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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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