Oman was a bit of a serendipitious discovery for me. I had booked a one-way ticket to Dubai and was searching for new destinations to explore in the area when I thought, “Okay, maybe Oman? That’s right next to the UAE, maybe I’ll go there next.” And I couldn’t have made a better decision. Oman is an underrated gem – full of off-the-beaten-path wadis, beautiful canyons, sinkholes, glittering azure waters, stretches of vast golden dunes, exotic souqs, and desert forts.
Below is my travel guide based on my experiences AND my mistakes so you don’t make them! Read on and I hope you get to experience this beautiful destination for yourself 🙂
When to visit, and how many days do you need?
October through March is the best time to visit the Middle East in general. Visiting outside of these months means you will be confronted with extremely high temperatures in scorching desert heat. I visited in February and the weather was perfect. It was sunny enough for water and beach activities, but not so uncomfortable to the point where you feel like you are being roasted in an oven 😛
I spent 7 days in Oman, but if I could redo my trip, I would spend at least 10. Generally, 7 days is enough to hit all the main points, but it does feel a bit rushed. 10 days is ample time to do a complete roadtrip and see all the diverse landscapes of Oman – from the beaches and wadis, to the desert, to the islands and mountains and forts. But of course, you can shorten your trip based on what locations you would like to prioritize!
You can read further in depth about important Oman To-Knows before visiting in my post here.
OKAY. LET’S GET INTO THE ITINERARY.
DAY 1-2: MUSCAT
I suggest beginning and ending your trip with Muscat, the capital city. It has a pretty central location which makes it a convenient base from which you can do day trips to the beaches, city locations, and islands. Two days is enough to explore the mosques, souqs, and beaches within Muscat.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN MUSCAT
SULTAN QABOOS GRAND MASJID
This is by far one of the most stunning mosques I’ve ever seen, and it’s the largest mosque in Oman. If beautiful archictecture is your jam, then this is a must-visit. As it is a mosque, women must be covered head to ankles, but don’t worry, there are abayas and scarves available for rent at the entrance. IMPORTANT NOTE: tourist hours only range from 8 AM – 11 AM, so plan accordingly!
MUTRAH SOUQS
Take a visit to the bustling souqs located on the capital city’s waterfront. Mutrah Souq is known for its handicrafts like silverware, daggers, traditional cloth, shoes, spices, antiques, tea sets, lanterns and also the famous Omani sweets (Halwa). If you’ve never visited a souq or a bazaar, then be prepared to be a bit hassled by the merchants and shopowners. Don’t worry, they aren’t rude or too aggressive, but for a first-timer, it does still take a bit of getting used to. Just smile, shake your head, say no, and they will move on! The fun is all in the hustle and bustle experience!
BANDAR AL KHAIRAN
Where land meets sea, Bandar Al Khairan is only 30 kilometers away from Muscat and takes around 45 minutes to reach. You can also reach it by boat from Bandar Al Rawdha Marina, situated at the center of Muscat. A beautiful stretch of coastline, Bandar Al Khairan is a beautiful beach spot, ideal for swimming, snorkeling, but also boasts incredible hiking views.
YITI ROUND POINT OF VIEW
Type in this location on Google Maps, and it’ll take you to one of the prettiest viewpoints in Muscat. It requires no hiking and overlooks a stunningly picturesque white and nude colored buildings nestled in a valley between two mountains. It’s the perfect spot to hop out of your car, and snap a few pictures!
ROYAL OPERA HOUSE
Another stunning archictetural structure, the Royal Opera House Muscat is the Sultanate’s premier venue for musical arts and culture. It hosts an array of performances including ballet, jazz, opera and world music. However, unless you are interested in seeing a performance, the opera house is mostly for taking pictures outside its beautiful marble facade. If you are short on time and would like to prioritize, I would skip this, and visit the mosque instead.
AL ALAM PALACE
Al Alam Palace is one of six residences of the sultan, and has a gorgeous colorful facade. However, I recommend skipping this one, as you cannot go inside or even up close, thus you are forced to only glimpse from afar.
WHERE TO EAT
TURKISH HOUSE
Multiple locals recommended this restaurant for the delicious grilled meats and the best seafood, and they did not lie!
GOLDEN SPOON
Another local recommended spot for traditional Omani food. Casual dining/Budget friendly
BEGUMS
Yet another local recommended spot for Indian food. Casual dining/Budget friendy
BAIT AL LUBAN
Probably now one of the most popular and famous spots in Oman, and for good reason. The menu consists of a variety of traditional Omani food served in a fine dining setting. I recommend getting the floor seating for a traditional experience, or the low tables with cute floor cushions.
And lastly, this may sound strange, but try to eat at a local’s house if you can. Most locals are extremely welcoming and would love to invite you to their home for lunch or dinner. All the locals I met have sworn that home-cooked food is better than any restaurant in Oman. Having eaten at a local’s house myself, I have to say I agree – the home-cooked food is quite delicious. So, try to befriend some locals if the opportunity arises 🙂
WHERE TO STAY
There is a plethora of 3 star to 5 star hotels to choose from. I stayed at both The Royal Tulip Muscat (budget friendly) and the Shangri-La Al Husn (a 5 star luxury hotel resort). The Royal Tulip is more than enough to cover your needs, especially if you are going to be spending very minimal time in the hotel. It’s comfortable, clean, modern, and has a rooftop terrance and rooftop dining.
The Shangri-La is a destination all on its own. The property is located on a stunning stretch of the coast and has the most beautiful view of the Gulf of Oman in Muscat. You could easily spend an entire day or two just on the resort as the hotel has its own private beach where you can snorkel, scuba, kayak, swim, and even set baby turtles into the ocean. The property itself is also stunning – filled with ornate arches, palm-lined courtyards, and an infinity pool facing the coast.
Other Options Include:
Luxury Hotels –
Mid-Range/Budget Friendly Hotels –
If staying in a comfortable hotel is important to you, but you also don’t want to splurge on a pricey luxury resort, I recommend staying in Muscat for as long as possible and visiting the surrounding regions by car. The best and most trustworthy hotel accommodations are in Muscat, and selections are far less outside the city and up in Jebel Akhdar, save for a few pricey resorts. There are some very low budget/no-frills hotels near the Wadis and Nizwa but I can’t recommend any as I stayed based in Muscat.
DAY 3 – DAYMANIYAT (Dimaniyat) ISLANDS DAY TRIP
A remote paradise awaits just 30 minutes away from Muscat by boat. The Daymaniyat Islands is made up of nine tiny islands in the Gulf of Oman. Tourists are minimal, waters are beautiful, peaceful, and pristine, ideal for a quic dip or a longer dive. A day trip out here is a MUST!
We spotted dolphins on the ride out to the islands, and supposedly whale sharks are plentiful during the summer months. You can visit the islands by group tour or by private tour. A friend suggested Marmar Boat Tours for a private boat, but we opted for a group tour, which still only consisted of less than 10 people.
We spent the day swimming and snorkeling in beautiful turquoise waters, and at one point saw a huge cloister of sea turtles resting on a reef right below us!
DAY 4-5: Exploring the Wadis and Sinkholes
Oman is famous for its collection of wadis and sinkholes that stretch along the Gulf of Oman coastline. A wadi is an Arabic term referring to valleys that are typically dry except during rain season. The wadis in Oman are rocky gorges, perfect to hike through as you are rewarded with beautiful clear turquoise water. The following are the most popular wadis that can be visited as a series of day trips from Muscat.
WADI ASH SHAB
The most famous Wadi in all of Oman – if you’re going to pick just one Wadi, it should be this one. The narrow canyon is home to crystal clear blue water pools and also a secret waterfall inside a cave. Generally considered only a moderately challenging route, it’s a 1.5km hike through the gorge to the canyon’s main natural pools, and takes about an hour in each direction. When you reach the flooded gorge, you have to swim through because there is no trail.
WADI BANI KHALID
A stunning tropical oasis where desert meets tropics meets fresh water meets mountains. It is the easiest to reach which means it can get quite popular and crowded, but that won’t stop you from having fun swimming and taking a dip! A 90-minute drive from Sur, Wadi Bani Khalid also has a restaurant and restrooms, and no hiking required. You simply drive in to a public parking area.
WADI AL ARBEIEEN
When I googled best Wadis to visit in Oman, this one came up just as much as Wadi Shab. I personally didn’t have time to go (as we lost our car to the accident) but I definitely will come back here the next time I visit Oman. Apparently it’s a five to six hours roundtrip hike, but you are rewarded with beautiful blue pools and waterfalls.
BIMMAH SINKHOLE
Oman’s absolute gem, because it is stunning and completely free to visit! It reminded me of a lot of cenotes in Tulum, with its sunken in rock formation with stairs leading down to a gorgeous turquoise pool at the bottoml
DAY 6-7: WAHIBA SANDS
Visiting the beautiful golden desert in Oman is another MUST. Your Oman trip woudn’t be complete otherwise! The dunes of Wahiba Sands are about a two to three hours drive from Muscat, so I recommend at least staying one night. Experiencing a desert camp is a bucket list item, you can ride camels, go stargazing, quad-biking, and so much more. I spent early mornings and late afternoons doing activities, and during peak afternoon when the sun was at its peak, I relaxed in the restaurant or in the pool.
WHERE TO STAY
I stayed at Desert Nights Camp and absolutely loved it. The property consists of a collection of quaint white tents that are nestled in the middle of gorgeous sand dunes. It has a beautiful picturesque viewpoint from the very top of its local dune. And don’t worry – the tents are proper hotel style rooms with air conditioning, and fully equipped bathroom and showers. The camp even has spa facilities, and offers a variety of desert activities such as quad-biking, sandboarding, and camel rides.
Thousand Nights Camp was another desert camp I was considering as its property consists of gorgeous Bedoin styled wool tents that have you feeling like you’ve been transported into a scene from arabian nights. These tents also come fully equipped with furniture, air conditioning, and a proper bed and bathroom. It was extremely hard to choose between this and Desert Nights Camp as both offer similar facilities and desert activities. The deciding factor for me was that Thousand Nights Camp was just a TAD bit more expensive! If you have bandwidth in your budget, I would highly suggest staying here as photos come out so beautiful!
If neither of these suit your style, there are PLENTY of options to choose from on Google 🙂 some are more budget friendly, no frills type tents (no AC or walk in shower).
DAY 8-10: NIZWA & JEBEL AKHDAR
Visiting Niza and Jebel Akhdar is when having a car makes life tremendously easier, and less expensive! Not having a car during this part of my trip is my biggest regret. Nizwa and Jebel Akhdar are driving distance from Oman (about a 2 hour drive one way) and can definitely be visited as a day trip from Muscat. However, I suggested staying overnight so that you can comfortably explore the castles and forts of Nizwa on your own time as well as the mud villages and mountainous terrain of Jebel Akhdar.
My day tour to Nizwa from Muscat cost a whopping $400 per vehicle and for such a hefty price I don’t feel as though I got the full in-depth experience of Nizwa and Jebel Akhdar that I wanted due to having to follow the tour guide’s schedule.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO
NIZWA SOUQS
These Souqs are the most picturesque in all of Oman and also the oldest. You will feel as though you time-traveled back centuries, as you explore rows of ornate pottery, sweet delights, fragrant spices, teas, and glittering lanterns.
NIZWA FORT
If you are ony going to visit one fort, Nizwa Fort is the one. It dates back to the 17th century, and has been beautifully restored and preserved in a way that makes it feels like a movie set. The fort is a powerful symbol of Nizwa’s historical significance through turbulent periods in Oman’s history. It was a formidable defense stronghold against raiding enemies that desired the city’s wealth and its strategic location amongst vital routes. If you visit before noon, it’s likely you’ll be able to roam the fort’s towers, tunnels, passageways, and courtyards with not a soul around.
JIBREEN CASTLE
This castle is another beautiful iconic landmark in Oman, so I would rank this high on the must-see list. Like Nizwa Fort, Jibreen Castle looks straight out of an Arabian legend, with beautiful riad-style courtyards, towers, chambers, beautiful balconies, and ornate windows. A must-visit for architecture lovers.
AL HAMRA MUD VILLAGE
Al Hamra is a 400-year-old town, and some of the oldest preserved houses in Oman can be found here. Notable for a number of Yemeni-style mud brick buildings, many houses have been abandoned due to its inhabitants moving into modern buildings, so it’s likely you’ll have the place relatively to yourself. The mud houses are beautifully picturesque and worth taking a stroll through.
BAHLA FORT
Bahla Fort is one of Oman’s only UNESCO World Heritage Sites. As it is similar to many other forts, with notable towers and courtyards, if you are short on time, I would prioritize Nizwa and Jabreen over this one!
JEBEL AKHDAR & JEBEL SHAMS
My favorite scenic destination in Oman after the Daymaniyat islands! The Jebel Akhdar or Al Jabal Al Akhdar is part of the Al Hajar Mountains range and boasts incredible mountains, peaks and canyons. Be sure to check out Whadi Ghul, the Grand Canyon of Oman, and if you have time, hike Wadi Bani Habib.
WHERE TO STAY
Luxury:
ANANTARA AL JEBEL AL AKHDAR RESORT
If you have the budget for it, then definitely look into this stunning five-star retreat set high up in Jebel Akhdar, with the most beautiful sweeping views of the mountains from a gorgeous infinity pool.
Budget:
Simple yet elegant, this inn is 200 m from Nizwa Fort, and has a garden, free private parking and a terrace, a pool and even an ATM.
Overlooking the Hajar Mountains, this is a 4-star midange hotel with a sauna, pool, fitness center, bars, and a shisha corner as well!
That’s it!
This concludes my Oman Guide! I hope this was helpful in helping you plan your trip, leave comments below and don’t forget to subscribe to the email list! xx