Riyadh To Muscat (15 Days) Oasis Caravan

DAY 1-2: RIYADHWelcome to Saudi Arabia. Your first day is a free day for you to arrive, check in to your hotel and introduce yourself to the local area, which means "garden" in Arabic - is now one of the richest cities in the world. You can explore world-class museums, travel up the sky bridge or enjoy the many great cafes and restaurants.You will meet your Tour Leader and your group this evening when they arrive in the city. You may have your Pre Departure meeting this evening or tomorrow morning - you will be advised of this before you leave for your trip.On Day 2, you'll be off early on a 4 x 4 desert safari trip into the Empty Quarter where you can gaze at the awe-inspiring dunes and strain your eyes for the elusive Arabian leopard. A harsh yet romantic landscape, it's like nowhere else on earth. We return to Riyadh for a night to wash off the sand and enjoy the city lights, before we continue our journey.DAY 3-6: RIYADH TO OMANWe leave city life behind as we head to our last stop in Saudi, the largest oasis on earth which produces one of the biggest yields of dates in the world. While you're sampling the famous fruit, it's also worth reading up on Al Hofuf's history; as one of the main cultural centres in the Kingdom, its university was one of the first to accept female students. Crossing into Abu Dhabi, we'll follow the coast around The Gulf and camp overnight beachside. Heading inland, we'll drive through more desert and cross into our final country, Oman, where our first stop is to visit the UNESCO ancient beehive tombs Bat and Al Ayn in Wadi Hajir.DAY 7-9: JEBEL SHAMS TO NIZWAWe continue our cultural adventure with stops at Jabreen Castle and the formidable Bahla Fort Bahla; is one of Oman's oldest towns and is famous for its incredible fortress that dates back to the 13th century. After a couple of nights staying at Omani farms, we head into the Hajar mountains Jebel Shams (Mountain of the Sun)is the country's highest peak, and you'll have the opportunity to trek the Balcony Walk for views of Oman's own "Grand Canyon of Arabia", Wadi Ghul. We'll then travel to Nizwa, the "Pearl of Islam". Famous for producing exquisitely crafted silver - especially the curved dagger, the khanjar - make sure you visit the souq for anything and everything!DAY 10-12: IBRA TO WADI BANI KHALIDAfter the cooler climate of the hills, we travel back down to the lowlands to Ibra, one of the oldest cities in Oman. Also home to some of the largest tribes in the country, Ibra is known for its beautiful handicrafts and the best silver jewellery in the country- a good place for shopping! Tonight we'll enjoy an Omani traditional feast with a tribal leader. After a traditional homemade breakfast the following morning, you can walk and swim off any excess at Wadi Bani Khalid. We're heading into the desert tonight - let's enjoy camping under the stars after a spectacular sunset over the sand.DAY 13-15: DESERT CAMP TO MUSCATWe're heading for the coast today! We'll visit and see the traditional dhows and fish market in the town, before checking out some of the beautiful white-sand beaches nearby. We'll spend the night at Ras Al Jinz to try and spot some of the endangered green turtles that favour the region. As we approach our final city, we'll stop at Wadi Shab for a short hike and swim in the natural pools. Muscat is beautifully situated on the coast, and we'll take a city tour to pack in the various highlights, including the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, The Royal Opera House, Mutrah, and theNational Museum.Your trip ends in the morning after breakfast.