– Introduction to Oman | Planning your Oman holidays

Oman is one of the most under-rated countries in the world to visit. Sitting alongside its more famous neighbour, the UAE, it certainly has enough to tempt visitors of all genres to the country. The following is things to know when planning your Oman holidays.

Oman Flag - Holidays in Oman

With a rich history of seafaring and exploration, Oman is home to historical forts and some amazing architecture. The souqs in Oman, with their smells of incense and sights of glittering gold will make you feel like you have stepped back in time through an infusion of your senses.

The real beauty of Oman comes in its natural landscapes. On the coast, the white sandy beaches against the blue sea with the backdrop of the beautiful jagged mountains are a contrast to the harsh and stark emptiness of the Rub-al-Khali desert. With wadis to be hiked and hidden pools and waterfalls to be discovered adventurers will relish what Oman has to offer.

The people in Oman are one of the friendliest and pleasant you will come across. With a proud heritage and feeling of independence they are very willing to share their country with visitors. You will find time passing very quickly when you talk to an Omani about their country.

If you choose to visit Oman it is a journey which you will definitely remember for a long time after.

 

– What can you expect from Oman?

Rugged mountains, amazing coastlines and beautiful beaches, an extremely friendly population and some of the best scenery the Middle East has to offer.

 

– How we got to Oman

To get to Oman everybody needs to apply for an eVisa online. This in my case was granted within 24 hours. There are many different types of eVisa depending on whether you are resident in another GCC country and how long you plan on staying in Oman.

Oman Visa Stamp

 

The airport is easy to navigate through and you will have no problems finding the correct queue in the airport for immigration. The airport is in a close proximity to the city and is about 15 minutes from the centre.

For visa information for Oman please click here.

 

– Map of Oman & places we were

Map of Oman

 

Places we visited;

  • Muscat
  • Jebel Sifah

 

– Where to stay

There are a number of hotels in Oman ranging from budget to luxury. However the one thing to note is that not all will have alcohol licenses. If you want to stay in a place that has a bar then you need to check first as you may find yourself getting taxis quite a distance depending on where you are staying.

The hotel we stayed in was called the Hotel Muscat Holiday and had two bars and a nightclub. The Sports Bar had a full size snooker table, two pool tables, a Foosball table and a smoking area internal to the bar so you didn’t have to leave the premises. Located in the center of Muscat it was easy to travel everywhere in the city quickly. The food in the bar was excellent and we could fully recommend staying here.

For the link to The Hotel Muscat Holiday please click here.

 

– Car hire

Oman Number Plate

Hiring a car is one of the best ways to get around Oman. There are lots of rental companies in the airport and the prices are reasonable but it is better to book in advance. Traffic in Oman is also very well behaved compared to some of the other GCC countries and you will have no issues driving in the country.

Traffic at peak times may get a little crowded in Muscat so if you don’t want to be sitting in traffic try to avoid these times. In the rural areas don’t be surprised to find domestic animals like donkeys and goats crossing the road in front of you. Take care especially when going through the villages that you don’t hit them while looking around you.

 

– Activities and sights

The following items are some of the things that are recommended to see and do in Oman;

  • Find the hidden waterfall in Wadi Shab
  • Witness the conservation of the green turtle in Ras al-Jinz
  • Take a camel ride in the Rub’ al Khali
  • Visit the largest fjord in Oman in the Musandam Peninsula
  • See the Grand Canyon of Arabia; Wadi Ghul in Jebel Shams
  • Enjoy the tranquility in the majilis in Nakhal Fort
  • Drive on the dunes in Sharqiya Sands
  • Explore the land of gold, frankincense and myrrh in Salaleh
  • Visit the walled city of Bahla Fort
  • Feel lost on the tropical island of Masirah
  • Experience the hustle and bustle of Mutrah Souq

For details on our golfing trip to Oman please click here.

For details on other countries in the Middle East please click here.

 

– Food and drink

The food on the Arabian Peninsula is always a pleasure to try and Oman is no different. With foods which are common to all GCC countries available there are also some dishes local to Oman.

 

Foods to try

– Majboos is a dish of saffron flavored rice mixed with meat, similar to Kabsa from other GCC countries.

– Shuwa is a meat which is marinated with herbs and spices and cooked for one to two in an underground oven.

– Halwa is often served with local coffee (kahwa) and is a flavored sweet gelatinous dessert.

– Mishkak is meat marinated with different spices and then grilled on skewers and served with Omani bread.

– Mashuai is a kingfish roasted on a spit and served with lemon rice.

– Harees is wheat mixed with meat and served with a special sauce.

 

Drinks to try

– Kahwa is a coffee mixed with cardamom and usually served with dates.

– For the beer drinkers, as mentioned alcohol is not served everywhere. However there are some good bars around Muscat if you search for them.

 

– Additional information

Plugs and electricity: The plug used in Oman is the standard British (G) plug.

Vaccines: There are no vaccine checks at the border but it is recommended to have your Hep A, Hep B, Typhoid, and Rabies vaccines still in date before traveling.

COVID: All passengers will need to show a PCR test taken not more than 72 hours before travel. A pre-registration form found here needs to be filled out and the vaccine cert and PCR test need to be uploaded. You will also need travel insurance which covers COVID.

Currency: The currency is the Omani Rial (OMR). For current conversion rates check http://www.xe.com/ before you go. You can find ATM machines throughout Muscat but it is a good practice to ensure you have sufficient cash before traveling outside the major areas.

Language: The main language of the country is Arabic. A lot of the people will also speak English in Muscat so it is not an issue getting by. However in the more rural areas not everyone will have English so you may have to resort to the universal language of hand signals.

Security: There is no security risk in Oman, traveling the country you will feel safe and at no risk.