What do you think of going from trip to Oman? It may not be on the list of the most tourist destinations in the world, but it does have its visitors. This sultanate is en Asia and partly borders the United Arab Emirates.
Oman has beaches, nature reserves, mountains, deserts and of course, a lot history. If you like "exotic" destinations, today I leave you a guide on what to do in Oman to make it an unforgettable trip.
Oman
When planning a trip to Oman you should first know if you need to or not visa, it all depends on the agreement between countries. Most of the time the visa is processed upon arrival, but it should be checked.
You get to Oman by plane from any city in Europe or Asia and all of America. There are usually direct flights or with small transfers in neighboring countries. Calculate a flight from seven hours from Europe.
Oman is on the Arabian Peninsula and it has four airports and one airline, Oman Air, which is based at Muscat Airport, and one low-cost airline, Salam Air. If you arrive from a neighboring country there are five border crossings. Also there are cruises that arrive in Oman, of luxury lines, taking advantage of the five ports that the sultanate has.
When get around Oman there are options: or contrasts tours, or you travel in ferry, bus, taxis or rental cars. The buses are safe and cheap and operate throughout the country. The government company is Mwasalat and it has services in and between cities, but it is not the only company, there are others. You can also take a ferry between some coastal cities using the NFC, a national company, with first class and very fast ferries.
The taxis they are also effective and the proportion with the price is convenient. They are orange and white cars, although there are white and blue taxis that operate from airports. Not everyone has machines so you always have to arrange the price with the driver. And finally, of course, renting a car gives you more independence and the ability to fully customize your trip. There are many agencies.
But is it convenient to move only through Oman? It seems that it is a safe and more relaxed place than its neighbors and that its people are really very hospitable. Su road network is very good and you just have to follow the saying, Wherever you go, do what you see: the clothes have to be conservative (cover knees and shoulders), not be boisterous, ask permission to take photos and not go alone without a tour.
The best time of year to visit Oman is between September and March when the temperature is between 25 and 30 ºC. From April to September it is summer and it is very hot, over 40ºC. Finally, on practical matters, the currency here is the OMR (Omani Rial). There are notes from OMR 1 to 50 and smaller denominations called baisas with denominations of 100 to 500. One thousand baisa is equivalent to one Rial.
Tourism in Oman
Knowing all this, what can we visit in Oman? Well has eleven regions. We can start with the city of Muscat or Muscat. Is the capital and the largest city, located on the shores of the gulf with just under one million inhabitants.
Muscat It was a Portuguese colony in the seventeenth century and it is a really old city. You can today to visit museums, the Children's Museum, the Natural History Museum, the National Museum and many art galleries. There is also the Royal Muscat Opera House or the Muttrah souk, one of the oldest in Arabia. When it comes to the activities that are here, you can always walk through this historical area of the city, and so cultural, or go to the coast, enjoy it and its resorts or go snorkeling ...
Is the Yiti Beach, in the kilometer-long village of the same name, the Majlis Al Jinn Cave, one of the largest in the world, the Quriyat fishing village, the rocky landscape of Wadi Al-Khoud, the hole of Bimmah, the Al Amsab swamps, the Daymaniyat Islands ...
Musandam it is to the north and is separated from the rest of Oman by the UAE. What landscapes are here! Mountains over two thousand meters high, fjords, crystal clear waters ideal for swimming, diving or snorkeling. The base to explore this peninsular area is the city of Khasab. Cruises to pass or see dolphins or 4 × 4 tours that explore the fjords and mountains depart from here.
In the city is the Khasab Castle, Jebel al harim and if you want to add some day trip is the Telegraph Island and Khawr Najd or the picturesque Kumzar village, but in this case it is only by invitation that an agency must process.
A thousand kilometers away from the capital of Oman is Dhofar. You can go by plane or, with time, go by car and drive along the beautiful coastal route towards Salah, with great views of the beaches. The truth is that this far southern region has a lot of really beautiful attractions like the Mughsayl explosive holes, the Tomb of the Prophet Ayoub and the Frankincense World Heritage Site.
On the coast are the Hallaniyat Islands, where you can dive and snorkel, it is also the place of the Wadi Dawkah Reserve, Al Fizayah Beach, The Lost City of Ubar, the Jarzeez spring, the Thamrit dunes, Hasik cliffs, Al Baleed archaeological park or the coast of Mirbat. And it is because of its hot and humid climate that it is so green.
We cannot expand on the rest of the regions of Oman but I assure you that they all have charms: Al Wusta, Al Buraimi, Al Batinah South, Al Batinah North, A'Sharqiyah South and North, A 'Dhahirah and A' Dakhiliyah. Your own trip will have to do with what type of tourism you like to do. Are you active and do you like biking, walking, exploring? Do you like to eat and visit museums, explore cultural sites?
As you see, a trip to Oman can be a really amazing trip.