Cultural visits to Muscat and the forts around Khasab are combined with the discovery of the sublime, desolate landscapes of Musandam. The finale is a magical night in the Sharqiyah Sands desert.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Customer :<\/strong>\u00a0automotive sector. Contact for France: Mr Fran\u00e7ois Aucoin Tel: 06 07 09 65 98 E-mail: francois@safranrp.com Internet: www.touroman.org<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Group size :<\/strong>\u00a040 people. Sultanate of Oman Tourist Office<\/strong> Oman, United Arab Emirates, Biblioth\u00e8que du voyageur, Gallimard; Oman, UAE & Arabian Peninsula (in English), Lonely Planet; Oman, Country guide, Le Petit Fut\u00e9<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Oman Air is the only airline to serve Muscat directly from Paris. This route, which takes around seven hours, is operated by Airbus A330-300 three-class aircraft, including one First, with four flights a week from Paris CDG 2A. Oman Air was awarded \"Best Business Class Airline in the Middle East\" at the Business Destinations Travel Awards 2012.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Blending elements of local culture with a classic Western style, the emphasis is on refined traditional decor. The excellence of its three restaurants (buffet, Chinese and fish) is one of the hotel's strong points. The hotel has a dozen meeting rooms (for 20 to 300 participants) and its ballroom, the largest in Muscat, can accommodate 2,000 guests in cocktail configuration. The quality of the services and staff at this Ritz-Carlton establishment earned it the distinction of being named the city's \"Best Business Hotel\" last May.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Twenty minutes from the city centre, the Al Bustan makes the most of its frontline location on the coast. As well as its gigantic, marble-clad, cathedral-high lobby, its main restaurant is a delight, offering a view overlooking the sea. Set in 80 hectares of parkland on the edge of a kilometre-long private beach, this vast establishment comprises 200 rooms and 50 suites, each with its own outdoor area and, in some cases, private access to the hotel's lagoon pool.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Al Bustan Palace PO Box 1998. Muscat - Tel: +968 247 99 666 - E-Mail: albustan@ritzcarlton.com Internet: www.ritzcarlton.com<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Tucked away in the foothills of the eastern Hajar Mountains, the Sultanate's capital offers some surprising panoramas. On the land side, to the west, the prospect of a mountain range stretching as far as the United Arab Emirates, and to the east, on the Gulf of Oman, long views over stretches of turquoise sea, jagged by the framing of grey, black or tawny cliffs depending on the direction of the sun.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \"The country gives the impression of having barely emerged from the cauldron of the primary era\".<\/em>noted Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India, who visited Muscat in 1898. A key stage in trade between East and West from the 15th century onwards, the capital of the Sultanate today has the face of a modern city: hypermarkets, traffic jams, immaculately clean streets, pedestrians walking around with their mobile phones to their ears, preferably the latest iPhone. However, the city carefully avoids showing off... Dubai-style urban extravagance is banned by regulations that favour low-rise buildings and white or sand-coloured rendering. The city has remained on a human scale, creating a real sense of tranquillity. Nobody here sees themselves as a competitor to Disneyland or Las Vegas. Nor is the aim to become the shopping capital of the world. Muscat is proud of its souk, which may be new but was built on the site of the old one.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The labyrinthine layout of the narrow alleyways has been retained, as have the atmospheres, the smells of saffron and cardamom, the fragrances of incense, and the stalls filled with gold jewellery and shimmering fabrics, as well as pots and pans. Visit \"major projects<\/em>But it is above all the mosque of Sultan Qaboos that sets the standard in Muscat. Inaugurated in 2001, the building can accommodate 20,000 worshippers, including 6,600 in its main hall, which was covered with a gigantic carpet that took 600 workers three years to complete. Despite the luxury materials used - Italian marble floors, white Indian granite walls, gold-plated Swarovski crystal chandeliers with gold accents - the building exudes a solemnity that suggests the city is more concerned with identity and culture than consumerism and one-upmanship... A sort of anti-Dubai.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Musandam? A peninsula of steep mountains overlooking the Strait of Hormuz. In this northern enclave of the Sultanate of the United Arab Emirates, schist and limestone cliffs tumble down into... fjords. Unique in the Tropic of Cancer, this geological feature, the result of plate tectonics, produces a jagged coastline. Drowned beneath the waves, the valleys form a labyrinth of islets, coves and inlets that penetrate deep into the land, which is just as rugged. The labyrinth of ridges and canyons make up a rugged massif that culminates at 2087 m.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This natural masterpiece nestles in the transparent waters linking the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea... From Muscat, this end of the world, covering an area of 15,000 km2 - the equivalent of Mauritius - can be reached by plane. The one-hour journey takes in the astonishing geography of the area before landing in Khasab, on the peninsula's west coast.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The capital of the region, the port of Khasab has limited infrastructure, with few roads and only a handful of hotels. So it's mainly by sea that the region can be discovered, aboard dhows, traditional dhows that offer excursions combining coastal sailing and snorkelling to observe the myriad of marine species that live here, including many dolphins. The silence and the sight of the cliffs shrouded in a veil of warm mist give you the sensation of sailing through an unreal landscape.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n As you walk along the coast, you can make out a few villages consisting of a handful of houses grouped together on a narrow strip of coastline. These hamlets, surrounded by steep cliffs, are inhabited all year round by a handful of fishing families living on the fringes of the world. In this timeless atmosphere, it's hard to imagine that the region is home to one of the world's most strategic shipping lanes: the Strait of Hormuz, through which 40?% of the world's oil traffic passes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n In Khasab, the goats roam the streets as they please in search of extra food. And especially for shady corners, a necessity in a city where the temperature is 35\u00b0C at sunrise. From eight o'clock in the morning, they can be found huddled at the foot of houses or crouching under the neem trees, which are used here as avenue plantations for their insecticidal properties.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Given the region's rugged topography, Khasab is home to the majority of Musandam's 22,000 inhabitants, with the exception of a few hundred scattered around in inaccessible villages. Although the site has been occupied for centuries, little evidence of its history has survived, apart from Fort Khasab, a fortress built by the Portuguese in the early 17th century, which later became the residence of the wali, the governor of the region. Now transformed into a museum, it is an interesting place to visit to learn about the various aspects of Musandam culture. In this land of fishermen, you can discover the first boats made from palm fibres, the traditional dwellings - also made from palm leaves - and the fishing methods still used today, such as fish spotting.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Judged on the cliff to detect the presence of shoals of fish, he directs the movements of the boat along the coastline by gesture and voice. Although only a stone's throw from the Strait of Hormuz, Khasab is little more lively than a sub-prefecture. For visitors, it is the port and its intense smuggling activity that provide the spectacle and remind them that Iran is close by, 40 kilometres away on the other side of the Strait. Because of the long-standing embargo on Iran, smugglers have their habits here, operating in full view of the public and with general indifference. Watching them load their boats with crates of cigarettes, clothes or electronic equipment is part of the fun. \"city tour<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Around three hours south-east of Muscat, the road leading to the Sharqiyah Sands desert, formerly known as the Wahiba desert, passes through Ibra, a rural town famous for its Wednesday market, a souk run by women and closed to men. Around a hundred Bedouin women wearing the niqab, the traditional veil, sell mainly fabrics, but also jewellery... All in a friendly atmosphere, with some inviting others to their stall to chat while sharing tea.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This part of the Sharqiyah region - literally, the East - is usually explored via the Wadi Bani Khalid, which forms a large natural basin in a narrow canyon. A postcard-perfect turquoise water surrounded by palm-fringed rocks! It's a great place to swim early in the morning, before the crowds of visitors invade this popular spot for locals and tourists alike. The village of Bidiyah, the gateway to the desert, is less than 45 minutes away. The Sharqiyah Sands desert is 200 km long and 80 km wide, with a landscape of dunes topped by small crescent-shaped depressions. In this environment, a camel ride is much more contemplative than a 4\u00d74 or quad bike, and is ideal for keeping in tune with a landscape where time seems to stand still.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Spending a night at the 1000 Nights Camp is another way to experience the desert. 50 km from the nearest village, this camp of Bedouin tents takes you back to childhood, bringing back memories of reading Lawrence of Arabia or Wilfred Thesiger. Climbing to the top of the dunes to watch dusk awakens dreams of freedom. Like the starry night and the silence that cover the camp.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n On his return from a long journey through the Rub al-Kh\u00e2li, Wilfred Thesiger crossed the Wahiba. This journey, recounted in The Desert of Deserts, his first book published in 1959, is a vibrant tribute to the nobility and generosity of the Bedouins he met; it is also an eulogy of their harsh way of life... No doubt the comfort of the 1000 Nights Camp would leave him incredulous: tents with private open-air bathrooms, two air-conditioned villas, a restaurant with a carpeted floor serving one of the best barbecues in the region, a library corner with free WiFi access, a swimming pool - quite small, admittedly, but with a breathtaking view...<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The establishment - which can be privatised - also has a meeting room with a capacity of almost 200 participants. It offers a whole range of activities suited to incentive breaks: desert safaris, evenings under the stars, meetings with Bedouins, introduction to local cuisine...<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n 1000 Nights Camp P.O Box : 9 Postal Code 115 Oman Email: info@1000nightscamp.com Internet : www.1000nightscamp.co<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n An important stage in the trade with Africa, the pretty port of Sur, dominated by a lighthouse and two watchtowers, provides an opportunity to explore the country's glorious maritime past. As early as the 9th century, Omani sailors were not only criss-crossing the Indian Ocean, but also trading with China. In the 15th century, when Vasco da Gama's flotilla of caravels reached East Africa, the Omanis were far more experienced in deep-sea navigation than the Portuguese. Legend has it that Vasco da Gama learned all about the principles of astronomical navigation from a famous sailor from Sur, the mythical Ahmad Ibn Majid, author of a navigation manual, wind charts and documented surveys of the Indian coastline...<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This knowledge enabled him to reach Calicut in India, the first stage in Portugal's takeover of the Indian Ocean trade. Visitors to the local naval museum will be able to familiarise themselves with the various types of dhows that have been built here for centuries, ranging from sambuk, modest coastal fishing boats, to ganja, two-masted ships up to 30 metres in length suitable for intercontinental cruises - all vectors of the country's prosperity. Today, there is just one family-run shipyard in Sur, perpetuating the ancestral skills of building wooden dhows. Open to visitors, you can watch some fifteen workers at work on two twenty-metre units commissioned by the Sheikh of Qatar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Reception :<\/strong>\u00a0Tour Oman \/ Travel Point LLC Po Box 1694<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Duration of the operation :<\/strong>\u00a06 days, 5 nights.
Comments :<\/strong>\u00a0reward trip.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThey have researched<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
90, rue de Courcelles. 75008 Paris (not open to the public) Tel: 01 47 20 56 06 E-mail: info@omantourisme.com - Internet: www.omantourisme.com - Other sites: www.omantourism.gov.om and www.omanet.om<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nPractical guides<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Flight plan<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Day 1: Evening flight to Muscat, arriving the following morning. Visit to the mosque of Sultan Qaboos, then transfer to the Al Bustan hotel. Lunch and city tour. Dinner at the hotel.<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The hotel: Al Bustan Palace<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Muscat: Identity and culture<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Day 2: Early morning domestic flight to Khasab. Transfer to the Golden Tulip hotel and breakfast. Cruise on a traditional dhow through the fjords of the peninsula. Lunch on board. Return to the hotel, free time and dinner.<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Musandam: Chaotic nature<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Khasab: In the fjords<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Day 3: Visit to Khasab and the surrounding area, followed by a mountain excursion. Picnic lunch and return to the hotel.<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Khasab: Bastion on the Strait of Hormuz<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Day 4: Flight to Muscat. Drive to the Sharqiyah Sands desert. Overnight at 1000 Nights Camp.<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Sharqiyah Sands: Honey-coloured sand<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The hotel: 1000 Nights camp<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Day 5: Departure for Muscat via Sur, followed by lunch in a wadi. Dinner and overnight at the Al Bustan hotel.<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
On: The art of navigation<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Day 6: Take-off late morning on the Oman Air flight from Paris to Muscat. Arrival at Paris CDG in the evening.<\/h2>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"