Muscat Full-Day Tour: Discover Grand Mosque and Traditional Omani Culture

Embark on a full-day tour in Muscat and immerse yourself in the rich culture and history of Oman. Visit the iconic Grand Mosque, explore traditional markets, discover the fascinating Bait Al Zubair Museum, and more!

Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Sultan Qaboos - The Grand Mosque been built on a site occupying 416,000 m2 (4,480,000 sq. ft.) and the complex extends to cover an area of 40,000 m2 (430,000 sq. ft.), the Grand Mosque was inaugurated by Sultan of Oman on May 4, 2001.

Five minarets have been built around the premises of the Mosque the main minaret (90 meters, 300 ft.) in height.
The prayer hall is square in shape and 74.4 by 74.4 meters (244 by 244 feet) has a central dome rising to a height of 50 meters (160 ft.) above the floor, the dome is embellished spectacularly from the inside, the main Musalla (Prayer Room) can hold over 6500 worshippers.

The major design of the interior is the prayer carpet which covers the floor of the prayer hall, it contains, 1,700,000,000 knots, weighs 21 tons and took four years to produce, and brings together the classical Persian Tabriz, Kashan and Isfahan design traditions 28 colors in varying shades were used.

  • Mutrah Fish Market - From the Grand Mosque on the way to the fish market we drive through ministries and embassies area also drive through the Marvelous Beach Street in Al Qurum, Visit the Fish and Vegetable Market, local people paying and selling fresh fish and seafood.
  • Mutrah Souq - From the fish market, just a short drive to Mutrah Souq (Market) visit Mutrah Souq, Oman’s largest Traditional Souq, Muttrah Souq is one of the oldest marketplaces in Oman dating back two hundred years, it’s located adjacent to the harbor of Muscat and has seen an immense trade in the age of sail, being strategically located on the way to India and China, it was named after darkness because of the crowded stalls and lanes where the sunrays do not infiltrate during the day and the shoppers need lamps to know their destinations, the name of the market has been drawn specifically from the part that extends from Al Lawatiya Mosque to Khour Bimba where the place is really full of stores and stalls and the narrow area of lanes does not allow the sunlight to enter.

This ancient marketplace today features winding alleys of stalls selling antiques, traditional fabrics, aromatic spices Frankincense, Perfume, Silver, Omani Sweet (Halwa), and fresh produce.

  • Mutrah Fort - From Mutrah Souq we visit Muttrah Fort It’s located on a mountain ridge, overlooking both the city and bay of Muttrah with its towers and ramparts, it was in an ideal position to protect Muttrah from attacks from both the sea and inland, originally an Omani fort said to have been built in the year 1507 the Portuguese later added tow towers and a curtain wall during the latter part of the 18th century the fort underwent further development and enhancement under the Al Busaidi dynasty when the curtain walls were doubled and further towers added, Muttrah fort was restored by the ministry of heritage and culture in 1980
  • Bait Al Zubair - From Muttrah fort we visit Bait Al Zubair Museum, for a fine display of Omani culture and history and information about the Royal Family.
  • Al Alam Palace - Continue your trip to visit old Muscat and see the Al Alam Palace, has a history of over 200 years, and was built under the watch of Imam Sultan bin Ahmed, the 7th direct great-grandfather of Sultan Haitham, the existing palace, which has a facade of gold and blue, was rebuilt as a royal residence in 1972, the inner grounds of the palace remain off-limits, but members of the public are permitted to stop near the gates and take photographs, the Palace is used for official functions and receives distinguished visitors

When you visit the main gates of Al Alam Palace, it’s unlike any other capital you will ever visit, the palace itself is elegant but humble in design, unlike the grandiose structures of other capitals, elegantly designed, it features many highly polished marble surfaces, government buildings in the vicinity are white, with crenellated rooftops and wooden balconies in the traditional Omani style, though primarily a ceremonial palace.

  • Royal Opera House - From there we visited the Royal Opera House, He’s’majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said Sultan of Oman has been always a fan of classical music and arts, In 2001, the sultan ordered the building of an opera house, And It was officially opened in October 12, 2011, the Royal Opera House reflects unique contemporary Omani architecture, and has the capacity to accommodate a maximum of 1,100 people. The opera house complex consists of a concert theater, auditorium, formal landscaped gardens, a cultural market with retail, luxury restaurants, and an art center for musical, theatrical, and operatic productions.
What's Included
  • All fees and taxes
  • Hotels, Port, Airport, Residence pick up and drop off
  • Private tour
  • English speaking guide
  • Lunch
  • Bottled water
  • Transportation by Air-Conditioned Vehicle 4WD or Saloon
Additional Information

Visit the Grand Mosque, discover the great carpet 21 tons, 28 colors, discover the chandelier 14 meters length Swarovski Crystal, Visit the inspiring Royal Opera House and discover Omani architecture, Visit Mutrah Fish and Vegetables market where locals paying and selling fresh fish and seafood, visit Mutrah Souq, Visit Bait Al Zubair Museum that tells the civilization and culture of Oman and the history of Royal Family, visit Mutrah fort and see the Defensive plans to protect Mutrah.

Sights you’ll visit:

  • Grand Mosque
  • Al Qurum Beach
  • Fish and Vegetables Market
  • Mutrah Market
  • Mutrah Fort
  • Bait Al Zubair Museum
  • Al Alam Palace
  • Royal Opera House
  • Not stroller accessible
  • Infant must not sit on laps
Location
Sultan Qaboos
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(3 Ratings)
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1 star
Amritpal_s
Mar 2, 2023
Exceptional experience - Excellent tour Had a great time and got to see everything we wanted to Our guide was very friendly. Most professional and our day was very well organised.
Review provided by Viator
Asingh340
Mar 1, 2023
Exceptional experience - Excellent experience. Five stars Jamal gave me and my parents a wonderful tour around Muscat. He was very professional and extremely well organised. Jamal was very friendly and we gained a lot of education about the City and of Oman. We enjoyed our time and we got to see everything we wanted to. It was a pleasure to see so much and learn so much. Jamal gave us a very memorable time. The memories will last a lifetime
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Susandoddbtv
Feb 9, 2020
This tour is an absolute must!! - My teenage daughter and I arranged a full day stopover in Muscat, with plans to get out and see the city. I have always found fabulous itineraries on trip advisor that have laid out the best ways to visit certain destinations in only a day’s time, but for Muscat I really only saw suggestions for booking a tour. I had never been on a tour before, and being rather introverted, I’ve always preferred getting around on my own.
I have to say, though, from the instant I received my first correspondence from Discover Oman Tours (a very quick response to my email inquiry!) to the moment my daughter and I were returned to the airport, I was nothing but impressed.
I was thrilled that Abdullah met us at the airport that morning, as I’d read so many wonderful things about him. Our schedule was a little odd, so he made every effort to accommodate us within the general framework of this tour.
This city of Muscat and all it’s buildings, history and people is just stunning, and there’s no way we would have gained such insight or appreciation without the experience of our guide. Abdullah is so knowledgeable and was so incredibly patient with all of my questions about the history, economy and cultural practices (I’m sure I was so annoying!) but Abdullah provided me with thoughtful responses and was gracious enough to overlook the ignorance that I’m sure was inherent in many of my questions. I am an educator and I travel a lot, but I told Abdullah at the end of our tour that I learned more from him in one day than I had learned about anything in a very long time.
The only thing I would have done differently would have been to get a full night’s rest before the morning of the tour. My daughter and I had spent the better part of two days in the air with stopping to sleep and we did get quite tired/jet lagged by the end of the day. We were so excited to be there that it didn’t make too much of difference, but next time (and there will definitely be a next time!!) we’ll get some sleep first.
The other great thing about this company is that they offer a variety of tours and they all sound amazing. This company is so well run and feels very focused on customer satisfaction. I just can’t say enough great things about it.
Thank you, Abdullah, for your kindness, your enthusiasm, and your willingness to share your wonderful city with us. This was a day I will never forget 🧡
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 5 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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