City: Muscat Governorate
Top Things to do in Muscat Governorate
10 Cultural Tours in Muscat Governorate That You Shouldn't Miss
The Omani city of Muscat is predominantly populated by Islamic Arabs, though it also has a sizable, non-resident Indian population, further rounded out by American, British and Dutch citizens. Muscat is a tolerant and progressive city, where English speakers are relatively common. Arrange fares beforehand if seeing the city by taxi. To explore further, consider renting a car. Don't miss the imposing Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, atmospheric Old Muttrah Souk, Al Alam Royal Palace or Al Jalali Fort.
Restaurants in Muscat Governorate
1. Private Inspiring Interior Tour of Nizwa Souq and Fort, Bahla Fort and Jabrin Fort
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
A journey to the past through the Sumail Gap that divides the Western and Eastern Hajars and onto the Old Capital of Oman, Nizwa, famous for its silver souq and a big round fort. After visiting the souq and the fort, you move to Bahla with the huge loam fort (Photo Stop). Bahla is also known as the pottery capital of Oman. Because of its cultural value, Bahla is placed in the UNESCO’s list of heritage monuments. Next visit is Jabrin fort, where you will find one of the most magnificent forts of Oman with its painted ceiling, dungeons, and hidden passages. Return to Muscat.
Inclusions: Bottled water, Driver/guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Private tour
Exclusions: Gratuities, Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
Reviewed By gbb4U
I had a 11 day private tour with the best guide- Khalifa. He was smart and fun and engaging and very creative. He truly made sure that I had a wonderful tour of Oman. Its hard to spend that much 1:1 time with anyone, but he was easy going, considerate, and truly just the best companion. I can highly recommend Mark Tours if you request him specifically. The problem was with the company. I worked with them for two months on the trip- getting each site and hotel and activity specific for me. I had a definite budget and we agreed on a trip w the costs acceptable. Then after about 5+ weeks post agreement and 6 days before I flew the agent wrote me and said he'd make a mistake and that I needed to pay 40% more. I wrote to the Admin and never heard back. Eventually we were able to stay at the original agreed upon price, but that was bad business. Another problem arose when the company tried to substitute a lessor hotel for one that had already been agreed to and put into the itinerary. That also got resolved, but it left a very bad taste. So if you book with Mark Tours be very careful to get everything tied down and in writing. I was and am very concerned that I never heard from the owner/manager about this last minute price increase (40%!) attempt. That to me speaks poorly of the company. But if you do book - make sure you get Khalifa as your guide!
2. Private Half-Day Muscat City Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 11 reviews
Explore Muscat, learn more about Oman history and culture Places & Sights you'll visit: Grand Mosque Al Qurum Beach Fish Market Mutrah Market Al Zubair Museum Al Alam Palace Private Half-day Muscat city tour. Learn more about the culture and the history of Oman. Pick up and Drop off your Hotels, Port (For shore excursions passengers), Airport, Residence. All fees and taxes included.
Inclusions: Transportation by Air-Conditioned Vehicle Saloon or 4WD, All Fees and Taxes, English speaking Guide , Hotels, Port, Airport, Residence Pick up and drop off , Private tour
Exclusions: Lunch
Reviewed By kjjd2018
Our guide Salim arrive on time and we travel to Nizwa. The fort alone is worthe the trip. Alos went up to the green mountains and what an amazing view. The temperature drops around 10 DegC, but still very plesant. Thanks again for a wonderfull trip.
3. Tour Malak 6 Days Package
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
6 days round trip give you the opportunity to discover some highlight sights in the north part of Oman. Dive deep in sparkling blue clean water pools in Wadi Bani Khalid and Wadi Shab, spend 1 night in the desert and watch the stunning sunset, enjoy dune bashing with our experienced tour guide, Cross Range of Al Hajar mountain, Visit Grand canyon and Green Mountain, visit very old abandoned villages, visit Nizwa the old Capital of Oman you'll have enough time to stroll in Nizwa market and Nizwa fort, watch the turtles in the evening in Ras Al Jinz, and much more sights. Places & Sights you'll visit: Bimmah Sinkhole, Wadi Shab, Sur, Ras Al Hadd, Ras Al Jinz, Wadi Bani Khalid, Wahiba Sands, Al Mudhireb, Ibra, Zukait Tower Tomb, Nizwa Fort & Market, Jabal Akhdar (Green Mountain), Birkat Al Moz, Jabreen Castle, Misfat Al Abreyeen, Wadi Ghul (Wadi Nakhar), Jabal Shams (The Grand Canyon of Oman) Wadi Bani Awf (Balad Sayt)
Inclusions: Dinner, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, All Fees and Taxes, Bottled water, Transportation by Air-Conditioned Vehicle 4WD, English speaking Guide, Hotels, Port, Airport, Residence Pick up and drop off, 5 Night Accommodation
Exclusions: Lunch, NIZWA FORT ENTRANCE FEES
Reviewed By kjjd2018
Our guide Salim arrive on time and we travel to Nizwa. The fort alone is worthe the trip. Alos went up to the green mountains and what an amazing view. The temperature drops around 10 DegC, but still very plesant. Thanks again for a wonderfull trip.
4. Muscat Day Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
With some Omani snacks and refreshments this amazing combination trip will head first to the Royal Opera House of Muscat, then Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, The Fish Market (Mutrah) OR Mutrah Traditional Souk , and then to Al Alam Palace. At the end of this trip you will be familiar enough with Omani culture, some of Omani history, and you will have a good memory of the how Mutrah Souk is amazing!!
Inclusions: Snacks, Bottled water, Private transportation, Freedom to stop the driver to take pictures at any time.
Exclusions:
Reviewed By raju002
A day visit with family and friends will be a great idea. You can learn about the cultural heritage of the people.
5. Magnificent Muscat! Half-day Private City Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Experience the magnificence of the city of Muscat, when you travel like a local. Grand Mosque, Matrah Souq, Al Alam Palace
Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, All Fees and Taxes, English Speaking Guide, Hotels, Port, Airport, Residence Pick up and drop off, Private Tour, Entry/Admission - Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Entry/Admission - Mutrah Fish Market, Entry/Admission - Mutrah Souq, Entry/Admission - Bait Al Zubair, Entry/Admission - Al Alam Palace
Exclusions: Lunch
Reviewed By fiyazm2020
The trip was wonderful.the children enjoyed it and the guide was great. Will use their service again.
6. A Taste of Oman 4 Nights/ 5 Days/
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
All our pick up and drop off Muscat hotel. We provide all our transportation with air condition and all guides are approved from Ministry of gov. in Tourism sector.
Inclusions: Dinner in Hotel Day 02 and Day 03, Air-conditioned vehicle, All Fees and Taxes
Exclusions: Visa, Airfair flights, If group required lunch our driver will stop any local restaurant you can pay directly
Reviewed By weknowthe50
Oman Safari tours team organized a wonderful trip for us. They solve our visa issues and assist us for Muscat flights. Transfers to hotels and airport are organised perfectly on time. Nizwa forts and souqs were the best moment of our tour. It was the real history oman administration seating place. The outside view of the Nizwa Castle was really a view of old Oman history. I impressed their organization staff and team that offer us a wonderful tour for us.
7. Half Day Muscat City Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Our first stop in the morning is the Sultan´s Quaboos Grand Mosque. Admire there the 12m long chandelier and get an impression of Omani´s religion (Opening hours: From 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM, Saturday till Thursday). Explore at your next stop the exotic fish, fresh fruits and colorful vegetables at the traditional market in Muttrah. Feel free to mingle with the crowd and don’t forget to negotiate.Only a few meters from there you enter the famous MuttrahSouq where you will find a countless mix of Omani handcrafts, enjoy the oriental sound and smell the gold of Oman “Fragrances”. We drive along the beautiful Corniche to Old Muscat, where we stop for memorable picture of the Sultan's Palace which is surrounded by the Portuguese forts of Jalali and Mirani. At the Bait Al Zubair Museum you get an exclusive chance to get informative information about the Omani culture and their history.
Inclusions: Guide
Exclusions:
Reviewed By sandiau
My husband went on a fishing trip today. A clean, fast boat set up with everything needed to catch fish. Captain has local knowledge of where to go to get a catch. Great day out!
8. Oman in 3 days - Muscat - Wahiba Sands - Turtle Beach.
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Visit and explore Oman and enjoy the amazing depths of the Wahiba Desert, visit the Bedouin family, explore their culture and traditions, and visit the turtle beach. Traditionally ride camels and eat by hand OMANI ENGLISH / ARABIC GUIDE German / French / Italian / Spanish Cost + 200 OMR
Inclusions: Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner
Exclusions: Having lunch
Reviewed By m0hammed140579
More wonderful when you walk around old houses and meet Local people and have Local lunch and listening to their stories with the foreign people that keep you laugh All times with nice tour guide
9. Mountain, Desert & Coastal Tour (03 Days / 02 Nights)
Overall Ratings
4.7 based on 6 reviews
Oman, an enchanted land with an incredibly diverse landscape. Witness its turquoise blue coastline, dive into its pristine valleys, glide over its breathtaking deserts, and climb its tallest mountains. Along the way, explore the formidable forts of the interior, soak in the local charm of the villages, and snack on the delicacies in the traditional market. From wilderness to civilization, experience it all in this private tour, designed to show you as much of the Sultanate as possible in the space of 3 days. This tour is offered by Desert Flower Tours, a responsible Omani-owned tour operator with a passion for creating unforgettable holidays for visitors. The tour is conducted by experienced Omani guides only, because we believe that only Omani guides can bring you to experience the local hospitality, traditional values and way of life.
Inclusions: Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, All applicable entrance tickets during the tour, Drinking water during the tour, Accommodation for 02 Nights, Guide services for 03 days in a 4WD vehicle
Exclusions: Any activities or expenses that are not mentioned in the itinerary, Flight tickets, Meals apart from what is mentioned in the program, Travel insurance, Tourist Visa
Reviewed By Nancy L
I recently had the pleasure of spending a week with Desert Flower Tours during a photo workshop. Desert Flower organized a custom tour for our workshop. It was perfectly paced - not too fast and not too slow. I feel like we got to see the best of Oman. Hilal, owner of Desert Tour is a safe and conscientious driver. His knowledge of his country and culture is vast, and he was willing to answer any and all questions. His English is excellent. You can't go wrong choosing Desert Flower Tours and the country of Oman!
10. MUSCAT City Package 4 Days / 3 Nights
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1 reviews
city packages are the most convenient and smart option to explore a city. These packages are carefully curated to offer the maximum experience with minimum pricing. The packages are complimented with some great choice of hotels, private transfers, daily breakfast and a city tour which is available in 5 languages. Should you wish to extend your stay we have some great prices for extension nights and also a plethora of additional tours, activities and attractions to keep you engaged. Please follow the instructions below to extend your stay or to add more tours and excursions.
Inclusions: Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Personalized meet & assist upon arrival at the airport, Private chauffeur driven transfer from the airport to the hotel and vice versa., Accommodation on bed and breakfast basis in the below mentioned 3,4 & 5* hotels., Half day Muscat city tour available in English or French or German or Italian or Spanish., Local taxes included in the price, except VAT., A welcome kit is provided upon arrival which includes all essentials to fullfill your trip., A comprehensive travel insurance coverage for all Grayline guests upto $2.5 million.
Exclusions: Flights, Optional excursions, Porterage & Personal expenses, Visa fees if needed ($55pp)
Reviewed By cris3PO
I reccomend this rour, especially as your first arrive in Muscat but don't expect to use it as a means to shop at the souk. The tour stops and audio narrative an route are great for information and context of Oman. The fish market would be better as a snack stop at a local cafe or eliminated all together. The souk stop is really not long enough for anything more than some fotos. Tips- be prepared for a long day since the tour time does not include trabsit to pick up all the people at various hotels. Bring water and snacks cause there are none provided. You can rent an abaya at the mosque as needed. The driver does not have them to provide
