OMAN EMPTY QUARTER

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Route   

Muscat – Shannah – Al Hawiyah – Wahiba Sands – Umm Adailan – Hamara Ad Duru – Fahud – Wadi Aswad – Umm Al Samim – Qurun Al Fiddah – As Sahma – Ramlat Muqshin – Qitbit – Marsawdad – Ramlat Masah - Ramlat Al Hishman – Wadi Atyah – Shisr – Thumrayt – Wadi Dawkah – Salalah .

* Rates doesn't include flights or hotels 

* The plan is to start in Muscat and ends in Salalah so Flight should arrive to Muscat and departure from Salalah , however the crew and cars will drive back to Muscat in case anyone likes to travel back with us .

* The Empty Quarter is still a challenge for any traveler, it is very hot so we only plan to explore during January and February, and every precaution for travelling in hot deserts should be followed no matter the experience level of the traveler!

Itinerary 

Day 1

Start from Muscat to Shanah visiting an important prehistory rock art site , it was noted the engravings of the ibex and the horse riders are repeated throughout Arabia , especially  around the empty quarter in Oman and Saudi Arabia which may be related to the history of horse domestication .

Our survey and  ability to reach remote sites enables us to be pioneers for similar observations.

 Then continue to the desert of Wahiba sands ,

In 1949 Wilfred Thesiger was the first European to cross Wahiba sands , in the northern part where we will camp the dunes reaches about 200 m in height , piled up parallel to one another .

Day 2

Follow the local track connecting north to south along the linear dunes, at suitable latitude will start crossing towards the west to reach a beautiful area of barchan dunes where we camp  .

Nearly all dune formations are found here!  There are more than 20 variants also the camels of the Wahiba are famous throughout Arabia as the fastest racing camels in the whole gulf area .

Day 3

Back on the high way driving towards Hamra Ad Duru , camping there

On a previous camp in 2023 we were kindly invited by an Omani family for breakfast so expect that could happen and the custom of the desert we can’t refuse the invitation! We all have to be patient as this is a desert virtue.

Day 4

Continue to Fahud area where the oil was first discovered in Oman and where we will fuel the cars for the next 600 km desert crossing towards Muqshin then continue to Wadi Aswad to camp in between small beautiful dunes .

Day 5

The plan is to cross  the area   of um al Samim which  Thesiger was keen to explore for its reputation among the Bedouins to be formidable ! 

 Because the drainage water from the Hajar mountains used to collect there making salt swamps known as quick sands , now there is a dam in the mountains   preventing this , However  if the area is wet  because of  rain will have to wait or change route !!! 

when we cross Umm Al Samim will enter the area of magnificent huge dunes where we camp  near a recently discovered landmark  

Day 6

In the eastern and southeastern areas of the Empty Quarter the principal source of sands was outwash from the major wadis of Dhofar and Hajar Mountains  .Hard quartz forms the majority of the grains and oxidization on their surface has given them a distinctive orange colour .

During our satellite images survey we located a majesty star dune  where we explored the area several times and where we will camp!

Day 7

Continue south towards al Sahma sands navigating through some very beautiful white baby dunes , camp in the white dunes close to the main road .

Day 8

Continue to the main road towards the fuel station to refresh our fuel and water supplies then head towards Muqshin wadi camping there

Bertram Thomas wrote :

Wadi mugshin surely the prince of wadis in all south east arabia , for nowhere have I met its like , consists of a belt of giant acacia ( ghaf ) jungle thirty miles long .

Arabia Felix ( page 139 )

Day 9

Continue towards the mega dunes country where we camp in a spectacular location enjoying long walks and dune climbing.

Day 10 & 11

Explore the area and try to cross the dunes to find a new route away from the graded track

Day 12

Arrive at Salalah where we drive you to the Hotel