Today’s excursion leads you through Salalah, the biggest city in Dhofar, also called the “perfume capital of Arabia”. In 1940 Sultan Qaboos was born here. He owns a beautiful palace, which you pass during the morning. It was here where the first large free trade zone of Oman was built accelerating the economic growth of the region.

For those who have not seen the Grand Mosque in Muscat, the journey starts with a visit to the Sultan Qaboos Mosque [please adhere to the dress code]. Next stop is the archaeological park with the ruined city of Al Baleed, a UNESCO world heritage site. It was the famous second port of dispatch of frankincense and myrrh between the 7th and 14th century. The attached Salallah Museum houses many artifacts of that period. On your way to Haffa souk, where the fragrances of the orient come together, you pass His Majesty’s palace. Visit the gold souk with its variety of oriental 24 carat gold and silver handicrafts. A visit to the food souk is interesting; the meat souk is more for the brave.

End of the tour is a scenic drive through the garden-like fruit plantations. We stop at a fruit stall for a refreshing coconut milk, sipped with a straw directly from the nut. Or try the small sweet local bananas or papayas and guavas. Tour in a saloon or minibus inc. entrance fees.

At the beginning you visit the Qara mountains and the Old testamentary prophet Job’s tomb, known in these parts as Nabi Ayoub. Here the remains of the prophet can be found.

Next stop is the magnificent sandy beach of Mughsayl which is outlined by sculptured cliffs and blow holes, formed into the limestone rocks. The fountains of water coming through these holes can reach a height of 30 meters. Also have a look at the Marnif cave and en-route, visit the nearby lagoon which is home to flamingos, pelicans and storks.

Now you will follow one of the roads, leading up the mountains to the Yemeni border. Enjoy the breathtaking view of the lime stone, volcanic mountains and gnarled frankincense trees before returning to Salalah. Tour in a saloon or minibus inc. entrance fees.

Along a scenic road lined with palm trees, you reach Taqa. In former times, incense and horses were exported from its harbor which was guarded by Qasbar fort at the top of the cliff. Taqa castle is well worth a visit. It dates from the 19th century and illustrates the skills of the architects in those days. Before proceeding to Sumhuram we will stop on the top of the hill from where you have a stunning view over the village and the Indian Ocean.

On the cliff of Khawr Rawri, the biggest of the Dhofar bays, you will find the ruins of the fortress and the apalce of Sumhuram which might be the remains of the palace of the Queen Sheba. It is on the list of UNESCO world heritage sites and its port was one of the main hubs to dispatch frankincense, myrrh and slaves from the 1st to the 7th century.

Before reaching Mirbat, you can see Bin Ali’s tomb with its white double domes. The tomb is surrounded by a large, unusually shaped cemetery with engraved headstones. The last stop before reaching Salalah will be athe Ayn Razat beautiful natural springs. Tour in a saloon or minibus inc. entrance fees.

The Rub Al Khali is the biggest sand desert on earth, that Oman shares with Saudi Arabia and the UAE. You leave Salalah northwards with a four wheel drive and head into the stone and sand steppe. Today’s highlight is the visit of alleged village of Ubar, which was located by the infrared cameras of space shuttle Challenger. Ubar, romanticized in the stories of 1001 Nights, and in the Koran being named as punished and sunken in the sands by God for its godless behavior, most likely lost its importance because of the desertification of the area. Never-the-less the Atlantis of the Sands remains a mystery to date.

On the way back to Salalah you pass by some frankincense tree plantations, where the valuable resin is harvested by hand. Today incense cannot come near to the importance it had between 1000 and 1700 A.D.; however it is as famous as ever. Trip in 4 WD, including picnic and entrance fees.