Discover Oman Photo Tour

After having led a wildly successful tour of Oman a few years ago, I am ready to welcome you to this somewhat mysterious, but extremely safe and welcoming country in the Middle East.

Although the phrase is overused, Oman really is an undiscovered gem of a country. Dwarfed on the global stage by its neighbour, Dubai, Oman actually has far more to offer the visitor looking for a genuine Arabian experience and a trip with some culture, as well as the chance to soak up the sun. Oman’s climate is very sunny, and while it does rain, this is a rare and normally brief occurrence. In spring and autumn, daily temperatures are in the mid to high 20s Celsius, and over the winter, a very pleasant low to mid 20s Celsius.

Oman has much more to offer than just a great climate, however. Oil and gas revenues have allowed it to develop into a modern, forward looking state. For the visitor, Muscat certainly provides an easy introduction to the Arabian peninsula – there are banks, Western-style shopping malls, ATMs, good roads, fantastic restaurants and top quality hotels. These blend with the city’s graceful, traditional buildings, wonderful souqs, superbly restored forts and rugged mountainous vistas. Outside the capital, facilities are scarcer, but the main places of interest are still very accessible; with perfectly comfortable hotels joined by tarmac roads. Perhaps the aspect that makes travelling easiest is the natural friendliness and hospitality of the Omani people. Nearly everyone comments on this; they are always ready with a smile and will invariably do their best to help you out.

Our guides will lead us to the most iconic spots in this diverse country and I will teach you how to take the photos of a lifetime.

• The tour will start in Muscat on Monday, January 3rd, and end there on Tuesday, January 11th, 2023.
• The duration of the tour will be 9 days (8 nights).
• We will be staying in some of the best hotels and resorts Oman has to offer. See the Accommodations section below.
• You will travel in a small group setting of no more than 12 people.
• You will have the assistance of a professional photographer who has already been to Oman twice.
• We will travel in private 4×4 vehicles with professional driver-guides provided by one of Oman’s foremost tour operators.

The type of photography you will doing during this tour can be classified as Travel Photography, meaning you will have a chance to shoot landscapes, cityscapes, people, food, architecture, bits of ancient history, traditional events, markets. This tour is recommended for those who are hungry for images and don’t disdain pursuing multiple subjects on a single outing.

The experience is immersive and intensive.

Our journey will start with the exploration of Oman's capital and biggest city, Muscat. The highlight of the visit will be the imposing Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, one of the few mosques in the Middle East that are open to non-Muslims.

The landscape of Oman is dotted with ancient forts, reminders of when the country was one of the superpowers of the world and whose fleet commanded a large swath of coastline, from India down to Zanzibar. Most notable are the forts of Nizwa and Nakhl, both of which we will visit.

Omanis have always been traders and even today, when most of Oman's riches are in its oil and natural gas reserves, the country's markets and souks are the liveliest places and a smorgasbord of opportunities for travel and street photographers. Most notably, Omanis generally don't mind being photographed, if you ask nicely.

Amongst the highlights will be the popular Muttrah Souk, the nearby fish market, and the world-famous cattle auction that is held every Friday morning in Nizwa. Also in Nizwa, you will be able to witness the trading of rifles and traditional daggers.

The Sharqiya Sands (formerly known as Wahiba Sands) are a huge desertic area characterized by sand dune ridges that extend southward for hundreds of kilometers. We will spend a night in a desert camp there, admire the sunset, share coffee and dates with the local bedouins, go 4x4 driving up and down the dunes, ride camels, admire the endless stars of the desert night, and generally have lots of fun while taking lots of pictures.

One of the highlights of the tour will be some adrenaline-inducing off-road drives, be it across the majestic Hajar mountains, down in the depths of the Wadi Nakhr canyon, or bashing the sand dunes of Sharqiya.

Other notable attractions will be hiking along the edge of Oman's Grand Canyon, swimming in the blue-green crystalline waters of a mountain wadi and visiting the only remaining dhow shipyard in all of Arabia, where they still build the traditional wooden boats of the Persian Gulf by hand.

The following articles will give you more details about the things you can experience when you travel to Oman with me:

This tour covers a wide swath of the country, including its most populated areas, but in case you wanted to see more of Oman, me and my associated tour operators will be happy to help you extend your stay. You could spend a few days relaxing on the beaches and cruising the khors of the Musandam Peninsula, spotting dolphins. Or you could admire the sea turtles hatching in the Ras Al Jinz Nature Reserve. Or explore the Dhofar region in the south and its frankincense forests. Finally, you could bathe yourself in luxury in the neighboring Emirates and experience the glamour of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Just let me know!

Crowne Plaza, Muscat

From the impressive clifftop location of the Crowne Plaza in the Al Qurum Heights, the hotel commands stunning views of the Gulf of Oman. The attractive cove below, now the hotel’s private beach, is completely cut off from outside access at high tide, and can be reached by steps leading down from the pool and garden area of the hotel.

The View, Jebel Shams

Perched on a ridge high above the town of Al Hamra, a little way out of Nizwa, the View Campsite consists of 30 individual rooms. Of these, 16 Premier rooms have unobstructed views over the valley, with the remaining 14 Superior rooms also offering commanding views of the region. Meals are served in the small dining area which also looks over the valley and Al Hamra. The View offers a comfortable and altogether different experience to most other options in the area.

Sahab Resort and Spa, Jabal Al Akhdar

Perched atop the spectacular Jebel Akhdar Mountain, overlooking a dramatic gorge 2,000 metres above sea level, the beautiful Sahab Resort & Spa offers a perfect base for exploring Oman’s fascinating interior. Rooms and suites all boast awe inspiring views of the surrounding mountain scenery and are luxuriously appointed, reflecting the diverse culture of the region. The hotel also has a range of excellent facilities, including an outdoor infinity pool, indoor heated pool, spa and dining options to suit every mood. Sahab Resort & Spa offers extraordinary dining to inspire and intrigue. Exotic Arabic dishes, specialty teas and flavoured shisha enrich your Middle Eastern journey at these restaurants in Oman. Discover the unique spice blends of distinctive Asian cuisines.

1000 Nights Desert Camp, Wahiba Sands

The 1000 Nights camp is a larger camp (60 tents in all and two permanent guest houses that make up the four ‘sand house’ accommodations), located in an impressive desert basin with dunes rising to either side. The camp consists of individual traditional black wool Bedouin tents, each furnished with a bed with sheets and blankets, rug flooring, a small table and chairs, towels, and bottled water. This is also the only camp in the area with a swimming pool.

If you’d like more information, get in touch with me using the form below and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.