Oman rewards the curious traveler. Centuries-old frankincense routes, glittering Indian Ocean shores, and ochre mountains meet a modern, welcoming culture. You’ll wander Omani souqs scented with cardamom and rosewater, snorkel among turtles on protected islands, and stand at the rim of a canyon so vast locals call it “the Balcony.”

Muscat, the capital, is a string of neighborhoods along a crescent bay—Mutrah’s corniche and souq, Qurum’s beach life, and Old Muscat’s palaces and museums. Inland, Nizwa anchors the Hajar Mountains with a mighty fort, lively Friday animal market, and easy access to Jebel Shams and Jebel Akhdar’s terraced villages.

Practical notes: The best time to visit is October–April. Dress modestly (shoulders/knees covered; women cover hair inside mosques). Driving is straightforward on excellent highways; a 4x4 is required for Jebel Akhdar. Visa and entry rules vary by nationality. Omani cuisine is hearty—think slow-cooked shuwa, saffron-tinged rice, and dates with cardamom coffee.

Muscat

Muscat mixes pearly mosques and seaside promenades with a low-rise skyline framed by craggy brown hills. It’s a city for early mornings and golden-hour strolls—when fishing boats slip past Portuguese forts and the call to prayer drifts over the corniche.

• Top sights: Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Mutrah Souq and Corniche, Royal Opera House Muscat, National Museum, Al Alam Palace and Old Muscat forts, Qurum Beach.
• Why go now: Pleasant winter temps, turtle-filled snorkel days at the Daymaniyat Islands, and seasonal rosewater distillations starting in spring in the nearby mountains.
• Where to eat: Bait Al Luban (heritage Omani plates near Mutrah), Kargeen (garden setting, Omani-fusion mezze and grills), Turkish House (fresh chargrilled fish).
• Coffee & breakfast: Mani’s Café (eggs, shakshuka, date smoothies), Dose (Omani coffee meets third-wave espresso), Café Bateel (khallas date pastries and flat whites).

Stay in Muscat:

• Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel — grand bayfront icon with a private beach and palm-fringed pools.
• Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa — three-resort complex with coves, lazy rivers, and great family facilities.
• Mutrah Hotel — value near the corniche; good base for souq wanderings.
• Browse more stays: VRBO Muscat | Hotels.com Muscat

Getting to Muscat: Fly into MCT. Compare fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Typical one-stop roundtrips run ~$500–900 from Europe and ~$900–1,300 from North America (season-dependent). Airport taxis to Mutrah are ~OMR 8–12.

Day 1: Arrival in Muscat, Corniche Stroll, and Souq Flavors

Morning: Travel day. Book your flight into Muscat on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. On arrival, pick up a prepaid SIM (OMR 5–7) and cash from airport ATMs.

Afternoon: Check in, then stretch your legs along the Mutrah Corniche. Pop into Mutrah Souq for silver khanjars, frankincense, and handwoven kuma caps. For a late lunch, try Turkish House for charcoal-grilled hamour with lemon and tahini.

Evening: Sunset from the Riyam Park watchtower frames the harbor in pastel light. Dine at Bait Al Luban, where you can sample shuwa (slow-roasted lamb), qabuli rice, and halwa pudding with Omani qahwa.

Day 2: Muscat’s Icons—Mosque, Museums, Opera House

Morning: Visit the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque (Sat–Thu, typically 8–11 a.m. for non-Muslim visitors). Women should bring a headscarf; shoulders and knees covered for all. Continue with a guided overview:

Half-Day Private Muscat City Tour - Top Landmarks in Just 4 Hours (~$60–110 per person depending on group size).

Afternoon: Explore the National Museum for seafaring and archaeology exhibits, then stroll to the Al Alam Palace for photos between Portuguese forts. Coffee and dates at Café Bateel in the Opera Galleria make a refined pause.

Evening: If the calendar suits, see a performance at the Royal Opera House (smart-casual). For dinner, book Kargeen—lantern-lit courtyards, mixed grills, Omani bread hot from the tanoor, and lemon-mint coolers.

Day 3: Wadi Shab and the Bimmah Sinkhole (Full-Day Adventure)

Trade the city for limestone canyons and turquoise pools. Pack water shoes, a dry bag, and swimwear under modest layers.

Wadi Shab and Bimmah Sinkhole Group Full Day Tour (~$70–100).

Expect a boat hop across the wadi mouth, a scenic hike, and swims to the hidden waterfall cave. The honeycomb Bimmah Sinkhole offers a salty-cool finale. Return to Muscat for a relaxed dinner—consider Ubhar for modern Omani plates.

Day 4: Daymaniyat Islands—Snorkeling, Turtles, and Beach Barbecue (Full Day)

These protected islets shelter corals, rays, and year-round green turtles. Seas are typically clearest in winter-spring; expect two or three snorkel sites.

Full Day Dimaniyat Island Experience with Beach Barbecue (~$120–160).

Between snorkels, graze on a beach BBQ and scan for hawksbill turtles. Back in town, walk Qurum Beach at sunset, then try The Chedi’s neighboring cafés for a nightcap or dive into fragrant mandi rice at a casual spot like Bint Al Mandi.

Nizwa

Nizwa once ruled Oman’s interior, and its round-tower fort still dominates the skyline. Come for the silverwork and dates, stay for the mountain day trips—Bahla’s UNESCO-listed fort, Jabreen’s painted castle, terraced villages, and the vertiginous Balcony Walk above Wadi Ghul.

• Top sights: Nizwa Fort and Souq, Friday animal market, Bahla Fort (UNESCO), Jabreen Castle, Misfat al Abriyeen mud village, Jebel Shams and Wadi Ghul, Birkat Al Mouz and aflaj canals.
• Dining: Bin Ateeq (classic Omani stews and rice, sit majlis-style), Al Qala Restaurant (local grills near the fort), cafés in the souq for halwa and qahwa. On the mountain, Anantara’s Al Qalaa offers refined Omani cuisine with views.

Stay in/near Nizwa:

• Nizwa Hotel Apartments — simple, central, good for families.
• Golden Tulip Nizwa Hotel — resort-style base with a pool, convenient for day trips.
• Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort — dramatic clifftop retreat (4x4 required to reach the Jebel Akhdar plateau).
• Browse more stays: VRBO Nizwa | Hotels.com Nizwa

Getting from Muscat to Nizwa: Self-drive 160 km on Highway 15 (1.5–2 hours; fuel is inexpensive). A private driver usually runs OMR 50–80 one-way. No trains or domestic flights are needed; the road is smooth and well-signed.

Day 5: Muscat to Nizwa, Forts and the Date Souq

Morning: Breakfast at Mani’s Café or Dose, then depart by 8:30 a.m. to beat the desert heat. Stop at Birkat Al Mouz en route for a 30-minute stroll along the UNESCO-listed aflaj irrigation channels among date palms.

Afternoon: Check in, then explore Nizwa Fort—climb the great round tower for views of the oasis and Hajar peaks. Wander the Souq for khanjar daggers, copperwork, Omani cumin and saffron, and date varietals; sample halwa with rosewater and pistachios.

Evening: Dinner at Al Qala Restaurant (spiced kebabs, fresh juices) or Bin Ateeq (try the qabuli rice and harees). For a quiet nightcap, sip cardamom coffee in the souq cafés as locals trade stories under the stars.

Day 6: Jebel Shams and Misfat al Abriyeen (Full-Day Mountain Loop)

Start early for Oman’s “Grand Canyon.” Drive via Al Hamra to the Wadi Ghul viewpoint, then walk part of the Balcony Walk (well-marked but exposed; bring water and sun protection). On the return, call into Misfat al Abriyeen and follow the falaj footpaths through mud-brick lanes and terraces.

Prefer a guided day that also includes Nizwa highlights? Consider this private option (often able to arrange non-Muscat pickups—confirm before booking):

Nizwa Fort-Nizwa Souq-Misfah Al Arbyeen-Jebel Shams - Private Full Day Tour (pricing varies by group size).

Back in Nizwa, refuel with charcoal chicken and lemon-mint at a casual mandi spot, or go upscale with sunset views and Omani tasting plates at Anantara’s Al Qalaa if you’re staying on the Green Mountain.

Day 7: Roses and Return—Jebel Akhdar Option, Back to Muscat

Morning: If you have a 4x4, ascend to Jebel Akhdar (checkpoint enforces 4WD). Stroll Wadi Bani Habib for abandoned stone hamlets and terraced farms; in March–April you may catch rose harvest and distillation. Alternatively, enjoy a relaxed Nizwa breakfast and one last souq browse.

Afternoon: Drive back to Muscat (1.5–2 hours). If time allows before your flight, stop near the airport at a fragrance visitor center or make a final seaside pause at Qurum. Depart from MCT—check departure options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Evening: If you’re overnighting, celebrate with one last Muscat dinner—reserve Al Angham near the Opera House for royal Omani recipes and ornate interiors reminiscent of an antique majlis.

Optional Add-On Ideas (if you extend)

• Wahiba Sands + Wadi Bani Khalid day tour for dune bashing and a palm-lined swim.
• Friday dawn at Nizwa’s goat market for a slice of pastoral life, then Bahla and Jabreen.

At-a-Glance Food & Drink Highlights

• Omani must-tries: Shuwa (slow-roasted lamb), qabuli rice, mashuai (kingfish with rice), halwa, and cardamom coffee.
• Seafood: Charcoal-grilled hamour or kingfish at Turkish House and seaside cafés.
• Sweets: Date assortments at Nizwa Souq; try khallas and fard varieties with tahini.

Tours Used in This Itinerary

• Half-Day Private Muscat City Tour - Top Landmarks in Just 4 Hours
• Wadi Shab and Bimmah Sinkhole Group Full Day Tour
• Full Day Dimaniyat Island Experience with Beach Barbecue
• Nizwa Fort-Nizwa Souq-Misfah Al Arbyeen-Jebel Shams - Private Full Day Tour

Summary: In one week you’ll trace Oman’s arc from sea to summit—Muscat’s mosques and markets, Wadi Shab’s emerald pools, turtle-rich islands, and Nizwa’s fort-capped oasis with mountain day trips. Expect big landscapes, warm hospitality, and meals that linger in memory like the scent of frankincense.