We gather our merry group ready for an adventure at Sofia airport in the evening. We check in and depart at 21:30 to Istanbul for our first short flight with Turkish Airlines, where we have a short layover and then an overnight flight to Oman's capital, Muscat.

We land at the airport early in the morning (7:10) and since it is still early for check-in, we will take a tour of the city to see some of the sights before heading to the hotel for check-in. We will start with the modern Royal Opera House, opened on 12.10. 2011 with the production of Turandot by Giacomo Puccini. The unique architectural complex is located on 80 thousand square meters, and the main hall can accommodate 1100 people. Half of the entire area is magnificent gardens. Visitors can see the main lobby with its elegant grand staircase, the auditorium balconies and the main stage. After that, we will see some more sights and learn more about the history of the city. After that we will head to the hotel for check-in. We have time for a short break and in the afternoon, we continue our tour with a visit to old Muscat - the National Museum, established by the Sultan's decree in 2013 to preserve Omani cultural heritage. It was opened on 14.12.2015, in a purpose-built palace-like building with an area of 13,700 sq.m., 7,000 exhibits in 14 permanent galleries, each covering a different aspect of Oman's cultural heritage. Next is a photo stop at Al Alam Palace - the former residence of Sultan Qaboos, surrounded by two Portuguese forts - Jalali and Mirani. We continue to Muttra market - one of the oldest markets in Oman, with narrow streets and a mystical smell of sandalwood and a great atmosphere. Here is the opportunity to interact with the locals and buy souvenirs for friends and family, and the curious can inhale the aroma of the famous Omani incense, which is made from the resin of a special acacia tree that grows only on the outskirts of the Salalah region. You will have the opportunity to taste exotic spices and buy sterling silver souvenirs as well as pashmina scarves at stunning prices. The tour will continue with a photo stop at the Mirani and Jalali forts built by the Portuguese in the 16th century and the official palace of His Majesty, Sultan Qaboos. Al Alam Palace is one of the six Sultanate residences with over 200 years of history. Now the palace is used for official visits by guests of the state and the Royal Family, so you will only see it from the outside. It is not open to tourist visits. This concludes our tour and we return to the hotel, where dinner awaits us.

Today we head into the interior of Oman, so we grab a nice bite to eat for breakfast and embark on the adventure. We will travel along a coastal route that runs between the western Hajar Mountains and the Arabian Sea. On the way we will visit Bimma - a natural rock formation resulting from the corrosion of limestone stones, in which there is a blue-green pool of water. We have a short break here and time for photos after which we continue on our route. Our next stop is Wadi Shab - where we will make a short and scenic hike, (good physical condition, suitable shoes required due to the slippery rocky terrain) in the heart of the river between beautiful mountains. The hike is about 45 minutes, and at the end of the trail, a spectacular view awaits us, as well as a natural pool with crystal water - ideal for cooling off after the hike. We turn back and head to Wadi Tiwi - a valley in which there is an old village with many farms for bananas, papayas, etc. We have time to enjoy a short walk around the village. After that we head to the next last stop for the day - Sur, where we will spend the night. But before we get to the hotel, we will visit the Dhow Shipyard, where Arab boats are still made today. Sur is a famous port, supposed home of Sinbad the Navigator. We will end the program with a walk around the coastal scenic road and then we will head to the hotel for check-in. We will have free time in the afternoon, and for those who wish, there is also the possibility of an additional activity - Visiting the Ras Al Jins turtle reserve - with an additional charge. We have dinner at the hotel, after which it is time to rest.

After breakfast, we continue on a wonderful highway to the Shraqiyya region to the endless red Wahiba desert and the fascinating Wadi Bani Khalid by jeep. Wadi means valley in Arabic. Wadi Bani Khalid is one of the most famous places in Oman, attracting local and foreign visitors throughout the year. It is a natural and stunning desert oasis, with clear green pools of natural spring water among rocks and date palms, in stark contrast to the sands of Wahiba. We will enjoy a walk in the Wadi, with an opportunity to swim, for which it is advisable to wear loose clothing and swimming clothes. Skimpy clothing is not allowed due to the fact that the place is very frequented by locals as well. We then travel to the Wahiba Sands - an orange colored sea of sand stretching for about 200 km along the Indian Ocean coast with dunes ranging from 50-100 meters in height. Wahiba is a natural habitat for various types of flora and fauna. Bedouin tribes find their livelihood in this corner of the desert. Our experienced drivers will drive the jeeps smoothly through these undulating dunes. We will watch the spectacular sunset from the top of the sand dunes. Then we go to the hotel for check-in and dinner.

We have breakfast and departure for Nizwa - the city known as the cultural capital of Oman. The city was once the capital of the Julanda dynasty - 6th and 7th centuries AD. Today it is a popular tourist attraction, with historic buildings and an impressive medieval fortress. We will visit Birkat al Mauz - a place where local people grow palm trees. Our guide will explain the complete cultivation process as well as the old irrigation system in Oman - Falaj System. We head to the next stop - Jabrin - Oman's finest castle built in the late 17th century, which has become the seat of Omani knowledge. This castle has an extremely well-planned layout with a manager's room, ladies' room, kitchen, living room, etc. Most ceilings are decorated with beautiful paintings with Islamic motifs. The view from the top of the castle is truly mesmerizing. We then travel to Bahla, an earthen fort which, with its approximately 7 miles of wall, is the oldest fort in Oman. The fort is believed to have been built in pre-Islamic times and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Photo stop in the village. After that we check into the hotel and dinner and time for rest awaits us.

We have breakfast and departure to Al Hamra, where we board 4x4 jeeps and travel to Misfat Al Abreen, a beautiful village with stone houses barely clinging to the mountain cliff. The village is filled with date, lemon and banana groves. Next stop is Jebel Shams - which means mountain of the sun in Arabic. The Grand Canyon of Jebel Shams is the highest in Oman and the third highest in the world. We arrive at Jebel Shams and have a stopover to enjoy the Grand Canyon for a while and a short walk to breathe fresh mountain air. Later we travel to Al Hamra - an oasis village growing thick date and banana plantations. We will walk through the streets of the village, which has centuries-old mud houses, revealing the past way of life in the region. We visit one of the old houses converted into a museum. After that we check into the hotel and dinner awaits us.

After breakfast, we leave the hotel and visit the New Market Complex, designed using Omani fortress architecture and elegant Islamic arches. The air-conditioned halls of this market are filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, herbs and spices, huge stacks of dates, and freshly caught fish. This is still the best place to buy traditional Khanjari silver. The cattle market is still held here every Friday. This is a place where you can immerse yourself in some of the most authentic old traditions in Oman. After exploring the market we will visit the Nizwa Fort with its huge round tower, built in the 17th century by Imam Sultan Bin Seif Al Da Aruba to defend the way inland. The fortress occupies the entire territory of a city that grew up around the building and is the most impressive tower in Oman. The superb panoramic view from the top gives visitors a feast for the eyes and a view of the whole of Nizwa. Then we head to Muscat. Upon arrival we have free time and dinner at the hotel. Optionally, you can join a Sunset Cruise with a traditional DHOW boat for an additional fee.

After breakfast, we will set off on our last day's adventure. We will start with a visit to the Grand Mosque - one of the largest mosques in the world at one time with 20,000 worshippers. The Grand Mosque has beautiful artwork, chandeliers and a carpet covering the entire prayer hall. Built in the period 1995 - 2001. in the Islamic style and a monument to the Ottoman ruler Qaboos bin Said was erected during his lifetime. The entire prayer complex is spread over 416,000 sq m, with water fountains and flower gardens, a separate women's room and ritual ablution pools with photocell fountains. The main mosque has 5 minarets (the central one is 91 m high) and has a built-up area of 40,000 sq.m. The building uniquely combines the curves of the Indian architectural jewel Taj Mahal in the typically Arabic style. Sultan Qaboos personally commissioned the stained glass windows from the architects, the gold-plated 14-meter Swarovski crystal chandelier with 1,122 lamps. For 27 months, 600 women hand-woven the carpet, measuring 60x70 meters, weighing about 23 tons, with 1 billion and 700 million knots. 7 million baked glazed tiles were used for the interior decoration. Marble was specially brought from Italy, whose polished columns are decorated with carved friezes of flowers. When visiting the temple, special clothing is required - covering the body from head to toe. Ladies must also cover their head with a scarf. We then head to the Batina region which showcased the history of Oman. The region has many agricultural fields and is one of the main sources of agricultural products in Oman. After about an hour by bus, we arrive in Barca, where we visit a traditional market for fresh fish and vegetables. Next is the village of Nahal, famous for its beautiful 16th century fortress built on a huge rock and countless date palms. There are hot mineral springs in the oasis of Nahal. We will see the irrigation system of the Falaj type - translated from Arabic means "separation of parts", which effectively distributes water among all residents. In 2006, five of Oman's irrigation systems were added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Next is a visit to the Bait Al Gasham Museum, a 200-year-old residence of a former minister during the reign of Sultan Taimur bin Faisal. It serves as an archaeological museum with about 15 rooms in a two-story building. It is very often used for various cultural events. This concludes our half day tour and departure back to Muscat. The rest of the day we will have free time for rest and individual entertainment. Of course in the evening we have dinner at the hotel.

Well, all good things come to an end and he came along for our amazing adventure around Oman. Today we have an early morning flight (8:00) so we get up early, have breakfast and head to the airport. Short stay in Istanbul to change flights and land back in Sofia in the afternoon (15:10) on the same day.