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Oman Self Drive Tours : the travel agency
Who are we ?
Paul is French. He is the operational manager of the Oman Self Drive Tours travel agency.
His love for travel was born as he was working as an exploration geologist in Africa and South America. This is why, in 2006, he switched from gold prospector to travel advisor. He joined an agency in Toulouse, his home town. Despite his hikes in the neighbouring Pyrenees, he missed wide open spaces and soon left again, for Namibia this time, where he became a renowned trekking guide. This is where he developed his liking for deserts.
Finally, he settled with his family in the Sultanate of Oman. For mountains and deserts, of course, but also for the sea and wadis, the numerous exploration opportunities, the hospitable population and the high level of safety. What more can you ask for ?
He worked there for 4 years as a guide with the Oman Trekking Guides travel agency, before creating his own tour operator company. By then, he had gathered a deep knowledge of the country. He is still refining it today by carrying out reconnaissance trips to expand the Oman Self Drive Tours catalogue, that he then tests on weekends with his family and friends.
His love for travel was born as he was working as an exploration geologist in Africa and South America. This is why, in 2006, he switched from gold prospector to travel advisor. He joined an agency in Toulouse, his home town. Despite his hikes in the neighbouring Pyrenees, he missed wide open spaces and soon left again, for Namibia this time, where he became a renowned trekking guide. This is where he developed his liking for deserts.
Finally, he settled with his family in the Sultanate of Oman. For mountains and deserts, of course, but also for the sea and wadis, the numerous exploration opportunities, the hospitable population and the high level of safety. What more can you ask for ?
He worked there for 4 years as a guide with the Oman Trekking Guides travel agency, before creating his own tour operator company. By then, he had gathered a deep knowledge of the country. He is still refining it today by carrying out reconnaissance trips to expand the Oman Self Drive Tours catalogue, that he then tests on weekends with his family and friends.
Said is Omani. He is the administrative manager of the Oman Self Drive Tours travel agency.
He is now living in Muscat, but he is from Nakhl, a small town where his family still has a house and gardens in the vast palm grove.
He wears several hats : in addition to his work at the agency, he is also the Public Relations Officer at the Muscat French School and he occasionally leads cultural tours as a freelance guide.
Noteworthy for an Omani, he can speak French.
A small agency, guarantee of a personalised follow-up
“Paul is absolutely meticulous” - MartinWakeling, Tripadvisor / “Paul was first class” - jane r, Tripadvisor
Since the foundation of the agency, Paul has always been in charge of all the operational tasks, from field exploration and itinerary creation to welcoming and assisting travellers, not to mention managing service provider partnerships and tailoring tour programmes. Although he sometimes delegates the very first exchanges, he is the one who will personally take care of you, from the first itinerary suggestion to the end of your holidays in Oman.
Despite our success, growing is not on the agenda of Oman Self Drive Tours. Focusing on quality over quantity, we chose on the contrary to limit the number of clients per season so as to give the most to each of them.
Since the foundation of the agency, Paul has always been in charge of all the operational tasks, from field exploration and itinerary creation to welcoming and assisting travellers, not to mention managing service provider partnerships and tailoring tour programmes. Although he sometimes delegates the very first exchanges, he is the one who will personally take care of you, from the first itinerary suggestion to the end of your holidays in Oman.
Despite our success, growing is not on the agenda of Oman Self Drive Tours. Focusing on quality over quantity, we chose on the contrary to limit the number of clients per season so as to give the most to each of them.
Our ethics : responsible tourism
Tourism is of course a source of revenue for the host country and its inhabitants, but, if uncontrolled, it can also be a source of great environmental, social and cultural pressures. The travellers themselves can sometimes bear the cost of this mercantile management too.
We are fully engaged in offering you a responsible tourism approach:
We are fully engaged in offering you a responsible tourism approach:
Carbon offsetting
Globally, tourism generates a lot of CO2. Because of the emissions released by aircraft of course, but also by road transports. In Oman where environmental consciousness is low (like the price of petrol), cars use much more fuel than in Europe. The 4x4 you may drive burns 15 litres per 100 km...
We therefore decided that all of our tours would be "carbon offset". At the end of your road trip, we compute your total consumption and buy an equivalent carbon credit from our partner myclimate. This non-profit organisation then finances greenhouse gases reduction projects in Asia, Africa and South America. During the three tourist seasons 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20, we offset this way all the 374,000 km driven by our clients through donations amounting to more than 6,300 USD. |
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Clash of cultures !
Oman is a country with strong traditions and a high respect for the principles of Islam, notably in the small villages and remote areas that travellers like to visit. This does not prevent Omanis from being very tolerant and hospitable to foreigners. Rather uncommon in this part of the world (and maybe in the world in general), Oman succeeds in maintaining a climate of peace and stability. The many nationalities (about half the population are foreigners) and religious beliefs (Ibadi, Sunni and Shia Islam, Christianity and Indian religions) get along well together, even in harmony.
We believe that the respect of local traditions contributes to maintaining this fragile balance. This involves knowing and understanding these habits and customs. Before you start your tour, we provide you with detailed information and advice so as to avoid your making a blunder or shocking unintentionally. No worry, these are quite simple things - such as saluting with your right hand - but yet you have to know them! No Omani will blame you if you salute him with your left hand, but showing respect can lead to unforgettable encounters…
As you may have guessed, in this country, wearing appropriate clothes is a mark of respect. There too, no worry, Oman is not Saudi Arabia, wearing a veil is not at all mandatory! And it is admitted, for male and female tourists, to dress in long shorts and short sleeves. All this will of course be detailed in your travel documents and we will indicate you places where you can dress more lightly, especially for bathing.
We believe that the respect of local traditions contributes to maintaining this fragile balance. This involves knowing and understanding these habits and customs. Before you start your tour, we provide you with detailed information and advice so as to avoid your making a blunder or shocking unintentionally. No worry, these are quite simple things - such as saluting with your right hand - but yet you have to know them! No Omani will blame you if you salute him with your left hand, but showing respect can lead to unforgettable encounters…
As you may have guessed, in this country, wearing appropriate clothes is a mark of respect. There too, no worry, Oman is not Saudi Arabia, wearing a veil is not at all mandatory! And it is admitted, for male and female tourists, to dress in long shorts and short sleeves. All this will of course be detailed in your travel documents and we will indicate you places where you can dress more lightly, especially for bathing.
Responsibility towards our local service providers
We treat our service providers, particularly local guides, fairly and offer them equitable remunerations. Our aim is to set up long-term partnerships with them, as this is key to quality services.
We also endeavour to raise our local partners’ awareness of the principles of responsible tourism.
We also endeavour to raise our local partners’ awareness of the principles of responsible tourism.
Respect for travellers
In our mind, you are not mere clients but guests to whom we intend to offer the best possible experience.
We listen to your wishes and adapt, as far as possible, to meet your requirements and design a tour that really works for you. And while you are on tour, we are available at all times to assist you if necessary.
You are our best ambassadors and it is in all of our interest to make you want to come back!
We listen to your wishes and adapt, as far as possible, to meet your requirements and design a tour that really works for you. And while you are on tour, we are available at all times to assist you if necessary.
You are our best ambassadors and it is in all of our interest to make you want to come back!
