Explore Oman

Discover the real Oman

Mountains, deserts, wadis and a coastline that runs for thousands of kilometres — a local guide to where to go, what to do and how to travel well.

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Oman at a glance

One country, many landscapes

In a single week you can walk Muscat's souqs, sleep on a mountain rim, swim in a wadi and watch the sun set over the dunes. Distances are easy and roads are excellent, which makes Oman one of the most rewarding road-trip countries in Arabia.

1 Muscat
2 Nizwa & Interior
3 Jebel Akhdar & Jebel Shams
4 Wahiba Sands
5 Wadi Shab & Bani Khalid
6 Sur & Ras Al Jinz
7 Musandam
8 Salalah

Destinations

Where to go

01 · Capital

Muscat

Grand Mosque, Mutrah Souq, the Royal Opera House and a corniche framed by mountains.

Culture
Food
Beaches

02 · Ad Dakhiliyah

Nizwa & Interior

Oman's old capital — the round fort, Friday goat market, Bahla and Jabrin castles.

Forts
Souqs
History

03 · Hajar Mountains

Jebel Akhdar & Jebel Shams

Terraced rose villages, canyon rims and cool air at 2,000 m above sea level.

Trekking
Views
Cool climate

04 · Ash Sharqiyah

Wahiba Sands

Rolling red-gold dunes, Bedouin hospitality and a night under the desert stars.

Desert camp
Dunes
Stargazing

05 · Eastern Oman

Wadi Shab & Bani Khalid

Emerald pools, palm-lined gorges and a hidden cave waterfall you swim into.

Swimming
Hiking
Photography

06 · East coast

Sur & Ras Al Jinz

Dhow-building heritage in Sur and green turtles nesting on the beach at night.

Turtles
Coast
Heritage

07 · Northern peninsula

Musandam

Fjord-like khors, dolphins alongside traditional dhows and dramatic cliff roads.

Dhow cruise
Snorkelling
Dolphins

08 · Dhofar

Salalah

Frankincense land — green and misty in khareef season, with waterfalls and white beaches.

Khareef
Frankincense
Beaches

Things to do

Experiences worth the journey

Desert camping & dune drives

Sunset over the sands, camel rides and a Bedouin-style camp.

Wahiba Sands

Wadi swimming

Turquoise pools between canyon walls — bring water shoes.

Wadi Shab, Bani Khalid

Mountain trekking

Balcony Walk, village trails and the Grand Canyon of Arabia.

Jebel Shams, Jebel Akhdar

Forts & souqs

Silver, halwa, frankincense and 17th-century castles.

Nizwa, Bahla, Muscat

Turtle watching

Guided night and dawn visits to a protected nesting beach.

Ras Al Jinz

Dhow cruises & snorkelling

Glide past dolphins and coral in calm, clear water.

Musandam, Daymaniyat

When to visit

Pick your season

October to April is perfect almost everywhere — warm days, cool nights. Summer is very hot in the north, but it's the green khareef season in Salalah (late June to mid-September).

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Best time
Good, getting warm
Hot — head to Salalah

Farm season

Best time to visit food and vegetable farms in Jabal Akhdar: from May to September, the mountain offers cooler weather, lush farms, and seasonal fruits and vegetables — an ideal escape from Muscat's heat.

Travel tips

Good to know before you go

Straight answers from our Muscat team to the questions travellers ask most.

Ask a question

Many nationalities get a visa-free stay of up to 14 days, others apply online through the Royal Oman Police eVisa. Rules change, so check before you fly — we're happy to help.