THE EXPEDITION
HOW DOES THE EXPEDITION LOOK LIKE?
The journey kicks off with a trip to Muscat, paving the way for an epic drive to the breathtaking Alila Jabal Akhdar in the Jabal Akhdar Mountains, towering over 2,000 meters above sea level—our launching pad for The Oman Expedition.
After immersing ourselves in two days of adrenaline-pumping adventure amidst Oman's rugged mountain terrain, we venture to the exclusive Canvas Club North Camp nestled in the Sharqiya Desert, our strategic base camp for the upcoming desert crossing.
Embarking on a heart-pounding 1,500km journey across the Rub al Khali, navigating vast sand dunes, we then unwind and relive our awe-inspiring exploits at Alila Hinu Bay. Tucked away on the secluded beaches of Salalah in southern Oman, it's the perfect setting to savor the memories of an unforgettable desert odyssey.
DAY 1
WELCOME TO THE SULTANATE
Upon arriving in Muscat, the legendary The Chedi Muscat awaits you with its Arabianesque charm and an expansive 8-hectare palm-lined garden overlooking the sea. It is the ideal place to mentally prepare for the exciting days of the upcoming expedition. In the afternoon, the team gathers in the Chedi Club Lounge for an initial introduction, followed by dinner at The Beach Restaurant. (Extending your stay at The Chedi is recommend, as Muscat and its surroundings have much to offer.)
DAY 2-4
JABAL AKHDAR MOUNTAINS
Your tour begins with a drive into the Jabal Akhdar Mountains, where peaks soar up to 3,000 meters. Perched dramatically at 2,000 meters above sea level, the Alila Jabal Akhdar Hotel becomes your base for the first adventures.
Teamwork is essential as you tackle the Via Ferrata, a thrilling high-altitude climbing route. You’ll hike through the surrounding mountain region and traditional mud villages, immersing yourself in the rugged beauty of the highlands.
As night falls, an Omani astrologer guides you through the stars, sharing insights into Arabian mythology and preparing you for the vastness and wonder of the desert that lies ahead.
DAY 4
Wadi Hawer and Our Start at
Canvas Club North Camp
From the mountains, we head towards the Sharqiyah Desert, the "little sister" of the Rub al Khali, the largest sand desert that we will cross from the fourth day onward. But before that, we make a detour to the Wadi Hawer Oasis. A spectacular trek over several natural water pools, waterfalls, and deep canyons allows us to explore the Wadi. We then drive to our Canvas Club Camp over the dunes of the Sharqiyah Desert to the exclusive Canvas Club Private Camp. Before starting the crossing the next day, there is training for driving on sand and initial dune bashing.
DAY 5
Baby steps through the desert &
Sugar Dunes by the Sea
After breakfast, the adventure truly begins. You head out into your first real challenge. The Wahiba Sands are the perfect training ground: gentle dunes, strict rules. You learn to drive in formation, to trust your vehicle, to move as a team.
Along the way, you pass a small mosque standing alone in the emptiness, and a petrol station made up of nothing more than a few barrels.
Then—suddenly—the ocean.
Dune peaks touch the sea, sand meets water. And just like a mirage: the snow-white sugar dunes of Khaluf. This is where you set up camp.
DAY 6-8
Crossing the North Section of the Rub al Khali Desert
You leave the coast behind. Ahead lies 350 kilometers of pure transit. With every passing mile, the world as you know it begins to fade. The final fuel stop comes late in the afternoon—after that, only silence.
You reach the northern edge of the Rub al Khali.
But the so-called “emptiness” is anything but empty. It’s filled with quiet magic: light dancing across endless sand, wind-carved sculptures rising like art from the earth.
Over the next few days, you’ll cross the northern edge of the Rub al Khali — the realm of the high dunes. Soft sand, sharp ridges, golden lines stretching endlessly across the horizon. You cross, you stumble, you laugh, you wonder. It’s a dance between silence and awe in the heart of the desert..
DAY 8-10
Entering the South Section
of the Rub al Khali Desert
The desert opens up. The landscape shifts—at times smooth, then rugged, then almost green. You journey over 300 kilometers through the “Low Dune” region, gradually entering the southern reaches of the Rub al Khali.
The first towering hills of the southern section appear on the horizon. The colors deepen, the light turns to gold, and the air hums with anticipation.
You step onto nature’s grandest stage—a stage built for the world. Dunes soar over 300 meters high, rising like waves of gold. You ride, you climb, you glide through a landscape that defies description.
This is the day when everything converges—machine and nature, skill and instinct. The final campsite makes a statement of its own: you sleep where almost no one ever has.
DAY 10-12
Oman's Beautiful Green South
The destination of the expedition is the green south of Salalah, which we reach in the afternoon. Located on the azure blue shores of Oman's southwest coast, Alila Hinu Bay serves as a serene retreat. Enjoy the pristine private beach and water world with activities such as whale and dolphin watching or diving, allowing the impressions of the past week to sink in before embarking on the journey back.
TAILOR MADE YOUR OWN EXPEDITION
Are you ready for your own private adventure?
We'll tailor your own Oman expedition. Whether solo, as a couple, or in a team with others, we'll customize your one-in-a-lifetime adventure to fit.
What our explorers say:
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‘During the drive the sense is stimulated by the smell of patrol, the smell of sweat from the hard working in the car and in the sand. In the evening, there is a beautiful sunset, a nice smell of roasted beef and the sound of a wood fire.'
Roeland
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‘Being part of a Bedouin trek, travelling for an extended period through harsh country, the chance to live with the desert. If you understand the desert and how people live and survive then you will understand the more about the modern Arab culture'
Sean
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'It is a 1001 night fairy-tale, with a magical star show.'
Roderick
