Frequently Asked Questions
Everything about booking, vehicles, roof top tents, and self-drive adventures across Oman.
Booking
Choose your dates and send your request with any debit or credit card. The full amount is held on your card, not charged. We reply within 24 hours; when we confirm, the hold is captured and you get your booking reference. If it’s not available, the hold is released.
Yes — and it's strongly recommended. As of September 2025 the fleet includes 99 roof top tents, but popular combinations sell out during peak season (October–April). Booking early guarantees your preferred tent type and vehicle.
The minimum car rental period is 4 days. This applies across all vehicle categories. Tent-only rentals (using your own vehicle) can be arranged separately — contact the team to discuss.
Working hours are 08:00 to 18:00 daily, and they stay the same during Ramadan. Pick-ups and returns outside these hours are possible: +50 OMR + VAT for pick-up and +25 OMR + VAT for return.
You can cancel at any time. Refunds are not normally issued, but a full refund is provided for unavoidable disruptions such as flight cancellations, medical emergencies, or significant geopolitical events. We strongly recommend buying travel insurance. Contact the team at nomads@nomadtours.com as early as possible.
Drivers must be at least 21 and have held a full driving licence for at least 2 years. Bring your national licence; an International Driving Permit is recommended.
Yes. Two drivers are included in every car hire and package at no extra charge. Add both names to your request. Need a third driver? Ask us when you send your request.
Vehicles & fleet
The fleet includes a wide range of 4WD and 2WD vehicles:
- Toyota Land Cruiser, Prado, Fortuner & 4Runner
- Jeep Wrangler
- Nissan Pathfinder & Xterra
- Mitsubishi Pajero & Montero
- GMC Yukon
- GWM POER & Dodge Ram (double-tent campers)
- Ford, JAC JS6 and more
Yes — Nomad Tours explicitly permits and insures driving into the Wahiba Sands and the Rub Al Khali. If you want to go beyond the permanent desert camps into areas with no phone coverage, a Nomad desert guide is required.
You need a genuine 4WD. Jebel Akhdar has a police checkpoint that only allows 4WD vehicles — 2WD cars are turned back by law. Choose a true 4WD such as a Land Cruiser, Prado, Pajero, Pathfinder, Fortuner or Wrangler. The Mitsubishi ASX in our Explorer package is supplied as 4WD too.
Unlimited kilometres are included on every car and package.
Yes. One-way Muscat → Salalah costs 125 OMR + VAT. Choose Return in Salalah in your request; we confirm the drop-off point in Salalah when we reply. Pick-up and return at the Nomad Guest House in Muscat are free of charge.
Yes, with the optional UAE Cross-Border Insurance Add-On (OMR 30 flat rate per rental). Travel is permitted to all seven emirates. The same one-time add-on (OMR 30 per rental + 5% VAT) is needed for Musandam: it covers driving into the UAE, including the road through the UAE to Musandam (Oman) and back.
- Must be requested at least 48 hours before departure.
- You'll need a valid passport, visa and driving licence.
- Crossing the border without this add-on voids all insurance cover.
The off-road recovery kit (tyre deflator, compressor, sand boards, kinetic towing rope) is available as an add-on at 5 OMR/day — strongly recommended for the desert. The NomadVisor WhatsApp community (300+ members) is also invaluable.
Yes. The model on your confirmation is the car you collect. If it is not available when we check your request, we offer you a different car, or you can withdraw and the hold is released.
Yes, the whole fleet is automatic. We don’t offer manual cars.
Our larger 4WDs seat 5 and take about 3 large suitcases plus small bags. Tell us how much luggage you have in your request and we suggest the right car.
Roof top tents
Nomad Tours has four roof top tent types (99 tents total as of September 2025):
- ABS — plastic shell, 1.4m × 2.0m, suits 2 adults. 50 OMR install; 12.5 OMR/day.
- SAST — aluminium shell, 1.45m × 2.0m, suits 2 adults. Same pricing as ABS.
- BAST — big aluminium shell, 1.8m × 2.2m, suits 2 adults + 2 children. 60–80 OMR install; 15 OMR/day.
- BSST — big soft shell, 2.0m × 2.4m, suits 2 adults + 2 children. Same pricing as BAST.
All roof top tents come with a comprehensive camping kit:
- Sleeping bags, sheets & camping mat
- Camping chairs & table
- Rechargeable LED lights
- Cool box (non-electric), water jerry can
- Pressurised hot water shower & shovel
- Gas stove + large gas bottle
- Full kitchen kit: frying pan, saucepan, kettle, cutlery, plates, bowls, mugs, chopping board, wash bowl
All roof top tent types require a 4WD vehicle with at least a 2.7-litre engine. The heaviest tent (BSST) should ideally go on a 3.5-litre engine or larger.
Yes — tailgate tents attach to the car's rear and are compatible with: Nissan Pathfinder, Nissan Xterra, Toyota 4Runner, and GMC Yukon.
Pricing: preparation cost 25/35/45 OMR (2/3/4 people), then 10 OMR/day for the first 10 days.
Standard ground tent (2 people): 40 OMR base for the first 4 days, then 7.500 OMR/day for days 5–10, then 5 OMR/day from day 11 · Standard ground tent (3–4 people): 60 OMR base, same day rates · Swag Kit for 2 (Swag Sky Dome Double + the standard kit for 2): 80 OMR base for the first 4 days, then 15 OMR/day for days 5–10, then 10 OMR/day from day 11 · Swag Kit for 3–4: 100 OMR base, same day rates. The Swag sleeps 2 — for 3–4 adults, add a Camping Kit for 2 as the second tent. All prices + 5% VAT. Adults set the kit size; children don't count.
- Off-road recovery kit (tyre deflator, tyre gauge, compressor, pair of sand boards, kinetic rope + shackles): 5 OMR/day, no minimum
- Car roof rack: 5 OMR installation + 2 OMR/day
- DC/AC inverter: 2 OMR/day
- Child seat: 2 OMR/day
- Petrol jerry cans: 1 OMR/day per can
- Canyoning helmets (wadi canyoning): 5 OMR per helmet per trip
- Walkie-talkies: 1 OMR per set/day
- All extras + 5% VAT.
Yes. The Camping Kit, the Swag Kit and the off-road recovery kit can each be rented on their own, for your own car or a hire car. Collect them at the Nomad Guest House in Muscat, 08:00–18:00, with no out-of-hours fee.
The cool box is non-electric, so it won’t drain the car battery. The hot-water shower is a pressurised 8-litre tank. Silk sleeping-bag liners are available on request. We don’t supply toilets.
Pick-up & drop-off
The primary pick-up and drop-off point is the Nomad Guest House in Muscat — this is free of charge. Nomad Tours can also arrange delivery to other Muscat locations.
- Valid national driving licence
- International Driving Permit (IDP) — recommended
- Passport or valid ID
- Booking confirmation
- Payment method (card or cash)
Yes. Any collection or return outside working hours (08:00–18:00) costs +50 OMR + VAT for pick-up and +25 OMR + VAT for return. There is no out-of-hours fee on camping-equipment-only rentals, which are collected 08:00–18:00.
Three simple things:
- Fuel: return it with the same fuel level as pick-up.
- Cleanliness: a 5 OMR wash fee applies if the car comes back excessively dirty.
- Non-smoking: smoking inside incurs a 50 OMR valet cleaning charge.
Yes — the Nomad Guest House in Muscat is the natural base for your trip and the free pick-up and drop-off point for all rentals. Staying there the night before is the most convenient way to start your adventure early.
Pick-ups and returns are at the Nomad Guest House in Muscat, 08:00–18:00. Outside those hours we can arrange it: +50 OMR + VAT for pick-up and +25 OMR + VAT for return. Add your flight arrival and departure times to your request and we confirm what is possible. We don’t hand over at the airport; the Nomad Guest House is about 10 minutes by taxi (the Otaxi app works well).
Off-road & camping
Not necessarily. For wadi drives and graded mountain roads, a full vehicle briefing at pick-up covers everything you need. For dune driving in the Wahiba Sands, some 4WD experience is helpful. Beyond the permanent desert camps, a Nomad desert guide is mandatory.
Yes — Oman is one of the world's best wild camping destinations. Wild camping is legal and widely practised across the country. There are no restrictions on camping in the open desert, wadis, or most beaches.
Popular self-drive highlights:
- Bimmah Sinkhole → Wadi Tiwi → Wadi Shab → Sur → Wahiba Sands
- Wadi Bani Khalid (stunning natural pools)
- Jebel Shams (highest peak in Oman)
- Snake Canyon (Wadi Bani Auf — canyoning country)
- The Sugar Dunes & Bar Al Hickman (remote southern desert)
- Salalah & the Dhofar coast (Khareef season July–September)
NomadVisor is an exclusive WhatsApp community for Nomad Tours customers — typically with over 300 active members, including people currently in the field and upcoming travellers. It's invaluable for real-time road conditions, campsite tips, and route advice. All confirmed bookings receive an invitation to join.
All camping gear is supplied — you only need personal items:
- Clothing: lightweight layers for evenings, sun protection for daytime
- Footwear: closed-toe shoes for wadi walking, sandals for camp
- Water: 5–10 litres per person per day in summer
- Navigation: download offline maps (Maps.me or OsmAnd) before you go
- Sun protection: sunscreen, lip balm, and a good hat
- Personal medication: enough for your trip plus spare days
- Camera & power banks: the landscapes are extraordinary
On approved routes with every package and car, including the Wahiba Sands. The Explorer (Mitsubishi ASX, 4WD) is fine on sand on approved routes but not for desert crossings. Crossing the desert, Barr Al Hikman and the Empty Quarter need a local guide: the Barr Al Hikman escort is 30 OMR one way; ask us for the other guide prices. Jebel Shams needs no guide. No cover applies in flowing wadis, on the Bilad Sayt–Shorfet Al Alamin hill, on the Salma Plateau or for dune bashing.
Each car takes up to 4 adults. The Family package sleeps 4 adults, or 2 adults + 3 kids, in two rooftop tents; Expedition and Expedition Plus sleep 2 adults + 2 children (up to 12). For 5 or more adults you need two cars: tell us in your request message. Need more sleeping space in one car? Add an extra ground tent + kit: 40 OMR for 2 or 60 OMR for 3–4 (days 1–4), + VAT.
Trip planning
October to April is peak season — temperatures are comfortable (20–35°C), nights are pleasant for camping. Book early as tents sell out.
May to September is very hot inland. However, Salalah in July–September is spectacular during the Khareef (monsoon) season with green mountains and waterfalls.
Many nationalities can enter visa-free or apply online via the Royal Oman Police eVisa portal.
- 14-day visa: free for eligible nationalities. Cannot be extended.
- 30-day tourist visa: OMR 20, applied for online.
- Passport must be valid for at least 6 months on entry.
- Overstaying carries a fine of OMR 10 per day.
Nomad Tours is a full-service Oman operator. Options include:
- Guided day, 2-day, 3-day, and multi-day land tours
- Desert crossings and guided self-drive convoys
- Climbing, canyoning, and trekking
- Dolphin watching, snorkelling, diving, dhow cruises, game fishing, yacht charters
- Hot air balloon flights & Muscat city tours
Beyond camping, Nomad Tours runs several accommodation options:
- Nomad Guest House — Muscat base, free vehicle pick-up/drop-off
- Sifah Marina Apartment — sea view apartment on the coast
- Nomad Glamping Desert Camp
- Nomad Tiwi Resort — east coast resort
- Luxury yacht stays
Payment & policies
Any Visa or Mastercard, debit or credit. All prices are in Omani Rials (OMR), and 5% VAT is added to the total. The full amount is held on your card, not charged, until we confirm.
The rental is charged per calendar day: your pick-up day and return day each count as a full day. Each day is priced at its own season; there is no peak surcharge. 5% VAT is added. The full amount is held on your card when you send your request, not charged. When we confirm, the hold is captured; if it’s not available, the hold is released.
Yes. A refundable security deposit of 100 OMR is paid at pick-up, with every insurance cover, to cover potential speeding or parking fines.
About 4 weeks after you return the car. Oman’s speeding and parking fines are camera-based and often arrive weeks later. The deposit goes back the same way you paid it. Any confirmed fine is deducted and we send you the evidence. Once we process the refund, it usually reaches your account in 3–4 working days.
Yes, every vehicle is insured for off-road driving on approved routes. Basic is included: CDW, theft and third party, with a 500 OMR excess. Extended (+5 OMR/day + VAT) lowers the excess to 300 OMR. Adventurer (+10 OMR/day + VAT) has 0 excess. Tyres, glass and underbody are covered only with Adventurer. Every cover applies on approved routes only. The refundable 100 OMR security deposit is paid at pick-up (cash or any card), with every cover.
More than most people expect. When you book a vehicle + roof top tent package, you get:
- A 4WD vehicle specifically insured for off-road driving
- Full tent setup (mattress, sleeping bags, sheets, pillows)
- Complete camping kitchen — gas stove, large gas bottle, full cookware
- Cool box, LED lights, pressurised hot water shower, water jerry can, shovel
- Pre-trip briefing and route advice
- Access to the NomadVisor WhatsApp community (300+ active members)
- Unlimited kilometres
You arrive, you pick up, and you drive. Everything else is ready.