Private tour - Empty Quarter desert adventure - Wadi Dawka + Ubar
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 5 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Private tour - Empty Quarter desert adventure - Wadi Dawka + Ubar worth booking?
Private tour - Empty Quarter desert adventure - Wadi Dawka + Ubar is a 8-hour experience in Salalah, Oman, from $195 per person. It scores 63 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 5/5 rating across 5 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 63 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (5)
- Duration
- 8 hours
- From
- $195 per person
Get the most affordable, enjoyable and adventurous private tour to the Empty Quarter desert on the market. Explore the vastness of the desert areas with different shapes of dunes. Experience the adrenalin ride on the dun
What you get
About this experience
Get the most affordable, enjoyable and adventurous private tour to the Empty Quarter desert on the market. Explore the vastness of the desert areas with different shapes of dunes. Experience the adrenalin ride on the dunes with our expert drivers who will get the best performance out of the terrain cars. Then you will climb the dunes yourself dipping your feet in the moving sands. Enjoy the breathtaking views on the sea of sand from the dunes´ peaks while the sun slowly moves to the horizon. Before the sunset, you can take the best pictures of the desert landscape with the sun setting over the dunes. On the way to the desert, you will visit a camp with black camels, UNESCO site Wadi Dawka, a valley where thousands of frankincense trees grow and give the valued harvest of frankincense drops. From there you will continue on the Frankincense route to the lost city of Ubar (UNESCO) whose ruins stand witness to the glorious past when the city served as a center for the incense trade.
What's included
Included
- Carbonated beverages
- Bottled water
- Tea and coffee
What you'll see and do
Explore the UNESCO World Heritage site of Wadi Dawka where you can find thousands of Frankincense trees in the rocky desert area on the Nejd plateau in Dhofar mountains. Smell the scent of the precious resin pouring out of the trees.
30 minutes here
Discover Ubar - the lost city in the desert, also known as the Atlantis of the desert. In the ancient and medieval times, it served as an oasis on the frankincense trade route. Sadly, the city collapsed to the sinkhole which appeared in the limestone bedrock under the city.
20 minutes here
Empty Quarter
Drive to the Empty Quarter, the largest sandy desert in the world. There you will enjoy the adrenalin ride on the dunes with our experienced drivers. Driving up the dunes, descending from steep slopes and making the tilted horizontal drive. You can also try to run to the top of the dunes and relish in walking barefoot in the sand. From the top of the dunes, you can observe how the landscape changes its color during the sunset and make some remarkable pictures.
180 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- cs, ar, sk, en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 8 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Takamul Travel and Rent a Car
Know before you go
- Service animals allowed
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 5 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
4 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Organization
2 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Small groups
2 mentionsThe group size is repeatedly described as intimate rather than packed.
Good for families
1 mentionReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
Traveler reviews
5 verified traveler reviews for Private tour - Empty Quarter desert adventure - Wadi Dawka + Ubar. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Our experience with Takamul Travel is ours and it can be yours too!
This trip and 3 other trips with the private travel agency Takamul Travel /southern Oman-Salala/, which we managed during our 11-day stay, exceeded our expectations. All the organization of the trips took place under the direction of Mr. Tomaštík, a Czech living here and co-owner of this travel book. During his travels he provided comprehensive information about Oman, there was not a question that he did not know the answer to thoroughly. Flawless organization during trips, reliability, advantage of a small group, max. 2 cars. Kája Tomaštík, a young, empathetic person with the advantage of knowing the local language, which is a big advantage against other tour companies offering trips. Staying in Sálála and trips with Mr. Tomaštík was a great experience for us Europeans and we highly recommend it.
Response from the operator: Dear Sir, thank you for leaving such a kind and detailed review. It was our great pleasure to be at your service on three package tours. We are proud that our chief tour guide Karel did such a great job. We will pass your positive remarks to him. We will be looking forward to welcoming you in Salalah again.
via Tripadvisor (translated)
Takamul travel
A very well organized trip that brought me and my family incredible experiences. especially the sunset in the desert is beautiful. The guide was very pleasant and gave us a lot of information. We also had a rental car from the same company and everything was in perfect order. I recommend it to everyone.
Response from the operator: Thank you for leaving such a kind review. We were delighted to arrange the private tours and other services for you. We are glad that you enjoyed the itinerary and services of our guide. We are looking forward to welcoming you in Salalah again, there are many more places to be explored!
via Tripadvisor
Private Desert sunset tour
The tour was great and our guide Azuz is a nice guy very experienced. The desert is not to be missed when in Salalah and the private tour is the best way to live it with your timing.
Response from the operator: Thank you for leaving us this kind review. We are glad that you have enjoyed the private tour to the desert. We put great effort in designing the best itineraries. Therefore it is a great pleasure for us to hear your appreciation. We will pass your review to our tour guide Azouz.
via Tripadvisor
It's as good as it gets
We were picked up by our guide in front of the hotel and driven to a part of the desert where you definitely wouldn't have come alone, even with a four-wheel drive vehicle. Unforgettable tour. On the way there still visited a camel owner and tasted camel milk. Very good. Fun and interesting tour, although not entirely cheap.
Response from the operator: Dear Marco, we are grateful for your kind appreciation of our services. On the desert tour, our drivers showcase the best of driving skills and knowledge of the territory. The fact that the tour is private makes it possible to get further to the desert and thereby avoid meeting other groups. Your review makes us obliged to improve our services even further. We would be honored to welcome you again in Salalah!
via Tripadvisor (translated)
Unforgettable Tour
We enjoyed a wonderful trip to the empty quarter yesterday and Ahmed was a fantastic guide who made every effort to make the tour unforgettable.
Response from the operator: Thank you for leaving us this kind review. We are glad that you enjoyed the desert trip with Takamul Travel. We put great effort in designing the best desert tour intineraries. Therefore it is a great pleasure for us to hear your appreciation. We will pass your nice remarks to our esteemed colleague Mr Ahmed.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $195 to $365
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 2
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Who runs this experience
Operated by Takamul Travel and Rent a Car, who run 10 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 58.7.
See everything Takamul Travel and Rent a Car runsWhy this scores 63
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Private tour - Empty Quarter desert adventure - Wadi Dawka + Ubar: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Salalah.
How much does Private tour - Empty Quarter desert adventure - Wadi Dawka + Ubar cost?
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Prices start at $195 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Salalah usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Private tour - Empty Quarter desert adventure - Wadi Dawka + Ubar take?
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Plan for about 8 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Salalah is not rushed.
Is Private tour - Empty Quarter desert adventure - Wadi Dawka + Ubar worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 63 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 5 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Salalah, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Private tour - Empty Quarter desert adventure - Wadi Dawka + Ubar?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Private tour - Empty Quarter desert adventure - Wadi Dawka + Ubar suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 8-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Private tour - Empty Quarter desert adventure - Wadi Dawka + Ubar?
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Around 2 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Salalah can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Salalah and add a light layer if any part of the 8-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Private tour - Empty Quarter desert adventure - Wadi Dawka + Ubar start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Salalah within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Salalah?
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On Outty we rank every Salalah experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include East Salalah Mountain Safari, Wadi Darbat, Beach, Camels, Dunes, Sunset desert safari tour in Salalah(private tour), Magical Night Stay in Rub Al Khali Empty Quarter Desert Salalah. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Salalah?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Salalah?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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