Sites to visit
Ibra
Distance from Muscat - 150 km
Average drive time- 1 1/2 hours
How to get there - By buses / coaches belonging to the Oman
National tourist Corporation (ONTC). Cars can be hired from Car
rental agencies.
The Gateway to the Eastern region of Oman, Ibra, in the past, was
famous for its fine horses and horsemen. A unique feature of Ibra is
the "Wednesday Souq" run entirely by women. On the far side of Ibra
lies Al Mansfah village, a community of mansions once owned by
prosperous merchants of the 19th century during the reign of Said
the Great. With the decline of Said's commercial empire these once
stately mansions fell into ruin.
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Jebel Akhdar
Jebel
Akhdar in Arabic means "Green Mountains" and this region of the most verdant outside of Salalah and the Batinah Coast.
To go thererequires a 4-wheel drive ( and a road permit because of military
installations in the area). One of the most scenic areas in Oman,
coupled with the friendly local inhabitants, this region is a
natural spot for tourism. Points of interest include the towns of Wadi Bani Habib, Saiq and Al Ayn, where local farmers raise grapes,
pomegranates, apricots and walnuts. The climate is moderate year
round as the mean altitude is about 1800 metres. Also of interest is
the lookout over the canyon recently named Diana's Point, for the
late Princess of Wales who spent time here in the late 80s.
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Masirah Island
Masirah is idyllic for those who really want to get away from it
all. It is an island in the Indian Ocean, 20 kms off central Oman
coast just South of the Wahiba Sands. The stark rocky landscape is
rimmed with isolated beaches whose only visitors are the logger head
turtles that come to nest there. Beachcombers may come across a
variety of shell fish and other speciments of marine life. There is
also evidence of early settlements.
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Musandam Peninsula
Distance from Muscat : 500 km
Average drive time : 6 hrs by road, 45minutes by flight
How to get there : To reach Khasab, the primary town in the
region, travel by car up the Batinah coast for a six-hour ride. To
complete the drive to Khasab requires passing through the United
Arab Emirates for which a road permit from the Oman ROP (Police) and
visas (for some nationalities). Daily flights from Muscat are
operated by Oman Air. No visas required.
The
journey by air to the Musandam, dubbed as the "Norway of the Middle
East" because of the inlets likened to Norway's fjords, provides a
spectacular bird's eye view. The stark mountains of this region rise
2000 meters out of the Arabian Gulf. The patterns and textures of
the mountains are altogether striking. From November to March is
particularly an ideal time to visit the Musandam.
Upon your arrival you will want to
book a dhow to visit Khawr Ash Shamm. Here you will find placid
waters, marine life, secluded beaches and isolated outposts. A stop
over at Telegraph Island is a highlight of this trip. Dhow trips can
also be arranged to visit the cliff side village of Kumzar. By land
you can rent a 4 wheel drive to see Khawr Najd, Jebel Harim (the
highest point in Musandam) and the Acacia forest near Sal Al Ala.
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Muscat
Muscat,
the capital city of Oman lies sparkling white, topped with golden
minarets in the middle of a maze of brown pleated mountains reaching
down to the Arabian Sea. Described as "Arabia's jewel”, this city is
a blend of the old and the new. Muscat is green as green can be, and
defies being classified as part of a desert country. The roads are
lined with well-manicured green lawns and trees. During winter this
is interspersed with a profusion of multicoloured flowers. The city
has steadfastly retained its old-world character. Old Muscat has a
quaint charm about it with many forts, castles, mosques and towers
doting the landscape. Of particular note are Jalali and Mirani forts
flanking Al Alam Palace. The Corniche, with its promenade and souqs
(markets) is one of the highlights of the city. The old souq of
Muttrah is an ideal spot for tourists to buy keepsakes and
treasures. Greater Muscat boasts high-rise business properties (but
not too high), world-class highways, upscale suburbs rooted in
traditional Islamic architecture, elegant mosques, large green
parks, archaeological sites, museums and world-class hotels.
It is no wonder that Muscat is
increasingly becoming an attractive tourist destination among the
world's travel going public.
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Nakhl- Rustaq Loop
Distance from Muscat - 120 km
Time taken to reach - 1 1/4 hours
How to get there - By car, which can be hired from Car rental
agencies.
From the Batinah Coast to the west of
Muscat along the base of the jebels are several key towns of special
interest. Along the coast is the town of Barka with an impressive
fort and Bait Al Naman Castle, an early home for the Al Bu Said
dynasty(the current ruling family).
Further along the coast is the Jazir
Sawaidi, a small chain of islands near the shore where beach
combing, fishing and exploring are the prime activities. Closer to
the mountains lie the majestic fortresses of Nakhl, Rustaq and Al
Hazm. restored by the government and preserved as national
treasures.
For those bent on trekking, there are
many wadis running through the foothills and mountains, many of them
with running water. Wadi Abyadh is ideal for picnicking, while Wadi
Bani Awf, Wadi Hajir, Wadi Haylayn and Wadi Bani Kharus offer
challenging trails for those keen on canyoning. Wadi Sahtan and the
Ghubrah Bowl extend into the upper reaches of the Western Hajars,
while Wadi Hoquein and Wadi Ghafir offer challenging drives through
lush low lying valleys.
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Nizwa
Distance from Muscat - 174 km
Average drive time - 1 1/2 hours by paved road
How to get there - By buses / coaches belonging to the Oman
National tourist Corporation (ONTC). Cars can be hired from Car
rental agencies.
Nizwa,
the verdant oasis city with its blend of the modern and the ancient
was the capital of Oman during the 6th and 7th century. One of the
oldest cities of the Sultanate, this was once a center of education
and art. Nizwa has been an important cross roads at the base of the
Western Hajar Mountains connecting Muscat, Buraimi, and the lower
reaches of Dhofar. The Falaj Daris of Nizwa is the largest single
falaj in Oman and provides the surrounding country side with much
needed water for the plantations.
The city, famous for its historical
monuments, handicrafts and agricultural products, has an expansive
Souq showcasing a wonderful array of handicrafts - coffee pots,
swords, leather goods, silverware, antiques, and household utensils.
Nizwa fort, completed in the 1650's, was the seat of power during
the rule of the Al Ya'ruba dynasty and is Oman's most visited
National monument. The reconstructed Sultan Qaboos Mosque is one of
the oldest mosques in Oman. In the evenings, the call of the muezzin
fills the air calling the faithful to prayer.
A few kilometers from Nizwa lies the
mysterious town of Bahla. Bahla is the home of myths and legends
that have carried through the centuries. Some people today still
believe that magic is afoot in Bahla and many Omanis are
superstitious when it comes to talking about Bahla. This little town
is famous for its pottery. The old Bahla fort with its 12 km wall is
the oldest fort in Oman. The fort is believed to have been built in
pre-Islamic times and is now undergoing reconstruction sponsored by
UNESCO and the site is included on UNESCO's list of World Heritage
monuments. A short distance beyond Bahla lies the Castle of Jabreen.
This massive three-storied was also built during Al Ya'ruba dynasty
of the mid 1600's. It is a fine example of Islamic architecture with
beautiful wooden inscriptions and paintings on the ceilings. Other
interesting locales between Nizwa and Bahla are the 400-year-old
village of Al Hamra and the mountainside village of Misfah Al Abreen.
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Salalah
Distance from Muscat - 1030 km
Average drive time - 12 hours by road, (1 hour by flight)
How to get there - By buses / coaches belonging to the Oman
National tourist Corporation (ONTC). Cars can be hired from Car
rental agencies. Oman Air operates regular flights from Muscat to
Salalah
Nestled in the southern region of
Oman, Salalah has the benifit of the annual Indian monsoon: locally
known as the Khareef. This monsoon, which extends from early June to
mid September, transforms the countryside into a veritable garden
with tumbling waterfalls and meandering streams. The Khareef season
is a good time to visit Salalah. In July and August the government
plays host for the annual Khareef Festival, a cultural highlight of
the season.
Salalah is steeped in myths and
legends that date back to biblical times. In the Jebel Qara can be
found the tomb of the Prophet Ayoub, better known as Job of the Old
Testament. In Khawr Rhori lie the ruins of the palace reputed to be
that of the Queen of Sheba. In the surrounding countryside on the
flanks of the jebels grows the Boswellia sacra better known for the
sap it produces: Frankincense. Frankincense, of course, is best
known to Christians as one of the gifts of the Magi in Nativity
story. In all probability the Frankincense that was a gift to the
baby Jesus came from Oman as the Boswellia sacra tree grows no where
else.
For most of the year, the unspoiled
beaches of Salalah are ideal for scuba diving, canoeing, sailing,
jet skiing and diving. The marshy khawrs along the coast line are
sanctuaries to a broad variety of migrating birds turning the region
into a bird watchers paradise. But during the summer Salalah is
easily Oman's coolest destination to visit during the Khareef with
its crisp unpolluted air, cool misty clime, high rolling seas and
leafy ambiance.
Less than half an hour's drive from
Salalah is Ain Razat, a picnic spot with springs, hills, gardens and
streams. Nearby is the equally resplendent Ain Sahanawt. Seventy
kilo- meters east of Salalah lies Mirbat, famous for Bin Ali's tomb
(Bin Ali was revered in the early days of Islam as a sage and holy
man.). Taqah, 36kms from Salalah is a picturesque, quaint village.
The fort at Taqah goes back several hundred years and is well
stocked with authentic decorations and appointments.
Rising high above the coast is the
Jebel Samhan plateau, the highest point in Dhofar at 1800 meters.
Here you can find the hanging valley of Wadi Dirbat which is
impressive in full flood. Further into the jebels is Tawi Attir (the
hole of the birds), a natural sink hole over 100 metres wide and 250
metres deep. Nestled in a hidden valley is the Baobab Forest with
huge bulbous trees, one tree over 2000 years old and 30 feet in
diameter at its base.
To the west of Salalah are many
stretches of beautiful beaches. One of the most popular of these is
Mughsayl where you can find unusual blow holes in the rocky shelf
close to the shore. These holes display dramatic bursts of water and
foam sometimes reaching 50 feet in the air. Further to the west
close to the Yemen border lies the town of Rakhyut and is a pleasant
spot for picnic and swim in the ocean.
To the north of Salalah is the region
known as the Nejd. This is a barren desolate area that is actually
the southern fringe of the R'ub Al Khali. Here you find sweeping
sand dunes and parched wadis. Lying 175 km north of Salalah is the
remote village of Shisr. Here in the early nineties, with the help
of satellite imagery from the space shuttle, explorers found what
they believe to be the lost city of Ubar. Called by T. E. Lawrance
(of Arabia) as the "Atlantis of the sands", Ubar was once considered
to be the trading centre for frankincense before it was buried in
the rising dunes.
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Sohar
Distance from Muscat - 230 km
(by highway)
Average drive time - 2 hours
How to get there - By buses / coaches belonging to the Oman
National tourist Corporation (ONTC). Cars can be hired from Car
rental agencies.
Sohar,
a seaside city, was the capital of Oman many centuries ago and
legend has it that it was named after the great grandson of Noah (of
the Bibical flood). Originally known as Majan (Persian-Mazoun), the
city's name alludes from early ship building activity. The word "ma-gan"
means ship's skeleton or chassis stemmed from its copper deposits in
the mountains of Majan.
Sohar belongs to the fertile Batinah
coast region, and is arguably the most verdant city in Oman and the
drive to Sohar from Muscat along the coastal highway passes through
thick plantations of dates, mangoes, limes, bananas, vegetables and
fodder crops.
The Sohar Fort built around the 1st
century AD is one of the major landmarks of this city. Built on a
hilltop this fort has five impressive towers and is the only Omani
fort that is whitewashed.
Wadi Heebi, lying 63 km away from the
city is a good destination for picnickers. The village of Heebi is a
collection of ancient dwellings with an untouched rustic look. On a
15-minute detour before Heebi village lies the village of Al
Ghudafary, which is fed by an old falaj supplying gardens yielding
dates and papayas.
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Sumail Gap
Distance from Muscat - 75 km
Average drive time - 45 minutes
How to get there - Saloon cars can be hired from Car rental
agencies.
The only
natural pass through the northern jebels traces the trail of the old
Silk Route caravans as they carried their goods from the Far East to
communities of the interior. Follow the paths taken by Marco Polo
and Ibn Battuta to Fanja, the traders' crossroads, and the towns of
Bid Bid, Sumail and Al Khobar, replete with castles and
fortifications. Stop by the roadside fruit markets of Ad Dasir to
sample pomegranates, pumpkin and sweet lemons.
On the far
end of the Gap just past Izki is the verdant plantation town of
Birkit Al Mawz (which translates "pool of bananas"). Indeed, from
the ridge above the town the spreading forest of dates and banana
trees give the impression of a deep pool. From this ridge you will
see why Birkit Al Mawz is known as the "rainbow city," due to the
anticlinal structure of rocks at the base of the ridge behind the
town. The rocks frame the old quarter like a rainbow.
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Sur
Distance from Muscat: 335 km
(interior paved
road): 240 km (coastal track).
Average drive time: 4 hrs by paved road:
3.5 hrs by coastal track.
How to get there - By buses / coaches
belonging to the Oman National tourist Corporation (ONTC). Saloon cars and
4-wheel drives can be hired from Car rental agencies.
Sur,
a placid sea coast town with its striking traditional dwellings is a
pleasant getaway and one of the most important towns in the Eastern
region. The drive from Muscat via the interior cuts through wadis
and passes through the Hajar Mountains. An alternate route down the
coast through the village of Quriyat is adventurous and offers
fabulous views of sparkling white beaches covered with multi
coloured shells, deep ravines, cliffs that fall dangerously into
azure seas, rocks sculpted by wind and waves and lush green wadis
(river beds). The journey ends in the city famous for its dhow
shipyards (and presumed home of the legendary Sinbad the Sailor). A
trip through Sur's labyrinth of streets reveals many fine old houses
with carved doors and arabesque windows. From the corniche, the
dhows in the harbour can be seen against the scenic backdrop of the
Gulf of Oman.
On the way to Sur one can stop over
the fishing village of Quriyat, which was a major port centuries
ago. Wadi Shab is another of the must-see wadis of this region - one
of several wadis with running water throughout the year. Beyond Sur
about 40 kms away lie the beaches of R'as Al Hadd and R'as Al Junayz
where every year about 30,000 turtles come to lay their eggs.
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Wahiba Sands
Distance from Muscat :190kms
Average drive time :2hrs
How to get there : Saloon cars and 4-wheel drives can be
hired from Car rental agencies. You can reach the Wahiba Sands by
saloon car but to drive into the sands requires a 4-wheel drive.
The
great Wahiba sands are longitudinal dunes 200 km long and 100 km
wide running south from the Eastern Hajars to the Arabian Sea. The
dunes are 100-150 metres high in shades of colour from orange to
hues of amber. Bedouin camps can be found along the tracks and
trails in this isolated desert. In sporadic areas can be found
stands of single-species woodlands. Where the sands meet the ocean,
outcrops of aolianite (sand compressed into rock) can be found
displaying unusual and attractive abstract shapes. Here the beaches
mellow into soft shades of yellows and whites.
To the west of the Wahiba of the
small towns of Rawdah, Samad Ash Shan, Al Akdar and Lizq. Rawdah and
Samad Ash Shan contain ruins and reconstructions of old forts while
Al Akdar is the home of Omanis pit weavers who design elegant
textiles from their looms dug into the ground. At Lizq can be found
remains of structures that date back to Bronze Age. South of Lizq
are the prosperous towns of Al Mudaybi and Sinaw where you can find
almost every day the bustling Bedouin souq at the centre of town.
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Western
Hajar Mountains
Distance from Muscat - 200 km
(to Al Hamra)
Average drive time - 2.5 hours
How to get there - Saloon cars and 4-wheel drives can
be hired from Car rental agencies. Four wheel drives are
required for off road into the mountains and wadis.
Beyond Nizwa, the southern flanks of
the Western Hajar Mountains can be readily seen rising over 2000
metres above the surrounding countryside. Within these mountains,
rugged networks of wadi channels have carved networks of dramatic
canyons and caves. The most fertile of these have been cultivated by
the hardy shuwawis, mountain people, who have adapted to this harsh
lifestyle under the tropic sun. At Wadi Tanuf, the ever-flowing
springs are tapped to produce a commercially popular brand of
drinking water. In Al Hamra, 400 year-old mud houses are still
standing and occupied to this day. Out along the nearby wadi at
Hasat bin Sult Rock, ancientpetroglyphs estimated to be over 3000
years old lie in wait.The dark reaches
of the Falahi/Hoti cave system await intrepid spelunkers. Hidden
neatly in a crevasse on the mountainside lies Misfah al Abreen, a
garden paradise of humble farmers and herders.
To the west of Al Hamra is the road
to Jebel Shams(mountain of the Sun), the tallest peak in Oman at
3010 metres. Here it is where you can find oone of Oman's greatest
natural wonders, the Wadi Nakhr Gorge. Inside the canyon, you can
haggle with the local rug weavers, trek to the cliff dwellings along
the canyon rim and visit remains of towns once occupied ages ago by
Persian settlers. Rock climbers will want to test their mettle on
the stony crags of Jebel Misht while antiquarians willl want to
visit the mysterious Beehive Tombs of Bat.
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