Saturday 28 / December / 2024
Camels, camels... everywhere. There is no better way to experience the desert than on a 24-kilometre, 24-hour camel safari through Sharqiyah Sands. Go for the last tours of the season, as the camels are off-duty from June through August.
Friday
09.00 Grab a coffee and start your two and a half hour drive. Head towards Nizwa, take a turn south at Bidbid, and continue all the way to Al Wasil. From there follow the signs on your right hand side after the mosque leading you to the Oryx Camp (oryx-camp.com).
13.00 Check-in at the Oryx Camp and enjoy an abundant buffet and a sweet cup of tea in the open-air majlis.
16.00 Your four-legged vehicle is all ready for you, so choose your camel and climb aboard.Take it slow with your new friend, but feel free to indulge in Lawrence-of-Arabia-style fantasies.
18.00 The first stop is at the camel farm where you can help the Bedouin families feed their camels.
19.00 Jump back atop your camel and continue to your base camp in the middle of untouched dunes.
20.00 Savour a lamb and chicken BBQ with Arabic bread, salad, hummus, fruit, and kahwa under the stars.
22.00 Call it a night and doze off in your luxury mobile tent.
Read: Best Places For Ocean Swimming In Muscat
Saturday
08.30 Say good morning to your camel (Otherwise he might abandon you in the desert). Then start your 12-kilometre ride back towards the main camp. In the morning light, the desert looks completely different.
10.00 Stop at a small goat farm for coffee in a Bedouin house before continuing the ride.
13.00 Pull over for a lunch break. Find some shade and unpack your lunch box for a light bite.
16.00 Back at the Oryx Camp, say goodbye to your camel friend, and then start your drive back home.
