Oman vacation, Arabian Desert explorer

There are many seas to explore in Oman – both sand seas and salt ones – on this 13 day trip from Muscat to Salalah, via the Empty Quarter.
Muscat Wadi Bani Awf Jebel Shams Nizwa Sinaw Al Munisfeh Wahiba Sands Duqm Haima The Empty Quarter Salalah
Price
£3399 excluding flights
Duration
13 Days
Type
Small group
Group size
Up to 12 people
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Description of Oman vacation, Arabian Desert explorer

Price information

£3399 excluding flights
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Travel guides

Desert & dunes
There is something about traveling in the desert. The harsh beauty of landscapes shaped by the elements; the generosity of the people that live there...
Oman
You couldn’t get two more contrasting neighbours. While Dubai is like walking into Disneyland in the desert, Oman is like waking up in an Arabian Arca...

Reviews

1 Reviews of Oman vacation, Arabian Desert explorer

4 out of 5 stars
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Reviewed on 05 Nov 2023 by

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?


The Empty Quarter

2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?


Be prepared for the costs in Oman. I would’ve made a trip to the north and a separate one to the Empty Quarter and the south coast in retrospect. A separate one to the Mussadam Peninsula too. Two weeks wasn’t enough to cover the area so felt a little rushed. Could’ve spent 2 weeks in the Empty Quarter alone.

3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?


Not particularly. Garbage is a problem and plastic abounds. We always refused straws, plastic bags, etc but it obviously didn’t make a difference.

4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?


Wonderful. Our guides were fantastic; friendly, knowledgeable, experienced
driver and proud of their country.

Responsible Travel

As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we've screened this (and every) vacation so that you can travel knowing it will help support the places and people that you visit, and the planet. Read how below.

Planet

This tour visits a very remote region, which has barely been touched by the presence of humans, and we strongly believe in maintaining its pristine nature. The nature of this trip means that several nights are spent camping. We strive to ensure that we leave these areas as we find them and our team have been trained in strict no litter policies, meaning that we take all refuse to either be recycled or properly disposed of in the main cities. Washing of dishes is carried out well away from any water sources so as not to contaminate them.

Where there are tracks, we stick to them – not always possible as there are few tracks in this area.

While on this tour we visit the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary which contains rare fauna and is considered one of the most important wildlife reserves in the Middle East. The entrance fees paid here help to fund continued conservation efforts.

In conjunction with our local team, we work with hotels and guesthouses to implement best practices when it comes to environmental matters. This includes basic things like not replacing towels each day, as well as saving electricity and turning lights off.

We also visit a local family home to eat which makes a point of using local produce for the meals provided – local in the sense of being from the village, not from elsewhere. Not only is this a great introduction to the culinary culture of the region but it helps in a small way to cut down on food miles.

People

Oman is a deeply traditional and religious country with certain codes of behaviour, and the people here are not always that accustomed to outsiders. We ensure that our travelers are appropriately briefed in order so as not to offend local sensibilities.

Using local guides also ensures money stays within local economies and means we will be treated to such valuable, in-depth and honest knowledge which you perhaps wouldn’t get from a western guide. It also means we are keeping carbon emissions down.

Where possible we encourage our travelers to spend their money with local businesses; for this reason we do not include meals where it is feasible to eat outside of the hotels, in order that local restaurants are able to benefit from the presence of tourism, rather than the income being channelled just to the hotel.

We buy supplies locally where this is feasible – usually meat and other foodstuffs, and try to have a positive economic impact upon the communities we visit.

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