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Just returned from extremely good trip to Oman. Possibly the best nature holiday I had been on. During the trip we saw over 200 varieties of birds as well as butterflies and reptiles. But it was not just quantity but also quality in terms of what we saw. We finished on a day of 5 different eagle species as well as a number of rare birds. The guide was terrific with an encyclopaedic knowledge of wildlife but also with the enthusiasm and patience to inform the clients. The transportation was a convey of 4 X 4s driven professionally and with humour. The hotels and food were very good throughout. This trip really had no downside. This is possibly the best Naturetrek holiday I have been on. Everything just worked. The travel arrangement were ideal and the local fixer fixed all the details to perfection. Hotels and transport were v. well. Really can't be faulted.
J.R. Hampshire, Nov 24
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Oman - Arabia's Finest Birding
Tour Code: OMN02A 13-day holiday focusing on the resident and migrant birds of Oman, plus a pelagic for seabirds, and possibly Sooty Falcon!
£4,995
£4,595
Highlights
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Summary
The Sultanate of Oman is one of the most developed and stable countries in the Arab world and has longstanding ties with Britain. Its avifauna reflects its strategic position in the Middle East, with influences from the Indian subcontinent as well as Africa. This tour is timed to coincide with an excellent selection of birds: desert specialities, coastal seabirds and waders, plus exciting residents including Hypocolius, Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeak and Persian Shearwater. Due to its increasing popularity as a birding destination, Oman annually turns up surprises – Banded Martin, Lappet-faced Vulture and other African drift migrants have turned up in recent years, so we may well find a surprise or two along the way. It is also home to the recently discovered Omani Owl!
The combination of land birding, as well as a pelagic, will enable us to view an exceptional number of birds, whilst enjoying the incredible scenery and way of life of the local Omani people.
- Possible Hypocolius and Spotted & Crowned Sandgrouse at Muntasar's natural spring
- A pelagic for Persian Shearwater, Jouanin's Petrel and Red-necked Phalarope
- Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeak, Yemen Serin and Greater Hoopoe Lark all likely
- Visit key sites for Crab Plover & Hume's Wheatear
- Hume's Tawny Owl also possible
- Enjoy spectacular desert scenery (& Frankincense trees!) in an exotic location
- Led by a local guide alongside a Naturetrek leader
The Sultanate of Oman is a jewel on the Arabian Peninsula. Its interior is a vast desert plain known as the 'Empty Quarter' — made famous to Westerners by explorer Sir Wilfred Thesiger in his riveting 1959 book, 'Arabian Sands', a classic of travel literature. The book provides a fascinating glimpse into the traditional life of the nomadic 'Bedu', and the Arabian Peninsula at a turning point in its history (Abu Dhabi and Dubai were small fishing villages!). Much has changed since Thesiger's time, but much has not. This is still a romantic place, where the aroma of Frankincense pervades colourful souks, and men wear traditional perfumed white 'dishdasha', their cloaks embroidered in silver and gold. Oman's landscape weaves a captivating spell over those privileged to see it; the beautiful Al Hajar Mountains jut starkly out of the desert plain in the north-east, while along the southern coast desert sands are fringed by a brilliant turquoise sea.
Oman is one of the most developed and stable countries in the Arab world and has longstanding ties with Britain. It is a friendly country with a newly developed infrastructure and welcoming attitude to tourists. 75% of Oman is Muslim, with Arabic being the official language; however, the country is also home to many other non-Muslim religious communities and has a racially mixed population reflecting its strategic position within the Middle East. Its avifauna, too, reflects influences from both the Indian subcontinent and Africa, and on this 13-day tour, timed to provide us with an excellent selection of birds, we will go in search of desert specialities, a wide range of coastal seabirds and waders, and other residents and late migrants.
We begin our holiday with a direct flight to Muscat. From there we travel a short distance north to the Ras as Sawadi Peninsula where we will have the opportunity to familiarise ourselves with the numerous waders, gulls and terns on display. As the sun sets we will enter the historic city of Muscat where we will spend three nights. Focusing our birding on several key sites, amongst them estuaries, lagoons and tidal creeks, we will look for Greater Hoopoe Lark, Upcher's Warbler and Yellow-throated Sparrow, as well as a variety of migrants and any unusual vagrants. We will enjoy the old city and the famous souk, which bustles with gold and silver vendors, as well as the Grand Mosque. From Muscat we head down the coast for a night by the beach, stopping at creeks and canyons along the way to scan for the delicate-looking Crab Plover, and Hume's Wheatear. That night, with a little luck, we will also have the opportunity to watch Green Turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs.
We then drive south-west to Bar Al Hickman, where a superb avian spectacle should await us — huge flocks of wintering waders, gulls and terns. We will then head inland to the 'Empty Quarter' of the Arabian Plateau and the natural spring at Muntasar which attracts hundreds of sandgrouse. We then journey south to Salalah, in Dhofar province, with a stop for Grey Hypocolius en route, where we will be based in a comfortable beachside hotel. The African influence on the avifauna is very noticeable here, with species such as Didric Cuckoo, African Paradise Flycatcher, White-breasted White-eye and African Rock Bunting among the species we may see. We will spend four days here visiting the best sites along the coast, amongst them sink holes, khawrs, escarpments and streams where we will look for Yemen Serin, Black-headed Tchagra, Bruce's Green Pigeon, Namaqua Dove, crakes, ducks, waders, gulls, eagles, vultures and much more! We will also drive along the coast to Mirbat, where the rich waters attract shearwaters and Socotra Cormorants. The seawatching is excellent here, as is the fresh fish served for lunch! Among the rich variety of birds that we will be hoping to see during our time in the south-west are two sought-after Arabian specialities, Arabian Partridge and Arabian Wheatear. We will also spend a day at the khawrs and wadi at Al Mughsayl, the most important birding site west of Salalah. No trip to Oman would be complete without seeing a Frankincense tree, and the wadi here holds a small number of these aromatic trees of Biblical fame. We will also listen for the soft 'hoo hoo-u' calls of the rare Hume's Tawny Owl under a star-dense desert sky.
All too soon it will be time to return home, no doubt with images of Oman's special birds and vast expanses of desert and sky mingling with the scent of Frankincense in our minds ... and stories to tell worthy of Scheherazade herself about our time in this exotic land!
Outline Itinerary
Reviews
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It was by far the best birding holiday I've been on (whether led or self-guided) - and was extremely well led.
T.Y, Glamorgan, Nov '24 -
We enjoyed the whole experience particularly Andy's guiding and the excellent work of the local guide (Qais) and the drivers. The memories of traversing Oman and seeing stunning desert wildlife will live long in the memory.
S.T, West Yorkshire, Nov '24 -
Splendid photography opportunities - about 100 species of bird photographed, and 15 species of butterfly. A thoroughly good trip, well in advance of my expectations!
N.P, Hampshire, Feb '24 -
Very happy with hotels used. Simon was kind and patient and ensured everyone saw the birds. He was very sociable and attentive to our needs. The local guide made sure all ran smoothly. I saw seabirds up close and others I had never seen before. The weather was glorious and the sea calm. Many dolphins were seen some came close others treated us to acrobatic displays. Brilliant holiday all round.
C.W, Essex, Feb '24
Dates & Prices
2026
Tour Leader: Simon Woolley
Simon Woolley is a passionate birder and all-round naturalist. Having cut his birding teeth in childhood on the Dee Estuary, he has lived in Hampshire’s New Forest for many years now, and is the author of the definitive book on The Birds of Blashford Lakes. He has travelled extensively on six continents in search of wildlife. He has a particular interest in bird systematics and endemism, and is currently completing a book on the latter topic. He has worked for many years as a Geography teacher, so clients can be assured of lots of geological and climatological background exploration on the tours he leads…. As if any further endorsement of your choice of Naturetrek were needed, he met his wife, Julia, on a Naturetrek tour of Kenya in 1997!
Tour Leader: Martin Pitt
Martin has had an interest in wildlife since an early age and, although he worked in development and consultancy across the globe, he has always kept this interest going. He has been leading tours for Naturetrek, both in the UK and overseas, since 2017.
Primarily interested in birds and mammals, his time living in the Middle East (a year in the UAE and 2 years in Israel) gave him a deep love of desert ecosystems. More recently, he has spent an increasing amount of time focused on butterflies and dragonflies. He is the author of the ‘Crossbill Nature Guide to Southern Morocco’ and as of 2023 he is also the Bird Recorder for Hampshire.
Martin has led a number of tours, including day trips and weekends in Hampshire and the adjacent areas, as well as tours overseas including Austria, Ethiopia, France, Mexico, Morocco, Poland, Romania, Spain and Uzbekistan.
Tour Leader: Chris Griffin
Chris was obsessed with wildlife from an early age, when he spent every available moment either at a local nature reserve or buried in a bird book! Naturally this led to a wildlife orientated career, where he worked for the RSPB and various environmental consultancies as a Field Ornithologist. Now, three decades on, his life hasn’t changed much, as he still birds his local reserves and is regularly found delving his head into a field guide!
Chris is a keen wildlife photographer, and particularly enjoys the Somerset Levels where he photographs anything and everything. Birds are his first love, but Chris also enjoys watching, and has excellent knowledge of lepidoptera, odonata, reptiles, and amphibians. His enthusiasm for wildlife is infectious, and he relishes any opportunity to share his wealth of knowledge and experience!
Tour Leader: Andy Smith
Andy lives on the edge of Dartmoor in South Devon. He’s been a keen birder and naturalist for as long as he can remember and has enjoyed a varied career divided between conservation work in Britain and Ireland, school teaching and wildlife tour leading. He started leading for Naturetrek way back in 1997 and has now led over 150 tours to a wide range of destinations in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas and Antarctica. When not currently leading tours Andy teaches geography and history to teenagers and in his spare time he explores the natural history of Dartmoor and the South Hams and serves on the records committee of Devon Birds. He also makes regular trips to the west of Ireland to visit his children and grandchildren.
2027
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
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At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
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