What to see in Oman: 8 must-sees
Discover what to see in Oman: 8 must-see destinations, from Muscat to Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. Predominantly natural and city; each entry includes the best time to visit and the link to its official source.
Natural(5)
Enter the Wahiba Sands, in Ash Sharqiyah, and cross its orange dunes aboard a 4x4 or on the back of a camel. Meet the Bedouin families who still raise goats among the oases and share their cardamom coffee under the tents. Sleep in a camp among dunes as tall as 100 meters, and watch a night sky without light pollution. In the morning, walk the sandy crests while the sun dyes the horizon copper and listen to the absolute silence of the Omani desert.
Discover Oman's highest peak, 3,009 meters above sea level, in the Ad Dakhiliyah region. Walk its mountain trails up to the rim of the great canyon, where rocky walls drop hundreds of meters and the views take in the whole Al Hajar range. Along the hiking routes you will find geological formations carved over millions of years, together with fauna and flora adapted to the altitude. Wear proper footwear, carry enough water, and make the most of the summit's fresh climate — very unlike the heat of the Omani coast.
Peek into Musandam Bay from a traditional dhow and travel fiords of limestone rock plunging into turquoise water. The cliffs hide coves reachable only by sea, and it is common to see bottlenose dolphins accompanying the route. On land, mountain trails climb to viewpoints over the Strait of Hormuz, while the seabed invites snorkelling among corals and turtles. The peninsula — an Omani enclave apart from the rest of the country — keeps fishing villages where the tides set the pace.
Cross the entrance of Al Hoota Cave, the largest in Oman, in the Ad Dakhiliyah region, and walk its underground galleries among stalactites, stalagmites and calcite columns formed drop by drop. The electric train brings you to the access, and the inner trail runs beside a lake where blind fish adapted to total darkness live. Outside, the rocky landscape of the Al Hajar foothills invites a walk and the local fauna and flora spotting before heading back to the visitor center.
City(2)
Look at Oman's capital between ochre mountains and the Gulf of Oman: the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, with its hand-woven carpet and glass chandelier, opens to visitors in the morning. Walk Muttrah souk, among frankincense, silver and dates, and follow the corniche to the Al-Mirani Fort and the Al Alam Palace. Climb the citadel, gaze at the desert on the horizon and end the day with grilled fish beside the fishing port.
Walk Salalah between June and September, when the khareef monsoon greens the Dhofar mountains and the drizzle cools the coast. Walk the Al Husn souk, where the region's frankincense is sold, and visit the coconut and papaya plantations fringing the town. Head to the ruins of Al Baleed and the tombs of Nabi Ayoub, and end the day on the white-sand beaches facing the Arabian Sea.
Religious(1)
Walk the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat, where Indian marble, silver panels and carved calligraphy define Oman's main mosque. Look at the hand-woven Persian carpet covering the prayer hall and the glass chandelier hanging under the central dome. Walk the courtyards of polished stone and the fountain gardens surrounding the five minarets. Wear clothing covering arms and legs, and arrive early, since access for non-Muslims is allowed only in the mornings.
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