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First stop on your Muscat City Tour is a visit to the Grand Mosque, the largest mosque in Oman. From here you will be taken on a scenic tour taking in the Ministries, Qurum Park Beach and on to Mutrah Corniche, where you will visit the Fish Souk and Al Dhalam Souk, Oman’s largest indoor market. At the Souk, built in traditional style, you will find exquisite silver jewellery, frankincense, intricately hand-made Khanjars (daggers) and other handicrafts.
The tour continues east along the corniche to Mutrah (Old Muscat).Here you will visit the Oman National Museum and the charming Bait al Zubair, a private museum housing traditional Omani items reflecting the country’s rich heritage. Nearby is His Majesty Sultan Qaboos’ Al Alam Royal Palace protected in the bay by the famous twin forts of Jalali and Mirani, rebuilt by the Portuguese around 1558.
Passing through the fishing villages of Sidab and Haramel you are taken along the scenic coastal route towards the Shangri La Resort & Spa for coffee (optional). On towards Baushar, via the bustling business district of Ruwi, we end the day at an important Iron Age site with fine examples of late Lizq, early Samad period honeycomb tombs. |
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Your shopping tour includes a mixture of old and new Muscat. All the malls are fully air-conditioned, brightly lit and clean, have their own mix of shops, cafes, food courts and play areas for children. Visit the famous Al Dhalam Souk, Oman’s largest indoor market located along the coast at Muttrah corniche. At the Souk, built in traditional style, you will find exquisite silver jewellery, intricately hand-made ‘Khanjars’ (daggers) and other handicrafts.
Capital Commercial Centre (CCC) is a supermarket and a mall combined. Just outside are Pizza Hut, McDonald's, Baskin Robbins and Subway. The mall has shops that sell music, shoes, electronics, jewellery, carpets, clothes, lingerie, perfumes and photographic equipment. The mall also houses a small souk from where you can pick up a wide range of leather goods, trinkets and Omani silver handicrafts.
The Sabco Centre has multiple retail outlets and a traditional souk. The souk has numerous shops that sell silver jewellery, handicrafts and clothes. Sabco's own outlets: Godiva - a specialist gourmet and Belgian chocolate manufacturer; Muscat Beauty Salon; The Flower shop, and Oman Perfumery (the premier retail outlet of Amouage, the most valuable perfume in the world). The centre houses famous brand names of clothes, accessories, specialist music,beauty products and electronic items. It also has a coffee shop offering a variety of blended coffees and sandwiches - The Sabco Cafe. The Golden Arcade opposite the entrance of the complex has exclusive leather goods, a money exchange, watches and The Body Shop. The Flower Shop is a one-of-its kind in the city providing an exciting range of fresh and dried flowers.
Muscat City Centre is the first 'super-mall' in Oman. Newly expanded, it features a Carrefour hypermarket - another first for the Sultanate; a food court, children’s entertainment area and a vast array of shops. Your Omani guide will take you to the best of the old and new shopping outlets in Muscat and help you bag a few bargains. |