Why visit Oman?

What do you know about Oman or what do you think of when you hear Oman? Perhaps oil? Camels? Sand? Heat?

Wrong. I mean there is sand for sure, but Oman has so much more than the above. Oman is an incredibly beautiful and diverse country. It surprised me in many ways and I would love to return to see more of it. It is also still quite an off the beaten track destination. Although this is changing rapidly, so don’t wait too long. You will meet the friendliest people, never ending mountain ranges, picturesque villages, magical wadi’s, crystal clear water, wildlife and last but definitely not least, tons of beautiful mosques.

Oman is a perfect destination for an adventurous road trip. Even though, we only had 4 full days to explore, we were able to get quite an impression of the country. Oman is very stretched and there is supposed to be a part in the south called Salalah that has a completely different climate. In comparison to the rest of the country, this part is actually better to visit during the summer months. So if you have the chance to go to Oman and spend a few weeks to really experience it all, you should.

For those who have limited time, or those who are simply interested in Oman, this itinerary might be useful!

Day 1: A Sinkhole, Wadi & turtles in Oman

We flew from Abu Dhabi to Muscat, the capital city of Oman. After spending the first night near the airport, we headed out early. Our final stop that day was Ras al Hadd. Along the way we stopped at the Bimma Sinkhole, Wadi Shab and Sur. I was lucky enough to be nearly alone when I plunged into the deep blue Bimma Sinkhole. A very interesting phenomenon, which you could kind of compare to the Cenotes in Mexico.

Wadi Shab

Our hike through the Wadi Shab was one of the highlights of our trip, as we were not sure what to expect of the ‘cave and waterfall’ we were chasing. The rock formations were intriguing and it ended up being a pretty cool cave and waterfall. At the end of the hike you have to swim to the cave which you can enter through an extremely tiny entrance. Maybe not recommended for the claustrophobic ones among us. If you do decide to swim into the cave you will not regret it! It such a cool experience. Oh and if you have a GoPro, bring it, because I ended up hating myself for not bringing mine.

Turtle time

During the evening we visited Ras Al Jinz to watch the Green turtles on the beach laying their eggs. Though, I’m not a big fan of animal tourism and it felt a bit wrong to disturb these giants during such a ‘personal’ situation, it was very interesting to experience this from close by.

Day 2: Wadi Bin Khalid & sleeping in the desert

After enjoying our breakfast at the guesthouse we left the Northeastern corner of Oman to drive in the direction of the Wahiba Sands desert. We had a break at the Wadi Bin Khalid where some local families were spending their day off with a picknick near the water and people enjoyed swimming in the big natural pools between the rocks and waterfalls.

As we didn’t really prepare our stay in the desert very well, we got lost on our way to the Bedouin camp. We booked a stay at Wahiba Bedouin Rustig Camp, but didn’t realise that tents surrounded by sand don’t have a very accurate address.. So when I was about to randomly drive into the desert just to “have a look around”, a group of friendly Omani guys helped us out and made sure we reached our camp before sunset. Heroes of the day! We enjoyed a magical sunset from the sand dunes and had an interesting night, listening to the stories of the bedouin owner of the camp.

Day 3: Nizwa & Jebel Shams

With many layers of clothes and several blankets I survived the cold night and even got my lazy ass up to watch the sunrise from the top of the dune. What a beautiful and peaceful moment to sit there in silence (if you ignore the rooster), watching the colours of the sky change until that big orange ball pops up.

A few hours later we arrived in Nizwa, a lovely small city with a beautiful fort and cute streets to walk around. After a local lunch we continued through the mountain pass to the highest viewpoint of Oman, Jebel Shams at a height of 3009M. It is true what they say, it actually looks like the Grand Canyon. Even better is the fact that there was only a handful of other visitors and there is zero entrance fee. That’s the way we like it!

Many turns and loops later, we arrived at Al Hoota Rest House, our accommodation for the night. It’s located on top of another mountain and offers stunning views. The accommodation itself is quite basic, but it has all you need. Luckily we arrived just in time to enjoy the last part of a dreamy sunset. Since there is nothing around, you have to eat at the restaurant that’s part of the hotel. It wasn’t the cosiest, but they may have improved it by now.

Day 4: Mutrah & Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

The last day of this trip was spent in Muscat and the Mutrah corniche, where we visited the fort, harbour, souq and fish market. These are all conveniently located within waking distance of each other. After a big delicious lunch in a beautiful restaurant called Bait Al Luban, we finished our day at the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. A very impressive mosque with a huge garden full of flowers. Another true highlight if you are visiting Oman.

Note: check the opening times of sights like the Mosque and Souq as many of them are closed during the afternoon.

Renting a car in Oman

If you decide to go on a road trip in Oman, it is recommended to rent a 4WD. The general highways are in great condition, but if you want to drive from Nizwa to Jebel Shams, you will need it. Sunnycars offers a great all in price, so you’ll be sure that you don’t have to pay extras when you pick up the car.