Ok, so their desert tour is touristy, and cliche, but we thoroughly enjoyed it -- for $145 for two (including dinner), it was a value. The staff is outgoing, the dune driving somewhat scary, and the food is (suprisingly) good. Full description and photos at:

www.travelmusings.net

No website, but your concierge can book it for you.

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The festival takes place for about a month in January and February. There are lots of different festival events around the city but the best place to head is the Al Qurum National Park where the main events take place. It's a great place see local musicians, dancers and demonstrations of local culture. It's also a great place to see the local people letting their hair down.

www.muscat-festival.com/english/index.html

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You need to get up early, but it's well worth it. Pods of dolphins congregate off the coast of Muscat, and the boats follow them for a good hour or so. The trips also go right around the bay, giving spectacular views of the coastline. If you're of a strong-ish constitution, you might want to investigate the nearby fish market, where local fisherman bring in their catches, including leopard sharks and reef sharks.

Zahara Tours will arrange boat tours and trips around the local markets;
www.zubairtours.com/

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