OVERVIEW
HIGHLIGHTS
ACCOMMODATION
GETTING THERE
PACKING LIST
FAQs
OVERVIEW
A 5-day gravel adventure through the dramatic landscapes and rich culture of Oman. Starting in Muscat, we journey inland from the palm-filled valleys of Rustaq to the towering heights of Jebel Shams, Oman’s highest mountain.
Along the way, we visit the traditional mudbrick village of Al Hamra and spend a night in the ancient city of Nizwa to experience its vibrant souk. Our route winds along rocky tracks, dry riverbeds (wadis), and remote mountain passes, finishing near Al Awabi.
Expect sweeping desert vistas, deep canyons, warm Omani hospitality, and one unforgettable camping night in the desert under star-filled skies.
Included in Ride Package
Accommodation
6 nights in a range of local hotels, guesthouses and 1 night camping under the stars. Choose private single, shared twin (2 beds) or shared double (1 bed) rooms.
Airport Transfers
Fly in and out of Muscat (MCT), where our team will be on hand to collect you & drop you back off on departure day.
5 Epic Stages
Fully supported rides with guides leading small groups, van support & regular feed stops with a warm up ride on arrival day.
Meals
Bring some money for drinks but our package includes 6 dinners, 5 lunches & 6 breakfasts.
Regular Stops
Regular feed stops approx every 30km with lunch stops in beautiful locations.
Luggage
We move your overnight bags from hotel to hotel each day and provide a day bag to collect at lunch.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED: Flights, Insurance (mandatory), Drinks with lunch & evening meals, Bike rental.
REAL RIDER REVIEWS
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John DoeCEO 
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John DoeCEO
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John DoeCEO
ITINERARY
DAY 1
Arrival in Muscat bright and early. Avail of early check-in to have a small rest before we head out for a short warm up ride to make sure legs & bike are in good condition for bigger rides to come.
DAY 2
Stage One: 92km, 1270m elevation, 65% off road
DAY 3
Stage Two: 82km, 2230m elevation, 40% off road
DAY 4
Stage Three: 82km, 1610m elevation, 60% off road
DAY 5
Stage Four: 63km, 1820m elevation, 55% off road
DAY 6
Stage Five: 67km, 1660m elevation, 80% off road
DAY 6
Departure day.
RIDE HIGHLIGHTS
Warm Omani Hospitality
Ride through traditional villages and ancient wadis, where warm Omani hospitality meets centuries-old traditions. Expect friendly smiles, strong coffee, and a deep cultural richness woven into every encounter along the route
MIDDLE EAST Cuisine
Discover Omani cuisine with its blend of Arabic, Persian, and Indian influences. Think slow-cooked meats, fragrant rice, dates, and cardamom-spiced coffee — bold, comforting flavours that reflect the soul of the desert.
JEWEL SHAMS
Cycle into the dramatic heights of Jebel Shams, Oman’s highest mountain. Panoramic canyon views, rocky gravel climbs, and cool high-altitude air make this a standout moment of the journey.
Desert Camping Under the Stars
Spend a night under endless desert skies. Surrounded by silence and sand, you’ll camp beneath a blanket of stars — a peaceful, unforgettable experience that captures the magic of Oman’s wilderness.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Accommodation
We’ll stay in a mixture of local style hotels, guesthouses as well as 1 night camping in the desert under the stars. You can choose between a private single room (limited availablity), shared twin (2 beds) or shared double (1 bed) room. All of our accommodation is hand picked and we have selected some really special places.
Please note that the camping night is a full camping experience, share tents, few amenities and shared bathrooms. The full desert camping experience under the stars make up for this.
Bike & Tyre Choice
A gravel bike with some sort of suspension (fork or stem for example) on 45mm tyres is recommended. You can also opt for 650b wheels with wider tyres. Alternatively, a hardtail MTB is another great choice, especially on the technical descents.
Food
Omani cuisine is richly influenced by Indian food. Rice and chicken can be found at every corner, as well as paratha and Dal (lentils). Fresh (local) fruit and dates are our go-to snacks. Some vegetarian options are available, especially in the hotels – but the country is geared towards meat, chicken and fish.
weather
We choose time of year for our trips to coincide with the best riding weather. Temperatures should be in the mid to high 20s during the day with cooler evenings, dropping as low as 13 degrees. Make sure you pack a windproof jacket for early morning and descending.
Terrain
We will find compact gravel mixed in with rocks, dry riverbeds, water crossings and some perfect asphalt roads. Some descents are technical, but the roads are wide and designed for offroad driving. We take the quiet roads off the beaten track as much as possible. This does mean that some roads can be rough and chunky at times. Roads on our trip are mountainous hence the amount of elevation we gain on our rides. Some days we climb mountains to the top, but even on days that we don’t we will often find many hills with steep gradients. Mountain slopes are often steep and so are the roads that go up against them. At times climbing against 15-20% we are relieved when the roads only go up with a 9% gradient.
6 UNMISSABLE HIGHLIGHTS IN OMAN
NUMBER One
Jebel Shams (grand canyon)
Towering an impressive canyon this mountain is the highest point in Oman (3009m above sea-level). The canyon can be explored from the top as well as in the valley. The balcony hike, leading the visitor along the edges of the canyon is very popular among tourists and locals alike. The name means Mountain of the Sun since it is the first part on the Arabic Peninsula to receive light each day.
NUMBER TWO
Wadi Bani Awf (Snake Canyon)
This beautiful wadi runs down the Northern slopes of Jebel Shams and hosts many adventures. Most known for canyoning through Snake Canyon there are numerous hiking trails, climbing walls and other activities that attract many adventurers to Oman yearly. Breathtaking rock-formations and steep mountains all around make this the favourite place to cycle for our local guide.
number three
Al Hamra
A wide stretched are of palm trees, mixed in with mango trees and crops on the surface level show the inventive way in which Omani have farmed their lands for many years. The Falaj system is on the world heritage list by Unesco and is used to bring water from the mountains to the town and has been a constant source of life. Being in Al Hamra gives you a greater understanding of how people have thrived in these lands by using what they had resoursefully.
Number Four
Nizwa
Former capital of the internal lands and still very influential in the religious spheres. In the winter season very popular among tourists and mostly famous for its fort, markets and in particular the weekly cattle market. Roaming around through this town at night brings modernity and ancient history into a beautiful mix. The markets are home to many local delicacies and art.
Number five
Beautiful mountains and wadis
Recently Oman is being discovered as an adventure destination. The Hajar Mountains and the numerous wadis that run down its slopes are incredible places to explore. We cycle through many different wadis that all have their own character. Breathtaking views and lush pools of water are around the corner for those that dare to venture inside the Hajar Mountains. There is a reason that the slogan used by the Ministry of Tourism is #beautyhasanaddress
Number six
Bilad Sayt
A hidden mountain village on the Northeast slopes of Jebel Shams. Its clustered mud-and-stone houses are unique and still inhabited by locals. By using underground water sources people have been able to farm many different kinds of crops in this barren land for centuries. Located beautifully at the base of steep cliffs it is a must-see highlight on our tour.
STAGE DETAILS
Route Summary:
We leave Muscat these next few days and start discovering all the beauty the Hajar Mountains have to offer us. Starting off in Rustaq we weave our way to the feet of these impressive rock formations. Gravel, riverbeds, wadi crossings and some perfect asphalt roads – Wadi Howqain has it all. We sleep under a beautiful star-filled sky tonight at our campsite.
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Ride Distance: 92km Ride Elevation: 1270m % Off Road: 65%
Route Summary:
On the previous day we already set eyes on Jebel Shams, the highest peak of the Hajar Mountains and today we get to climb it! Starting with 15 kilometres through a beautiful wadi we find ourselves on a roundtrip to the foot of the 3009m high top of Oman. We pass some beautiful rock formations and historical sites before we start our climb to the top of the Grand Canyon of Oman. Some steep roads and hours of climbing await, but the view along the way will be worth it.
Ride Distance: 82km Ride Elevation: 2230m % Off Road: 40%
Route Summary:
Jebel Shams is home to some of the best views of Oman and this is especially true for the north-face of the mountain. Quiet gravel roads bring us around the mountain and back. This loop should have lasted longer, but the descend is a welcome adventure after all the climbing we’ve done so far. We find our way to the valley where we enter Al Hamra. The farms in the old town tell us more about how inventive use of the water available allowed locals to grow crops in a desert climate for centuries. A short bus-transfer takes us to Nizwa, former capital of these regions.
Ride Distance: 82km Ride Elevation: 1610m % Off Road: 60%
Route Summary:
We leave Nizwa and its buzz behind and after a while find our selves on a switchback off-road climb out of the valley again. We are climbing Jebel Sharqi today, but take the old road that is only used by locals to bring their children to school nowadays. After the gravel section we continue our climb to the top on asphalt. Another site with stunning views but now we descend the northside right away and get to ride some of the steepest roads of Oman. Downhill this time, but off-road cycling experience is a must. This technical descent is spectacular and brings us to our last hotel inside the mountains in the beautiful village of Bilad Sayt.
Ride Distance: 63km Ride Elevation: 1820m % Off Road: 55%
Route Summary:
Wadi Bani Awf offers dusty gravel, river beds and compact gravel and that is what we ride all day during this stage! Depending on when the last rains where we will have some fun with water crossings too. We snake our way down to start (the canyon nearby is called Snake Canyon for a reason) and cross from one wadi to the next before we make our way to Al Awabi fort where we get to enjoy some great coffee to finish off our adventure and travel back to Muscat by car.
Ride Distance: 67km Ride Elevation: 1660m % Off Road: 80%
ACCOMMODATION
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PACKING LIST
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GETTING THERE
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Flights
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Transfers
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Outbound
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Your Guides
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Rental Bikes
getting to Muscat
Fly Into/out: Muscat airport (MCT)
Flights From: There are regular direct flights operated by Oman Air, or indirect with Pegasus airlines, Etihad or Quatar Aiways, to name a few.
Transfer Times:
On arrival day, we will have a morning transfer at 7.00 am, from Muscat airport to the start hotel.
On departure day, we will have a transfer in the morning and afternoon.
Note: transfer times are subject to change should flight times change. Final times will be confirmed and sent to you a month before your trip
Accommodation & Meals
The hotels in Slovenia are a good standard. We stay in a mix of superior 3* and 4* hotels. Choose between a single, shared twin or double room. You can add your preferred room mate in the booking notes.
In Kranjska Gora & Bohinj the hotels overlook the mountains & lake. Our hotel in Lipica is world famous for it’s white horses and we finish overlooking the Adriatic. Luggage is transferred from hotel to hotel & bike boxes are transferred from Bled to Portoroz on the first afternoon.
Evening meals are buffets with pasta, salads, meat & vegetables. Lunches at feed stops are local restaurants as we try some of the local delicacies. Vegan, gluten free and other dietary options are available.
packing list
Cycling Kit
Bibs/shorts | Jerseys/tops (consider LS t-shirts for cooler temperatures)
Gilet | Waterproof jacket | Arm and leg warmers
Cycling shoes | Socks | Mitts
Helmet | Sunglasses
2 bottles | Chamois cream | Sun cream
GPS device with handle bar mount
Bike Spares
2 x inner tubes suitable for the size of your tyre
Spare tyre | Tyre levers
1 x puncture repair kit (if running a tubeless set up, have a tubeless repair kit including plugs and spare sealant)
Multitool | Chain link specific for your bike chain | Lube | Brake pads
Spare rear mech hanger for your bike
Small pump | Rear light | 2 Bottle cages
Spare batteries/charging cables for lights
Personal Medical Kit
1 x crepe roll bandage | Gauze or similar absorbent dressing
Small set of scissors | Tweezers | Pain Killers (paracetamol) | Imodium
Steri-Strips | Antiseptic (spray, cream or wipes)
Assorted plasters | Rubber gloves | Prescribed medication
Must Pack Items
Power bank | Head torch | Flip flops | Swimming kit | Shower gel | Hydration & Personal energy bars
Hotels & Meals
Accommodation: We’ll stay in a mixture of local hotels and guesthouses, as well as 1 night camping for a true Oman experience. You can choose between a private single room (limited availablity), shared twin (2 beds) or shared double (1 bed) room. All of our accommodation is hand picked and we have selected some really special places.
We stay at:
Muscat – Crowne Plaza Muscat
Desert – Camping
Jebel Shams – Jebel Shams Resort
Nizwa – Omani Guesthouses
Bilad Sayt – Season Inn
Muscat – Crowne Plaza Muscat
Meals – 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches on the road, 6 dinners are included in the package. Drinks with lunch & dinner are excluded.
DATES & PRICES
START
FINISH
SINGLE ROOM
TWIN/
DOUBLE ROOM
DEPOSIT
DATES & PRICES
FAQs
This gravel cyclng trip to Oman is a very challenging route with plenty of climbing, long off road descents & some technical sections so it is suited to experienced off road riders.
The route is extremely remote heading out on small gravel roads so riders need to be self-sufficient.
There are regular direct flights operated by Oman Air, as well as indirect flights with Pegasus airlines, Etihad and Quatar airways, just to name a few.
On arrival day, we will have a morning transfer at 7.00 am from Muscat airport.
On departure day, we will have an early morning and afternoon transfer.
Note: transfer times are subject to change should flight times change. Final times will be confirmed and sent to you a month before your trip.
We ride in various different parts of Oman, with temperatures in the mid to high 20s during the day, falling as low at 13-15 in the evenings.
British citizens do not require a visa to enter Oman.
Travel insurance is compulsory for our trips, and you are required to provide us with your policy information before departing.
Your insurance should include adequate cover for cycling abroad, any emergency medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and your bike. We also recommend it includes cancellation insurance, should you be unable to join the trip for specific reasons such as illness.