9 Classic places to visit in Oman

Despite the adornments of modern life, crowded souqs continue to resound with the clamour of shoppers bargaining over frankincense, jewellery, local produce, and food; venerable forts and crumbling watchtowers still stand guard over the towns they once protected; goats wander past huddles of ochre-coloured houses in the Sultanate of Oman. The great country we call home offers a world of experiences in one relatively small package with magical deserts, rugged mountains, pristine beaches, water sports and great diving locations, historic forts, green valleys, ancient bazaars, and old-school Arabian hospitality. But, sometimes those of us who live here take these things for granted. If you’re new in town, or have simply forgotten that what a world-class destination we live in, a trip to one of these nine well-loved places is sure to re-kindle your passions. Musandam Distance from Muscat: 500km Average travel time: 6 hours by road, 5 hours by ferry, 45 minutes by flight Located north of Oman on a peninsula between the UAE and the Arabian Sea, Musandam is ringed by mountain range rising directly from sea level to 2,000 metres. Dubbed as the ‘Norway of the Middle East’ because of inlets similar to Norway’s fjords, Musandam is utterly spectacular. Explore with a dhow trip to Khawr Ash Shamm’s placid waters to see marine life, secluded beaches, and isolated outposts, like Telegraph Island, where a station boosted the British telegraph messages along the Arabian Gulf cable line for the London—Karachi telegraph cable in the 19th century. Visit a cliffside village in Kumzar, Jebel Harim, and the Acacia forest. Why Go: Fjords, cliffside villages, and remote beaches How to get there: Travel to Khasab, the largest city. Drive for six hours up the Batinah coast. (You will have to enter and exit the UAE, so check about visa requirements before travelling.) Fly from Muscat on a daily, 45-minute Oman Air flight. (No visas required.) Ferry service operated by the National Ferries Company (nfc.om) makes the five-hour journey from Muscat four times a week. (No visas required.) Accomodation Options: Luxury properties include the famous Six Senses Zighy Bay (sixsenses.com) and midrange options are available in town. Sur & Ras al hadd Distance from Muscat: 242km (Ras Al Hadd) Average drive time: 2.41 hours A short drive from the Wahiba Sands, and a jump over Wadi Bani Khalid, is Sur, the old port town famous for its beautiful harbour and waterfront, and the last surviving dhow yard in the Sultanate. Just south of the coastal city, hundreds of sea turtles can be spotted hauling themselves up out of the ocean to lay their eggs on the remote Sharqiyah beaches. The Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve offers tours to the public and is fairly well policed. Cars must enter and park by 8.30pm. A quiet walk to the beach and several hours of sitting provides visitors with a view of mother turtles laying their eggs. The Ras al Hadd Turtle resort provides more private viewing available only to hotel guests. Why Go: Sea turtles and dhows How to get there: Drive two hours south to Sur, then another 45 minutes to Ras Al Jinz Accomodation Options: Stay in Sur or on the Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve (+968 9655 0606) Sadah-Hasik Coastal Road Distance from Salalah: 131km (Sadah) Average drive time: 1.40 hours Distance Muscat to Salalah via Sadah Average drive time: 12.5 hours Around 130km north of Salalah on the coastal line is the scenic harbour village Sadah. Driving to the Sadah Coast is a fantastic experience. The landscapes are amazing and unique. The village of Sadah itself sits by the sea, surrounded by mountains made of black rock ‘invaded’ by sand from the beach. Travel further on the winding coastal road towards Hasik and you will witness one of the most panoramic and dramatic mountain drives in Oman. The best time to drive this road is Khareef season as the haze, drizzle, and wind add drama to the stunning ambiance. There are lots of viewpoints along the way, and if you are lucky, you might be able to catch a glimpse of a humpback whale breaching in the rough Arabian Sea. Just before Hasik, near Jebel Samhan Nature Reserve, is a stunningly beautiful sweep of coastline. The rocks along the way change in form and composition at almost every bend. Why Go: Incredible views, zigzag road, and cool weather How to get there: Drive to Duqm and then down towards Mirbat along the coast via Sadah for a 13 hour trip. Or, flights to Salalah leave daily, and you can drive this route while vacationing in Dhofar. Accomodation Options: There are a wide range of hotel options in Salalah, from luxury resorts like the Rotana, to budget options, and guest houses. Daymaniyat Islands Distance from Muscat: 86km (Al Sawadi Beach) Average Travel Time: Al Sawadi beach is an hour north, near Barka, and the islands are a 30-60 minute by boat The nine, tiny, uninhabited islands that lie about 17km off the Batinah coast, are abundant with wildlife as they offer a safe stop off point for migratory birds, home to sea eagles and the graceful osprey. The beaches and cliffs come alive in the summer months with nesting birds and turtles returning to lay their eggs on the white sand beaches, but much of Daymaniyat’s beauty lies beneath the water. Snorkelling in these clear, pristine waters, one can see a vast expanse of coral reef with schools of fishes encircling the corals. Magnificent coral gardens and marine life in resplendent colours make the islands among the best dive sites in Oman with walls, drop-offs, submerged reefs, swim-throughs, and caves. The Daymaniyats are a protected nature reserve, so access is restricted. You’re not allowed to land on the islands from the beginning of May until the end of October and the rest of the year you’ll need a permit, which can be arranged by tour operators in Muscat. Why Go: Diving, snorkelling, and birdwatching How to get there: Drive north towards Barka to Al Sawadi Beach. From there, you will need to take a 30-60 minute boat ride to the islands. Permits are required to enter the island. Accomodation Options: This is a great day-trip from Muscat, otherwise you can make a weekend out of it and stay at Al Sawadi Beach Resort & Spa (+968 2679 5545, alsawadibeach.om) Salalah Distance from Muscat - 1,030km Average drive time: 12 hours by road, 1 hour by flight This is Oman with a distinct, tropical twist: endless white-sand beaches line the coast, while coconut and banana palms replace the ubiquitous date trees of the north and neat little pastel-painted houses stand in for the fortified mudbrick mansions found elsewhere in the country. The arid mountains encircling Salalah turn green during the annual khareef (monsoon) season that run from July through early September, during which time you will find flowing rivers, waterfalls, lush pastures, and cooler weather here on the frankincense coast. In Jebel Qara is the tomb of the Prophet Ayoub (PBUH), known as Job of the Old Testament. In Khawr Rhori lie the ruins of the palace reputed to be that of the Queen of Sheba. And in the surrounding countryside grow the Boswellia sacra better known for the sap it produces: Frankincense. Numerous attractions dot the hinterland of Salalah, including the rugged Jebel Samhan and Jebel Al Qamar dotted with wadis, gorges, sinkholes, blowholes, and other geological curiosities. Year-round, Salalah’s coconut-fringed beaches and plantations of bananas and papayas offer a flavour of Zanzibar in the heart of the Arabian desert. Why Go: Tropical side of Oman, historic sites, and natural wonders How to get there: Drive to Duqm and then down towards Mirbat along the coast via Sadah for a 13 hour trip or take the more direct route through Wusta for a 9 hour trip. There are multiple flights to Salalah each day on Oman Air, they take 1 hour 45 minutes. Accomodation Options: There are a wide range of hotel options in Salalah, from luxury resorts like the Rotana, to budget options, and guest houses. Al Hajar Mountains Distance from Muscat: 246km (to Jebel Shams) Average Drive Time: 2 hours to Nizwa, another hour to make it up the mountain. A four wheel drive vehicle is required to ascend the mountain. The Al Hajar range is a dramatic jumble of peaks and wadis that look amazingly wild and undiscovered. With ranges nearly 3,000 metres above sea level, it is a popular destination for active holidays. The leading attractions are the spectacular massifs of Jebel Akhdar and Jebel Shams, the highest summit in Oman at 3,010 metres. Here you will find one of Oman’s greatest natural wonders, the Wadi Nakhr Gorge, known as the “Grand Canyon of the Middle East”. You can haggle with the local rug weavers, trek to cliff dwellings along the canyon rim, and visit the remains of towns once occupied by Persian settlers. Rock climbers can test their mettle on the stony crags of Jebel Misht while antiquarians can visit the mysterious Beehive Tombs of Bat. Jebel Akhdar, another hill station, is one of the most verdant geography outside of Salalah and the Batinah Coast, and in its towns of Wadi Bani Habib, Saiq, and Al Ayn, local farmers raise grapes, pomegranates, apricots, and walnuts on cliff terraces. Why Go: Outdoor adventure, hiking, historic sites, mountain views How to get there: Drive two hours to Nizwa, then continue an hour up the mountain. Accomodation Options: Most visitors like to camp in these mountains, but there are modest hotels available in Jebel Akhdar and in Nizwa, and the luxurious Alila hotel (alilahotels.com) is perched on one of Jebel Akhdar’s plateaus. Wahiba Sands Distance from Muscat: 250km Average drive time: 4 hours Sleep out amid the vast dunes of the Wahiba Sands under a sky full of stars and you’ll quickly see why it’s one of the best-loved Omani destinations for locals and visitors. The desert night is a phenomenon. The temperature drops and the moon paints the ribbed dunes in silver. In winter’s light, these sand dunes are gorgeous in ways bordering on magical, endlessly fascinating and, best of all, empty. Hundreds of square kilometres of shifting sand dunes rippled by the wind’s erratic calligraphy are home to only camels, and the desert’s intriguing inhabitants, the nomadic Bedouins. For a perspective on this place, it’s worth checking out Google Earth – it’s the massive yellow-striped bit just below Ibra. Dune-bashing is a favourite pastime of the guides and offers them the perfect opportunity to exhibit some reckless, but skilled driving on the dunes. Many high-end tour operators offer desert safaris and nights at Bedouin-style camps. Why Go: Outdoor adventure, hiking, historic sites, and mountain views How to get there: Drive towards Nizwa, then turn south to reach Bidiyah. The entrance to the vast sands begin where the township ends. Accomodation Options: Camp on your own if you are experienced, otherwise, take advantage of the expertise of guides (Guide Oman, Rebecca +968 9803 8820 or Abdul Rahman +968 9228 5813) or stay at one of the many hotel-style camps. Muttrah TheMuttrah Souq, located in Muscat, is a disorienting labyrinth of tiny alleyways piled high with a bewildering array of exotic merchandise and is one of the oldest marketplaces in the Arab world. The Muttrah corniche on which it sits, stretches for about three kilometres along the harbour with pristine gardens and fountains along this stretch. With chocolate coloured rugged mountains diving into the sea and a 16th century Portuguese Fort as a backdrop against white-washed, low-lying buildings, it is the most scenic area of urban Oman, offering the strongest sense of Muscat’s sometimes elusive appeal, with its beguiling atmosphere of ancientness, quite different from the somewhat faceless modern suburbs to the west. There are a number of nice restaurants and cafes along the corniche, making it a great place to spend a lazy afternoon. The souq is closed from around noon to 4.30pm, and it is best to visit in the early evening. Why Go: Old-timey feel, market adventures, coffee or dinner with a view How to get there: The corniche stretches from Riyam Park to the Fish Roundabout, between Darsait and Sidab. Accomodation Options: No need, you’re already home. Nizwa-Bahla-Al Hamra Distance from Muscat: 200km (Al Hamra) Average drive time: 2 hours An hour or two south-west of Muscat lies Nizwa, home to the enormous 17th century Nizwa Fort, the most visited monument in Oman. The area is home to a number of the country’s finest forts, including those at Bahla and Jabrin. One of Oman’s most historic towns, Nizwa is a picture-perfect huddle of souqs and sand-coloured buildings, the main market is a bustling souq where many of Nizwa’s 700,000 residents still shop for food, spices and the city’s famous handcrafted silver jewellery. A little farther west you’ll find Bahla Fort, a Unesco World Heritage Site dating back to the 13th century. In Al Hamra, check out the 400-year-old mud houses that are still standing and occupied to this day. Hidden neatly in a crevasse on the mountainside lies Misfat Al Abriyeen, a garden paradise of humble farmers and herders. And along the nearby wadi at Hasat bin Sult Rock, ancient petro glyphs estimated to be over 3,000 years old, lie in wait. Why Go: Historic sites, and mountain views How to get there: Drive north towards Seeb and take the road to Nizwa. Accomodation Options: Nizwa is a two hour drive, and a do-able day trip. There are basic hotels in Nizwa, Misfah and Hail Al Shas, or you can camp in the Hajar Mountains. [email protected]