankincense trees
• Learn history and uses of Frankincense
• Proceed to The Lost City of Ubar
• Explore Ubar archaeological museum
• Drive in Rub al Khali desert
• Enjoy sunset over desert dunes

The experience

If you're arriving in Salalah and want to see the Dhofar region's two major archaeological sites without piecing together separate trips, this overnight tour handles the logistics. You start from your hotel, travel to Wadi Dawka first to walk among frankincense trees and learn how the resin shaped trade routes and modern perfumery, then head deeper into the desert toward Ubar. The Lost City itself sits in the Empty Quarter (the vast sandy plain that covers most of the region), and the small museum at the site displays what archaeologists found when they used remote sensing to locate the city's remains in 1992.

The drive into Rub al Khali is the centerpiece: you experience the dune terrain directly, with time for the kind of driving the desert demands and a stop to watch the sunset over the sand before settling in for the night. Dinner and breakfast are included, so you're not hunting for meals in a remote area. A live guide travels with you in either English or Arabic, depending on which option you choose at checkout.

What’s included

• Dinner and breakfast.
• live guide in English or Arabic.
• hotel pickup and return.
• access to Wadi Dawka and the Lost City of Ubar sites.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 14:00

AgesAdult (14 and older) · Child (under 14)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Arabic

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic, Czech, Dutch, Hungarian, Polish and Romanian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Dream Salalah Tour

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or Arabic, so choose the language that works for you. If you're traveling with others who speak different languages, confirm which option suits your group before booking.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 14).

What exactly is Wadi Dawka and why are the frankincense trees there significant?

Wadi Dawka is a UNESCO World Heritage site holding the largest collection of naturally grown frankincense trees in the region. The tour covers the history of frankincense (how it was harvested and traded), and its uses today, from perfume to modern applications.

Where is the Lost City of Ubar and what will I see there?

Ubar lies in the Dhofar region within the Empty Quarter desert. Archaeologists discovered the city's remains in 1992 using remote sensing technology. A small museum at the site displays the archaeological finds from the excavation.

What happens during the drive through the Empty Quarter?

The Rub al Khali (Empty Quarter) stretches from the foothills to an enormous sandy plain. You experience driving across the fine sand of the Arabian Desert, then stop to watch the sunset over the dunes before the overnight portion of the tour.

Are meals provided, and what about water or supplies in the desert?

Dinner and breakfast are included. The tour departs from your hotel and returns there, so you're not managing logistics in a remote area.

Do I need any special fitness level or experience to book this tour?

The tour suits all physical fitness levels. It is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnant travelers, as the desert driving and overnight conditions may not be suitable.