8 Days • 7 Nights
Oman Family Adventure: Forts, Wadis, Desert & Dolphins
Tour Includes
About the Trip
Trip Highlights
- Riding camels and sandboarding the golden dunes of the Wahiba Sands is an exhilarating family highlight. The golden Wahiba Sands are a playground of adventure for families. You ride camels across the sands, as the Bedouin have for centuries, sandboard down the towering dunes, and race across the desert by 4x4, climbing high dunes for spectacular views and watching a beautiful desert sunset. The sense of adventure in this vast, golden landscape thrills children and adults alike. Riding camels and sandboarding down the golden dunes of the Wahiba Sands, racing across the desert by 4x4, is an exhilarating and unforgettable highlight for the whole family in Oman.
- Sleeping under a canopy of brilliant desert stars at a camp is a magical family highlight. In the Wahiba Sands, the family sleeps at a desert camp beneath some of the clearest, most star-filled skies imaginable, far from any city lights. You dine beneath the stars, experience the warm hospitality of the desert, and gaze up together at a breathtaking canopy of countless stars, a magical experience children never forget, waking to a beautiful dawn over the golden dunes. The magic of a desert night is unforgettable. Sleeping under a canopy of brilliant desert stars at a camp in the golden Wahiba Sands.
- Swimming in the turquoise pools of Oman's beautiful wadis is a magical family highlight. Oman's wadis are among its greatest treasures, dramatic gorges where turquoise pools and palm groves hide amid the mountains. The family visits a beautiful wadi such as Wadi Shab or Wadi Bani Khalid, walking amid palms and dramatic rock and swimming together in the cool, clear, turquoise pools, an idyllic, refreshing adventure children love, and perhaps the turquoise Bimmah Sinkhole. The beauty and fun are magical. Swimming together in the cool, turquoise pools of Oman's beautiful wadis, hidden amid dramatic mountains and palm groves.
- Exploring mighty forts and cruising the coast spotting dolphins bring history and wildlife alive for children. In Muscat and beyond, the family explores mighty forts, such as the great round fort of Nizwa or Muscat's harbour forts, where children can climb towers and imagine the past, with your guide bringing history excitingly to life. You cruise the beautiful coast by dhow, taking in the dramatic cliffs and forts and, magically, spotting dolphins playing in the wake, a thrilling wildlife encounter. The forts and dolphins delight all ages. Exploring mighty forts where children can climb the towers, and cruising the coast by dhow spotting playful dolphins.
- Oman's warmth, safety and beautiful, varied landscapes make it a wonderful family destination. Oman is safe, welcoming and beautiful, with warm, family-loving people, delicious food children enjoy, and beautiful, varied landscapes, forts, deserts, turquoise wadis, mountains and coast, that keep the adventure exciting and full of variety. There is always something to captivate all ages, and the genuine warmth and graciousness of Omani hospitality make families feel wonderfully welcome. The warmth, safety and variety make it wonderful for families. Oman's warmth, safety, delicious food and beautiful, varied landscapes, from forts to deserts to turquoise wadis, make it a wonderful.
- Above all, this journey offers a safe, varied and exciting family adventure through beautiful Oman, creating memories to treasure. Oman is a wonderful family destination, safe, welcoming and packed with real-life adventures that thrill children. Over eight days your family explores Muscat's forts and dolphin cruises, swims in turquoise wadis, rides camels and sleeps under desert stars in the Wahiba Sands, and takes in the great fort of Nizwa and beautiful beaches, all at a family-friendly pace and warmed by legendary hospitality and delicious food. The combination of safety, variety, thrilling adventures, beautiful landscapes and warm welcomes makes Oman ideal for families.
Day by Day
A detailed day-by-day plan for this 8-day journey.
Your family adventure in Oman begins as your flight arrives at Muscat International Airport, where the whole family is met and transferred to your hotel in Muscat, Oman's gracious capital. Oman is one of the safest and most family-friendly countries in Arabia, and the warmth of the welcome is immediate. Spend the rest of the day settling in and relaxing after your journey, letting the children take a first swim in the warm sea or the pool, or relaxing at your hotel. This evening, a family welcome dinner introduces everyone to the delicious, aromatic flavours of Omani food, from grilled meats to fragrant rice and sweet dates, and to the exciting adventure ahead through forts, wadis, the desert and dolphins. As the family settles in, the warmth of Omani hospitality begins an unforgettable holiday. Rest well, ready to explore beautiful Muscat, with its grand forts and a dolphin cruise, tomorrow.
Today the family explores Muscat's grand sights and cruises the coast spotting dolphins. You visit the magnificent Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, one of the most beautiful in the world (dress modestly; women bring a headscarf), and explore the atmospheric Mutrah Souq, fragrant with frankincense and full of treasures children love. You take in the twin Portuguese forts guarding the old harbour, where children can imagine the past. In the morning or afternoon, the family takes a dhow cruise along the beautiful coast, taking in the dramatic cliffs and forts and, magically, spotting dolphins playing in the wake, a thrilling encounter for all ages. As the day ends, you return to your hotel, the children delighted by the forts and dolphins. This evening, savour Omani cuisine. Rest well, for tomorrow you swim in a beautiful turquoise wadi.
Today the family enjoys the beautiful turquoise wadis and coast east of Muscat. You visit the spectacular Wadi Shab, one of Oman's most beautiful wadis, taking a short boat across a pool and walking amid palms and dramatic gorge walls to a series of stunning turquoise pools, where the family swims together in the cool, clear water, an idyllic, refreshing adventure children love. You visit the remarkable Bimmah Sinkhole, a beautiful natural pool of turquoise water, lovely for a swim. The beauty and fun of these hidden natural wonders are magical. As the day ends, you return to Muscat, the children full of stories of their wadi swims. This evening, savour Muscat's relaxed atmosphere and family-friendly food. Rest well, for tomorrow the family journeys to the golden dunes of the Wahiba Sands for a great desert adventure.
Today the family journeys to the golden dunes of the Wahiba Sands for an exhilarating desert adventure. You travel to the Wahiba Sands, a vast, beautiful desert of towering golden dunes, where you meet Bedouin hosts and set off into the dunes by 4x4 for a great adventure, racing across the sands, riding camels, and sandboarding down the towering dunes, huge fun for all ages, and climbing a high dune to watch a spectacular desert sunset. As night falls, the family arrives at the desert camp among the dunes, dining beneath a canopy of brilliant stars and experiencing the warm hospitality and magic of the desert. As the day ends, the family settles into the magical desert, sleeping beneath star-filled skies with the golden dunes all around. Rest well amid the beauty and silence of the Wahiba Sands, an unforgettable desert night.
Today the family enjoys a desert sunrise, then swims in a beautiful wadi on the way back to Muscat. You wake to a beautiful sunrise over the golden dunes, perhaps with a final camel ride or sandboard, savouring the magical morning in the desert. You then leave the desert and visit the stunning Wadi Bani Khalid, one of Oman's most beautiful wadis, with its turquoise pools, waterfalls and palm groves amid dramatic rock, where the family swims together in the cool, clear water, a refreshing contrast to the desert. As the day ends, you journey back to Muscat, the children full of desert and wadi adventures. This evening, savour Muscat's relaxed atmosphere and family-friendly cuisine, reflecting on the magical desert night and beautiful wadi. Rest well, for tomorrow the family takes a day trip to the great fort of Nizwa, where history comes alive.
Today the family takes a day trip inland to the great fort of Nizwa, where history comes alive. You travel into the interior to Nizwa, the historic old capital, set amid a vast palm oasis beneath the mountains, and explore its magnificent 17th-century fort, climbing its enormous round tower for sweeping views over the oasis and mountains, and exploring its rooms, defences and clever traps, thrilling for children, with your guide bringing its history excitingly to life. You wander its lively, atmospheric souk, full of silver, daggers, pottery, dates and spices. The great fort and lively souk delight all ages. As the day ends, you return to Muscat, the children full of fort adventures. This evening, savour Muscat's cuisine and relaxed atmosphere. Rest well, for tomorrow the family enjoys a relaxed day on the beautiful coast.
Today the family enjoys a relaxed, fun day on Muscat's beautiful coast. You relax on a beautiful beach, the children swimming and playing in the warm, calm sea and building sandcastles on the soft sand, and might enjoy water sports, a boat trip, or snorkelling in a beautiful cove. You could also visit the excellent National Museum or the fun of a modern mall, or explore the souk for last souvenirs, frankincense, silver and Omani crafts. It is the perfect relaxed, fun finale to your family adventure. As the sun sets over the beautiful coast, you savour the setting. This evening, enjoy a final family dinner in Muscat, reflecting on your extraordinary adventure through Oman. Rest well ahead of your departure tomorrow, the family full of happy memories of forts, wadis, deserts and dolphins.
After a final, relaxed morning in Muscat, perhaps a last swim or a final souvenir hunt in the souk, you are transferred to Muscat International Airport for your onward international departure. The family leaves having shared an extraordinary and varied adventure, exploring Muscat's grand forts and cruising for dolphins, swimming in turquoise wadis, riding camels and sandboarding in the Wahiba Sands, sleeping under desert stars, and exploring the great fort of Nizwa. The memories stay vivid long after you land, the playful dolphins, the turquoise wadi pools, the camel rides and sandboarding, the star-filled desert night, and the mighty forts and warm welcomes. Oman offers a safe, varied and exciting family adventure through a beautiful and welcoming land, and you depart together, treasuring the shared memories, and already dreaming of a return to gracious, beautiful Oman.
Where You Will Travel
What's inside the package?
Inclusions
- 7 nights accommodation
- Daily breakfast, a family welcome dinner and dinner at the desert camp
- Airport and land transfers in air-conditioned 4x4 vehicles
- Touring and sightseeing as per itinerary with expert local guides
- Entrance fees to forts, sites and reserves as per itinerary
- private family touring with an expert local guide and 4x4, a Muscat city tour, a dhow dolphin cruise, a wadi swimming excursion, a Wahiba Sands desert camp with camel rides and sandboarding, a Nizwa day trip, and all entrance fees
Exclusions
- International airfare
- Visa or tourist card fees where applicable
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Some lunches and dinners not specified
- Optional activities and tips for guides and drivers
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary or inclusions
- Drinks unless specifically stated
- Optional excursions and experiences
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Package Inclusions
Know when to go.
- Visa & entry: Most nationalities need a visa for Oman, easily obtained as an eVisa online before travel (some nationalities enjoy short visa-free stays); a passport valid for at least six months is required. Requirements can change, so we confirm the exact process for your nationality and arrange the eVisa where needed
- Currency: The currency is the Omani Rial (OMR), one of the world's highest-value currencies; cards are accepted in hotels, malls and larger shops in Muscat and towns, but carry cash for souks, small shops, tips, forts and rural areas. ATMs are available in towns and cities
- Best time to visit: October to April is ideal across most of Oman, with warm, sunny, comfortable days perfect for Muscat, the mountains, deserts and coast; summer (May to September) is very hot inland and on the coast, though this is the magical season to visit Salalah in the south during the green khareef monsoon
- Dress & etiquette: Oman is a welcoming but conservative Muslim country; modest dress is appreciated (cover shoulders and knees), and the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque requires long sleeves and trousers, and a headscarf for women. Omanis are famously warm, gracious and hospitable; respect for local customs is always appreciated
- Deserts, wadis & 4x4: Exploring the Wahiba Sands desert, mountain roads (like Jebel Akhdar and Jebel Shams) and wadis requires 4x4 vehicles, which we provide with expert drivers; desert nights are spent at comfortable to luxurious desert camps under brilliant stars. Bring layers for cool desert and mountain nights, and sturdy shoes for wadis
- Wadis & swimming: Oman's beautiful wadis (like Wadi Shab and Wadi Bani Khalid) offer stunning turquoise pools for swimming; wear modest swimwear (a T-shirt and shorts over swimwear is respectful), bring water shoes, and take care on rocky, sometimes slippery terrain. Your guide advises on the best and safest spots
- Safety & Ramadan: Oman is one of the safest, most stable and most welcoming countries in the region, and travel here is smooth and rewarding; we monitor conditions and follow official advice. During Ramadan, eating, drinking and smoking in public during daylight are avoided out of respect, though hotels cater to visitors; we advise on timing and etiquette
- Getting around & power: Touring is by private air-conditioned 4x4 with your guide, with some long but scenic drives across this beautiful, spacious country. Power is 240V with UK-style type G plugs, so bring an adapter. Arabic is the language, and English is widely spoken in tourism, making travel easy and rewarding
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oman suitable for children?
Wonderfully so. Oman is safe, welcoming and beautiful, with warm, family-loving people, delicious food, and endless real-life adventures, climbing mighty forts, cruising for dolphins, swimming in turquoise wadis, riding camels, sandboarding, and sleeping under desert stars. The variety keeps children captivated, and Omani hospitality makes families feel wonderfully welcome. We tailor the pace and activities to your children's ages, so the whole family enjoys a safe, exciting and captivating adventure together.
Are the desert camp and activities comfortable for families?
Yes. We choose comfortable, family-friendly desert camps in the Wahiba Sands, with good facilities and warm hospitality, and the desert activities, camel rides, sandboarding, dune drives and sunsets, are great fun and easily tailored to children. We build in downtime and beach relaxation, choose family-friendly hotels throughout, and adapt everything to your children's ages and energy. The star-filled desert night is a magical highlight the whole family will treasure.
What meals are included?
Daily breakfast is included, along with any meals named in the itinerary (typically dinners at desert camps and some remote or half-board stays). Omani cuisine is delicious and aromatic, from shuwa (slow-cooked spiced lamb) and fresh seafood to fragrant rice, dates and Omani coffee, and we usually leave other meals free for you to explore, recommending the best local restaurants at every stage of your journey.
Are the tours private or in a group?
Your journey is private by default, with your own expert local guide and air-conditioned 4x4 vehicle, giving you flexibility, depth and a pace tailored to you; small-group options can be arranged if you prefer. Oman's knowledgeable guides bring the forts, souks, deserts, mountains and rich culture vividly to life, greatly enriching every visit, and the 4x4 is essential for the deserts, wadis and mountains.
Do I need a visa for Oman?
Most nationalities need a visa, easily obtained as an eVisa online before travel, while some enjoy short visa-free stays. We confirm the exact, current requirements for your nationality, advise on the best option, and arrange the eVisa where needed, so entry is smooth. A passport valid for at least six months is required.
Is Oman safe to visit?
Oman is one of the safest, most stable and most welcoming countries in the world, renowned for its warmth, graciousness and hospitality, and travel here is exceptionally smooth and rewarding. We continuously monitor conditions, use trusted local guides and drivers, and follow official guidance at all times. Oman's peaceful, gracious character and genuine welcome are among the great joys of a visit.
When is the best time to visit?
October to April is ideal across most of Oman, with warm, sunny, comfortable days perfect for the capital, mountains, deserts and coast. Summer is very hot inland and on the northern coast, but it is the magical season to visit Salalah in the south, lush and green during the khareef monsoon. We advise on the best timing for your interests and the regions you wish to see.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Absolutely. We can adjust the balance of Muscat, mountains, wadis, desert, coast and the south, add nights at a luxurious desert camp or the fjords of Musandam, include Salalah, extend beach time, and tailor the pace, comfort and focus to you. Every itinerary is a flexible starting point for your ideal journey through the beautiful and varied landscapes of Oman.
More Adventure Journeys
Adventure
Customizable
Highlights of Zimbabwe: Victoria Falls & Hwange
Highlights of Zimbabwe: Victoria Falls & Hwange
Zimbabwe
Adventure
Customizable
Victoria Falls Adventure: The Smoke that Thunders
Victoria Falls Adventure: The Smoke that Thunders
Zimbabwe
Adventure
Customizable
Hwange & Mana Pools: A Great Zimbabwe Safari
Hwange & Mana Pools: A Great Zimbabwe Safari
Zimbabwe