Oman cultural tour

Environment

This cultural tour takes you to many ancient forts and castles in Oman including Bahla fort which is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The 12th century fort was dilapidated and decaying rapidly after each rainy season so was put on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1988. Since then conservation using only earthen-based materials has been carried out in order to preserve the integrity of the architecture. Today Bahla Fort is protected by the Omani Law for National Heritage Protection and are controlled by the Ministry of Heritage and Culture in Muscat. The focus is on the long-term care, conservation and use of the site's historic building structures.

The Wahiba desert camp, 1000 Nights Camp, is locally owned and employs local people to help run it. It is furnished and decorated using regional furniture and materials and provides locally sourced food and traditional entertainment to help support the local community.

There is no electricity at the camp with no light pollution or sound pollution as the camp uses natural resources to blend in with the environment. All waste from the campsites is taken away and recycled. There is no evidence left of any travelers staying in the desert.

Community

We try to access off the beaten track locations where tourism helps the local communities there by supporting local trade and livelihoods, and during the tour you will stay at with an Omani family at their guesthouse in the rural village of Misfah. Not only will this let you experience traditional Omani life it also positively supports the local community and brings economy to the village.

This trip also visits several local communities in the Wahiba Sands Desert allowing clients to purchase handicrafts made by the locals. Any money from the sale of the handicrafts helps the local Bedouins to support their families. Local Bedouin guides are hired to explain their way of life to clients on parts of this tour. This enables them to earn a regular living from the visiting tourists.

The aim of this being to offer you a genuine contact and experience of the destination to feel the essence of the culture and history, so you come back with enjoyable memories and appreciation that you and will treasure. It also benefits the local people to get a better cross cultural understanding between the local culture and visitor so that tourism can impact in a positive way.

Your guide for the tour is a local Omani National and will be with you for the duration of your time out on your 4WD adventure, able to share with you their local knowledge of their history, culture, customs and lifestyle. Often the guides have strong links with the local Bedouin people, with whom they interact on a regular basis or have associations with the local tribes.