Travel to Oman

Oman in numbers

Why visit Oman

Mosques, forts, dunes, coast and monsoon in one sultanate

Landmarks

Muscat, Mutrah, Sur, Wahiba, Nizwa and Salalah

A trip to Oman usually starts in Muscat, with a loop into the Hajar mountains and Nizwa, a night in the Wahiba desert and a drive down to the coast at Sur; Salalah, in the far south, makes a trip of its own, especially in summer.

Muscat: the Grand Mosque and the old town

The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque rises above the capital with its minarets and lacework dome; visitors enter in modest dress outside prayer times. Further east, the old town gathers a palace, forts and white lanes along the water.

Mutrah, corniche and souk

Mutrah curves around its harbour below ochre mountains. Walk the corniche, then lose yourself in a souk scented with frankincense, spices and silverwork, best visited in the late afternoon.

Sur and the coast, down to Salalah

At Sur, a dhow-building port, a lighthouse and white houses face a turquoise sea and long beaches. Far to the south, the Salalah region lives by the khareef from June to September: mist, drizzle and green hills draw visitors from across the region.

The Wahiba desert

South-east of Muscat, the rippled dunes of the Wahiba change colour through the day. You cross them by 4x4 with a local driver, then sleep in a camp far from any light.

Nizwa, Bahla and the Hajar

Nizwa, the old inland capital, has a fort and a lively Friday market. Bahla Fort, a World Heritage site, stands below Jebel Akhdar among oases watered by the aflaj channels.

Before you go

October to April for the north, July and August for Salalah

Area	Climate	Best time to visit
Muscat and the north coast	Mild sunny winters, very hot and humid summers.	October to April
Hajar mountains and Nizwa	Cooler at altitude, very hot in summer in the valleys.	October to March
Wahiba desert	Hot and dry; cool evenings in winter, extreme heat in summer.	November to March
Salalah and Dhofar	Monsoon from June to September, green hills and gentler temperatures.	July and August for the khareef, winter for the beach

Rain is rare, but flash floods in the wadis do happen, so ask locally before any excursion. Keep an eye on fares before locking in dates, since the winter high season is the most in demand.

Getting around

Rental cars, 4x4s, taxis and domestic flights

Roads are in good shape and a rental car is the freest way to see Muscat, Nizwa and the coast. For the desert and some wadis, a 4x4 with a driver is advisable. Taxis and ride apps cover the capital.

There is no passenger rail network, so most people fly from Muscat to Salalah. Allow slack in your plans: distances between regions are long.

Food and culture

Frankincense, cardamom coffee, shuwa and hospitality

Dhofar frankincense is the emblem of the country, and the white dishdasha is still everyday wear for men. You will often be offered cardamom coffee with dates. Modest dress is expected at places of worship.

At the table, shuwa (slow-cooked meat), fresh fish, fragrant rice and Omani halwa make a meal true to the country. Coastal restaurants serve seafood every day.

Flying to Oman

The Omani airports covered by SniperAir

SniperAir destinations

Discover our destination pages

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Oman