Sunset Dhow Cruise from Muscat

Start your day with a pickup from your hotel in Muscat and move to Marina Bandar Al-Rowdha outside the city to board your traditional wooden dhow. These handcrafted vessels have been used for trading around the Arabian Peninsula for centuries and still ply Oman’s waters. Settle on to the cushion-covered deck as your dhow sets sail.

As you drift northward, admire Oman’s Hajar Mountains and rugged coastline, where cliffs open to secluded bays and tiny fishing villages. Pass Muscat Yacht Club and the picturesque hamlet of Sidab, where colorful fishing boats speckle the beach. Take photos of Cemetery Bay, home to the graves of British World War I servicemen, and keep your camera handy as you cruise into old Muscat harbor. See the cliff paintings depicting the ships that have docked here through the ages and gaze at the 16th-century forts of Jalali and Mirani, both standing guard over the Al Alam Palace: the glittering residence of the Sultan of Oman.

Next, sail into Muttrah harbor and absorb the views over the glittering, whitewashed Corniche set against the barren mountains. Then, as the sun sets and casts everywhere in a golden glow, drift by the Al Bustan Palace, one of Oman’s most exclusive hotels. This magnificent building stands alone on a mountain-ringed bay and cries out to be captured on camera.

After two hours on the water, sail back to the marina, where your experience ends and you will be transferred back to your hotel.