In a nutshell

A picturesque sightseeing tour of the capital of Oman, Muscat, with its mosques, historic districts, charming forts and the famous Mutrah Souq, an original blend of ancient and modern, where we can enjoy the scent of oriental fragrances and immerse ourselves in the magical atmosphere of One Thousand and One Nights!

Main stops

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque of Muscat (external visit)
Shatti Al Qurum district: embassies, hotels, excellent beaches and commercial area
Walk along the Corniche promenade
Visit to Mutrah Souq: beautiful merchant houses from the 18th century, dizzying oriental fragrances, stalls selling fruit and veg, herbs and spices, textiles, and arts and crafts
Muscat old town
Al-Mirani Fort and Al-Jalali Fort with the museum of Omani culture
Stop at Al-Alam palace for photos

The programme

We will leave the port of Mina Qaboos and enter the heart of Muscat to reach Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, the main one of the Sultanate of Oman. The building was inaugurated on May 4, 2001, on the occasion of the 30 years of reign of the late Qābūs bin Saʿīd Āl Saʿīd.
After the mosque, our tour of Muscat will continue through the Shatti Al Qurum district, where there are many embassies and hotels. Al Qurum is also famous for its excellent public beaches and commercial area, where there are a myriad of luxury restaurants and shopping centres with interesting shops.
After leaving the Shatti Al Qurum district, we will head to the Corniche, Muscat’s famous promenade that surrounds the entire gulf, with its period palaces and mosques with towering minarets, and the picturesque mountains as a backdrop.
We will leave the coach and immerse ourselves in Mutrah Souq, one of the oldest and most famous markets in Oman and the Middle East, a charming blend of ancient and modern surrounded by wonderful merchant houses dating back to the 18th century. The entrance to the souk is a kind of cement loggia and also acts as a meeting point for tourists and locals alike. We will join the bustling activity and marvel at the intoxicating oriental fragrances that drift around the stalls brimming with goods on display: fruit and veg, herbs and spices, traditional textiles, clothing, jewellery, incense, pipes, ceramics and arts and crafts.
After our visit to the souk, our tour then continues on to Muscat old town, where we will be able to admire Al-Mirani Fort – finished in 1587 – and Al-Jalali Fort, which has been completely restored and now houses a museum dedicated to the historic and cultural heritage of Oman that has been visited by heads of state and royalty.
Before we return to the ship, we will stop in front of Al-Alam Palace to admire it from the outside and take some photos. The palace is richly decorated with gold columns, arches, maiolica tiles and carvings, which truly are fit for a sultan. Also known as the Palace of the Flag, it is the ceremonial residence of Sultan Qaboos, in the heart of old Muscat.

Good to know

Itinerary sequence may vary.
During the photo stops at Al-Mirani and Al-Jalali forts and Al-Alam Palace, please do not take photos of the locals without permission.
The excursion may take place in the morning or in the afternoon.
Slight changes may be made to itineraries and the length of excursions in order to safeguard your health and comply with regulations and the safety protocol.