Main attractions in Oman
Muscat: The capital of Oman offers a blend of old and new. The city enjoys a dramatic setting with mountains on one side and the Indian Ocean (Arabian Sea) on the other. Muscat, Muttrah and Ruwi form its core districts home to 500,000 people, the grand mosque and many forts, castles, souks, traditional houses, museums and watchtowers. With its many hotels and solid tourism infrastructure, Muscat can cater to both the adventurous thrill seeker and those seeking rest and relaxation.
Land & Water Adventure - The variety of terrain in Oman makes for stimulating outdoor experiences. Featuring more than 1,700 kilometres of coastline, sun, sea and sand are in ample supply. Watersports of every variety from diving, snorkelling and windsurfing to sailing and deep-sea fishing can easily be arranged. The Hajar Mountains and Oman’s highest peak, Jebel Akhdar or Green Mountain, provide some thrilling rock-climbing experiences. Jebel Shams, or “mountain of the sun”, is the highest point in Oman at over 3,000 metres.
"The trek to the Wadi Nakhr Gorge, also known as the Grand Canyon of Oman, is an unforgettable experience. Wahiba Sands, with its endless stretches of desert extending to the Rub Al Khali or the Empty Quarter offer desert adventures and is a good place to experience the Bedouin way of life, while the many wadis, or dry river beds, provide the unique thrill of “wadi-bashing” in rugged four-wheel drives. Oman’s many underground caves are an explorer’s delight and the high point is undoubtedly the Majlis al Jinn, the second largest cave chamber in the world, complete with a subterranean lake."
Nizwa Fort, which was completed in the 1650, is among Oman’s largest and oldest forts as well as one of the most visited national monuments. This historical edifice is an example of the ingenuity of Omani architecture. Nizwa is the old capital of Oman and is home to the Nizwa mosque as well as a beautiful arts, craft and silver souk, and a Friday cattle market. Nizwa is just over an hour and a half from Muscat and can work as an add-on to a day in the Jebel Akhdar, a ‘must-do’ day trip.
Nature & Wildlife - Whales and great pods of dolphins are known to reside in the coastal waters off Oman. About 20 of the nearly 80 known varieties in the world have been spotted in the area. The beaches of Ras Al Hadd, Ras Al Junayz and Masirah Islands serve as a protected breeding ground for several species of marine turtles that come ashore to lay their eggs. The gentle creatures home in on the same spot every year and at night visitors can witness the turtles arriving at the beach to lay their eggs. The hatchlings emerge and struggle back to the water at daybreak (May-October).
Salalah in Oman, which experiences a regular monsoon each year, abounds in wildlife, thanks to its immense stretch of green cover. Leopards, which are rare in the region, have made a safe haven in Dhofar’s Jebel Samhan. The Sultan of Oman has declared the area a nature reserve and Salalah coast has 12 creeks, of which nine are designated nature reserves. Approximately 400 birds have been recorded in Oman, which is host to many foreign species such as the Golden Oriole, Nightjar and White Stork. Between September and November, many eagles, such as the Imperial Eagle and the Greater Spotted Eagle, migrate to Oman.
Spas - Muscat is a superb destination for a spa break with hotels such as The Chedi, the Al Bustan Palace and Shangri-la’s Chi spa offering world class spa facilities as well as wellbeing resorts such as the Al Nahda Resort & Spa and hidden retreats including the Six Senses Resort in Zighy Bay
Diving - Oman’s coastline and calm waters offer an underwater playground for scuba divers and snorkellers. The Musandam Peninsula boasts virgin diving set amongst spectacular fjords that carve natural walls and shelves accompanied by an enviable variety of marine life. Off-shore diving is popular in Salalah, as are the islands and numerous wrecks off Dhofar’s coast. Muscat is a very popular diving destination also and is a short distance from the Daminiyat Islands, a haven for divers.
