Smart Oman Tour – Al Hoota Cave Is Now Open to Tourists after Extensive Renovation Work

Are you an adventure tourist or visitor waiting for years to have a glimpse of more than 2 million years old exceptionally beautiful and ecologically varied underground cave located in Oman’s classic Sun Mountain – Al Hoota Cave? If your crave for an insight into Oman’s underground wonderland made with fantastic calcified rocks and dramatically calm waters is still not over, then you will be more than happy to know about its reopening on September 5th this year. After undergoing an extensive renovation work, Al Hoota Cave, one of the most impressive cave systems in this world is ready to open to tourists again. It is a 4.5 km long fancy cave seen in the Arabian Peninsula of which 500 meters can be easily accessed by all those tourists looking for a fascinating experience with the formation of Oman’s only underground landforms.

The reopening news of Al Hoota Cave is no doubt great news for Oman tourists who can now expect to experience the timeless beauty of this cave depicting wonderful effect of slow dripping water on rocks over millennia to ultimately take shape of an unequalled architecture of stalactites and stalagmites. These peculiar structures appear in different shades like pink, yellow and pastel shades of gold.

Situated at the bottom of Jabal Shams in the neighborhood of Tanuf Valley in Al Hamra district, Al Hoota Cave has been drawing attention of Oman tourists for its lion like rock structure since its opening to tourists in 2006. It has faced flooding related challenges and even got closed for maintenance work a few years back. With its renovation work almost complete, Al Hoota Cave is now back to give its visitors a memorable experience in its underground rock structure from 5th September.

Attractions of Al Hoota Cave in Oman
This cave has a subterranean lake which looks deep green and is home to many unique aquatic species including tiny fishes and the blind fish garra barreimiae which are transparent as well as delicate and can be easily visible to tourists’ in torch lights. Al Hoota cave has another attraction – a 36-seater toy train which tourists can board to visit a 550 meter long track but their experience of going through a 150 meter long tunnel underground through calcified hill to reach the entry point of Al Hoota Cave will be one of its kind trip they will never forget.

While walking through greatly maintained Al Hoota caves, they can’t resist them from staring at these rocks and minerals formations beautifully done by the process of water erosion and dissolving act of chemicals present in the water.

The 2.7 km long area of this Oman underground cave has been well lit so that tourists can visit safely and comfortably while getting a feel of the beautiful ambience of this natural cave formed underground telling the story of its two-million-year rock structure.

Landmarks for Al Hoota Cave from Muscat
After getting down at Muscat Airport, you will have to take the route of Sultan Qaboos Highway and move towards Seeb. You will be required to exit to Nizwa after covering 2 kms distance. At the Rusayil or Burj Al’Sahawa roundabout you will have to take the second exit onto road of Nizwa [Route 15] and drive for 135kilometre – exiting at Hai Al Turath. Again, take the road straight crossing over 3 roundabouts, at the 4th, move right onto road of Nizwa-Ibri [Route 21]. After travelling 15kilometres, move right onto the road of Al Rawdha – Al Hamra. After going 2.5km, move left to see the signpost to Al Hoota Cave. Take the road to travel another 9km and the entry point to the cave will show up on the right hand side.

Extra services & facilities on offer at Al Hoota Cave:
Lots of Parking Space Outdoor
Visitor Information Centre
Geological Convention & Exhibition Centre
Handicrafts and Souvenir Shop
Toy Train
Coffee Shop
Free WiFi Access to Public
Children Playing Area

To visit the reopened Al Hoota Cave and experience the best memories of this beautiful crave structure, consider contacting Smart Oman Tour, a highly professional and dedicated tour operator in the Sultanate of Oman. We will give great options and packages for your visit to Al Hoota Cave. For an exciting, enjoyable and innovative travel experience of Al Hoota Cave, Smart Oman Tour can be contacted at +968 96949698 today!

Top 5 Best Occasions To Spend Winter Holidays In Washington DC

Do you want to explore the Arabian Gulf to the fullest this holiday? If so, then why don’t you plan out a holiday in Oman, the spectacular yet awe-inspiring land on the Arabian Gulf!

Planning a Trip To Oman: –

Currently planning a holiday in Oman? Check out this post below and make the most of your time in Oman. Before going into detail, you should know that when it comes to traveling in Oman, the spectacular Nizwa Fort and the magnificent Bimmah Sinkhole strike our mind first. Let’s have a look at those sights closely:

Nizwa Fort: –

A tour to Oman is incomplete without a visit to the old yet beautiful Nizwa Fort. Well-known as one of the most visited sightseeing places in the Sultanate of Oman, the Nizwa Fort hosts a serene blend of a castle, a fort and a museum. All these sights showcase old Omani architecture; in which the tower is circular in shape; that you can climb. In actual sense, Nizwa Fort is a combination of fort and castle.

The Fort: –

• The fort was constructed at the beginning of the 17th century by the Imam Sultan bin Saif Al Yarubi; which took almost 12 years to complete.
• The tower has 45 meter diameter and height 34 meter. The foundations of this fort extend around 30m underground.
• To reach the platform of the tower, you need to go through a narrow staircase. At each turn, you will find 10cm thick wooden doors.

The Castle: –

• It was built in the 9th century and undergone renovation in 1624.
• The castle comprises rooms for the Imam, his family, guests and royal guards. In fact, the rooms are well-decorated and used to display artifacts.
• You’ ll find a kitchen space, coffee making room and a date store there.

Do you want to visit Nizwa Fort? Consider choosing Nizwa Fort Muscat Oman packages to enjoy this holiday to the fullest.

Bimmah Sink Hole: –

Inhabitants of Oman have a common perception that Bimmah Sinkhole was created by a falling star! Though, geologists have clarified that it was caused by erosion, but the legend goes better with the colorful beauty of the place.

Bimmah Sinkhole is a 40 meter wide and 20 meter deep cavernous hole filled with multitude varieties of turquoise water.

How Do You Get To The Bimmah Sinkhole: –

• It’s around 113km away from the capital city, Muscat; which will take an hour to reach there.
• You’ll have to visit along the highway from Muscat to Sur and the sea.
• The sinkhole is between the Dabab and Bimmah villages.
• Perfect stop to relax along the way to Wadi Shab.

Visiting The Bimmah Sinkhole: –

• If you don’t love swimming, it’ll just take half an hour to admire the place at its best.
• Enormous opportunities for picnic.
• Toilet facilities right near the entrance.
• Entrance is free.
• The way to reach the hole is flat. But if you want to go down, you just count 80 high steps.

Do you like this place? Just you need to choose Bimmah Sinkhole Oman tour packages and experience the most out of the sightseeing destination!

Want to explore more of Oman’s beauty? Discover more things to do and places to see in Oman on Smart Oman Tour’s Facebook and Twitter page.

Feel free to leave your suggestions regarding this post in the comment section below!

One Day in Muscat, Oman? Check Out These Must-Visit Places

It was towards the end of 2015 when I toured Muscat, the capital city of Oman. Muscat is such a magnificent city where one day isn’t enough to explore everything it has to offer. I just had a day in Muscat so I maximized my time here and did see all the noteworthy places. If you are in muscat but running out of time, this post may help you to keep finding your way and explore some sights to explore within one day.

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque:

Our 1st stop in the daybreak was at the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. It is the most important mosque of Oman placed in the western province of Muscat. It introduced to the public in 2001 and is a beautiful piece of art. A total of twenty thousand devotees can attend the mosque at a time. The mosque is free for tourists but you need to esteem the guidelines. One major principle is to attire conservatively and cover your skin. I had purchased a thaub from my country that fitted me wonderfully.

The inner part of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is a magnificent piece of artistry. Both the primary chandeliers & the carpet are the 2nd biggest in the globe. Travelers are guided via the mosque one way, so ensure you accomplish all your photography directly as you’ll not be coming the same way back. Following the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, I went with my family to the other part of the Muscat where the old town is placed.

The Forts of Al Marini, Mutrah and Al Jaili:

While we discovered the old town of Muscat known as Mutrah we had a quick glance at the 3 most important citadels of Muscat. The major forts are the Fort AI Jalali, Al Mirani Fort and Mutrah Fort. These citadels were constructed in the late sixteenth century by the Portuguese to protect the Old Muscat port. These days they tend to be closed most of the time for travelers but they’re historic structures in the sight of Old Muscat.

Old Muscat & its Sights:

There’re a few other interesting places in Old Muscat that are worth seeing. Stop by the Al Alam Royal Palace which is employed for ceremonial purposes only. Tourists aren’t permitted inside but it is a lovely construction with blue & golden facade. However, the surrounding well worth a short walk. Not far away are the Clock Tower and Muscat Gate.

We get back to our hotel in the afternoon. It was a short yet delightful trip I must say. I suggest you look for Oman trip packages that include all these beautiful places to explore.

Make Smart Oman Tour as your Oman trip planner to make the most of your time in this beautiful country. We are equipped with multi-lingual tour guides, experienced chauffeurs and luxury accommodation facilities to make your Oman tour a warn and pleasant one. For more info, visit us at https://smartomantour.com/.

Top Things to do on a Wonderful Muscat Omani Holiday Trip

Gorgeous Muscat city is the vibrant capital of Oman that offers charms of the Middle East and boasts of grand & impressive mosques, busy & bustling souks and breathtaking nature’s spectacle.

When you are looking to plan out a holiday in Muscat then it will be good in considering the below listed things and activities for having a fun filled and enjoyable trip with family or friends.

Explore Mutrah Suq:
Do you want to explore one of the oldest souks in the Arab world? Then visiting Mutrah Suq will be the best choice. With a network of winding alleyways where the traditional and modern sit side by side, Mutrah Suq is a busy market place where you can try your hand at bargaining with sellers for frankincense, Asian spices, precious gems, gold, silver, antiques, Indian and Omani artifacts.

Visit Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque:
It will give you goose bumps while visiting a large and impressive Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, which was built as a birthday gift to the nation from Sultan Qaboos to celebrate 30th year of his reign. This beautiful and enticing mosque was opened in 2001. The interior of this mosque are rich and grand, which showcases the second largest hand loomed prayer carpet in the world. By visiting this place, you can witness a grand and breathtaking example of modern Islamic architecture. 

Watch the Sea Turtles:
Travelling to Muscat will offer some unique opportunities in which you can enjoy the chance to experience one of the natures’ wonders .i.e. sea turtle nesting. By opting for an excursion to Ras Al Hadd, you can enjoy striking sights (in the evening) of turtles nest on the beach and run back to the sea. It will give you a unique experience for nature lovers to be a part of this amazing phenomenon of witnessing nature’s majestic creatures from a close distance.

Enjoy Dolphin Watching and Snorkeling:
Dolphin watching & snorkeling in Muscat Oman is a most popular activity, which is enjoyed all year round by the tourist. The Omani clear water is a home to a variety of dolphins and whale species. It will be a delight to watch the dolphins play in-front of your eyes. In order to experience some thrill and adventure, you can opt for exciting snorkeling water sport. 

Whether you are travelling with family or friends to Muscat, it will be better to consider well planned tour packages from a reliable tour operator like Smart Travel & Tourism or Smart Oman Tour; this will help in enjoying a relaxed holiday trip in a convenient and economical way. You can opt for a well planned Muscat tour or look out for guided Muscat dolphin watching packages from Smart Oman Tour to have utmost fun and enjoyment. We assure you of providing an exceptional service that will make your holiday trip to Muscat Oman a memorable one. 

Fully-fledged Coastal Adventures and Travel Highlights In Wadi Shab

Oman- The Perfect Blend of Calmness and Serenity.    
The scented landmarks have the best hands in making jaw-dropping geographic beauty of Oman. Everyone visiting Oman, expects to see sand; but tourists are blown away by the wild juxtaposition of lush agricultural lands, sparkling white beachfronts and humbling peaks like the 3,000m (9,840ft) Jebel Shams. However, one not-to-be-missed highlights of a Muscat-Sur coastal road trip, is the Wadi Shab, an enormous wadi blessed with truly awe-inspiring views.

Wadi Shab- A Breathtaking Encounter to Explore The Uniqueness of Oman.
A visit to Wadi Shab (An Omani Wadi that remains dry except during the rainy season) on your Muscat-Sur coastal road trip is more than enough to dispel the preconceived notion one might have about Omani sights. If you’ve a perception of Oman is just another desert nation filled with sand dunes and a few grass species, then obviously you might be surprised by the warm aquamarine waters that awaits for you at Wadi Shab. Situated around forty kilometers southeast of Dibab, the Wadi Shab is a heavenly paradise. Just beyond the entrance of this wadi, you’ll come across stunning water pools, smoother cascading waterfalls, palm trees and even colorful kingfishers.

A Journey To Wadi Shab is Truly Awesome!!
Wadi Shab is probably the best thing I’ve experienced through Muscat coastal road trip packages. Around an hour and a half drive from the Muscat, then Wadi Shab is located in between the sea and the mountain. Unarguably, it’s one of the most scenic places in Muscat I’ve ever seen and is well worth a visit, if you’re ever in Oman.

Well, when you’ll reach near the Wadi, you’ll see a sign off the main road and right after that you’ll arrive underneath a bridge where cars are parked. From there, local people are waiting to transport visitors with their boats so that you can start your coastal adventure.  However, the wadi is rewarded with gorgeous, submarine pools filled with small frogs, fishes, rocky mountain ranges, waterfalls and caves. However, the pools are conveniently located throughout the trekking path, which can give you a perfect opportunity to jump in and unwind yourself. Even, you’ll find a great jumping point where you can safely jump into the deep, cool refreshing water of Wadi Shab. All you need to do is to choose the perfect Muscat coastal road trip packages to get the most out of Wadi Shab. 

Usually, the hike along the rocky mountains and magnificent pools takes almost 3 hours to complete (If you’re stopping for swims) and it’s highly recommended to bring water and necessary food with you as well as footwear because the rocks can easily get slippery. However, a trip to Wadi Shab is along the untouched nature at its best and for an additional bonus it’s free. As per my experience, it’s so beautiful, especially the colors and atmosphere are just breathtaking! Only I can say is Wadi Shab is a must visit!

Conclusion-
For complete adventures on your holiday, I highly recommend to choose a Muscat-Sur coastal road trip with Smart Oman Tour and get exciting travel experiences of Wadi Shab. The tour operators of the company are extremely professional and friendly enough to make your journey an awe-inspiring one. They are now providing Muscat road trip packages at extremely reasonable costs. So, opt for the best packages and return back home with fun-packed memories.

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Amouage Perfume Tour to Oman

A lot of nations in this world don’t place such a high demand on stuffs that transform the natural fragrance of the human body. Since I knew virtually nothing regarding Oman prior to touring here, I idealistically had the preconceived belief that it may be one of those destinations.

However, after arriving in Oman I learned from my group leader that my imagination was absolutely incorrect. Here in Oman, people pride themselves on smelling of lovely and rich perfumes. In fact, it is an important segment of their customs that, right from birth, the Omani folks are decorated in unique fragrances, like rose oil, sandalwood and frankincense. Well, it does not stop there. The utilization of perfumery became a form of artistic self expression. Omani folks learn the art of wearing diverse perfumes according to occasions, mood and seasons; perfumes are applied to the individual, hair, garment and smoked into the air. 

Amouage – the king of fragrances:
Discovered more than a quarter of a century before, Amouage is a luxury perfumery  that brings inspiration from its origin of the Sultanate of Oman, imparting reference points from a colorful and rich legacy that sparks the imagination of everyone who come into touch with its magnificent products.

This perfumery is placed in Oman, just outside of the town of Muscat. A bunch of small constructions, it’s overshadowed by a massive new construction that’ll lodge the entire operation when completed. I was fortunate enough to witness the Amouage perfumery in Muscat. I’ve come across many Amouage fragrance shop in shopping malls here in the Middle East, but did not understand what it actually is. Most fragrances in Muslim nations are composed of pure oil essence only. There’s some alcohol in Amouage, which lightens it up a little, but it still possesses the closeness and lasting authority of the oils. A lot of are truly heavy in myrrh and frankincense, and I was amiably amused at the number of lighter permutes available. 

The fragrance brand has developed in Oman via Amouage’s existing property in Muscat. The 2-storey perfume house opened its gates to travelers to witness the different phases of perfume making from constituent maceration to bottling & packing and also clarifying the fragrance extraction procedure.

We also visited a room that lets us know regarding the complexities of Amouage perfumes, those of which were separated into individual fragrances. A station  full of constituents enabled us to have a closer glance at both the individual notes concerned in the fragrance making procedure and how exceptional these Middle Eastern scents are in comparison to what I am familiar with smelling back home. 

During my Amouage Oman tour, I had learned so many things. Though the Amouage fragrances are a bit expensive, but when you see the attention that goes into making it, you can comprehend why.

To arrange a customized Amouage Oman tour, please contact Smart Oman Tour. Initiated in 2011, we’re a leading tour operator in Oman specializing in packaged base and also tailor-made trips across Oman. For any help please get in touch with us at +96896949698.

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Top 5 Captivating Destinations to Visit in Oman

Oman, a mesmerizing country located at the Arabian Peninsula has the spectacular, encompassing desert, extending coastlines and riverbed oasis on the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea. Being a capital city of Oman, Muscat is a home to huge, modern Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and the ancient waterfront Muttrah quarter. Here, we have discussed top 5 sightseeing destinations of Oman that you can add to your holiday destination list:

Top 5 Incredible, Tourist Destinations of Oman

Al Alam Royal Palace
When you will pass through the historic entrance to the ancient town, you will able to witness the narrow roads and the ramshackle neighborhood of Muscat, basically, it’s here that you will get to see the showy Al Alam Royal Palace. Well, it can’t be entered; but you can able to click photographs.

Amouage Perfumery
When it comes to the exotic perfumes, then you will get the amazing fragrances at Amouage Perfumery. Manufacturing around 25,000 bottles in a week, this two storey building offers a chance to the guests to explore its visitor centre for seeing the seeing the perfume production; starting from the macerating raw ingredients to the packaging.

Fort Al-Jalali
Located at the eastern side of the old harbour in Muscat, this fort has dated back in 1587. After the years, It was captured by the Omani forces and expanded and strengthened gradually. It comprises of two watch towers and a prolonged cannon wall; that can be photographed; but visitors are not allowed here. 

Fort Al Mirani
Housed at the western side of the old harbour in Muscat, this fort was constructed by the Portuguese in 1588; after the ruins of the old fort built at the same location. Like Al-Jalali Fort, it can be photographed and viewed; but visitors are not allowed here. 

Nakhal Fort
It’s one of the closest northern fort located in Muscat; which is about 100km (60 miles) to the southwest and it’s even an ancestral home of the Yaruba people, builders of the finest forts in Oman. This fort has lushly green area and soothing hot springs; that makes this place an ideal picnic spot throughout Oman. 

Want to visit these amazing places? If yes, then you can make Oman trip plans with Smart Oman Tour. Our Oman trip planner will help you get the best deals on cost-effective Oman trips. So enjoy visiting Oman with us. For more details, please make a visit to our website today or stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.