From strolling through the beach, hiking for hours in amazing nature, seeing the opera, and visiting amazing mosques to bumping into goats and camels just along the way. Oman has that and much more to offer.
I'm not one to take tours because it goes against the experience that I'm looking for. A tour is prepared and set up for you to have a glimpse of what happens in that place. On the other hand, what I want is to have a full experience of what is the life of the locals, even if is for a short time.
There's so much to do in Oman and I only had 4 days (soon on the blog 96hrs in Oman!) which is why I took a leap of faith and booked a tour guide. And I'm so glad I did! @OfficialOmanTravels not only showed me the best places in Oman, but they also took me to local spots for every meal (soon on the blog What and where to eat in Oman?), and it felt like I was among friends. I had an amazing time and was able to cover so many areas of Oman thanks to both Ahmeds, Osama and Talool.
Mutrah Souq
It's a must in the Middle East to visit their famous Souqs, they vary depending on the country. Here you can find everything from food, spices, textiles, and even gold! If you decide to shop at the souqs make sure you haggle the prices. It sounds a bit odd but its part of the dynamic, the prices and the different stores are prepared for you to haggle. Let's say you decide to buy a souvenir, the price will be double and sometimes triple the price that the seller is willing to accept. It's a dynamic that for some take time to master (I'm still working on it) but its a fun and friendly interaction. Go with plenty of time and cash. There are many restaurants where you can find local and budget-friendly food. The souqs can easily take you a couple of hours so if you visit Oman for only a few days try to move quickly.
Mohammed Al Ameen Mosque
Built-in 2014 and with a capacity of around 2,100 worshippers, this beautiful structure is as mesmerizing during the day as it is at night. The combination between the white walls and the golden domes makes the overall image of this mosque look majestic. Al Ameen can be seen from the highways on the way to Muscat, and what a view does it give.
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
Named after the current leader of Oman (Qaboos Bin Said Al Said) and built-in 2001 after almost seven years of work, with a capacity of around 20,000 worshipers. With the main dome and 4 other minarets, surrounded by beautiful gardens filled with flowers with the colors of the Omani flag. Take your time to enjoy this beautiful place.
Oman and in general the Middle East is full of forts, the key is to find those beautiful ones that have been maintained making sure they are authentic but also they are still in use. This time we visited a for which has been turned into a restaurant, "Rozna" and its definitely a place to visit, we really liked the food and the atmosphere. Here we have more places where
Bimmah Sinkhole
This was the first thing that popped up when I searched what to do in Oman and to be honest, I thought it was a bunch of Photoshop, then I kept looking and there's no way everyone edits the water in the same shade of blue! So I added it to the list of places to visit. During my research, I read that the local
Wadi Shab
Wadi Shab was the decision-maker when I was looking into visiting Oman. An amazing natural area with a nice hike, a fun swim and a beautiful waterfall at the end. It's at least a half a day activity and you'll end up exhausted but completely full of bliss. We go more in detail about Wadi Shab and how to make it through in our Complete Guide for Wadi Shab (hike + swim).
Forts
Oman and in general the Middle East is full of forts, the key is to find those beautiful ones that have been maintained making sure they are authentic but also they are still in use. This time we visited a for which has been turned into a restaurant, "Rozna" and its definitely a place to visit, we really liked the food and the atmosphere. Here we have more places Where to eat in Oman?
Sunset watching
I'm a fan of sunsets and I always take the time to watch them in every place I go, Oman definitely didn't disappoint. Ahmed found a tower right by the water in Muscat and it was the perfect location to take in the beauty of those minutes.
If you have more days to spend exploring Oman don't hesitate to contact @OfficialOmanTravels they know all those hidden locations that only locals know. Let me know what's your favorite thing to do or see in Oman.
Safe travels!
Until next time, Jailene