NEW YEAR IN OMAN

Arrival in Muscat at 01.20h. local time. Meet and greet by a representative of the partner company and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at Crowne Plaza Muscat - City View Room. Overnight. Breakfast
Muscat is a city, the capital of Oman, located on the coast of the Gulf of Oman. The city is the seat of the Omani government. With a history dating back to antiquity, it combines high-rise buildings and prestigious shopping centres with cliff-top attractions such as the 16th-century Portuguese fortresses, Al-Jalali and Mirani, towering over Muscat harbour. The modern, marble-clad Grand Mosque "Sultan Qaboos" - the temple rose majestically with its intricate but clean architecture.

Around 3pm today we will begin our Omani adventure, heading to the Marina where a two-hour ride on a traditional Arabian Dhow dolphin watching boat awaits. We'll see the Muscat coastline through the eyes of ancient sailors who have sailed this route for centuries. With luck, we'll admire the dolphins at play that frequent the shores of Muscat and make a brief stop at a natural cave formed in the rocks off the coast.
Dinner with traditional Omani cuisine at Bait Al Luban restaurant.
Return to the hotel and overnight.

Breakfast.
Our first visit today will be to the Great Mosque of Muscat, a temple that has risen majestically with its intricate yet clean architecture. This grand mosque is one of the symbols of Muscat. It is dedicated to the former Sultan of Oman - Qaboos. There are five minarets that symbolize the five pillars of Islam, and its dome impresses with its exquisite workmanship with Arabic ornaments. Up to 20,000 worshippers can gather inside at a time.
Later, we'll head to the great pride of modern Oman - the Royal Opera House. It became a symbol of the reign of Sultan Qaboos bin Said. Today the opera symbolizes the rich cultural heritage of the country. Sultan Kabus is known for his great love of classical music. That is why the opera has become a major centre of musical art and culture in Oman. It is not by chance that it is considered one of the wonders of the Middle East. Its grand opening is on 11 October 2011. At that time it was the only opera on the Arabian Peninsula, and the first star to take the stage was Plácido Domingo. Rene Fleming, Andrea Bocelli and other world artists followed.
Visit the National Museum, which is not only the largest museum in the Sultanate, but also holds tens of thousands of artifacts in its collection that comprehensively tell the story of the nation. It is this all-encompassing approach that makes it a true bearer of the term 'national', with many rare and stunning exhibits showcasing Oman's pre-modern Islamic architecture and culture, its role as a major player in the region and East Africa during the colonial era, and its modern economic resurgence since 1970.
We will continue our walk with a photo break of the Sultan Al Alam Palace. The current Sultan of Oman has several palaces in the Muscat area, but only one is exposed to the eyes of the common people - the colourful Al Alam. You are not allowed inside, but you can view it from the outside. The palace itself is relatively new - it was built in 1972 - and several 16th century Portuguese fortifications can be seen in its surroundings. There is no way, and we should not miss the Arab markets. That is the beating heart of this world. We head to Souq Mutrah, the largest indoor market in Oman, which will welcome you with a fairyland of colours and scents. A variety of goods are available here and especially typical Omani souvenirs such as incense, Omani hanjars and beautiful silver handicrafts, pashmina scarves, etc.
Return to the hotel. Dinner at Crowne Plaza Muscat and overnight.

MASKAT - WADI BANI AOUF - JABAL AHDAR / 31.12.2023/Breakfast and dinner
Breakfast.
Al Jebel Al Ahdar or the Green Mountain is one of the most famous mountains in Northern Oman and is located about 150 kilometers away from Muscat. The mountain is covered with shrubs and trees that decorate its terraces and thus the name of the mountain. On our way we will visit the mineral springs "Nakhl Springs". Here you can see the well-preserved old Falaj irrigation system, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We will continue our journey to the spectacular Wadi Bani Auf canyon. This section is very adventurous and includes steep turns and rough roads that we will cross in 4x4 jeeps. We will stop in the mountain village of Bilad Sait, surrounded by spectacular mountain landscapes for a short photo break. The route passes through the village of Al Hamra, characterized by its mud houses and date plantations, after which we will continue our journey onwards to Jabal Akhdar, which is part of the Al Hajar mountain range in Oman. New Year's Eve dinner and overnight.

Jabal Akhdar - Nizwa / 01.01.2024 / Breakfast and dinner
Breakfast.
The charming town of Nizwa is located in the middle of a breathtaking mountainous region and is an excellent starting point for trips to the deserts of Oman, located in the north of the country. In the 6th-7th centuries, Nizwa was the capital and over the centuries it has managed to preserve the appearance and richness of typical Omani style buildings. We'll walk around the city, which is a bustling centre of handicrafts and the silver market is the best in Oman. Nizwa is famous for its silver jewelry.
Today we will visit the Nizva fortress. Its foundation dates back to the 9th - 12th century. It was greatly expanded and fortified in the 1650s during the reign of Sultan ibn Saif I, when the city of Nizwa was the capital of the state under the Yaruba dynasty. The fortress was an administrative place for the Imams and the Wali of the region.
The walls and buildings were constructed within twelve years over an underground river. Their large size represents the importance of the fortress in protecting the city in Oman's turbulent history.
The high walls serve as protection against raids, which are attracted by the wealth of the city located at the crossroads of numerous trade routes. The thick foundations of the fortress reach 30 meters deep into the ground. Reinforced doors and walls are rounded and strong to withstand fire even in prolonged clashes. Above the fortress and the whole town towers the main tower, which is 45 m in diameter and 24 m high. Up to a height of 14 m it is filled with stones and earth and concreted with mortar. There are 24 holes in it, in which cannons are located, which can fire at the enemy when attacking from any direction. Of the original 24 guns, only four remain on the main tower. One of them bears the name of Sultan bin Saif. Next is the traditional market in Nizva. The market gathers many people from the surrounding villages and mountain areas who come to sell mostly goats. This has become a spectacular weekly event where hundreds of people sell and buy goats, cattle and other animals and is well worth seeing. Numerous locally produced goods such as knives, baker, textiles, animals, fish, vegetables and various handicrafts can be seen along the many alleys and wards of the souk.
The market is under the shade of tall palm trees near the main souk. It's a place where you can immerse yourself in some of Oman's most original old traditions.
In the afternoon we will visit Wadi Bani Habib, which in contrast to the desert landscape will amaze you with its natural pools enveloped by lush greenery. Dinner at the hotel and overnight.

JABAL AHDAR - THE SONGS OF WAHIBA / 02.01.2024 / Breakfast and dinner
Breakfast.
After breakfast, we will visit Birkat Al Mouz, located in an oasis at the foot of the Jebel Akhdar Mountains. This is one of the most famous villages in Oman, with its ruins of traditional old houses set amongst a large banana plantation. We will then travel to the exciting "Golden Sands" of the Wahiba Desert. Transfer to and from the camp will be by 4WD jeeps.
The sands of Wahiba stretch over an area about 200 km long and nearly 100 km wide, running from the eastern Hajars in the south to the Arabian Sea. This is the traditional home of the Bedouin, a hardy people who know how to survive in the harsh desert conditions.
Along the way we will stop at an authentic Bedouin settlement where we will see their life and existence. The journey to camp is an exciting and adrenaline-filled journey. Crossing many sand dunes we reach the Arabian nights Resort camp and after the formalities of checking in we will have the opportunity to watch the amazing sunset.

THE SANDS OF WAHIBA - SUR - MUSCAT - SOFIA / 03.01.2024 / Breakfast and dinner
Breakfast.
The sands of Wahiba are home to over 3,000 Bedouins of various tribal backgrounds who are accustomed to this harsh climate. We will visit a Bedouin village and get a glimpse into the life and houses of a Bedouin family.
We then continue our journey to Sur, the old African port where the typical Omani dhow boats were made with bare hands. The road to Sur is scenic and beautiful.
Continuing along the coastal road to Sur (the supposed home of Sinbad the Navigator) we will visit a small dhow shipyard where traditional wooden ships are still built today.
If you think that paradise oases with water, palm trees and other vegetation in the deserts are just a myth or a mirage, we will show you that they actually exist! We are going to the oasis Wadi Bani Khalid! This is a real paradise on the territory of Oman - there is a large pond and banana plantations, vegetation, picturesque rocky trails.
Depart for Muscat and check in at Crowne Plaza Muscat or Radisson Blu for refreshments and dinner. Around 23:30 transfer to Muscat airport for flight to Sofia via Istanbul.

8th Day SOFIA / 04.01.2024
At 02.10. flight from Muscat to Istanbul. Landing in Istanbul at 06:55. and flight to Sofia at 08:45h. Arrival in Sofia at 09:05h.