Our tour will start with a visit to the UNESCO heritage site, the Museum of the Frankincense Land. Established in 2007 in Salalahthis Museum is considered one of the most important cultural heritage sites in Oman. Museum has two main halls. The first hall is Historical Hall and is dedicated to the geography and history of the ancient incense path, as well as related archaeological finds. The second hall is Marine Hall, which presents exhibits related to marine trade and shipbuilding of Oman, including skillfully made copies of ancient sea ships.

Next, we will stop at the impressive Sultan Qaboos Mosque for photography and see the official residence of His Majesty Sultan, Palace Al Husn.

After we will walk through the old town of Haffa, famous for selling high-quality frankincense and other traditional souvenirs from the Dhofar region. Before returning to the hotel, we will also look at the new Salalah district and visit the gold and silver jewelry market.

Back to the hotel.

Duration: 03 Hours

Historical Dhofar (Full Day)

The tour begins with a visit to the old fishing village Taqah, which is famous for the production of dried sardines and the traditional old architecture of the houses. We will visit the ancient castle of Taqah, the residence of a tribal leader, Sheikh Ali bin Taman Al Mashani, built in the 19th century. It now serves as a museum for the Dhofar region. Exhibits display traditional male and female roles in fishing, herding, agriculture, and weaponry. For example, the exhibit indicates that men tend camels and women tend sheep and goats.

Then we will continue the journey and see the ancient ruins of the once famous city Sumhuram (Khor Rory). It was the easternmost outpost for the kingdom Hadhramautat at the end of the first century BC, initially, it was founded primarily with a defensive function then developed later into a city in the first century AD. The foundation of the city by the king of Hardamaut is closely associated with the rising importance of sea trade between the Mediterranean and India. Khor Rory was considered an important port on the coast of Dhofar and one of the major trading centers and ports for the delivery of frankincense (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). 

A picturesque road will lead us to Mirbat, the ancient capital of Dhofar and the beginning of the "way of frankincense".We will walk along the streets with old mud houses and visit for photography the tomb of Bin Ali, a classic example of medieval architecture. On the way back to the hotel we will see the Ain-Razat natural spring located among the mountains, which is year-round fed by underground spring water.

Back to the hotel.

Duration: 03 Hours 

Desert Rub Al Khali “The Empty Quarter” (Full Day)

Once you are in Dhofar, you should definitely visit The Empty Quarter, the most wonderful and popular place in Dhofar with its virgin sand dunes. We leave the hotel in the morning and drive towards the Kara mountain range, offering a breathtaking view of the Salalah plain, covered with thick bushes and forest. We will have a short break in the city of Thumrait, the once-famous Bedouin settlement. In ancient times, Thumrait was an important point on the Arabian peninsula’s caravan routes.

We will continue the drive via the vast pebbled desert of Al-Neid and reach the lost city of Ubar (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The legendary ancient kingdom of Ubar existed in one of the most inhospitable places on earth, the gigantic and inaccessible desert of Rub Al-Khali, also known as the Empty Quarter. According to the myth, the desert devoured Ubar, and it literally disappeared without a trace, becoming the legendary Atlantis of Sands. A satellite spotted this once buried city and this gives an idea about the value of the work carried out by a team of researchers in 1982 headed by Ranulf Fiennes. 

Finally, we will find ourselves in the Empty Quarter, one on one with the largest sand desert in the world, and take a walk through its sand dunes. At the top of the dunes, a spectacular panorama of this natural attraction will await us. We will have a picnic in the desert and have lunch with typical Arabic dishes. 

On the way to Salalah, we will stop at WadiDawkah (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The place is known for the largest plantation of frankincense trees in the region. We will get to know many facts about the use of frankincense, both in the ancient and modern world. 

Return to Salalah.

Duration: 03 Hours