Sinbad’s Gateway: Sultanate of Oman

Background

Ibn Battuta, was a Maghrebi traveller, explorer who, from 1325 to 1354, travelled North Africa, the Middle East, East Africa, Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, China, the Iberian Peninsula, and West Africa. His travels are immortalised in his book “Al Rihla” and in the fictional character more commonly known in the west as Sinbad the sailor. Although the birthplace of the fictional character is disputed (some say Iraq other Oman, Ibn Battuta travelled to and through  Sultanate of Oman, then an empire – as did other great navigators such as Marco Polo, Vaso da Gama and Ferdinand Magellan to western and far eastern Asia.

We will travel, hike and immerse ourselves in the rich Omani culture over 9 full days including 4×4 trail-blazing, trekking, aqua-trekking, canyoning, via ferrata, ziplining, dune hiking, cruise, swimming/snorkelling, turtle and dolphin watching and cultural visits to ancient forts and markets. The Sultanate of Oman is one of the largest countries in the Arabia Gulf peninsula, stretching from the Gulf of Arabia to the India Ocean. Our trip will focus on the Western and Eastern Hajar regions of Oman.

Interested? Please follow this link to register and pay the €945 deposit.

Summary | Dates | Flights

Travelling on the 31^st January 2025, we have 9 full days of outdoor adventure and cultural activities, returning to Malta on 10^th February 2025 (requiring only 5 vacation leave days for those of us still in employment).

XirCammini is a membership-based hiking organisation and not  a travel agency. We use the services of licenced travel agents / tour operators.

Flight details: Air tickets may be purchased personally, directly from the airline’s website while prices are still low. As a fall-back, we have also block-booked an advantageous group rate including a 30kg luggage allowance. Flight details are provided below. But for those who manage to purchase the ticket earlier, purchasing directly from the airline site would be cheaper.

Itinerary [10-day itinerary | 9 days of adventure]

31^st January : Evening. We travel from Malta to the Sultanate of Oman.

1^st February: After breakfast in our appointed hotel, we travel to Bandar Khayran  for a  boat tour, dolphin spotting, swimming and snorkelling.  In the afternoon, we’ll stop in front of the Sultan’s Majlis (Palace) and continue our journey for a short, 2-hour trek from the Moutrah Corniche in Riyam, through a wadi to the Moutrah (traditional / silver) Souq. This is a level 2 trek with an elevation difference of +150m / – 150m.

2^nd February: After breakfast we start our day with a visit to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and continue our journey to to the Western Hajar area stopping at Nahl Fort. Nahl Fort was a very important cultural centre both for administration and military purposes as well as for scholars. It defended access to Wadi Bani Kharus and Wadi Mistal. After fort Nahl visit we will continue to Wadi Mistal (Wakan Oasis). There we have a 2 hour trek in the vicinity of an Omani village and its cultivated lands terraced on the cliff. On these terraces villagers grow mainly garlic, onions, apricots, and lime trees. The trek is a level 2 trek with a +50 / – 50m elevation.

In the evening we will settle in an Oman guesthouse at the entrance of the village with a spectacular view over the valley.

3rd February: After breakfast we travel to Bimah and Wadi Bani Auf. The drive itself is an impressive one through Palm groves and rugged terrain. In Wadi Bani Auf our activity id a canyoning trek in what is known as the Snake Canyon (not because of snakes but because of its shape!) In some parts of the canyon, we can touch both canyon walls. Although for some no abseiling is generally necessary on the boulders, if required we would instal short abseils to avoid bouldering. This trek is also set at level 2 with negligible elevations.

After lunch we will transfer to Balad Sit for a mountain oasis trek, starting at main valley and heading through a narrow gorge. This is a spectacular walk where, at the end we reach an old Omani village built on a small hill and surrounded by cliffs. The trek takes us through the village and its cultivated lands back to another branch of the gorge. This is a level 1 trek with +50m / – 50m elevations lasting around 2 hours.

In the evening we will settle in a tradional Omani guest-house.

4^th February: Still in Wadi Bani Auf area, after breakfast we have a 5-hour trek. This wonderful hike starts with a pleasant walk at the bottom of a narrow gorge leading to big village surrounded by palm groves at the foot of high cliffs. We then head on a steep path and narrow pass leading to another village perched up high from where we start our descent to the Wadi. This is a level 3 trek, lasting 5 hours with +500m/-600m elevations.

From there we transfer to Misfat Al Abreyeen for a trek in another mountain oasis, located on the slope of a cliff with cultivated lands surrounding an old Omani village at 800m. The terraced fields/ groves produce mainly bananas, papayas, oranges, limes, dates and pomegranates. This is a level 2 walk of around 2 hours with an elevation difference of +100m/-100m.

In the evening we will settle in an Omani guest house in a old village surrounded by a splendidly terraced palm grove. For this evening we will carry a small night bag and leave our luggage safely stored in the cars in a designated car park.

5^th February: After breakfast we travel to Al Hamra to bait As Safah where we visit a living, traditional museum. The women of the village welcome us in this house and show us how they make Omani bread, Omani coffee, carpets, and different creams and lotions made from mountain herbs, flowers and plants.

This will be followed by a hike on top of Arabia’s own Grand Canyon – Jebel Shams. The path is very easy and offers long wonderful vistas on Arabia’s Grand Canyon all the way! We will be at the highest point of the country. Finally, we arrive to an old, abandoned village built in the cliff. This is a level 2 trek with +250/-250 elevations, walking for approximately 3 hours.

Our resting place for the night will be a mountain hotel located on the Jebel Shams plateau in wild, natural and impressive surroundings. The hotel consists of bungalows and Arabic tents offering comfort and ambience. The Chalet featuring an outside seating area with a fireplace.

6^th February: After breakfast visit Bahla Fort. Jabreen fort was not built for defensive purposes but as a summer residence for the Al Ya’aruba dynasty Sultans and their Imams. The fort was built in the 17^th century and is decorated with carved and painted wooden ceilings and doors.

This will be followed a trek between the high villages on Jebel Akhdar (Al Aqoor, Al An, and Sharegah) and through terraced cultivated land growing mainly roses and pomegranates. Harvested in late august and September, the pomegranates are renown for their large size as well as taste. As we reach the last village, we ready ourselves with climbing equipment for the via ferrata. On the via ferrata we will climb up to 160m and come back with a 120m zip-line. For those who do not wish to do the via ferrata and zipline, there will be an alternative trek. This is a level 3 trek which – including walking time – lasts approximately 3 hours.

Afterwards we transfer to Nizwa, settling in a hotel with Arabic architecture with all the rooms on the ground-floor around 2 swimming pools. The hotel also has a bar and offers a foreign exchange service.

7^th February: After the adrenaline rush of the earlier day, this day will be dedicated more to culture and relaxation. After breakfast we visit Nizwa Fort which is divided into a citadel and residence area. From the top of the citadel stunning views over nizwa and its palm grove await. The Palm grove is the largest in the country. The underfloor of the fort was occupied as dungeons. Though small, this fort is a must see for any visitor to the Sultanate of Oman.

The visit to the fort will be followed by a visit Niza Souq. This traditional Omani market needs to be visited on a Friday – Souq Al Jumaa (is-suq tal-gimgha in Maltese). On Fridays it attracts villagers even from the nearby mountains as well as Bedouins. It has a livestock segment with on-going auctions on sheep or goats, the fish souq with a great variety even of dried fish, the fruit and vegetable market and people selling dates, mountain honey, incense and many other local commodities.

After our market visit, we will travel to Wahiba desert . If the heat in the evening isn’t too strong we’ll embark on a dune walk. The setting sun on the sand dunes exposes different hues, shades, shadows and colours, rendering this an unforgettable sunset experience.

In the evening we’ll settle in the desert camps which, somewhat basic offer comfort (all with private toilet/shower facilities).

8^th February: After breakfast we travel to Wadi Khalid for an aqua trek experience. This is an easy aquatic hike in one of the most beautiful wadis of Oman. We start from an oasis in the valleyand walk across is lush palm grove, proceeding  between large boulders to arrive to 2 wonderful pools with waterfalls. In one of these we can walk and or swim in several fresh water pools. The valley then widens and we discover another oasis.

From there we transfer to Ras Al Had for night-time of turtle watching before we settle at our accommodation in Ras Al Jinz. The coast is here declared Natural Reserve to protect the numerous green turtles which lay eggs there. The visits are well organized and gathered on only 2 beaches ; the other ones are forbidden in order not to disturb the turtles. The high season for turtles is in summer . In that time we can find up to 50 turtles laying eggs at the same time on the same beach. But they otherwise also come all year long to dig holes, lay eggs, cover them, and going back to the sea. If we are lucky we will  also see baby turtles getting out of the sand and heading to the sea.

9^th February: After breakfast we travel to Wadi Al Arbeyeen / Wadi Al Hail for an aquatic trek, swimming, and trekking / canyoning. Please note: We will be stepping into water and getting shoes and trousers wet. It is a level 2 trek with neglible elevations lasting about 3 hours.

From there we will travel back to the central area. Depending on time, we might stop at Moutrah souq (or another shooping area) for some last minute shopping before retiring in a hotel close to the airport.

10^th February: We have an early flight out of Oman arriving in Malta on the same day.

Accommodation | Transport | Local Guides

Accommodation will be in a selection on hotels, traditional Omani guest houses and a desert camp-site. All are on a twin sharing basis and all, except one, have ensuite toilet and shower facilities. In one of the guest houses some rooms may have shared toilet  shower facilities. Because of the anticipated size of our group it is likely that – in the case of guest houses- we would occupy all the rooms therein.

Accommodation includes breakfasts, lunches and dinners.

All transport will be in 4WDs because of the rugged terrain in certain areas. We will also be assisted by a team of local guides.

ADVICE FOR TREKKERS | VISITORS IN OMAN

Oman is a mountainous arid country. All the paths are rocky and some are steep. Therefore we have chosen paths that are of up to a level 3 difficulty (chart below) and will be assisted by local guides. It is imperative to follow the instructions of the guides at all times. We will still be able to see wonderful places and to undertake spectacular treks without putting anyone’s safety in jeopardy.

Oman is a traditional Muslim country in which Islam is strict but very open-mined and tolerant. You’ll never see an Omani pointing out inappropriate clothing or behaviour of tourists. But all of them will appreciate to see that you try to adapt.

FOR MEN : bring trousers or long shorts

FOR WOMEN : bring trousers or short trousers (long shorts) and t-shirts covering shoulders, as well as a tee-shirt (and shorts) for swimming. Obviously, when we are alone in remote areas, canyons or natural pools one can dress as they wish (prudence is advised).

FOR ALL : bring a pareo or big towel to change your clothes since nudity is not admitted. Large tattoos should preferably also be covered when we are in public places. Smaller, particularly monocrhome tattoos, for example, around wrists, hands, and ankles are generally accepted.

Contribution

The contribution per person for this 9-day, full board adventure is Euros 2,600 per person (excluding flight). This covers:

• 9 days/9 nights’ accommodation on a twin sharing basis in hotels and traditional Omani guest houses (except the desert camp).
• Full board: Breakfasts, lunches and dinners.
• Airport transfers and daily 4WD transfers.
• Local guides
• XirCammini group leader / organisation

A non-refundable deposit of €945 is requested to reserve your place.

Flights

The flights are: 31st Jan (Malta – Muscat ) and 10th Feb (Muscat – Malta)

• 31st Jan (Malta | Muscat with a connecting flight in Istanbul): Malta 19:30 – Istanbul: 07:30
• 10th February ( Muscat | Malta with a connecting flight in Istanbul): leaving Muscat: at 02:15

Currently, ifyou book flights directly with the airline (including reserved seating on all 4 flight segments) is less than Euros 675. So we urge you to book early. If you delay and find them over Euros 795, talk to us before booking.

Interested? Please follow this link to register and pay the €945 deposit.