Oman holidays

Ancient culture and traditions combine with modern attractions in Oman’s capital city. Travel to Muscat, where tasty food, bustling souks and exciting adventures await.

With dramatic sea cliffs, dense jungle landscapes and pristine Arabian Sea beaches, the southern city of Salalah shows off a different side to Oman.

You’ll feel like you’re in another world in Duqm, a captivating Omani city surrounded by rolling dunes, fossilised forests and towering sandstone sculptures.

A trip to the desert should be at the top of your travel list in Oman. Head to the Wahiba Sands’ towering dunes for 4×4 excursions, sandboarding and Bedouin camp experiences. If you’re hoping to see a real-life desert oasis, beat the heat at Wadi Bani Khalid Pools & Caves, whose crystal-clear waters are flanked by dramatic cliff walls.

Oman’s rich past comes to life in the many forts, castles and watchtowers dotting the landscape, especially in the northern region of Ad Dakhiliyah. Visit the enormous UNESCO-listed Bahla Fort, and admire Jabreen Castle’s latticed-window courtyard and painted ceilings. Don’t miss climbing the 17th-century Nizwa Fort’s famous tower with views over the surrounding date plantations and the Hajar Mountains.

One of the best things to do in Oman is to get lost in the country’s colourful ‘souks’ (markets), where you can buy everything from textiles and jewellery to antiques and spices. Muscat’s Muttrah Souk is one of the oldest in the Arab world, and the Bahla Historical Souq is known for its pottery and metalwork. Don’t be afraid to haggle — bartering is part of the experience.

Oman’s Arabian Sea coastline is dotted with sun-bleached beaches and islands. Spend a day at Muscat’s Qurum Beach, or escape the tourist track with a visit to Al Khaluf’s powdery white sands. If you’re here to snorkel, Tiwi Beach’s coral reef is a great choice. And divers love the Ad Dimaniyat Islands for their whale sharks, sea turtles and colourful fish.

With deserts, mountains and sea, the diversity of Oman’s nature is one of the country’s biggest draws. Watch sea turtles hatch at Ras Al Jinz, one of the Indian Ocean’s largest turtle nesting sites, or swim in the Bimmah sinkhole’s turquoise waters. Of all the country’s natural wonders, the Wadi Ghul — often described as Oman’s Grand Canyon — shouldn’t be missed.

Spices play a big part in Omani cuisine, as does chicken, lamb, rice and vegetables. Expect traditional restaurants in Oman to serve dishes like ‘majboos’ (rice with chicken), ‘shuwa’ (slow-cooked marinated lamb or goat) and ‘halwa’ (a sweet dessert with a jelly-like texture). Travelling on a budget? Try ‘mishkak’, a popular street food of skewered meat.

In Muscat, the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and the Royal Opera House are two of the capital’s greatest cultural treasures. And the National Museum of the Sultanate of Oman is one of the best museums in Oman for Omani history. When you’re ready to sniff out more cultural experiences, learn about one of Oman’s greatest exports at Salalah’s Museum of the Frankincense Land.

The best time to visit Oman is between October and April, as the weather is perfectly warm but not too hot for hiking and beach days. If you’re travelling on a budget, April to May is a great option. This period also coincides with the end of the Damask rose-blooming season around the Jebel Akhdar Mountains, when the flowers are harvested for rose water.

While the country can be expensive, cheap holidays in Oman are doable. To help budget your holiday, expect to pay around two Omani rials (OMR) for a short taxi ride and under OMR5 for an inexpensive meal. Grabbing a coffee? You’ll typically pay less than OMR3.