From the gardens of the luxurious Ritz-Carlton Al Bustan hotel in Muscat, Mark explores how Oman is not just creating a sustainable relationship with its seas but promoting a sustainable tourism industry that brings tourists to enjoy the coastal waters of Oman.

It’s part of a fully circular approach to sustainability and the Oman Vision 2040.

In the gardens, Talal Al Hashmi, Head of Operations and Acting General Manager of the Al Bustan Hotel introduces Mark to the hotel and its grounds. Ester Kamal, Marketing Director describes some of the traditional and emerging tourism markets and how they find the balance for sustainable tourism in the face of the global tourism industry. Director of Engineering, Shan Sirajudeen explains some of the reuse and recycling process they have built, for things like water conversation. While Sustainability Champion, Ella Jureczek describes how the hotel forms a community relationship with local foodbanks and encourages the hotel guests to join them in initiatives like gardening experiences and beach cleans.

Discover more about the expedition and track Mark at Oman 3165

The Oman 3165 podcast is produced by Adventurous Audio

Sandwich Tern recorded by David Darrell-Lambert and used with permission under Creative Commons licence

Through the different educational partners of the Oman 3165 Expedition, Mark has already spoken online to thousands of school children around the world. He has visited several schools in Oman, giving talks, showing the expedition kit to children and inspiring them about the possibilities for a more sustainable relationship with their oceans.

But getting the Oman 3165 message across to local school children is only possible because of the support and collaboration of the local teachers. So this podcast is all about some of the inspirational teachers in Oman who have embraced Mark and the expedition into their classrooms.

The first teacher we hear from is Zoe Woolley, Executive Principal of Knowledge Gate International School, followed by Tamsin Murchie, a primary teacher at the British School Muscat and finally, Joe Fraser, Mr. Joe, a geography teacher at the Knowledge Gate International School also in Muscat.

Discover more about the expedition and track Mark at Oman 3165

The Oman 3165 podcast is produced by Adventurous Audio

Sandwich Tern recorded by David Darrell-Lambert and used with permission under Creative Commons licence

On Day 22 of the Oman 3165 Expedition Mark updates us from just east of Muscat. He has spent the last few days paddling past Oman’s capital, a long thin city, edged by the mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. The landscape has changed from the flat sandy beaches to the west of Muscat to now rocky sea caves and arches that Mark has been able to paddle into and explore.

Since the last podcast update the team have continued to receive great welcomes as they came ashore each afternoon. One of those was from Oman Sail and in the second part of this podcast Mark talks to Debbie Richardson from Oman Sail about the role they play in supporting young Omani’s through sailing to learn a wider range of leadership, sustainability and teamwork skills they can apply on and off the water.

Alongside Oman’s Sustainability Week, Mark learns about the Precious Plastic Muscat project run by Oman Sail.

Discover more about the expedition and track Mark at Oman 3165

The Oman 3165 podcast is produced by Adventurous Audio

Sandwich Tern recorded by David Darrell-Lambert and used with permission under Creative Commons licence

Salah Al Jabri is an ambassador for Oman Sail, he served 26 years in the Royal Navy of Oman and in 2010 captained the voyage of the restored Arabian dhow, Jewel of Muscat from Muscat to Singapore.

Salah is a man of the sea and is joining Mark for 4 days paddling on the Oman 3165 Expedition. At the end of day 2 they sit down together on dry land under a tree and talk about Salah’s life on the ocean. They discuss the challenges of leadership, seamanship and the weather that the Jewel of Muscat voyage presented to Salah. Both Mark and Salah compare and contrast the transition back to life ashore or at the end of expeditions and look positively to the future about how they can inspire the next generation of young Omani seafarers with a museum that celebrates Oman’s rich maritime heritage

Watch the story of the Jewel of Muscat

Discover more about the expedition and track Mark at Oman 3165

The Oman 3165 podcast is produced by Adventurous Audio

Sandwich Tern recorded by David Darrell-Lambert and used with permission under Creative Commons licence

On Day 16 of the Oman 3165 Expedition the team are having a rest day.

Whilst Nigel and Anna Maria are in schools talking to students about Oman 3165, Mark is out and about meeting people whose lives are intertwined with the ocean here in Oman. In this podcast he meets the remarkable Reem Askalan, who over a period of 5 years has explored every nook and cranny of Oman’s coastline documenting safe anchorages for intrepid sailors who want to explore the waters of Oman.

Reem’s book is due out early in 2026, so keep an eye out!

Discover more about the expedition and track Mark at Oman 3165

The Oman 3165 podcast is produced by Adventurous Audio

Sandwich Tern recorded by David Darrell-Lambert and used with permission under Creative Commons licence

From the Tolkien like landscapes of Limah, Mark and Mohamed have continued south, paddling into sea caves and exploring beach landing sites. Both were struck by the simple structures used to store water for the local goats, but also the birdlife these watering holes attracted. A kingfisher joined them followed by a small flock of sand grouse.

After crossing the border out of Oman and into the UAE and back into Oman again, the landscape has changed into flat fertile coastal plains. The coastline is now sandy and smooth, heavily populated with strings of forts and mosques lining the shore.

The team pass the port of Sohar, one of the largest in Oman and the alleged birthplace of Sinbad the Sailor. But local curiosity and hospitality mean they have had to abandon their beach campsites and find isolated campsites inland so they can rest and connect, undisturbed, with the educational groups around the world who are following the expedition.

Mohamed has gone back to his day job at Outward Bound Oman, so Mark is paddling solo at 6.5 km/h, he has had his first encounter with turtles and the highly venomous sea snakes.

The weather has enable Mark to make great progress, Muscat is only 5 days over the horizon and his wrist is getting stronger by the day.

Discover more about the expedition and track Mark at Oman 3165

The Oman 3165 podcast is produced by Adventurous Audio

Sandwich Tern recorded by David Darrell-Lambert and used with permission under Creative Commons licence

It’s the end of Day 4 of the Oman 3165 Expedition. Mark and Mohamed have landed at Limah for an overnight rest. The first few legs of the expedition have taken them north, rounding the northern most tip of Oman jutting out into the Srait of Hormuz before turning south again.

Because of the remoteness of this part of the expedition, the team have been paddling unsupported and landing on beaches for rest and shelter. They have been joined by turtles and sea snakes, watched ospreys soar and encountered typical warm Omani hospitality when they have crossed paths with the occasional fisherman on the shore.

Through the narrow strait, navigation and tidal planning has been vital; not only so they can seek shelter from the sun during the heat of the day, but as Mark and Mohamed entered the lion’s jaw they had to avoid being chewed up and spat back out.

A quick resupply in Kumzar has been their only real human connection before being met on the shore at Limah by Nigel and Ana-Maria.

Discover more about the expedition and track Mark at Oman 3165

The Oman 3165 podcast is produced by Adventurous Audio

Sandwich Tern recorded by David Darrell-Lambert and used with permission under Creative Commons licence

Welcome to the start of The Oman 3165 Expedition. The team are all in Al Khasab making final preparation for Mark and his kayak to hit the water in just under a day.

They have been afloat to test the cameras and microphones. They have packed and repacked the kayaks so Mark can be self-supported for the first few days of the expedition.

So here’s an opportunity to meet the expedition team, hear about their backgrounds, their roles, their love of the Omani coastline and what they are looking forward to over the course of the expedition.

Discover more about the expedition and track Mark at Oman 3165

The Oman 3165 podcast is produced by Adventurous Audio

Sandwich Tern recorded by David Darrell-Lambert and used with permission under Creative Commons licence