Northern Oman Coast, Desert, and Mountains Classic Loop
A classic self-drive loop from Muscat along the east coast and Wahiba Sands to Nizwa and Jebel Shams
The standard route for first-time visitors to Oman, combining ancient capitals, wadi trekking, night turtle watching, desert camps, inland forts, and canyons into one loop. The pace is moderate, with most daily drives taking three to four hours. A 4WD is required to ascend Jebel Shams at the end of the route (excluding Jebel Akhdar). Leave a full day for the return journey, and do not squeeze it onto the same day as your long-haul flight.
The interior is extremely hot in summer; the peak turtle nesting season is from May to September, and seeing them in winter depends on luck.
每日安排
第 1 天 · Arrive in Muscat and Explore the Old Port
After picking up your car at the airport, take the highway to Muttrah, taking about 40 minutes. Explore the old port area on foot.
住宿：馬特拉
第 2 天 · Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and Old Muscat
馬斯喀特（蘇丹卡布斯大清真寺、阿曼國家博物館、阿拉姆宮、賈拉利堡與米拉尼堡、祖貝爾之家博物館）
Drive to the Grand Mosque in the morning, taking about 30 minutes. Return to the old town in the afternoon, with driving times between sites around 10 minutes.
The Grand Mosque is only open to non-Muslims in the morning and is closed on Fridays. Modest dress (long sleeves and trousers/skirts) is required.
住宿：馬特拉
第 3 天 · Head South Along the Coast to Bimmah Sinkhole and Wadi Shab
沙爾基亞（瓦希巴沙漠·蘇爾·瓦迪）（比瑪天坑、瓦迪沙布、卡拉哈特古城與比比·瑪麗亞姆陵墓）
Drive south along the coastal highway for about 200 km, taking the whole day including stops. Wadi Shab requires a short boat ferry followed by walking.
Allow 3–4 hours for the round trip to Wadi Shab. Beware of flash floods after rain and do not enter the canyon.
住宿：蘇爾
第 4 天 · Sur Old Port to Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve
沙爾基亞（瓦希巴沙漠·蘇爾·瓦迪）（蘇爾傳統獨桅帆船廠、蘇奈西拉城堡、艾伊賈燈塔與老城、拉斯金茲海龜保護區）
Explore Sur city in the morning, and drive to Ras Al Jinz in the evening, taking about 1 hour.
Turtle watching must be booked in advance on the reserve's official website. The night session starts at around 21:00.
住宿：拉斯金茲
第 5 天 · Wadi Bani Khalid into the Desert
沙爾基亞（瓦希巴沙漠·蘇爾·瓦迪）（瓦迪巴尼哈立德、瓦希巴沙漠）
Drive about 3 hours inland to the wadi, then another hour to the edge of the desert, where you transfer to a camp 4WD to enter the dunes.
Ordinary cars must park at the edge of the desert and arrange a camp transfer. Arrive before 15:00.
住宿：瓦希巴沙漠營地
第 6 天 · Exit the Desert to the Ancient Capital of Nizwa
尼茲瓦·綠山（比爾卡特茂茲、尼茲瓦堡、尼茲瓦老市場與週五牲畜集市）
Drive from the edge of the desert along the highway to Nizwa, taking about 2.5 hours, with an optional stop at Birkat Al Mouz on the way.
The livestock market is only held on Friday mornings. If you want to see it, schedule this night for Thursday.
住宿：尼茲瓦城
第 7 天 · Bahla Fort to Mountain Villages
尼茲瓦·綠山（巴赫拉堡、賈布林城堡、哈姆拉古泥屋村與薩法之家、米斯法特阿卜裡因古村）
Drive west from Nizwa via Bahla and Jabreen, then head north to Al Hamra, covering about 100 km in total.
住宿：哈姆拉與米斯法特
第 8 天 · Jebel Shams Balcony Walk
Drive up the mountain from Al Hamra, taking about 1.5 hours. The final steep gravel section requires a 4WD. The walk takes 3–4 hours round trip.
There are no gas stations on the mountain. Fill up your tank and stock up on water in Al Hamra. Do not hike the trail on rainy days.
住宿：傑貝爾沙姆斯
第 9 天 · Descend the Mountain and Return to Muscat
After descending, take the highway to Muscat Airport, taking about 3–3.5 hours. It is advisable to arrange an evening flight.