Exploring Inner Oman
A weekend escape camel trek in Oman.
The town of Adam, also known as “Adham”, is a historic town located in the Dakhiliyah region of Oman. The town has significant cultural and historical importance due to its location on the ancient trade route connecting the interior of Oman with the coast.
Adam was an important trading center in Oman since ancient times, due to its strategic location on the trade route between Muscat and Nizwa. The town was a hub for the trade of frankincense, dates, and other goods, and it played a crucial role in the development of Oman’s economy.
Adam is also the home and birthplace of the current ruling Sultan’s family many generations ago.
Highlights of this trip: travel with a true traveler, Ahmed Al Mahrouqi and his stories need to be heard. He has crisscrossed the Sultanate but also the UAE with his camels alone, riding 1000’s of kilometres.
Discover Adam, a hidden gem of Oman. Ride through date plantations, and more.
Information
3 night trip
ADCRC departure: 9.-11. November 2023
Camels available: 6
Operator: Ahmad Al Mahrouqi
Where: Dakhiliyah, Oman
Riding level: For ADCRC departures, prior riding experience is a must.
For private groups, no experience is needed
Weight limit: Maximum of 90kg / 198lbs
Time in the saddle: 4-6 hours per day
Camels
Ahmed’s camels have been trekking with him for hundreds of kilometers, if not thousands. All his camels are female, except for one. He has a mix of different breeds from Oman, including Al Batina camels and from the Wahiba and Dofar region. He is able to tell you a lot of details about the camels from different Omani regions.
They are well looked after by Ahmad himself.
Gear: Ahmad has invested a lot of time and research into finding suitable trekking saddles. He now offers a comfortable, well cushioned adaptation of the usual camel blanket saddle, and combines it with traditional Omani elements such as goat furs and lots of tassels.
Accommodation
The first night will be spent in tents in the Wadi just outside Ahmed’s farm, where toilets and showers are available.
The second night will be in the tent, as well as the third night, where only one night is without any facilities and washrooms.
Inclusions
Accommodation in tents in during the trek, camels, all meals and drinks (strictly non alcoholic), bilingual guide (English & Arabic), tips
Excluded
The price does not include international or domestic flights, transfer by car from the airport or from Dubai, travel insurance and visa costs.
Full medical and holiday and r riding insurance is required to join the ride.
Transfers
Transfers are not provided but we can help make arrangements (at extra charge).
Meals
Ahmed is talented in creating authentic meals that would be prepared on the road.
Breakfast includes eggs, bread, coffee and tea, and potentially camel milk.
For lunch expect to eat light, as you’ll be traveling in the middle of the desert and rocky flats, though the packed lunches will be enough to keep you going for the second half of the day.
During the camp night, you might be invited to help prepare the meal and to get involved. Ahmad has a number of recipes up his sleeve from his previous treks, with ingredients that don’t need cooling, such as a dried fish stew.
You’ll be served endless cups of tea throughout the evenings.
Packing List
We recommend long, light colored (linen or cotton) shirts, traditional jalabiyas and kandooras, or anything that blends in well with the stunning landscapes, covers your skin from the strong sun, and makes it easy for you to sit on the camel and on carpets to have meals. Riding pants, are recommended or any type of pants that do not have a high synthetic material content, to avoid sliding on the camel.
To protect your head, it is recommended to wear a sheila, or head scarf, which can also be purchased in Oman. Footwear can be either barefoot, or sandals, that are fixed to the foot to avoid falling off while riding.
The nights in the desert can get rather chilly, so do include a pair of socks, and a warm jacket for the evenings.
Accommodation
The trip is similar to a backpacking trip, where the night is spent in small tents that are transported by support car. It is also possible to sleep without tent, but to avoid any disturbance from unwanted animal guests, we recommend tents.
Tents can be either supplied or you can bring your own for your own comfort.
Prices and Availability
Ahmad welcomes guests almost all year round for a different types of adventures, including shorter trips by camel and visits to the historical district of Adam. Reach out to us for a customized journey.
ADCRC Trips:
We organise a special departure for confident riders this November:
9.-12. November 2024
AED 2,,50 per person / 3 Nights / 4 Days / Six Riders
Send us an email to book and we will get back to you with more information.
You will arrive in the afternoon or evening from Dubai by car.
Ahmed welcomes you to his farm and you will feel right at home. The camels are in the back and you can help feed them in the evening.
There is no riding on the first day.
Wake up call will be early, to have breakfast and get ready for the trek.
Pack your belongings on the pick up and help setup the camels.
The ride leads along the old trade route towards the costal town Duqm, an important harbour.
The ride leads through seemingly endless flat lands, a rocky desert of pebbles, typical for this part of Oman.
The destination of the first riding day is the only sandy dune in an area called Rehab.
The evening will be spent around the fire and with preparing the dinner together.
Day two starts with a fresh breakfast with Omani breads and eggs, and mandatory coffee and tea.
The second day leads to a historical site of an old archeological site on the foot of the mountain range to the West.
Ahmad is a well of information, sharing lots of regional knowledge as you are riding side by side.
After the archeological site, it is time to complete the loop and ride along the mountain back towards Adam, back to the Farm for the 3rd night.
After the ride into the open land the days before, the final day will be unique as we will be riding into the city and the historical district. Ahmad and his camels are not a rare sight for the people of Adam, but for us, discovering the historic district by camel, is special.
We will end the trip with a walk through the old fort, and visit Adam’s best kept secret, a beautiful ancient mosque with stunning hand carved decorations.
Departure back to Dubai from here.
English 
Arabic 
