Details

Frequently Asked Questions

Please click here to go to our general FAQ, which has essential information that applies to all of our programs.

Resources to Learn & Teach about Oman

Visit our recommended reading page to see the list of books GEEO recommends reading before your program (this is not required reading). We also have lesson plans and Pinterest boards that may be useful for you as you learn about your destination and prepare to bring lessons back to your classroom.

Terms and Conditions

It is very important for you to visit our Terms and Conditions page before signing up for this program.

Cancellation policy

All cancellations must be submitted to GEEO in written form by emailing your request for cancellation to travel@geeo.org. If you do not receive a confirmation that we have received your written cancellation request, please call us at 1-877-600-0105. Verbal cancellation requests will not be honored.

• If you cancel 60 days or more prior to departure, all your program fee payments will be refunded besides your $350 deposit which is kept on file for future use
• If you cancel between 30 and 59 days prior to departure, you will receive a 50% refund and your deposit is kept on file for future use
• If you cancel within 30 days of departure, you will receive no refund, but your deposit is kept on file for future use

Trip Notes

1. CLOTHING: While visiting mosques and other religious monuments you should dress modestly, cover your shoulders and you shouldn’t wear short shorts or skirts. Outside of capital cities and the more touristic centers, local dress is often more conservative and as a matter of respect we ask that both men and women are aware of this and recommend loose-fitting clothes with your shoulders covered. Ask your tour leader for more specific advice.
2. WOMEN'S CLOTHING: To respect the Islamic culture in Oman and to honor your gracious hosts, women should cover from shoulders to knees. Mid-calf pants and skirts with short-sleeved tops are a great option for this. When visiting mosques, long sleeves and a scarf to cover your head are mandatory. They can be removed once you leave the mosque grounds. Please note on Days 3 and 4 when swimming options are available we suggest wearing capri-length yoga pants and a t-shirt as a modest bathing suit.
3. DRINKING WATER: Do not drink tap water in Oman.

Group Leader Description

This program will be led by one of G Adventure’s group leaders, which they refer to as Chief Experience Officers (CEO). The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are traveling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues, and introduce you to our local friends. Our itineraries often have plenty of free time to explore on your own. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting – we think it’s the best of both worlds.

Fitness Level

This trip includes light walking and hiking that is suitable for most fitness levels.

Single Travelers

Half of the people that travel with GEEO are traveling by themselves, so please don’t worry if you have no one who can join you on your trip. Our pricing is based on double occupancy or, in other words, two people to a room. You never have to pay for a single room unless you want one. GEEO can find you a roommate of the same gender. Most of our trips have a "My Own Room" option, also known as a "Single Supplement," which is an extra fee that will allow you to have a room to yourself. If you want to room alone, please email travel@geeo.org. To see the price for the "My Own Room" option, please click here where you can look up your trip in the extra services spreadsheet.

Joining Instructions

Please note that Day 1 is an arrival day and no activities have been planned. For those who have booked an arrival transfer, your driver will meet you in the arrival hall with a G Adventures placard (after immigration & customs clearance) and guide you to our vehicle. If you have not booked an arrival transfer, there is an airport taxi counter in the arrival hall of Muscat International Airport (after immigration & customs clearance) and guests can hire a taxi from there. The approximate cost for a one-way transfer by saloon car from Muscat airport to the hotel is US $50 per car per way.

Emergency Contacts

Should you need to contact G Adventures during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call their local G Adventures office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible. EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS Regional Office Emergency Contact Number: +44 1858378000 Local Contact Emergency Phone Number: +968 24400844 Arrival Transfer Representative: + 968 92833038 If you are unable for any reason to contact G Adventures’ local office they have a toll-free line within North America which will connect you directly with their Toronto office: 1 888 800 4100. Outside of North America, call: +1 416 260 0999

Packing List

Please read this article on GEEO’s blog for our staff’s suggestions on the best gear to pack for your upcoming travels. You must be prepared to carry your own bags and be comfortable carrying them up and down stairs, on and off transportation, and to hotels. As a rule we try not to have to walk more than 15-20 minutes with your bags which is why we recommend keeping the weight of your bags between 22-30 lb. Most travelers carry a backpack or rolling bag of small to medium size (no XXL ones please!) A daypack is also essential for carrying everyday items. Space is limited on transportation, so there is a limit of one main piece of luggage per person plus a daypack per person.

 Suggested Checklist

• Fleece top
• Light windproof/waterproof jacket (Chances are it won’t rain)
• Sun hat
• Personal clothing for variable weather ranging from the low 60s to low 80s F
• Daypack
• Sturdy walking shoes
• Sport sandals or Flip-flops
• Sunblock
• Sunglasses
• Watch or alarm clock
• Flashlight or headlamp
• Clothes for religious sites – Knees and shoulders must be covered
• Small Flashlight
• Toiletries (Your hotels will have soap and shampoo)
• Camera
• First-aid kit (should contain lip salve, aspirin, bandaids, anti-histamine, Dramamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, electrolyte powder, insect repellent, extra prescription drugs you may be taking)

Optional Checklist

• Lightweight silk sleep sheet
• Travel pillow
• Money belt
• Water bottle
• Phone/Tablet for internet (Most hotels have WiFi)
• Chargers for electronics as well converters/adapters if needed
• Packing cubes
• Ear Plugs
• Snacks (Packing a few granola bars is a good idea. You can buy snacks when you get there too, so don’t go crazy here.)
• Ziplock bags for wet clothing
• Reading/writing material
• Hand sanitizer/Baby wipes

Document Checklist

• Passport (with photocopies)
• Travel insurance (with photocopies)
• Airline tickets (with photocopies)
• EUR/USD cash
• Credit or debit card (see personal spending money)
• G Adventures vouchers, pre-departure information, and dossier
• Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
• GEEO Classroom action plans for your group (This is sent 10-30 days before departure)

Laundry

Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge or ask your group leader where the nearest laundromat is. If you want to do your own laundry we suggest you bring your own non-polluting/biodegradable soap.

Passports and Visas

All GEEO trips require that the participant have a valid passport.  Please see our general FAQ for information on obtaining a passport. As with all of our trips, we try to provide the most accurate information we can, but governments sometimes change visa rules. It is your responsibility to double-check the information we provide below by searching here. Oman requires US citizens to apply and purchase a tourist visa within 30 days of arrival in Oman. However, there may be a visa waiver for travelers coming via Qatar. We are researching this right now. Please do not attempt to purchase your Oman visa yet. If you do end up needing to purchase an Oman visa, this is done online following these steps:

1. Go to the Royal Oman Police e-visa website: https://evisa.rop.gov.om/
2. Register as a “user” and create a profile by completing the form and following the steps.
3. Apply for a visa
4. Payment is approximately $55 USD per visa.

Money Exchange

The currency in Oman is the Omani rial (OMR). There are plenty of banks that can be found in Oman. ATMs are found within main cities (mostly in shopping malls and airports) in Oman and will generally accept cards on the Visa and Mastercard networks. It is a great idea to travel with both a Visa and Mastercard if at all possible as while there is no hard and fast rule, some banks seem to only work with one brand of card. Please note, your bank will charge a fee for overseas withdrawals. Smaller shops and restaurants will mostly only accept cash. Cash is recommended for times when ATMs are not accessible. Euros, British Pounds, and US Dollars are all easy to exchange to the local currency. Please note that you should bring some cash with you for emergency situations but carrying only cash is a high safety risk. ATM card/s and some cash is the ideal mix. If you are bringing US Dollars, please make sure that the notes are new and in good condition. Notes older than 1996, or with any tears or blemishes may not be accepted. Be fussy with your bank when buying cash! As currency exchange rates can fluctuate often we ask that you refer to the following website for daily exchange rates: www.xe.com

Tipping

Tipping is important in the Middle East. Locals themselves will usually tip anyone who provides them with services. In many cases, people depend on the tips they receive to supplement the low salary and wages of the Middle East region. While on tour in the Middle East, it is customary and even expected to tip small service providers such as restaurant and bar waiters, hotel staff, reception, cleaning personnel, bell boys, taxis, and van drivers. Tipping at restaurants in Oman is expected at the rate of 10%. Tips are regarded as an essential means of supplementing income for those working in the tourism industry. To make things as easy as possible and avoid embarrassing situations, G Adventures uses a tipping kitty system where your tour leader will collect a contribution from everybody at the start of your tour and use this kitty to tip anybody who has provided services to the group as a whole. A guideline for tipping is about $5-10 USD per day, depending on the quality of the service (this does not include your G Adventures tour leader). On Day 1 of your tour, your tour leader will be able to advise on the amount required from everybody to form the tipping kitty for your trip. You can pay in USD or the equivalent local currency (preferably local currency). The tour leader will be able to advise you on the exchange rate and the total required in either currency If at any time you feel that any service provider failed in maintaining or delivering good service, please bring it immediately to the attention of your tour leader so a deduction of tips can take place. At the end of your trip, if you felt that your G Adventures tour leader did an outstanding job, tipping is also expected and appreciated. The precise amount is entirely a personal preference, however, $40 USD per person can be used as a general guideline.

Vaccinations

We legally cannot give you any medical advice. It is very important to consult your doctor or a travel clinic about which vaccinations you will need for your trip. Please take this seriously!

Flights

We often find the best price for purchasing flights is 60 days before departure, but of course, this varies greatly from route to route and year to year. You must wait until this trip is confirmed with the minimum number of required participants before you book your flights. Typically, we reach the minimum number needed at least 90 days before departure. GEEO and G Adventures bear no responsibility for any flights purchased before the trip is confirmed. You can find out whether this trip has been confirmed here. Your trip begins and ends in Muscat. Please double-check our itinerary for the date by which you must arrive in Muscat and the earliest time you can depart Muscat.

Plugs and Converters

There are two components to provide external power to your device: adapters and transformers. The adapter is the plug, adapting the prongs on a standard U.S. two to three-pronged power cord to match the prongs required by the local outlets. The transformer changes the local voltage to that required by your device. Oman uses a Type G- British-style three-square prong plug. Their voltage is 220-240 Volts. U.S. outlets are 120V. Most new devices (phones and laptops) can handle the different voltage rates, but some devices only work on the U.S. standard of 120V. Check your device to see what voltage range it handles. Most transformer blocks will have an “Input” line that defines its voltage capacity. For example, “Input: 100 – 240V” means that it will work on voltages from 100V to 240V. If your transformer can’t handle the different voltage, you’ll need to purchase a voltage converter. You can find world regional voltage converters power packs at various vendors.

Expectations

Before you decide on traveling with GEEO it is important that you read all of the information about the program you are considering. Remember, our programs are quite adventurous.

• The purpose of the accommodation is to provide a safe place for you to sleep. Sometimes you will be pleasantly surprised but do not expect luxury.
• You must be able to easily carry or roll your luggage, so do not over-pack.
• We recommend always carrying snacks with you because sometimes meals can be far apart.
• Please make sure you understand the role of your tour leader on this trip as they are not the traditional “guide” you may be expecting. While our trips are educational, they aren’t study/lecture trips. We want you to learn through exploring and much of your experience will be based on how active you choose to be in acquiring knowledge and interacting with locals.

Hopefully this is the kind of adventure you are interested in!

Itinerary Disclaimer

While it is our intention to adhere to the routes described on our website, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion, it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The information on our website is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and are subject to vary due to local circumstances.

Weather

Oman has a dry desert climate, bringing warm weather all year round. Although we will be there during the winter, temperatures are warm and perfect for an escape in the sun. Temperatures should be in the high 60s to mid-70s.  At night, temperatures cool down to the low 60s. There is very little, if any, rain. If you want to take a dip in the sea, the Gulf’s waters measure a lovely 75 F at this time of year.