Travel and Tourism in Oman

Regions and Cities

Salalah and the Dhofar Region

Salalah, the capital of Dhofar and Oman's second city, is a world apart from the rest of the country. Lush with tropical vegetation for much of the year and transformed into a green paradise during the khareef monsoon, it sits close to the border with Yemen in the far south. The city has a relaxed, coastal atmosphere quite unlike the more formal tone of Muscat, and its cultural influences from East Africa and South Asia give it a distinctly different feel.

The archaeological sites around Salalah include some of Oman's most important and atmospheric. The ancient port of Al Balid, just east of the city center, contains the remains of a medieval settlement that was one of the most important ports on the Indian Ocean trade routes. The ruins of mosques, warehouses, and residential buildings can be explored on a well-maintained walkway, and the adjacent Museum of the Land of Frankincense provides rich context for the history of the region.

Wadi Dawkah, an hour north of Salalah, is home to a grove of frankincense trees that is part of the UNESCO-listed Land of Frankincense site. This is one of the few places in the world where visitors can see the Boswellia sacra trees in their natural setting, the gnarled, low-growing trees from which the prized resin is tapped. The grove is protected and carefully managed, and the experience of walking among trees whose product once commanded a price equal to gold is quietly extraordinary.

The coastal scenery around Salalah is dramatic in its own right. The khors, or lagoons, along the Dhofar coast are important flamingo and bird habitats, and the beaches at Fazayah and Mughsail, west of Salalah, are some of the finest and most unspoiled in Oman. Mughsail beach has natural blowholes in the coastal rock that jet seawater dramatically into the air when waves push into underground channels.

Things to See and Do

Oman offers a remarkable range of activities for travelers of all tastes and physical abilities. The country's most famous attractions can be divided into cultural, natural, and adventure categories, though these frequently overlap.

The forts and watchtowers of Oman are perhaps its most visible historical legacy. There are estimated to be more than five hundred forts and towers scattered across the country, from the enormous Bahla Fort in Al Dakhiliyah to the smallest hill-top watchtower in the remotest mountain village. The most impressive are concentrated in the interior, around Nizwa and the Al Dakhiliyah region, where Jabrin Castle, Rustaq Fort, and Al Hazm Fort are all accessible and well-maintained. Each tells a different chapter of Omani history, from the Ya'aruba Imamate to the Portuguese occupation.

The wadis, or seasonal river valleys, of Oman are among its most popular natural attractions. These canyon systems, carved by ancient rivers through the limestone mountains, often contain natural swimming pools of astonishing clarity and color. Wadi Shab, south of Muscat, is perhaps the most famous: a deep canyon with turquoise pools reached after a short boat crossing and a walk through palm groves and past traditional irrigation channels. The pools are connected by passages that require swimming through narrow rock tunnels, and the innermost pool is set in a cave with a waterfall. Wadi Bani Khalid in the Sharqiyah region is another celebrated wadi, wider and more accessible than Wadi Shab, with palm-fringed pools that are ideal for swimming and picnicking. Wadi Tiwi, near Wadi Shab, is narrower and wilder, with a road that follows the valley floor through villages perched on terraces above the rushing stream.

Snorkeling and diving in Oman reward those who enter the water. The Daymaniyat Islands, off the Al Batinah coast near Muscat, are a protected nature reserve and one of the finest dive sites in the country, with clear water, abundant coral, and a wide variety of marine life including sharks, rays, and sea turtles. The waters off Musandam are also excellent for diving, with strong currents bringing nutrient-rich water that supports a complex marine ecosystem. Masirah Island, off the central coast, is an important sea turtle nesting site and also offers good diving. The waters of the Dhofar coast, particularly around Mirbat, are visited by whale sharks at certain times of year.

Birdwatching in Oman is exceptional for a country of its size and position. Its location on important migratory flyways means that hundreds of species pass through in spring and autumn, and the variety of habitats, from mangroves to mountain scrub, from coastal lagoons to the interior desert, supports a diverse resident bird population. The Salalah area is particularly rewarding for birders, especially during the khareef when the vegetation is lush, and the African Bird Club has documented species in Dhofar that are found nowhere else in the Arabian Peninsula.

Rock climbing has grown as an activity in Oman, with the limestone mountains of the Al Hajar range offering excellent and increasingly well-documented routes. The Wadi Bani Awf area in the Western Hajar is particularly popular, and international climbers have mapped routes of all grades on the cliffs above the valley floor.

National Parks and Nature

Oman's commitment to conservation is reflected in a network of protected areas that preserves some of the most remarkable natural environments in Arabia. The country's varied topography supports an unexpectedly diverse array of wildlife, from marine creatures of the Arabian Sea to the desert-adapted animals of the interior.

The Ras al Jinz Biosphere Reserve is the most famous of Oman's protected areas and one of the most important sea turtle nesting sites in the Indian Ocean. Green turtles have been returning to this stretch of sandy beach to nest for millions of years, drawn by some ancient instinct that no one fully understands. The reserve encompasses a stretch of coastline where as many as twenty thousand turtle nests are laid each year, and the evening arrival of females from the sea to dig their nests, deposit their eggs, and return to the water is an experience that combines scientific wonder with a sense of deep privilege. The reserve operates strictly managed guided tours that minimize disturbance to the turtles while allowing visitors a close and moving encounter. Loggerhead and hawksbill turtles also nest here, though in smaller numbers than the dominant green turtle.

The Daymaniyat Islands Nature Reserve, nine small islands about twenty kilometers off the Al Batinah coast near Barka, is one of Oman's most important marine protected areas. The islands are surrounded by coral reefs of exceptional quality, with visibility that frequently extends to twenty meters or more. The marine life is extraordinarily rich: moray eels, octopuses, hawksbill sea turtles, reef sharks, eagle rays, and schooling fish of dozens of species inhabit the reef systems that fringe the islands. Sea birds nest on the islands themselves, and the reserve is closed to all access during the nesting season from May to October. Diving and snorkeling trips to the Daymaniyat Islands are operated from Muscat and from the coastal towns of Al Batinah and are considered among the finest marine experiences in Oman.

The Arabian Oryx Sanctuary, established in the 1990s in the Al Wusta region, was originally inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, the first natural site on the World Heritage List from an Arab country. However, it was subsequently delisted in 2007 after the Omani government reduced the size of the protected area to allow oil exploration, the first time in UNESCO history that a site had been removed from the World Heritage List. Despite this, the Jaaluni Oryx Breeding Centre at Yalooni in the Al Wusta region has successfully restored the Arabian oryx from the brink of extinction, and herds of these elegant, pale-coated antelopes now roam a large area of the central desert. The Arabian oryx, extinct in the wild by 1972, is one of the greatest wildlife conservation success stories of the twentieth century, and Oman played a central role in that story. Guided safaris to see oryx in the wild are available from camps in the Al Wusta region.

The Wadi Shuwaymiyah protected area in Dhofar shelters one of the finest examples of dry tropical forest in Arabia, a habitat type that barely exists outside of this corner of the Arabian Peninsula. The endemic Boswellia sacra frankincense trees grow here alongside a remarkable array of other plants adapted to the seasonal rainfall of the Dhofar mountains. The Jebel Samhan Nature Reserve in eastern Dhofar is a stronghold of the endangered Arabian leopard, one of the rarest big cats in the world. Estimated numbers in the wild are critically low, and the reserve is carefully managed to protect the leopard population and its prey base. Camera traps in the reserve have provided evidence of a small but persistent leopard population, and conservation efforts are ongoing with support from international wildlife organizations.

The Khuwair mangrove forests around Muscat, the Shinas and Qurm mangroves on the Al Batinah coast, and the extensive mangrove systems at Khor Al Batah near Barr al Hikman are important nursery habitats for fish and other marine creatures, and critical roosting and feeding grounds for migratory birds. The Barr al Hikman peninsula, a large area of tidal flats and sabkha on the edge of Masirah Bay, holds what is believed to be the largest concentration of wading birds in Arabia during the winter months, with counts of hundreds of thousands of birds of dozens of species.

The Hajar Mountains themselves constitute a remarkable ecological zone. Their limestone geology supports a complex community of plants and animals found nowhere else in Arabia, including several species of tree, shrub, and wildflower that are endemic to the Al Hajar range. The mountain ghaf tree and several species of wild fig grow in sheltered wadis, providing food and shade for a variety of birds and mammals. Arabian gazelle, hyrax, and several species of snake and lizard inhabit the rocky slopes, and the birdlife of the mountains includes Hume's wheatear, striolated bunting, and the spectacular Verreaux's eagle in the higher reaches.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Oman has five inscribed UNESCO World Heritage Sites, all of them recognized for cultural rather than natural values. Each site represents a different facet of Omani history and civilization, and together they paint a picture of a society that has been at the crossroads of trade, scholarship, and cultural exchange for more than four thousand years.

Ancient City of Qalhat

The Ancient City of Qalhat was the most recently inscribed of Oman's UNESCO World Heritage Sites, receiving the designation in 2018. Qalhat is located on the eastern coast of Oman, between Sur and Muscat, on a coastal plain backed by dramatic limestone mountains. The city developed as a major port and commercial center between the eleventh and fifteenth centuries CE, reaching its zenith in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries when it served as the principal port of call for Chinese, Indian, and Persian vessels trading along the Arabian coast. The Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta visited Qalhat in the fourteenth century and described it as a beautiful and prosperous city surrounded by orchards and gardens. The Portuguese explorer Afonso de Albuquerque visited in the early sixteenth century, after which the city went into rapid decline following Portuguese attacks on the trade networks that had sustained it. The ruins of Qalhat include the remains of a city wall, a network of streets and residential buildings, and the remarkable Bibi Maryam Mausoleum, a well-preserved domed tomb that stands on a promontory above the sea. The mausoleum, which dates from the fourteenth century and is believed to be the tomb of a queen or noblewoman of the medieval period, is one of the most atmospheric ancient monuments in Oman. The UNESCO inscription recognizes Qalhat's outstanding universal value as evidence of the multicultural maritime civilization of the Indian Ocean, a city where Omani, Arab, Persian, Indian, and Chinese cultures met and exchanged goods, ideas, and influences.

Festivals and Events

Oman's festival calendar combines religious observance with cultural celebration, and the country's position as a meeting point of diverse cultures means that its festive life is richer and more varied than might be expected.

Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, transforms the rhythm of daily life across Oman, as it does throughout the Muslim world. During daylight hours, restaurants and cafes are closed to daytime service, and the streets are quieter. After sunset, the country comes alive with the breaking of the fast at iftar, and the communal meals, social gatherings, and extended prayer times give the month a warm, community-centered atmosphere. Visitors during Ramadan should be respectful of fasting rules, not eating or drinking in public during daylight hours, and should be aware that business hours change significantly. Eid al Fitr, the three-day celebration marking the end of Ramadan, and Eid al Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, are the major holidays of the Islamic calendar, when families gather, gifts are exchanged, and celebrations extend for several days.

The Muscat Festival, held annually in January and February, is one of the largest cultural events in Oman. Spread across multiple venues around the capital, the festival features traditional Omani performances including music, dance, and poetry alongside international acts, craft exhibitions, food markets, and family entertainment. The evenings are particularly lively, with outdoor concerts and light displays that draw large crowds. The festival offers an excellent opportunity to see traditional Omani art forms performed in celebratory rather than museum contexts.

The Salalah Tourism Festival, held during the khareef monsoon season from late July through September, celebrates the unique phenomenon of Dhofar's summer rains. The festival, anchored at the Salalah Tourism Festival grounds but extending throughout the region, includes traditional music, cultural performances, craft exhibitions, and agricultural displays. The combination of the festival and the extraordinary landscape transformation wrought by the monsoon makes this one of the most distinctive travel experiences in the entire region.

The Nizwa Festival, held periodically at the old fort, celebrates the cultural heritage of the Al Dakhiliyah region through traditional crafts, poetry, music, and livestock shows. The frankincense festival in Dhofar celebrates the ancient trade with demonstrations of traditional tapping techniques, markets selling different grades of resin, and cultural performances. National Day on November 18 is celebrated across Oman with fireworks, military parades, and public performances, and the enthusiasm with which Omanis mark this anniversary of their national transformation reflects genuine pride in the country's development.

The Royal Opera House Muscat maintains a year-round calendar of international performances that represents another kind of cultural festival. Productions by the world's leading orchestras, opera companies, and ballet troupes bring high culture to Oman in a setting of considerable beauty, and the season announcements each year attract significant interest from residents and visitors alike.

Masirah Island

Masirah Island, the largest island in Oman, lies about fifteen kilometers off the central Omani coast near Haima and is accessible by ferry from the coastal town of Shannah. The island is known for its excellent surfing, loggerhead sea turtle nesting (it holds one of the largest loggerhead nesting populations in the world), strong winds that attract kite-surfers, and a wild, unspoiled character that is increasingly hard to find in the more accessible parts of Oman. The island's permanent population is small, infrastructure is basic, and this very rawness is its appeal. Accommodation options are limited to simple guesthouses, and supplies are best brought from the mainland, but the combination of marine wildlife, consistent surf breaks, and genuine remoteness makes Masirah a destination of considerable appeal for a certain type of traveler.