Things to do in Ad Dakhiliyah Governorate

Embark on a historical and cultural tour that gives an insight into Omani life. Visit the impressive Nizwa Fort, haggle a bargain at the local souq, and end the day seeing a traditional village. Start with a spectacular drive through the Hajar Mountains via Fanjah for a photo stop. Then, arrive in Nizwa City to see the Nizwa Fort — the most popular monument of Oman. Next up is a visit to Nizwa souq, the market where you can buy traditional knives, pots and other unique items. Head next to the Al Hamra and Bait Al Safah museum where you can learn about how locals lived in generations past.

Get picked up from your hotel and head to the Shatti Al-Qurum hotel where the tour begins. Your driver will show you how to use the audio guide system to benefit the GPS enabled commentary (available in five languages) that follows the tour. Travel towards to Nizwa, Oman’s cultural capital and home to some of its most significant structures. Along the way, stop at a charming ancestral village called Birka Al Mawz, which sits at the base of Jebel Akhdar (Green Mountain). In Nizwa, admire the central fort and its giant cannon tower; walk through the traditional souq (market); and, of course, enjoy a local restaurant for lunch. After lunch, visit the unique Jabreen Castle, built in the 17th century. It has magnificent plasterwork, carved doors, and painted wooden beams. You'll also see Jebel Shams—one of the most famous mountains in Oman—and one of the oldest towns in the region, Oman Bahla, before heading back to your hotel.

Benefit from pick-up at your hotel or the Port of Muscat, and then travel approximately 170 kilometers to Jebel Akhdar, one of the most fabulous landmarks of Oman. Known as "Green Mountain" for the moisture at higher altitudes that supports agriculture and allows shrubs to grow, Jebel Akhdar is otherwise a desert of dramatic wilderness and extraordinary beauty. Admire the green terraced gardens surrounding the villages, and drive through the Sumail Gap, the rocky natural passage that divides the Eastern and Western Hajar Mountains. Follow in the footsteps of intrepid tradesmen as you pass the town of Izki and proceed to the Saiq Plateau, only accessible by donkey for hundreds of years. See the variety of fruits growing, such as pomegranates, apricots and lemons in season. Make use of the cool, dry climate to take a walk around Wadi Bani Habib, Shrejaya, Al Ain and Aqur. Return to Muscat and get dropped off at your hotel or the port.

In the morning you leave Muscat and we drive to Nizwa, the ancient capital of Oman. At Nizwa you will visit Nizwa Fort and the Traditional Souk. From there you will travel to Al Hamra one of the oldest villages in Oman at the foot of the Hajar Mountains we take a walk around the mud brick houses. After thi tour, we move on to Misfah al Abryeen, a truly pristine village that nestles at the base of Jebel Shams. Here you will get to see the large Falaj water system that supplies water to the nearby vegetation. There are numerous marked footpaths throughout the village that is recommended to take your time and explore. Before continuing our journey onwards and upward to Jebel Shams, stopping on the way for amazing views of the Hajar Mountains and Oman's highest point. Even on the hottest days, it's nice and cool up here. Jebel Shams is the highest peak of the Hajar mountain range, soaring 3,000 meters above sea level. It provides a spectacular scenery, ancient rock carvings and remote villages .Overnight in Mountains

Begin your tour driving through the Hajar Mountains to the township of Nizwa, which is the ancient capital of Oman. Visit Nizwa Fort and the traditional Souk.  Next, travel through the deep Wadi Ghul and arrive at Jebel Shams, Mountain of the Sun, which is the undisputed lord of the mountains. Jebel Shams is the highest peak of the Jebel Al Akhdar mountain range, soaring 3,000 meters above sea level. This is the Grand Canyon of Oman and provides spectacular scenery, ancient rock carvings, and remote villages.  Continue your tour to the beautiful old village of Misfah, perched on the side of a mountain where narrow ancient stone pathways lead you into the valley below. Have lunch at a restaurant where you can savor local delicacies at the top of the mountain. Afterward, explore the ancient labyrinth of the region of Al Hamra before your return trip to Muscat.

Explore Nizwa, the old capital city of Oman, at the famous Nizwa Souq. A wide variety of vendors offer their goods each morning. Here you can find fish, meat, vegetables, pottery, jewelry, handicrafts and souvenirs, sold in authentic market halls. Watch as vendors hawk their livestock at the Friday cattle market. Nearby Nizwa Fortress is architectural testimony to the economic and military achievements of the early Yaruba dynasty from the mid-17th century. It was a military stronghold designed to withstand even the strongest of attacks, with traps galore set for possible intruders in its hallowed halls. The picturesque village Misfath al Abreen lies on a steep slope at the foot of Jebel Shams, and has a large Falaj system which supplies water for many orchards, date palms and vegetable gardens. Then head up Jebel Shams Mountain; at 3000 meters, it is the highest mountain of Oman. Finally, time for some beauty sleep with an overnight at Jebel Shams Resort. The next morning, why not explore the Grand Canyon of Oman among the bevy of walking paths, where you'll take in spectacular views of the wadis and valleys below? Further down the mountain, Jabrin Castle, erected in 1670 by a sultan, beckons. Go back in time with exhibits of furniture and traditional utensils, take a gander at the elaborate wood carvings, ceiling paintings, and stucco work. The last stop offers a hard choice: will it be the Al Hoota Caves with its underground rivers, or UNESCO World Heritage Site the Bahla Fortress with its 132 watchtowers and 12 km of walls? Let the decision be yours.