UNESCO World Heritage Sites The Frankincense Trail
Salalah
Explore the ancient Frankincense Trail, where centuries-old trade routes and ruins reveal the rich history of southern Arabia's civilizations.
Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Al Balid Archeological Site - We’ll go to Al Baleed, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the Museum of the Frankincense Land. It displays the region’s historical and archaeological heritage, as well as its exceptional maritime tradition. The Al Baleed site is open from 08:30 to 20:00 on Sundays through Thursdays, and from 15:00 to 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
  • Museum of the Frankincense Land - We will visit the Museum of Frankincense which you can see the ancient historical and cultural in Dhofar, Sultanate of Oman. It also showcase some artifacts and how the ancient civilization do their daily life.
  • Sumhuram Old City - go to Khor Rori Creek, which is the location of Sumhuram’s ruined city. It was the center of the ancient Arabian frankincense trade. Sumhuram Museum / Archaeological Park is one of the components of the Land of Frankincense designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is situated in the ancient city of Khor Rori, where the frankincense and copper trade flourished.
  • Wadi Dawkha - Drive to Wadi Dawkha (UNESCO World Heritage site), also known as the “Frankincense trees,” which has the largest collection of naturally grown Frankincense trees in the region. Discover the history of Frankincense as well as its applications in the modern world.
  • The Lost City of Wubar - Proceed to the “The Lost City of Ubar” (UNESCO World Heritage site), one of the ancient sites in the Dhofar region where archaeologists using remote sensing equipment discovered the city’s remains in 1992. Ubar is thought to have been inhabited from approximately 2800 B.C. to approximately 300 A.D. and was an important trading center for frankincense before being buried in the rising dunes. At the site, there is a small museum displaying archaeological discoveries
  • Empty Quarter - The bleak, arid desert of Rub al Khali, also known as the Empty Quarter, stretches from the mountain’s foothills to an enormous sandy plain that covers the majority of the area. The area is well-known for its archaeological sites. Enjoy the exciting and thrilling driving tactics in the fine sand of the Arabian Desert in Rub al Khali. Take in a breathtaking sunset over the dunes.
What's Included
  • Entrance Fees: Al Baleed Site and Museum, Sumhuram, Ubar
  • Bottled water
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

The four elements of the Land of Frankincense vividly depict the centuries-long frankincense commerce that thrived in this region. They are a remarkable testament to the civilizations that have existed in southern Arabia since the Neolithic period. The frankincense trees of Wadi Dawkha, as well as the ruins of the caravan oasis of Ubar in Shisr and the affiliated ports of Khor Rori and Al-Baleed, vividly depict the frankincense trade that thrived in this region for many centuries as one of the most important trading activities of the ancient and medieval world. The frankincense tree (Boswellia sacra) can still be found in Wadi Dawkha, and frankincense is still gathered there. The Wadi drains the north-south mountains seasonally, disappearing into the Rub al Khali desert in the ‘Empty Quarter.’ Under the severe heat of this region, trees flourish in the alluvial bed of the Wadi.

  • Total tour duration will be 9hrs including the pick up and drop off to the hotel and including the visiting the tour locations.
Location
Al Balid Archeological Site
Sultan Quaboos Street
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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July 2024
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