When you’ve got a visit to Oman in your bucket listing, congratulations. You might be one step forward of me! Earlier than we determined to maneuver right here I’m ashamed to say I wasn’t even certain the place to pin level Oman on a map. Roll ahead a 12 months and I really feel like we’ve been let in on an incredible secret. There’s so many causes to go to Oman.
On this publish, which I do know I’m going to be including to, I’m sharing a few of our prime suggestions for issues to do in Oman. There’s loads of concepts for locations to go along with youngsters. Adventures for guests of all ages, {couples} and solo. And some experiences we’ve found off the crushed observe.
*This publish incorporates affiliate hyperlinks*
About Oman
Oman is a rustic of unimaginable pure magnificence that’s additionally brimming with historical past relationship again additional than every other state within the Arab world.
As early because the 2nd Century AD Muscat performed a pivotal position within the commerce of spices, textiles and timber between Asia, Africa and Europe. Waves of retailers, in addition to much less welcome invaders from Persia, Portugal and the Ottoman Turk empire, have formed the folks and place throughout the centuries.
In more moderen occasions Oman has shied away from growing itself within the type of its glitzy northern neighbours in favour of embracing its wealthy tradition and gorgeous geography.
It is rather a lot a vacation spot for outside journey. For those who’re into something from tenting to canyoning or kite browsing to scuba diving Oman is an excellent winter vacation spot.
After all, there’s additionally actions that may be performed within the warmth of summer season. As I publish this publish we’re in thick of discovering issues to do in Oman to flee the unforgiving solar and humidity.
Work has introduced us to Oman so we’ve got the luxurious of exploring in sluggish time. I hope this provides some additional perception to this and my different posts concerning the should see locations and experiences.
We’re right here with our two daughters (and our Labrador retriever), so in case you are planning a household vacation I can provide you loads of suggestions for visiting Oman with Youngsters too.
Issues to do in Oman
Whether or not you may have an extended weekend to go to Muscat whereas exploring the Center East or you’ll be able to decide to a ten day itinerary, it’s a must to try a few of these issues to do in Oman:
1. Swim in a wadi
By far the considered one of our favorite issues to do in Oman has been exploring its wadis.
They’re valleys carved out of the panorama by rivers that stream from the Hajar Mountains all the way down to the Gulf of Oman. They aren’t all the time flowing with water however after rain they develop into credible wild swimming spots.
Right here’s a number of the hottest Oman wadis we’ve got visited thus far:
A go to to considered one of Oman’s wadis usually includes some off-roading and mountain climbing, so it’s essential come ready.
Check out my information to exploring wadis in Oman for some advisable locations to go to, what to put on and the very best occasions to go.
2. Discover an deserted village
If you would like a style of previous Oman then head to the Hajar Mountains the place you’ll discover easy however lovely villages to discover together with some which might be a ghostly apparition of their former selves.
However why are there deserted villages in Oman? For the reason that Nineteen Seventies the Sultanate has been present process a speedy interval of modernisation; a renaissance.
Households who as soon as farmed within the valleys moved nearer to roads, electrical energy, faculties and hospitals leaving their rural houses to crumble.
Valley hugging villages like Wadi Bani Habib on Jabal Akhdar at the moment are curiosities from a bygone period.
You’ll discover method markers painted onto rocks across the ruined streets. However watch your step because the dwellings should not maintained.
3. Watch sundown over Wahiba Sands Desert
Seeing the solar sink down into the silky ochre dunes of Wahiba Sands is among the most magical issues to do in Oman and to not be missed.
The northern fringe of the Wahiba or Sharqiya Sands dunes could be reached from Muscat in two hours by automotive.
In addition to having fun with the pure fantastic thing about this 12,500 sq km desert you’ll be able to e-book dune bashing, nature monitoring and camel rides with native guides.
We will suggest staying at a desert camp for an in a single day journey. There are many choices from conventional Bedouin camps to sci-fi type domes.
Discover Wahiba Sands Desert camps*.
4. Hike within the mountains
Oman’s northern panorama is dominated by the Hajar Mountain vary, which stretches from Oman’s Musandam Peninsular via the UAE and down the Arabian coast to Sur.
Unbelievable locations to hike embrace the Balcony Stroll on Jebel Shams, the Wakan to Hadash mountain path on Jabal Akhder and Snake Canyon in Wadi Bani Awf.
The mountains are additionally a terrific place to flee the worst of the summer season warmth. Within the winter it even snows!
5. Wild tenting in Oman
If you wish to actually immerse your self in Oman’s spectacular landscapes one thing you need to do is attempt wild tenting.
It’s potential to pitch your tent anyplace so long as you might be away from the highway and out of sight of everlasting dwellings. Outdoors the cities, Oman is a sparsely populated nation so the alternatives to get up to superior views with nobody else round are limitless.
Take your decide from pitches in rugged mountains, lush wadis and abandoned seashores. And never so abandoned seashores like Sifah. The additional you enterprise from Muscat the less folks you discover.
Now we have our personal outside gear as we intend to spend many of the winter tenting. For those who’re hoping to wild camp in Oman whereas visiting, specialist tour corporations like iDrive4x4 can organize your off highway car and tenting gear.
6. Discover an Omani fort
Oman’s forts have a particular type with rounded merlons on prime of the sand colored battlements. There are greater than 500 forts throughout the nation.
Many on the coast have been constructed by the Portuguese within the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries whereas inland, in locations like Nizwa and Bahla, the forts have been constructed by Imams – tribal rulers.
They performed an necessary position in defending commerce hubs between Asia and Europe.
Some key forts to go to embrace Mutrah, Nizwa and Bahla.
These are amongst 23 forts which were restored lately supplying you with a greater thought of what they’d have regarded like of their heyday.
One of many issues to do in Oman that’s extra off the crushed observe is to see a few of Oman’s deserted forts and watch towers.
Suwadi watch tower, which is positioned on an island off the Suwadi Al Batha peninsular, is an hour East of Muscat and could be reached by boat or on foot at low tide.
7. Go to Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is one the listing of hottest issues to do in Muscat. And no marvel. Its structure, scale and ambiance are a heady combine that leaves a long-lasting impression on worshippers and vacationers alike.
It took six years to construct and when it opened in 2001 it boasted the most important handmade carpet on this planet and the most important chandelier. Whereas the UAE has now claimed each data Muscat’s grand mosque continues to be awe-inspiring.
Permit not less than and hour and a half to discover. And be sure you put on culturally applicable clothes.
Discover out extra, together with suggestions for visiting with kids, in my publish about Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.
8. Barter at a souq
Visiting a souq is among the enjoyable issues to do in Oman, particularly if you wish to take house some frankincense as a memento of your travels.
The most effective identified market is Mutrah or Muttrah Souq in Muscat Previous City. Don’t look forward to finding bargains as it is a vacationer sizzling spot however do haggle for the very best worth.
Throughout the maze of outlets you’ll discover spices, clothes and even conventional Omani objects like al jeriz strolling sticks and khanjar knives of their right-angled scabbards.
The mountain metropolis of Nizwa additionally has a well-known souq. On Fridays there’s a livestock market the place you’ll be able to see folks shopping for goats and cows. Get there early, like 6am early, to see the motion and keep away from the warmth.
You’ll be able to go to the remainder of Nizwa Souq, which has an array of souvenirs, antiques and meals, day by day of the week.
9. Make a journey to the Daymaniyat Islands
You’d be forgiven for pondering you’d be transported to the Maldives for those who add a ship journey to the Daymaniyat Islands to your must-do listing of issues to do in Oman.
This archipelago is 42km off the coast of Muscat and is among the prime locations to for snorkelling and diving within the area.
You’ll be able to see inexperienced turtles, dolphins and even whale sharks slipping via the tropical waters on the proper time of 12 months.
I’m tremendous excited to be off on a ship journey in just a few weeks, so watch this area for extra concerning the expertise.
Discover boat journeys working from Al Mouj Marina, Seeb Port and Muttrah Marina.
10. Kite surf at Barr al Hickman
This addition to my listing of issues to do in Oman isn’t one you’ll see talked about usually. Why? For the easy truth not many individuals have time to enterprise greater than a few hours from Muscat once they go to Oman.
Nevertheless, for those who can spare just a few additional days you’ll not remorse the 5 hour drive south to Barr al Hickman.
It’s a surprising white sand bar on the Indian Ocean the place you’ll be able to study to kite surf with Khareef Kitesurfing.
After all you don’t should be into water sports activities to go to Barr al Hickman. That is additionally a sizzling spot for nature with turtles swimming proper as much as the seaside and an abundance of birdlife.
We wild camped right here and loved a relaxed couple of days beside the lagoon. There’s additionally lodging. See my suggestions of the place to remain in Oman under.
A phrase of warning: hiring a information to get you here’s a should. Don’t try and drive throughout the salt marsh between Mahoot on Route 32 and the coast solo. You may simply get misplaced or caught and there’s no cell phone sign obtainable to can help you name for assist.
For those who ship me a message by way of my contact web page I can share particulars of the information we used.
11. Cool off within the Center East’s largest snow park
In search of enjoyable issues to do in Oman which might be a bit out of the extraordinary for a desert nation? Go to the place it snows!
When Snow Oman opened in Muscat in December 2022 it grew to become the Center East’s largest snow park, boasting 14,830 sq. meters of indoor leisure area chilled to a refreshing -4°C.
There’s greater than 20 actions together with ringo runs, zorbs, icy slides, an ice rink, an arial trip and snowy play areas modelled on Omani landscapes. There’s a light-weight home, forts and even a frozen Treasure Ship in homage to Oman’s seafaring legend Sinbad.
The snow park is about to develop into one of many prime issues to so in Oman in the course of the summer season alongside different sights within the county’s purchasing malls like VR suites, truthful floor rides and play zones.
Discover out extra about what to anticipate from Snow Oman within the Mall of Oman.
The place to remain in Oman
Whereas we’ve got our own residence in Oman we’ve got additionally taken off across the nation for a seven day highway journey and skilled a few of Muscat’s motels.
Alongside this we’ve got loads of buddies who’ve given us first hand suggestions on locations to remain in Oman that we’re eager to take a look at.
So, based mostly on our expertise and a few sizzling suggestions from folks we all know, right here’s some lodging choices for anybody visiting Oman:
The place to remain in Muscat
Muscat is an extended skinny metropolis that sprawls alongside the coast for round 50km with the Hajar Mountains at its again. Taxis aren’t low cost and strolling far isn’t an possibility within the Arabian local weather. So staying near the locations you want to go to will save in your price range.
There’s loads of choices for locations to remain in Muscat* together with worldwide motels, visitor homes and self-catering residences unfold out alongside the size of the town.
If you wish to go to the Grand Mosque we are able to suggest the Crown Plaza Muscat*. It overlooks the sandy seaside at Shati al Qurum and is a brief taxi trip from the mosque in addition to Muscat Opera Home and the Kids’s Museum.
The Sheraton* at Ruwi is a brief hop from Mutrah Souq, the fish market, Corniche and port the place yow will discover boat journeys. It has mountain views, a terrific pool and exquisite restaurant serving worldwide and Arabic dishes.
If you wish to keep proper on the seafront the Kempinski* is a luxurious lodge in Al Mouj have been you might be proper on the seaside. It’s inside simple attain of the marina the place yow will discover plenty of corporations providing snorkelling, diving and boat journeys.
We all know it finest for its Zale Bar completely satisfied hours overlooking the ocean.
The place to remain in Nizwa
We will suggest staying in Nizwa to get the very best begin for the market.
Valley Cliff Inn* provides self-catering villas set in lush gardens with two non-public swimming swimming pools. We stayed right here throughout our first go to to Nizwa and beloved it. It’s a brief drive from the centre of Nizwa.
For those who favor a lodge the Vintage Inn* comes extremely advisable. It’s a historically embellished lodge with swimming pool and is positioned simply 200m from Nizwa Fort and Souq.
The place to remain in Wahiba Sands
Reserving an evening within the desert is a should.
For our first keep right here we booked Desert Retreat Camp*. We wished starry skies and big dunes, and it delivered on each. As a bonus we might additionally deliver our canine.
Desert Retreat Camp is among the bigger camps with an oval of 14 conventional goat hair tents, every with a non-public open roof rest room.
Take a look at a number of the different choices*.
The place to remain in Barr al Hickman
If wild tenting just isn’t in your agenda then Whale Head Camp is a everlasting glamping-style possibility nestled between a lagoon and the Indian Ocean. There’s rooms within the two-storey seaside villa and Bedouin tents on the sand, all with correct beds and shared bogs.
Full board is offered and it’s a good suggestion to take this up as except you deliver your personal meals, cool field and cooking gear its an extended drive throughout wetlands to the closest small meals shops.
Extra important studying earlier than visiting Oman
In addition to studying my blogs about Oman I can suggest shopping for the Lonely Planet information* to Oman, UAE & Arabian Peninsular. I purchased this earlier than our transfer right here and located it invaluable as an introduction to the nation and tradition.
Disclosure: this publish incorporates affiliate hyperlinks marked with *. For those who click on on considered one of these and make a purchase order I could earn some fee. This doesn’t have an effect on the value you pay.
