We begin our adventure in the port capital, Muscat. After picking you up from the airport and sharing a welcome dinner together, we will explore the city that is scenically wedged between the ocean and the mountains.
Muscat boasts old fortifications that look down over the port and protect the massive, contemporary Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque as well as the old waterfront Muttrah quarter, with its labyrinthine-like souk and busy fish market. Flower-rich parks fill this gentle city and when the opera house lights up at night, you can not deny its beauty.​
We will pass by the 17th Century Nakhal Fort for some stunning views from the battlements. Our 4WD cars will navigate the steep pass to Wadi Bani Awf. Deep in Oman's countryside, many villages still retain their traditional charm. Perhaps the most appealing of these is Bilad Sayt, a tranquil mountain hamlet tucked away in the mountains. The road, or should I say the track, is steep, but worth the nail-biting. We will stop off at Misfat Al Abreen, set in a stunning landscape above terraced plantations of date palms; a rare sight in Oman as most palms are grown on the plains. The ancient houses and ruined watchtower perched on the mountain complete the scene. We will sleep at the top of Jebel Shams, “Sun Mountain”, Oman’s highest peak. The cooler temperatures will surprise as you reach the top to get a spectacular view of the “Grand Canyon”.​
Nizwa is Oman’s cultural capital and launch pad for the region filled with castles, forts, date plantations, Wadi and some prime markets. The 17th Century Jabrin castle is one of the finest of its kind. Bahla, one of the oldest small towns of Oman dating back to the 12th century was the capital for the tribe living in the region and famous for its pottery even today. We will make a special trip to the Sinwa market, which will host its incredibly Camel market during our trip. The intense auction brings people from across the country to this amazing spectacle.​
The Sinaw Souq is amongst one of the oldest preserved souqs in Oman and it is a hive of activity where you can see immaculately dressed men and delicately decorated ladies selling their wares, including dates, spices, silver and livestock sold frantically by auction. It is particularly wonderful to see Bedouins bidding for a goat or a camel.
No trip to Oman would be complete without a trip to the desert! We will track across the ribbed sands to rub shoulders with camels being headed by Bedouins as we sleep in an unpowered luxury desert camp where the sky will show us a display of thousands of stars.​
Our final days will be spent along the natural landscape and unspoiled shorelines of the Arabian coast as we animal watch. Filim has a shallow bay that is a haven for flamingos and Ras Al Jinz is world renown for the nesting of the endangered green turtle, probably the most important nesting concentration on the Indian Ocean. This is the only place where the public can watch the nesting process of these amazing sea-giants and is a once in a lifetime opportunity. We follow the coast back to Muscat passing some spectacular oasis, such as Wadi Shab one of the most beautiful wadis and its pools with clear deep blue water give you an opportunity to take a refreshing dip.
There will be time during the workshop for critique and photo editing sessions. During the workshop, there will be time to go over post-processing to help you create images that pack a punch. Our photographers will sit down with you to assist your selection process, Lightroom and Photoshop workflows and techniques, and develop your best images, so you can showcase the finest the Oman has to offer.
