Oman & UAE 12 Night Self-Drive Adventure Tour

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

http://thedesertdiva.com/how-to-wean-yourself-off-buspar.

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