Oman Travel Guide - Original Travel

Oman at a glance

Visit the great mud brick forts that defended the country's cities in Balha, Muscat, Al Hazm, Rustaq or the fort of Sohar. Stroll through souqs in the ancient capital of Nizwa, where we can aim to plan your visit to coincide with the city's Friday market – operating much as it has done for centuries, with Omanis arriving from as far away as Salalah selling their livestock. In the Wahiba Desert, marvel at the colours of the dunes – yellows, oranges and reds – shaped by the sand and sun, and see the world's only remaining wild oryxes. In the province of Dhofar, explore the land of frankincense, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Scale Jebel Akhdar ('the green mountain'), dotted with terraced villages, or Jebel Shams ('The Mountain of the Sun'), home to the great canyon of Wadi Guhl – the second deepest in the world.

In the south, visit a dhow yard near Sur, where they still make the sleek sailing boats that facilitated the Omani Empire stretching along Africa's east coast. In the east, cool off in wadis, or head to the beach of Ras Al Jinz, where you can watch sea turtles that come to lay their eggs here. Explore the starkly beautiful Musandam Peninsula, reached from the UAE and home to some fantastic diving. Now we’ve sold you on this wonderful country, the next questions on your lips may include when the best time to go is, what you need to know before travelling and what is the best route to take when you’re there. Luckily, our Oman travel guide has all the answers to further fire your imagination and start planning for your trip to Oman.