JOURNEY TO TETHYS OCEAN FLOOR

Itinerary

08:00 AM TOUR START

Pick up from any location in Muscat.

EXPLORE OMAN’S OPHIOLITE — A JOURNEY BENEATH THE ANCIENT SEAFLOOR

Discover one of Earth’s greatest geological marvels — the Semail Ophiolite of Oman, the largest and most complete ophiolite exposure in the world. This extraordinary formation reveals a rare section of ancient oceanic crust and upper mantle, now uplifted onto land through powerful tectonic forces.

Here, you can walk on rocks that once lay over 30 kilometers beneath the ocean floor, offering a remarkable window into processes normally hidden deep within the planet. For scientists, students, and nature enthusiasts, Oman’s ophiolite is a natural laboratory that tells the story of vanished oceans, shifting continents, and Earth’s dynamic evolution across hundreds of millions of years.

DISCOVER THE AL HAJAR SUPERGROUP: A JOURNEY THROUGH ANCIENT SEAS & 270-MILLION-YEAR-OLD FOSSILS

Uncover the deep geological history of Oman as you explore the Al Hajar Supergroup, an extraordinary record of Earth’s evolution spanning more than 300 million years. These majestic mountains and layered formations reveal a time when Oman lay beneath warm, shallow tropical seas teeming with life.

Here, visitors can examine beautifully preserved Permian fossils, dating back 270 million years, including ancient marine ecosystems that flourished long before the rise of dinosaurs. Coral reefs, brachiopods, sponges, and other marine creatures are captured in stone, offering a rare window into the past.

Walking through this natural archive, you’ll witness dramatic shifts in environments, sea levels, and tectonic forces that shaped the Arabian Peninsula. The Al Hajar Supergroup isn’t just a geological site—it’s a living museum of Earth’s ancient oceans.

A JOURNEY TO THE OCEAN FLOOR ENVIRONMENT & EXAMINE 3 MAIJOR ROCK GROUPS

Embark on a captivating journey deep beneath the waves to explore the dynamic environment of the ocean floor—one of Earth’s most active geological frontiers. Here, powerful processes shape the planet from below, forming the three major rock groups that build our world’s foundation.

Beneath ancient oceans, igneous rocks such as basalt emerge from volcanic activity along mid-ocean ridges. As these rocks break down over time, they transform into sedimentary layers, made of shells, sands, and mineral-rich mud settling quietly on the seafloor. Under intense heat and pressure from shifting tectonic plates, both can evolve further into metamorphic rocks, reshaped deep within the crust.

Together, these rock families reveal how oceans create, recycle, and transform Earth’s surface.

INVESTIGATE THE GREAT EXTINCTION SITE

Step into one of Earth’s most dramatic turning points — the Permian–Triassic extinction event, known as “The Great Dying.” At this remarkable geological site, rock layers preserve evidence of a catastrophic global collapse that wiped out over 90% of marine species and 70% of life on land.

Here, you will examine the distinct boundary that marks this ancient biological crisis: a thin but powerful line revealing climate upheaval, volcanic activity, ocean acidification, and the fragile balance of life on Earth.

This is more than a scientific visit — it is an opportunity to read the story of survival and extinction etched into stone for over 250 million years. Witness the resilience of life and explore how Earth has recovered from its darkest moment.

05:00 PM END OF THE TOUR

Drop off at your place of choice.