Join us for the ultimate self-drive holiday in the Middle East: deserts, mountains, sabkah and seaside. 8 nights hotel accommodation with 4 nights wild camping. 3300kms over varied terrain taking you to some of the most beautiful and remote spots in the UAE and Oman.
Tours Starting on
- Thursday 7th March 2019
- other dates by request and subject to a minimum of 6 guests in 3 cars
- Arrive anytime after noon at Muscat Airport (earlier arrivals can be arranged but may be subject to a supplementary fee from the hotel)
- Collect hire car – Nissan Patrol Y62 – either 4.0 litre or 5.7 litre
- Stay overnight at Crowne Plaza OCEC, Muscat
- Wecome dinner in the evening at 7.30pm
*Note – direct flights from the UK to Oman are operated by Omanair and British Airways.
Day 2: Travel to Jebel Akhdar
(note, in the colder months we will visit and camp at lower altitude near Al Rustaq)
- Early breakfast, depart at 0800hrs
- Travel onroad to Nizwa, busy market town and ancient capital of Oman.
- Drive up Jebel Akhdar, the green mountain at the centre of the Hajars (The Arabian Rockies) – paved road all the way
- Visit an old village, tucked into the mountainside – easy mountain track driving
- Watch the sunset at an awesome viewpoint
- Accommodation – Camp overnight at 2400metres above sea level
- Food – hotel breakfast, hotel lunch (arabic food) BBQ dinner

the “road” to Sawja

Lots of wildlife – can you spot the frog?

Easy mountain track driving

Camping at 2400metres
Day 3: Travel to/explore Al Ain (UAE)
- Short visit to “Diana’s View” point, followed by walk round Al Ayn village
- Drive down the mountain
- Cross into UAE (visa on arrival for Europeans and many other nationalities)
- Check into Aloft Hotel, Al Ain.
- Leisure/rest for remainder of day.
- Food – camp breakfast, restaurant lunch. Dinner guest’s own account (from 20-200aed)

Easy hiking at Wadi Bani Habib

Ruins at Wadi Bani Habib

Al Jahili fort, Al Ain

Jebel Hafeet rises 1200 metres above Al Ain
Day 4 – travel overland to Hameem Area
- Fuel up, then head to Hameem, via quiet roads, track, and easy desert driving
- Stop just before sunset to camp
- Campfire under the stars
- Accommodation – camping
- Food – hotel breakfast, snack lunch, BBQ dinner

Convoy driving

Following a desert track near Mafroodah

Driving in Al Hamra area

Rush hour in the desert

Can you spot the photographer in the mist?

Winter sunrise in the Liwa area

Winter sunset
Day 5: Explore Liwa Area
- Return to road, visit area near to where Star Wars was filmed (Jakku)
- Picnic lunch in the desert
- Rest until 3pm
- Discover the Liwa Crescent – forts, fish farm and desert roses
- Accommodation – hotel
- Food – camp breakfast, picnic lunch and hotel dinner

Desert rose spotting

The magnificent dunes of the Rub Al Khali in the UAE

The Empty Quarter is the largest sand dune desert in the world

Saying hello to some locals

If we are really lucky we might spot some falconers, who are normally very happy to demonstrate their traditional sport

Al Qutuf Fort – the smallest in Liwa
Day 6: Tanker Offroad drive before travelling to Abu Dhabi
Drive to Abu Dhabi with stops
- Shams 1 Solar Power Plant, Madinat Zayed
- Offroad drive on sandtracks to THE tanker
- Flamingo Spot
- At leisure in the evening
- Overnight at Aloft Hotel, Abu Dhabi
- Food – hotel breakfast, snack lunch. Dinner guest own account – budget 30-300aed

Liwa Oasis Shams Power Plant Madinat Zayed City

Flamingos just off the coast of Abu Dhabi
Day 7 – Rest Day In Abu Dhabi
Staying one more night at Aloft Abu Dhabi, B&B included.
Suggested activities (own account)
Relax by the Pool
Visit Ferrari World or The Louvre
Go shopping in one of the Capital’s many malls
Day 8 – Abu Dhabi to Ibri, Oman
- Visit Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi
- Visit to Al Ain Unesco Listed Tombs at Jebel Hafeet
- Accommodation – Ibri Oasis Hotel
- Food – hotel breakfast, restaurant lunch, hotel dinner

Sheikh Zayed Mosque

On the road to Ibri
Day 9: From Ibri to The Empty Quarter
- Travel to the Rub Al Khali
- Cross the enigmatic Umm As Sameem
- Accommodation – camp overnight 200kms from the nearest town!
- Food – hotel breakfast, snack lunch, camp supper

There’s nothing here apart from the sign! Well does say we are in The Empty Quarter!

Entering the Rub Al Khali via sandtrack

The wonderful red dunes of the Rub Al Khali in Oman

Sabkah Driving

Incredible dunescapes in the Empty Quarter

Our campspot in the Rub Al Khali
Day 10: From the Rub Al Khali to the Coast
- Return to road at Al Ghaba, then onwards to Khaluf
- Beach drive (approx 15kms, subject to tidal conditions)
- Accommodation – camp overnight on the beach or in the Sugar Dunes (dependent on weather conditions and tides)
- Food – camp breakfast, picnic lunch, camp supper

Camels graze near the Sugar Dunes

These old landcruisers are part of the fishing fleet!

Chilling out on the beautiful sands of Khaluf

Scaring the seagulls on the 15km beach drive to the Sugar Dunes

Sugar Dunes Camp
Day 11 – from Khaluf to Ras Al Hadd
- Follow the coast road to reach Ras Al Hadd
- Short sortie into the Wahiba Sands
- Accommodation – overnight at the Ras Al Hadd Turtle Resort
- Food – camp breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner at resort

Camels grazing on the Wahiba Sands

Cruising along a sandtrack in the Wahiba

Turtle tracks

A turtle heads back into the Indian Ocean after laying her eggs on the beach
Day 12: Return to Muscat
- Return to Muscat via road
- Visit Sur Dhow Shipyard
- visit Wadi Shab and swim in the cool clear water
- Visit Dayqah Dam (subject to schedule/sunset time)
- Accommodation – Crowne Plaza OCEC, Muscat
- Food – hotel breakfast, restaurant lunch, dinner at hotel

Muqal Pools

Wadi Tiwi mountain road

Dayqah Dam
Tour Price
12,350 AED per person, based on 2 persons in one car/sharing a hotel room (single supplement 8,000 AED)
Please enquire for rates if 3 or 4 persons in car
Maximum 5 guest cars
Children should be a minimum of 10 years old
Tour is a guaranteed departure once 3 cars are booked with deposit paid.
Gulf residents with their own 4×4 are welcome to join our trips – please enquire for prices.
Payment
- 10% deposit to secure your booking
- 20% interim payment, 60 or more days before stated commencement of tour
- Balance payable 35 or more days before stated commencement of tour.
Payment by
- Bank Transfer
- Visa*
- Mastercard*
- *proof of address may be requested.
Included:
- 8 night’s hotel accommodation
- 4* Muscat, Al Ain and Abu Dhabi
- 3* Liwa Hotel
- Ras Al Jinz Turtle Resort or similar
- Ibri Oasis Hotel
- All breakfast, lunch and dinner, except for dinner on nights 3, 6 and 7 (Al Ain and Abu Dhabi). There are a multitude of cafes and restaurants in both locations and as the afternoon/evening will be at leisure this will give our guests more flexibility.
- Hire of Nissan Patrol Y62 4.0 litres or 5.7 litres, or similar
- Petrol – if price should rise above 2.5aed/240baisas (Oman) per litre a small supplement may apply
- Services of a guide throughout the trip, except for when “at leisure.”
Excluded
- Flights to Muscat
- Holiday insurance
- Online visa Oman 5 OMR (10 GBP) x 2 – 20 GBP per person
- International driving permit (not required for UK guests as UK licence valid for 90 days)
- Alcohol, premium soft beverages (water, cola, lemonade included in package)
- Cigarettes, shisha (where offered)
- At leisure activities in Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Al Ain
- Omantel Simcard (2 OMR) and data package (3 OMR for 1 GB per week) if you wish to have this
- Etisalat Simcard ( 30 AED) and data package (50 aed for 1 GB per week) if you wish to have this
- Dinner in Al Ain (restaurants available from 20aed-200aed and more) on Day 3
- Dinner in Abu Dhabi on Day 6 and 7 (budget 30-300aed)
Terms and Conditions, including cancellation policies, which apply to Adventure Tours here
Registration form can be downloaded here
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