Arrive at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Wyndham Garden Muscat Hotel 4* (D)

Transfer to the marina for a boat tour of the spectacular coastline. Then explore the capital of the sultanate, with a tour of the Royal Palace grounds, the Sultan’s residence, and two Portuguese forts. Visit Bait Al Zubair Museum and admire the collection of Omani cultural treasures. Next head to Matrah to visit the Souk. (B-L-D)

Visit the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, an architectural masterpiece. Then travel to the old village of Al Hamra, where you’ll marvel at the lush palm grove and the Bait Al Safah house-turned-museum. Continue on to Wadi Ghul with a stop at Djebel Shams. Next, head to Nizwa for a stroll through the souk. Intercityhotel Nizwa 4* (B-L-D)

Explore the town of Nizwa, with its fort and watchtower, before continuing to the castle at Jabrin. Then head to the ancient village of Al Manzifah with a photo op along the way at the pre-Islamic Bahla Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue on through the mountains towards the Wahiba Sands. Arrive at Mintirib and take a 4x4 to your overnight camp. Arabian Oryx Camp (B-L-D)

Hop back in a 4x4 and head to the Wadi Bani Khalid River in the Hajar Mountains. Lunch en route. Continue on to Sur and visit the shipyards where dhows, traditional Arab sailing vessels, are still produced. In the evening, visit the Ras Al Jinz turtle sanctuary. Turtle Beach Resort 3* (B-L-D)

Take the coast road towards Wadi Shab, known for its incredible swimming holes and waterfalls in the middle of the desert. Then continue on to the Bimmah Sinkhole, a refreshing water pool with lush greenery in the heart of the rocky desert. Next it’s on to Quriyat to explore the salt flats and the hamlet of Sahel before heading to the airport in Muscat for your flight to Dubai. Hampton Inn by Hilton Dubai Hotel 3* (B-L)

Spend a full day exploring Dubai. Explore Old Dubai, with a stop at Jumeirah Mosque. Then stroll through the narrow streets of Bastakiya and visit Dubai Museum, housed in the ancient Al Fahidi Fort. In the afternoon, see the modern side of Dubai: visit Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, and the vast Dubai Mall with its impressive aquarium. Next tour the expansive man-made archipelago of Palm Islands. In the evening, enjoy a dinner cruise aboard a dhow. (B-L-D)

Morning free. Optional visit to the city of Sharjah ($). In the afternoon, 4x4 excursion with an English-speaking driver for a desert safari. Opportunity to try dune bashing for the brave. Dinner in a Bedouin camp, complete with a performance of belly dancing and traditional Tanoura dance. Return to the hotel at the end of the day. (B-D)

Depart for Abu Dhabi and visit the brand new Abrahamic Family House. Then visit the Louvre Museum. In the afternoon, take a sightseeing tour along the coast road. See the Emirates Palace Hotel and the Etihad Towers, then stop at the Heritage Village. Continue on to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, the biggest in the country. (B-L)

Head to Al Ain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Qasr Al Muwaiji Fort and museum before exploring Al Jahili Fort and the former palace of Emir Sheikh Zayed bin Al Nahyan, founder and first sovereign of the United Arab Emirates. (B-L)

Transfer to the airport. (B)