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Shangri-La Hotel supplement for Dolphin watching
tour & Dhow Cruise is US$ 10.00 per person.
Al Nahda OR Al Sawadi Hotel pick up and drop off
surcharge (for all tours): US$ 85.00 per vehicle
Picnic Lunches can be arranged for any of the
4WD tours at the supplement cost of US$ 20.00
per person.
Important Note:
4WD Tours are only recommended for the energetic
and adventurous.
Frankincense Trail – 4 Hours – 180
KM – Afternoon Tour
Visit the Biblical “Nabi Ayoub” Prophet
Job’s Tomb, perched high up in the
“Jebel” (mountains). En-route, are
spectacular views of the plains, mountain landscape
and emerald green pastureland. Proceed to Mughsail
Beach where “Blow-holes” -
(perforations in the limestone rock) through which
sea water gushes during high tide. Experience
the Hairpin Bend Roads for approximately
15/20kms, which will take you to a wadi. The views
are breathtaking due to heights involved. This
is the road that takes you to the Yemen border.
At the nearby bird sanctuary, one may see seasonal
birds. En-route, the stark shape of leafless Frankincense
Trees dot the landscape. Once traded as a
commodity more precious than gold, frankincense
harvested in Dhofar is rated the best in the world.
Visit the fishing village of Taqa, an old town
with an interesting Castle surrounded by
watchtowers and Taqa stone houses. Proceed onward
to Khor Rori creek, the site of the ruined city
of Samhuram, (visit from outside) capital
of ancient Arabia’s exotic frankincense
trade. Excavations have produced evidence of an
ancient city with trade links by sea to Far Eastern
destinations and with even distant Greece. Mirbat,
the ancient capital of Dhofar, was an important
town as early as the 9th century for its trade
in frankincense, horses and slaves. See some of
the old houses famous for its woodcarvings. If
lucky see boat loads of fish arriving into the
harbour. One of Dhofar’s best-known historic
sites is Bin Ali’s Tomb. The twin
domed structure, tomb of Mohamed bin Ali who died
in 1135 AD is a fine example of medieval architecture.
Return via Ayn Razat, (Thu – Fri
Only) manicured gardens fed by natural underground
springs.
Salalah, the “garden city”
of the south, is a tropical paradise. Visit a
Garden Farms, which has groves of coconut,
banana, papaya and vegetables. Visit the Old
Ruined Houses still in existence today. Photo
stop of the beautiful Shanfari Mosque with
its exquisite artwork and stained tiles. Visit
the site of Prophet Saleh’s Sacred Camel
Footprint. See the clear camel footprint on
the rock. Visit Al Husn Souq where frankincense
crystals of Dhofar and typical Dhofari frankincense
burners are sold. Witness the sale of cattle and
guns in the market. Walk along the city’s
promenade (waterfront corniche) where single storied
houses are dwarfed by tall, swaying palms. Al
Husn Palace, summer residence of His Majesty
Sultan Qaboos stands at one end of the promenade.
We return via the Museum, which is famous
for the Dhofari costumes in the south. (Sat –
Wed only).
Proceed on a full day to Ubar. The ruins of the
fabled city of Ubar, chronicled in classical
works, as the “Atlantis of the sands”
is among a series of exciting archaeologists excavations
currently underway along the route. In the Rub-Al
Khali (The Empty Quarter) area we experience
dune driving before returning to the hotel.
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