The Oman Expedition North Route: Muscat and the Empty Quarter

Eight days in Oman, guided, with guests driving in convoy, from Muscat through Wahiba Sands and the northern Rub al Khali, finishing in the Hajar Mountains.

The North Route is one of the shorter versions of The Oman Expedition, organised by Silent Sands Oman with the Canvas Club camps and Alila hotels. The operator describes it as a blend of natural beauty, luxury and adventure, and as the route that shows Oman’s range of landscapes. Its centre is the crossing of the northern fringe of the Rub al Khali, which the page calls the wild heart of Oman: towering dunes, silence, and nights under a star-filled sky. The expedition leaders say start dates follow the lunar calendar and applicants are vetted before joining.

The route begins with a night in Muscat, with time for the old town, the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and the souks. A drive into the desert reaches the Canvas Club Desert Camp in Wahiba Sands. The next day starts the first real off-road challenge, learning convoy driving on gentle dunes, passing a lone mosque and a fuel stop made of barrels, then meeting the sea at the white sugar dunes of Khaluf, where the group camps. A 350 km run follows to the northern edge of the Empty Quarter, with the last fuel stop in the late afternoon and three days in the dunes. The group then climbs to Alila Jabal Akhdar for two nights and returns to The Chedi Muscat.

The North Route page does not give a price or dates. The operator’s expedition FAQ describes the standard set-up: Land Cruisers supplied, drivers rotating, teams of four cars with up to three people each, satellite phone, radios, roadbook and a chef. Contact the operator for the current price and departures.