1

I have done ~10 desert safari tours (originate from Dubai, but I believe the camp sites are located in the emirates of Sharjah) with my guests in the past years with three different tour operators, and my favorite so far is still Arabian Nights Tours. You may want to consider getting the Entertainer Book - Family (can be found at bookstores) which has buy 1 get 1 free vouchers to a lot of restaurants and activities including the desert safari. This is a great deal if you do not have an all inclusive tour package.

The pick up time is usually between 3 to 3:30pm depending on your location, and you get to do the exciting car ride on the sand dunes, watch sunset, then arrive at the camp for dinner. Prior to dinner, you can do the camel ride, sand boarding, henna, snacks/coffees, shisha etc. and belly dancing and tanoura shows have always been outstanding!

I am sure you will have a great time. My guests still talk about the safari trip months later lol

2

The Dubai and Abu Dhabi desert tours are generally one day only: starting in late afternoon and dropping you back at your hotel some time between 10 & 11pm. They're great fun, and professionally organised but very commercial & aimed at feeding maximum numbers through the system.
You cant do that type of trip from Muscat, but what you can do is arrange a trip out to the Wahiba. The desert camps in the Wahiba Sands are proper overnight bookings, sleeping either in tents, or palm huts, or chalets (depending on budget). For obvious reasons they're a lot more expensive, but its a much better experience, nowhere near as well organised or commercial, but a lot closer to a true desert experience, with all the loveliness of a proper campfire under the stars, and no dodgy belly dancers.

3

Anyone you recommend for these Wahiba tours? I'll be in Oman solo for a few days. Looking for something to do!

4

At the cheaper end of the market, I've used Nomadic a couple of times, and thought they were good.
Its a small camp, and still has a very family run feel to it.

But I vaguely remember that their prices for tours are right up there in the insane prices category, so just a confirmation that I'm recommending the camp, not the company overall. I've never booked anything but Wahiba overnighters with them, and have no comments on the tours they offer.

5

Cool, thanks! Do they have a website? The overnighter sounds cool!