Leave London Heathrow Airport by British Airways daytime flight to Muscat via Abu Dhabi. Arrive in the evening and transfer to the InterContinental Hotel for 3 nights.

Your morning sightseeing starts with a visit to the Grand Mosque (open for visitors from Saturday to Wednesday only except during holidays) which is one the largest mosques in the world with beautiful art work, chandelier and carpet in the prayer hall measuring approx 4300 square meters and now in the Guinness book of world records. From here proceed for a visit to Bait Al Zubair, which is a museum in a traditional Omani house giving glimpses of the lifestyles and traditions of ancient and modern Muscat. You will also visit Muttrah, a delightful quarter of Muscat, complete with traditional souqs, famous for its gold, frankincense and sandalwood. From Muttrah the drive continues to Muscat Old Town where the tour proceeds on foot, walking past the palace of Sultan Qaboos and the forts Jabali and Mirani (which can be viewed from the outside only).

Today’s excursion will take you out of the capital as you drive through the date palms to the village of Nakhl and visit the Nakhl Fort which once served the Imams of Bani Kharous and the Ya'arubah dynasty. The ceilings, the doors and windows are decorated with beautiful carvings. The view from the rooftop is impressive and offers a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape. The old village of Nakhl which nestles below the fort gradually leads to the warm springs of Nakhl situated at the end of an attractive Oasis. Relax at the shallow waters of the springs surrounded by lush green date plantations and steep mountain peaks. En-route you will stop for a brief photograph of the Rustaq fort and lunch before driving back to Muscat.

After breakfast leave Muscat by 4-wheel drive along the coast to Sur. The journey offers glimpses of the blue waters of the Gulf of Oman and pristine beaches. The first stop is the port of Quriyat, a large fishing village still guarded by a watchtower dating back to 1635. Continue by track past the coast and creeks to a sink hole, where the land has collapsed over an ancient sea cave, still fed by sea water today. Then to Fins beach (White beach) where you will stop for a short swim or to just relax under the sun. From here visit 'Wadi Shaab ', Shaab in Arabic literally means “Ravine between Cliffs” and the shallow green pools and abundant shade give the wadi a perfect setting for your picnic lunch. After lunch there is time for a walk up in to the wadi. Proceed to Sur for overnight at the Sur Plaza Hotel. After an early dinner, head to Ras al-Hadd, a beautiful beach where giant green turtles still come ashore to nest (worth taking a torch). The main hatching season is May to October, when thousands of tiny turtles emerge and head for the sea. Even outside these months, the chances of seeing turtles actually laying eggs on the beach, is very good. Return to Sur, arriving back in the late evening. This is a long but very rewarding day.

After a morning’s visit to the clear green natural spring water pools of the desert oasis of Wadi Bani Khaled, continue into the endless shifting dunes of Wahiba Sands, a spectacular landscape of ever changing colours and contours that has been home to Bedu tribesmen for generations. Covering some 10,000 square kilometres, this expansive sand sea presents a spectacular wilderness to explore, and one that is remarkably blessed with a dazzling array of bird and animal life, including some 115 species of birds, wild foxes and the rare Arabian sand gazelle. After a chance to enjoy some dune driving across the sands continue to Nizwa, regarded by many as Oman’s cultural capital, for a stay at the Falaj Daris Hotel.

A full day exploring some of the highlights of the area includes the impressive fort at Bahla, which is currently closed for restoration (but none the less presents a fine view from nearby advantage points) and also that at Jabrin. Once home to the Imams, Jabrin Fort is filled with passageways and chambers, where most of the ceilings are decorated with beautiful Islamic motifs, including the breathtaking ‘Sun and Moon’ room, and from the roof the views out across the fertile plains to the distant mountains are truly stunning. Continue by heading into the mountain vistas of Jabal Shams, site of a spectacular 1,000 metre canyon, where it is possible to take an exhilarating walk through a landscape that has been aptly described as Oman’s very own ‘Grand Canyon’. En route back to the hotel visit the old mud-brick village of Tanuf, where you will have an opportunity to learn something of the Jebel Wars amongst its haunting ruined streets.

A morning visit to the souk and goat market will present you with one of the highlights of any visit to Nizwa. This weekly event encapsulates all the colour and noise of a traditional Arabic market, where traditionally dressed Omanis vie for space alongside an eclectic collection of goats, cattle, sheep and tourists! You will also visit Nizwa’s impressive 17th century fortress which was built during the struggles between the Sultan and the radical Imams. Towering some 40 metres above the surrounding souk, the fortress is an imposing circular bastion that once dominated the passage through the Sumail Gap, its 400 gun emplacements presenting a formidable barrier against invading troops. Later proceed to Sohar via the western Hajar mountains and the oasis city of Yankul. On arrival transferring to the Sohar Beach Hotel for an overnight.

There will be time to visit Sohar’s distinctive white fort this morning before leaving for Khasab, the capital of the Musandam Peninsula, a stunning region of Oman known for its dramatic scenery and beautiful fjords. On arrival check in to the Golden Tulip Hotel.

This morning you will cruise on a traditional dhow towards Musandam’s longest and most spectacular fjord, which is often referred to as ‘Norway of Arabia’. Here calm, turquoise waters contrast with the creamy while limestone cliffs. Along the way you will pass small fishing villages and also dolphin are often spotted swimming alongside the dhow as you cruise further into the fjord. You will also pass by Telegraph Island. It was here that the British laid the first telegraph cable in 1864, which ran from India to Basra in Iraq and the small island was manned for approximately 5 years. There is the opportunity for swimming and snorkelling before heading back to harbour. This afternoon’s 4-wheel drive safari takes you to Jebel Harim, the highest peak on the Musandam Peninsula and en route you will see some of Oman's most stunning scenery. During your journey you will be able to enjoy incredible vistas, including terraced mountain villages, lush Acacia forests and dry river beds known as wadis. A stop will be made at the Bedouin village of Sayah, which is surrounded by palm groves and one of the most picturesque villages on the Peninsula. Continue to Jebel Harim where there will be time to admire the grand panorama from the mountain's summit before returning to Khasab via Khawr Najid, a stunning advantage point which commands great views out over the Indian Ocean.

Leave Oman this morning and transfer across the border to Dubai, where you will stay at the Ritz Carlton for 1 night. The rest of the day is free to relax, shop or explore Dubai.

Transfer to the airport for the British Airways morning flight to London Heathrow, arriving in the afternoon