You will undoubtedly have heard of Oman but perhaps have not yet considered visiting. But if you do you will never regret it; in fact, you’ll wonder why you waited.
The best time to visit Oman is between October and April, when the temperatures are warm (17°C-35°C). The country has a reliably warm climate, but you might prefer to avoid the scorching summer months between June and August.
The flight time from the UK is just over eight hours so in no time at all you can immerse yourself in a completely different culture.
You wouldn’t be alone in thinking of the Middle East as high rise and glamour, but you’d be amazed at what is so different about the most southern country in the region, the Sultanate of Oman. It is low rise, authentic, cultured and steeped in the history and traditions of its people. It also has a tremendous variety of places to visit and things to do and so truly has something for everyone.
The warmth of the people of Oman will touch you as soon as you arrive. They will tell you with pride about their love for the late Sultan Qaboos, who sadly died in January 2020 and was the longest serving leader in the Middle East and Arab world. They have much to be proud of and rightly so.
Some of the most wonderful aspects to Oman are the scenery and natural beauty. Oman has seven main regions; all with a different character and flavour. We have chosen just a few of these to share with you about here.
At the southern point of the northern region is the capital Muscat. It is a place of magic and delight for all the senses. The Muttrah Souk is a maze of alleyways filled with the sounds of commerce unchanged for centuries and aromas of spices, herbs and burning frankincense. You can haggle over beautiful gold jewellery, silverware, textiles and even traditional lamps! Outside the centre of Muscat is one of a number of old forts around the city including the Al Jalali Fort, built in the 1580s by the Portuguese on the foundations of an older Arab fort. It is now a museum and a visit is highly recommended. Nearby is the palace which was the official residence of the late Sultan. You can’t go in but you can get very close up and soak up the atmosphere. A taxi ride out of the city is the new Grand Mosque built in 1992 under instruction from the late Sultan Qaboos.
This is an extraordinary place, with beautiful gardens and white buildings made of Indian sandstone. The main prayer room or Musalla can accommodate 6,500 worshipers and has and exquisite handmade carpet that was until recently the largest carpet in the world.
Further up the coast you will enter the beginning of the Hajar Mountain range, which eventually reaches the UAE. Here you can witness the grandeur of the highest mountain in Oman, Jebel Shams. This region known as Nizwa has so much to see it is a perfect area to begin your visit. You can experience the Wadi Ghul, the Grand Canyon of Arabia and two of the most celebrated ancient forts in Oman, Bahla and Jabreen. Make sure you make a visit to the abandoned villages in the mountains; they are a window into a lost world.
Despite Oman’s rich landscapes including forests, lakes and mountains, it is actually 85% desert and home to the largest of the world’s sand deserts. The Wahiba Sands feel like a movie set, with dunes measuring 100 meters of multi-coloured sand, Bedouin camps and of course camels.
You can experience this for yourself by staying at a desert camp for the night and enjoy true Arabian hospitality first hand.
Travelling East takes you to Ras Al Jinz, the Arabian Peninsula’s easternmost point. Here you will find a beautiful coastline and a nesting site for the now rare green sea turtles. Oman is one of the hot spots in the world for witnessing the wonder of turtle-hatching. The best time to see them is between April and August every year.
There is so much to see and do in Oman that you will want to return more than once. We have only touched the surface of the delights of this wonderful gem of a country and we’d love to help you to discover more. Contact me today to find out about how a holiday to Oman can be designed for your particular interests and holiday preferences: history and culture, wildlife and landscapes, luxury and relaxation, activities and excitement. Oman is waiting for you, and it has it all.
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As a Personal Travel Consultant, I am able to organise fantastic holidays all over the world that are completely ABTA and ATOL protected. Also being part of the Hays Travel Group, I have the backing and resource of the largest independent travel group in the UK – meaning great service and prices!