Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm on Day 1. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where it will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please ensure you have all these details to provide to your leader. The rest of the day is free for you to make you own discoveries.

After breakfast at the hotel, visit the beautiful Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. Then proceed to the Natural History Museum, which offers a brief introduction to Oman’s colorful past. Driving down to the busy fishing harbour at Muttrah, with its quaint wooden dhows and fishing boats, stop at the bazaar (souq) where you can mingle with the locals and browse the silver and spice shops. Also see the two 16th-century Portuguese forts, Jalali and Mirani, which guard the entrance to the city, before returning to your hotel. Enjoy free time in the afternoon.

Your round trip starts in the morning. Board a 4x4 vehicle and drive through the spectacular rugged landscapes to the small fishing town of Quriyat. Then visit Wadi Shab, a gorgeous oasis with inviting pools where it may be possible to take a dip. Continue to Sur, renowned in the past for its dhow shipyards, before reaching Ras al Jinz on the coast. After an early dinner, visit the turtle sanctuary at Ras Al Jinz, where green turtles come from thousands of kilometres away to lay eggs at night.

After breakfast, drive to the palm-lined Wadi Bani Khalid. Follow a well-worn path into the heart of this rocky oasis and discover a big pool that offers both visual and physical refreshment, particularly in the hotter months. Have lunch with the guide at a local Bedouin house before you continue your journey to the edge of the extensive Wahiba Sands. After deflating the tyres a little, make the exhilarating drive over the dunes to your desert camp. In the evening, enjoy some traditional music over dinner, around an open fire, under the stars. Notes: Activities are arranged at the discretion of camp management, and some may not be available during low occupancies and off-season periods.

Head north to Ibra, which was one of the oldest cities in Oman, and once the centre of trade,religion, education and art. Drive through the quaint roads to see the ancient houses and mosques. Continue to Jabrin Fort, which is considered one of the finest and most picturesque forts in the whole country. It's one of the few forts designed as a residence, with beautiful carved wooden doors and ornate lattice work. On the way to Nizwa you will stop at Bahla to snap a photo or two of the immense ruins and perhaps check out some of the town's famous pottery. On any day of the week, except Friday, you might find a metal worker toiling next to his red-hot furnace, or a weaver assembling a goat hair cloak.

Drive to the traditional old town of Al Hamra. Visit Misfat Al Abyreen, one of the oldest villages in the region. The traditional mud houses are as old as 400 years and are still occupied. Enjoy a short trek into the village where you can see the famous falaj network (the old Omani water distribution system). You’ll also enjoy a traditional Omani lunch before proceeding to Jebel Shams. Even on the hottest days, it's nice and cool up here. On arrival, check into your hotel.

After breakfast, check out Jebel Shams, the ‘Grand Canyon of Oman’. Then it's over to Wadi Bani Awf, the end point of the canyon and with what is called the ‘snake gorge’ in the middle of the steep mountain cliffs. This is a stunning part of Oman, with fantastic views of the surrounding scenery. Drive to the town of Nakhl, and see its fully restored fort on a rocky outcrop, before arriving in Muscat for the night.

Travel to Jordan. Although the flight is not included, a complimentary departure transfer to Muscat Airport and a complimentary arrival transfer in Amman are included with your trip. Please remember to let your booking agent know your flight details to confirm this service. On arrival at Amman Queen Alia International Airport , you will be met and transferred to your hotel. This is simply an arrival day, so you may arrive in Amman at any time. There will be an important welcome meeting in the evening, usually at around 5 pm. The afternoon is your free time to relax or start exploring the city of Amman. As this is a combination trip, your group leader and the composition of your group may change at this location. There will be a group meeting to discuss the next stage of your itinerary and you're welcome to attend, as this is ...

Follow in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia with a journey to the extraordinary desert scenery of Wadi Rum, a rugged moonscape of huge sandstone mountains (approximately 5 hours). A 4-hour jeep safari will take you through some of the most beautiful and sublime desert scenery on the planet, a true highlight of this trip. Wadi Rum is full of weird and beautiful lunar-like rock formations, and traces of ancient civilisations can be seen in the many carved inscriptions found throughout the area, from pictographs to Thamudic, Nabataean and Arabic texts. The most enduring monuments in Wadi Rum are those carved by nature – the natural rock bridges, towering rose-coloured sand dunes and scattered rocky peaks. Tonight you’ll sleep in a simple desert camp, with the choice of sleeping under a camel hair tent or out under the stars. E...

After waking up in the unique surrounds of the Bedouin camp this morning, you will enjoy a trek around the area (approximately 12 to 15 kilometres), with a stop for tea and a lunch break. You might scale one of the large sand dunes for sensational views of the surrounding area. This is the perfect chance to snap some unbelievable pictures. Wadi Rum is a truly beautiful place, where great gouts of rock on a carpet of bright red sand have been eroded into fantastical gnarled shapes. Explore the distinctive rock formations and soak in the vast silence of this lunar-like landscape. Wadi Rum is probably best known for its connection with the enigmatic British officer T.E. Lawrence, who was based here during the Great Arab Revolt of 1917-18. You’ll get to spend another memorable night in the desert camp with your new Bedouin friends...

This morning you'll leave your desert camp, taking 4WDs to the main entrance, which is opposite the Seven Pillars of Wisdom, the mountain named after Lawrence of Arabia’s book. The visitor's centre here is also a great spot to buy some jewellery and handicrafts, mostly made by a women's co-operative that is aimed at supporting traditional local industries. You will then continue your journey to the fabled city of Petra (approximately 2 hours) by private van. On arrival there is time in the afternoon to check out the town that has grown up around the site. Petra is justifiably on most people’s list of ‘must-visit’ places. It's the jewel of Jordan, the lost city of the biblical Nabateans, an impressive series of tombs and dwellings hidden behind ornate façades carved directly into the rock, and one of the new Seven Wonders ...

Today is your day to either return to Petra and continue exploring or consider checking out the town. Perhaps a visit to a turkish bath to relax.

Travel the King's Highway to the historic crusader castle of Kerak, which stands on a cliff commandingly overlooking Wadi Karak and the Dead Sea in the distance (approximately 2.5 hours). You’ll have time to explore the evocative ruins and discover the legends of the 12th-century battles between the Crusaders and the Muslim armies led by the Arab hero, Saladin. Pack your swim gear as next you can wash off the dust from exploring with a dip like no other. Drive to the shores of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth (420 metres below sea level). This isn’t actually a sea but a super-salty lake (dead because of the lack of life in it) where the density of the water means you’ll go for a float, not a swim. Spend some time relaxing here and get some classic floating pictures. The mud here is supposed to have healing properties,...

Today you will leave Madaba for a short drive north (approximately 75 minutes) to Jerash, once one of the grandest ancient Roman cities in the world. These are some of the best preserved Greco-Roman ruins around. The city thrived due to its position on the route of the spice and incenses trade, and it reached its zenith as a favourite of the emperor Hadrian around AD 130. The ancient walled town that survives today is a remarkable evocation of life 2,000 years ago. It has a striking collection of archways and theatres, baths, public buildings and colonnaded streets, and is a beautiful place to spend a day exploring. Discover Hadrian’s arch, the partially restored hippodrome, ornate public fountains, the south amphitheatre, and see the collection of daily artefacts uncovered during excavations. Grand ionic columns encircle the ...

This trip comes to an end today. There are no activities planned and you are able to depart the accommodation at any time.