Muscat – the pearl of the Arabian Peninsula

We begin our tour with a visit to the Grand Mosque of Sultan Qaboos, which is one of the largest mosques in the world and the most important in Oman. In the prayer hall of the mosque for men is one of the most amazing carpets in the world, woven by hand in Iran in four years and listed in the Guinness Book of Records, as well as the famous chandelier with Swarovski crystals, also registered as a Guinness record as the largest free-hanging candelabra in the world. (The mosque is open to tourists in the morning from 08:00 to 11:00 all days except Friday, as well as official public holidays.) When visiting a mosque, clothing requirements must be observed: for men - trousers (not shorts!), for women - opaque clothing covering their hands along the wrist, legs up the ankle, a headscarf is needed. During the tour we will pass through various areas of Muscat, you can look at the fish market to see the huge variety of seafood and fish that can be caught in Omani waters. We will visit one of the many museums in Muscat, Oman’s capital, to experience the country’s ancient and modern history. Next, we will walk through the ancient Oriental Bazaar – the largest market in Oman, as well as the oldest market in the region. There you can truly feel the aroma of the East, admire the luxurious shops selling gold and silver, appreciate the national pride of Omanis - silver daggers, choose a scarf or carpet. Then we continue our tour and get acquainted with the working residence of the Sultan in Muscat, as well as visit the ancient harbor, where the ancient Portuguese fortresses of the 16th century stand guard.