The 8 Oman Safaris Tours That Earn Their Price

1.Desert Safari Sharing Tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 313 reviews · from $189Our pick

Leave Muscat at 8am for Wahiba Sands and Wadi Bani Khalid. Expect shared transport by 4x4 or minivan, dune driving, a swim among the wadi pools, Omani lunch, drinks, and a guide such as Bu Mashari, Saif, Khaled, or Mohammed Al Baloushi.

“Riding around the dunes was like being on a desert roller coaster! I think I would have preferred to have lunch after this experience, as it was a tad nauseating, but very enjoyable nonetheless. Having a coffee and halwa at the Bedouin camp was a pleasant experience, good atmosphere. The Wadi was beautiful, although keep in mind that you can't swim in it after heavy rains, as the water is full of mountain runoff. The tour guide, Bu, was fantastic, very knowledgeable and kind.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.East Salalah Mountain Safari, Wadi Darbat, Beach, Camels, Dunes

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 206 reviews · from $45Best value

Spend 6 to 8 hours exploring eastern Dhofar with an Omani guide such as Salim, Mohammed Ali, or Hamed. Visit Taqah, Wadi Darbat, mountain viewpoints, baobab trees, a sinkhole, and Mirbat’s beach dunes in a private, air-conditioned 4x4.

“The biggest group makes the stops awkwards, some of the stops were disappointed, not all what is mentioned in the itinerary was done.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Desert Safari Private

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 177 reviews

Start at 8:00 am in Muscat for a private day out to Wahiba Sands and Wadi Bani Khalid. You’ll ride in a 4x4 or minivan, enjoy an Omani lunch with drinks, cross the dunes, and swim or cool off in the wadi pools. Guide Saif has earned particular praise for warm, memorable service.

“An amazing experience! Every aspect of the tour exceeded expectations and our tour guide, Saif, made it a memorable day for my daughter and myself.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Mountain Safari Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 105 reviews

You’ll travel by air-conditioned vehicle through eastern Salalah with a private guide, visiting Jabal Samhan, Wadi Darbat, Hasheer Agher’s baobabs, Tawi Ateer Sinkhole, and Samharam. Mohamed and Khalid are named guides connected with this tour. Water is included, but lunch and fees are extra.

“We took a halfday Mountain safari tour. We really enjoyed it. Mohamed is a very good guide, very friendly, polite, well organised, carefull driver. He provided us lots of information about the nature, Oman culture, all we were curious about...we really recommend to take his servise.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Sunset Desert Safari Salalah Tour in Rub Al Khali – Empty Quarter

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 91 reviews · from $95

Travel from Salalah with an Omani guide such as Mohammed Ali, stopping at Wadi Dawkah, Thumrait, Ubar, and the Empty Quarter. Expect a long 4x4 drive, dune walks, dune bashing, and sunset views. Private vehicles carry up to six people, with dinner available when selected.

“Great way of hanging out in the Empty Quarter to enjoy the dunes and the sunset in the evening Muhammad Ali was a good guide to work with. On this trip though one of the woman (from Mxo) was the most selfish and inconsiderate traveler I ever encountered in my travels. Rather shocking.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Sunset Desert Safari – Rub Al Khali – Empty Quarter

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 79 reviews · 8 - 21 hours · from $102

Leave Salalah with an Omani guide such as Musllam, Rabi, or Thaer, then visit Wadi Dawkah, see black camels, and race across Rub Al Khali dunes by 4x4. The sunset is the main event. Dinner and camel riding are optional extras.

“è stato Musallah è stato un grande autista e compagno di viaggio e ha fatto di tutto per farci star bene....in sintesi è stato bravissimo.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Private Watching Sunset Desert Safari Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 71 reviews · from $174

Travel from Muscat by private 4WD to Wadi Bani Khalid and Wahiba Sands. Swim in clear pools, visit a Bedouin house for coffee and dates, add a short camel ride, and watch the sunset from the dunes. English-speaking guides may include Khalid AlRaqadi, Khalil, Fawzi, or Said.

“We had an amazing afternoon on this tour. Our guide Khalil was great, very knowledgeable and the day was well organised.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 30 reviews · 5 hours · from $60

Ride from your Dubai hotel into the red dunes for 4x4 dune bashing, sandboarding, sunset photos, a short camel ride, henna, and a BBQ buffet. Drivers such as Abhilash and Jassem have earned praise for skilled dune driving. Expect a five-hour tour, though the full pickup-to-drop-off day can run longer.

“Our guide Abhilash did an excellent job, the dune bashing was phenomenal, exciting, and absolutely the highlight of this tour. However, the tour does suffer from some minor problems not related to our guide -- it's a bit longer than we expected (7.5 hours from pickup to return) and the camp food could be better. Still highly recommended!”

Check availability →Read our full review