13 Spectacular Places You Must Visit In Oman

Why is Oman called the land of scenic beauty? What are some recommended places to visit and activities to do while in Oman?

"As-salaamu alaykum", and welcome to the enchanting Sultanate of Oman. Safe and inviting, Oman will hypnotise you with its fragrant ancient souks, mesmerise with dramatic landscapes and leave you spell bound with its stories. Home to numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Oman is steeped in history and has inspired some of literature’s most famous tales. 

In this article we will show you why Oman is called the land of scenic beauty. You will discover some recommended places to visit and activities to do while in Oman.

1. Royal Opera House

Royal Opera House, Muscat (iwillbehomesoon/500px)

2. Forts and Castles

Nakhal Fort (beautyeye/flickr)

3. Muthra

Mutrah (Krishna Kumar/flickr)

4. Scuba diving

(Thierry Rouchon/flickr

5. Al Ayn Village, Jabel Al Akhdar

Al Ayn Village, Jabel Al Akhdar (internationaltravllermag.com)

6. Caving

Ash Sharqiyah (pierrehaut/flickr)

7. Mountain Goat

Mountain Goat (Krishna Kumar/flickr)

8. Musandam

Musandam (panoramas/flickr)

9. Deserts

(oman-conference.squ.edu.om)

10. Salalah

Salalah (saf eins/flickr)

11. Terraces of rose bushes in Jabal Akhdar

Terraces of rose bushes in Jabal Akhdar that thrive in spring/summer (timesofoman.com)

12. Wadi Bani 

Wadi Bani Khalid (andries3/flickr)

13. Wadi Darbat, Salalah

Wadi Darbat, Salalah (wajahatmahmood/flickr)

For anyone who has ever travelled to Oman, what was your favourite thing that you saw, and why? What was the most beautiful, incredible sight you saw while there? 

Please, take a moment to leave your comment below! 

Beauty has an address ~ Oman

Best Golfing Escapes In Oman

Are you planning your next Golfing Escape and want to try a different destination? 

Check out what the possibilities are in the Sultanate of Oman!

The best time of the year for Golfing in Oman is between September and May, avoiding the Kareef season. 

Oman currently has three 18-hole golf courses in Muscat which are considered some of the finest and most challenging in the region: Almouj Golf, following the outline of the dunes along the Sea of Oman; Ghala Valley Golf Course, found in the unique setting of a wadi; and Muscat Hills Golf and Country Club in a craggy terrain crisscrossed by a number of wadis, with the Hajar Mountains in the background.    

There are golf tournaments organised by the courses so have a look at their websites to keep you up to date!

If you are in the early stage of learning the game, each course also has an Academy staffed by qualified golf instructors who will be happy to guide you through the early stages.

Travelling with family is not an issue in case not all members are into golfing. The whole family can stay at one of the several 5* and boutique hotels and resorts where they can go for a spa session, enjoy the swimming pools, experience diving in Oman or go on a tour of the mountains, desert, Nizwa, dolphin watching… etc

Golfing in the Sultanate of Oman… a unique experience in a breathtaking surrounding.

Please, take a moment to leave a comment below.

Discover more about Oman: www.omantourism.gov.om                 

Top 10 Reasons To Visit The Sultanate Of Oman

Natural beauty, fascinating traditions and heartfelt hospitality make Oman a country you really should get to know better. From luxurious 5-star beach resorts to sleeping under the stars in the desert, Oman’s diverse landscapes will take your breath away.

                  

Adventure seekers can explore some of the world’s largest caves, discover spectacular diving spots or simply watch the world float by aboard a dhow.

Vibrant souks sell traditional silverware, spices and Omani dresses, providing explorers with colorful impressions, and hagglers with timeless souvenirs.

  

If you still have doubts we give you the Top 10 Reasons To Visit The Sultanate Of Oman:

1. 5,000-year-old traditions and culture, four UNESCO World Heritage Sites and more than 500 forts and castles. 

2. Variety of accommodation, from luxury, boutique, resorts, and spas to eco-friendly desert and mountain camps. 

3. Amazing wildlife, from Ras al-Jinz Turtle Reserve to flamingos in Dhofar. 

4. Real adventure, from climbing, hiking and caving to watersports, diving and kitesurfing. 

5. Diverse marine life including dolphins, turtles and whales. 

6. Unspoilt beaches, 2,000 miles of coastline and remote islands. 

7. Growing golf scene, including three championship 18-hole golf courses. 

8. Omani hospitality and gastronomy. 

9. Desert experiences, including wadi drives and oases. 

10. Non-stop daily flight from Heathrow to Muscat with Oman Air; daily flights with Etihad from London, Dublin, Glasgow and Manchester.

Still don't know where to go for your next holiday? If you need more reasons to visit Oman please see 101 Things to See and Do in Oman. 

Please, take a moment to leave your comment below!

Discover more about Oman: www.omantourism.gov.om

Calendar Of Annual Local Events in Oman - September to November

There's so much happening in Oman all year round. Plan ahead with our monthly events calendar. 

September

Turtle Spotting

The best time of year to spot turtles nesting on the beaches of Ras Al Hadd and Ras Al Jinz is during September. These turtles migrate to Oman from the Red Sea and East African Coast.

Golf

Due to the climate, golfing in Oman is most popular from the months of September to May. Muscat now has three 18-hole grass golf courses, with more expected to launch in the near future.

October

Another good time to spot respiratory birds such as gulls, terns, warblers and eagles.

National Bank of Oman Golf Classic

The championship course at Almouj Golf, The Wave, Muscat is perfect setting for this promising new European Challenge tournament.

November

Dubai to Muscat Race

Each November, around three-dozen sailing yachts compete in the Dubai to Muscat Race, navigating the Strait of Hormuz en route.

Muscat Regatta

Following the Dubai to Muscat Race, the Muscat Regatta includes two days of competitive yacht and dinghy sailing, followed by a race across the waves from Muscat to Khasab on the Musandam Peninsula.

Oman National Day

Both Sultan Qaboos’ birthday and Oman’s National Day, 18 November is an important public holiday in Oman.

Please, take a moment to leave your comments or thoughts below.

Discover more about Oman: www.omantourism.gov.om

Calendar Of Annual Local Events in Oman - May to July

There's so much happening in Oman all year round. Plan ahead with our monthly events calendar. 

May

Masirah Turtle Festival Week 

Launched in 2010, the Environment Society of Oman has held a dedicated Masirah TurtleFestival Week each May. Conservation-focussed activities include marine research, turtle-themed football competitions and local beach clean-ups. Masirah is the largest nesting ground for Loggerhead turtles in the world.

June-July

Renaissance Day

Celebrating Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s ascension to the throne in 1970, 23 July is a public holiday in Oman.

Salalah Tourism Festival (formerly the Khareef Festival)

While the rest of the region is reeling under sweltering temperatures, Salalah revelsin cooling rains from the southwest monsoon winds, which leave the landscape verdant and cloaked in mist. This phenomenon of rain-bearing fog is known locally as khareef. The season begins in late June and ends in late September. The Salalah Tourism Festival – a veritable extravaganza – hosts a variety of cultural, sports, and entertainment activities at the purpose-built Baladiya Entertainment Centre. The facility comprises a main theatre, an open-air venue and a heritage village as well asextensive fairgrounds. Expect theatre performances, folkloric shows, concerts by prominent Arab and Gulf singers, a kite festival, children’s plays and an Omani poetry forum.

Please, take a moment to leave your comments or thoughts below.

Discover more about Oman: www.omantourism.gov.om

Top 16 Oman Travel Guides

The diversity of choice in Oman will make almost any length of holiday seem too short to take everything in.

The only way you’ll be able to accomplish that is if you plan properly. These guides will help you do that.

Did you know that if you look up the phrase “Oman Travel Guide” on Amazon, it will give you nearly 150 options to choose from? You can source additional information about the country through a range of useful Oman guidebooks.

We have compiled a list of the Top 16 Travel Guides on Oman that you can view below:

1- Berlitz: Oman Pocket Guide, Berlitz Travel (2011)

2- Insight Guide: Oman and The UAE by Gavin Thomas, Insight Guides (2012)

3- Maverick Guide to Oman by Peter J. Ochs, Pelican 
Publishing Co (2000)

4- Muscat Mini Map, Explorer Publishing (2012)

5- Off-Road in the Sultanate of Oman by Jenny Walker & Sam Owen, Motivate Publishing Ltd (2007)

6- Oman - Culture Smart! The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture by Simone Nowell, Kuperard (2009)

7- Oman and the Arabian Gulf (Travellers Survival Kit) by Dan Boothby, Vacation – Work (2003)

8- Oman by Diana Darke, Bradt Travel Guides (2013)

9- Oman Off-Road, Explorer Publishing (2006)

10- Oman Residents & Visitors Guide, Explorer Publishing (2012)

11- Oman Trekking, Explorer Publishing (2006)

12- Oman, UAE and the Arabian Peninsula by Jenny Walker, Lonely Planet Publications (2010)

13- Snorkelling and Diving in Oman by Rod Salm and Robert Baldwin, Motivate Publishing (1992)

14- The Rough Guide to Oman: Intriguing souks, Dhow cruises, Mountain villages by Gavin Thomas, Rough Guides (2011)

15- UAE Rock Climbing by Toby Foord-Kelcey, Red Armada Publishing (2010)

16- Lonely Planet Oman, UAE & Arabian Peninsula (Travel Guide), by Lonely Planet, Jenny Walker, Stuart Butler and Anthony Ham (13 Sep 2013)


For information regarding climbing, abseiling, diving, horseback riding, surfing and all other manner of adventure sports in Oman, the magazine Outdoor UAE is an excellent resource.

Please, take a moment to leave your comments or thoughts below.

Discover more about Oman: www.omantourism.gov.om

Calendar Of Annual Local Events in Oman - March to April

There's so much happening in Oman all year round. Plan ahead with our monthly events calendar. 

March

Bird Watching

March is one of the best months for bird watching due to cooler temperatures andmigratory patterns. Visitors can see many species of birds in each of Oman’s different regions. The Al Ansab wetlands in Muscat, Al Hikam Peninsula, Masirah Island, Wusta Governorate beaches, the Lagoona, and the beaches and springs in Dhofar are ideal locationsfor bird watchers. Many exotic species also live on the Dimaniyat Islands and in Musandam. There are 516 species on the Oman Bird list.

Oman International Salsa & Zouk Festival

The fifth edition of Oman’s Salsa & Dance Festival will be held in 2015. Internationally acclaimed performers offer lessons in everything from hip-hop to samba, with barbeques and all-night salsa parties running alongside.

www.oiszf.com

April

Scuba Diving

Oman is now one of the most popular diving destinations in the Middle East. The most prominent diving areas around Muscat are: Bandar Khayran, Al Fahal Islands, Dimaniyat Islands, Al Makbara Bay (Old Muscat) and Al Jissah Beach. The best time to dive in Muscat and around is from April to July.

Please, take a moment to leave your comments or thoughts below.

Discover more about Oman: www.omantourism.gov.om

Calendar Of Annual Local Events in Oman - January to February

There's so much happening in Oman all year round. Plan ahead with our monthly events calendar. 

January-February

Extreme Sailing Series

Book a ringside seat for the ninth annual Extreme Sailing Series, kicking off againin 2015 at Muscat’s The Wave. Multihull sailing vessels race in challenging conditions daringly close to the spectators watching from the shores.

www.extremesailingseries.com/gallery 

Muscat Festival 2015 

Held in Muscat’s picturesque Qurum and Naseem parks, the Muscat Festival is unmissable January 15 to February 14, 2015 . The festival showcases Oman’s national heritage and attracts close to two million visitors every year. Expect juggling, parades, magic shows, exhibitions of regional arts and crafts, plus the annual Oman Food Festival and Muscat Art Festival. The festival begins at the end of January and runs through February.

www.muscat-festival.com

Tour of Oman

The Tour of Oman (February) takes place on a track designed by Eddy Merckx, UCI cyclist and sportsman, whose aim was to bring a version of Tour de France to Oman. This cycling race takes place over six stages and crosses 848km of breath-taking scenery.

http://www.tourofoman.om/photogallery

Mussanah Race Week

Overtwo hundred top sailors from 30 countries battle it out in the Gulf of Oman, near Muscat, at this high-octane international dinghy regatta, hosted by Oman Sail

www.mussanahraceweek.com

Please, take a moment to leave your comments or thoughts below.

Discover more about Oman: www.omantourism.gov.om

The Simplest Way to Make the Best of Dining

Omani Gastronomy

Local dining opportunities range from international fine dining to simple street food. True to the country’s marine heritage, seafood plays a prominent part throughout Omani cuisine. Muscat’s atmospheric Muttrah Fish Market is packed with piles of fresh crab, crayfish, tuna, sea-bass and red mullet.

To enjoy a genuine Omani feast, many hotels host traditional Arabian banquets, held alfresco during temperate winter evenings. Guests may sample Omani classics such as ruz al mudhroub, local cooked rice and fried fish, and mishkak, skewered meat grilled on charcoal. Omani coffee, or khawa, follows. It is served in small cups and is often flavoured with cardamom or orange zest and accompanied by Omani dates. 

The proximity of Oman to India, combined with the number of traders present in the country, means the local cuisine has also been injected with exotic Indian flavours, such as turmeric and saffron. 

Which local dining do your prefer in Oman? 

Please, take a moment to leave your comments or thoughts below.

Discover more about Oman: www.omantourism.gov.om

The Best Souks in Oman: A Cultural Experience

Souks and Souvenirs - One of the most beautiful attractions of Oman.

Oman is home to numerous souks. These traditional marketplaces have been an integral part of local life for centuries. Every place has its distinctive flavour and every city has a market that relates its stories, embraces its history and accompanies its evolution.

Both Khanjar daggers and frankincense are prized local souvenirs. Khanjars are handcrafted from pure silver and may cost up to £2,500, depending on age and intricacy. Each one requires the skills of at least three specialised artisans: one each for the dagger, the filigree case and the special leather belt that fastens around the waist.

Visitors to Muscat’s Gold Souk will be dazzled by the displays of jewellery, including many Arabian designs, in 18, 22 and 24-carat gold. Prices are based on the day’s gold rate, the weight of the item and a maker’s fee. Other unique souks include:

• Nizwa, this souk lies in the vicinity of the walls of the famous Nizwa Fort. Its building embraces both traditional and modern architectural lines. Through its many alleys and divisions, Nizwa Souk has remained for hundreds of years home to a number of local industries, such as daggers, copper, spinning, livestock sale, fish, vegetables and handicrafts. Famed for its silver as well as its Friday livestock market.

• Sohar Handicrafts, located in Al Hajra region near Sultan Qaboos Mosque in Wilayt Sohar in Al Batinah North Governorate. Craft shops sprawl over an area of 7,000 square metres and the souk houses under one roof various Omani traditional industries and handicrafts, such as leather, ceramics, palm leaves, cotton textiles, wool, gold, silver, as well as perfumes, herbs, natural medicines, honey, Omani sweets (Halwa) and traditional weapons.

• Al Husn in Salalah, renowned for its traditional Arabian perfumes and frankincense. Al Husn Souq is characterised by its location in the middle of Salalah’s old neighbourhoods in Dhofar Governorate. This souq retains a traditional style with its handicrafts, conventional in their design, shape and function, such as braziers and other traditional handicrafts. Al Husn Souq retains its ancient architectural personality, having preserved the original features of its surroundings, apparent in every corner.

What's your favourite Souk so far?  Have you ever been in any of these Souks? What are other Souks you'd like to visit in Oman?

Please, take a moment to leave your comments or thoughts below.

Discover more about Oman: www.omantourism.gov.om

The Golf Courses Article of Your Dreams

www.ghalavalley.com

Which would be your favourite course to play golf in Oman?

Although relatively new to the Sultanate of Oman, Muscat now has three 18-hole golf courses within easy reach of each other, with more expected to be launch in the near future. For those wanting to learn the game, each course also has an Academy staffed by qualified golf instructors who will be happy to guide you through the early stages.

The climate makes golfing most popular in Oman between the months of September and May.

Par for the Course

Backed by the Hajar Mountains, the Muscat Hills Golf & Country Club was Oman’s first PGA 18-hole golf course. Natural wadis have been integrated as challenging features for play. 

www.muscathillsgolf.com

Ghala Valley Golf Club, built into a wadi, has been a popular spot to tee off since its inception in 1971. All of its 18 holes are now entirely grass. 

www.ghalavalley.com

At the Greg Norman-designed Almouj Golf, 18 holes skirt two kilometres of scenic beachfront. Floodlights allow games to continue after dark. Year-round sunshine makes all of these courses a pleasure to play in any season. 

www.almoujgolf.com

Where do you think golf will take you for your future? Please, take a moment to leave your comments or thoughts below.

Discover more about Oman: www.omantourism.gov.om