I have been wanting for a long time to road trip across Oman and I grabbed the opportunity to do so, as soon as they officially announced that from 1st September it will be open to fully vaccinated international travelers.
Officially known as the Sultanate of Oman, this gorgeous country has such a diverse landscape that there is no shortage of amazing things to see and do.
We spent 10 amazing days in Oman exploring its lush oases and endless stretches of desert. We also visited its beautiful mountains and even saw the Arabian “Grand Canyon”! I have prepared the ultimate 10 Day Oman Road Trip Itinerary for you where you will find what to see, top things to do, and how many days it’s recommended to spend at each location.
BASIC THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT OMAN
Oman is located in the Middle East and shares borders with Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. The time in Oman is GMT +4 and the best time to visit is between October and April. The infrastructure is excellent, making Oman one of the safest countries to visit and take a road trip.
OMAN ROAD TRIP: A COMPLETE 10 DAY ITINERARY
DAY 1 & 2 – EXPLORE MUSCAT
Muscat & Muttrah Souq
Depending on what time you arrive in Muscat, you can either check in to your hotel and get some rest, or you can start by exploring Muttrah Souq. This is one of the oldest souks in Oman and you’ll need at least an hour to explore it. In Muttrah Souq you will find clothes, spices, antiques, a few food stalls, and even household goods.
Where to park in Mutrah
If you enter from Al Bahri Road, drive towards the Fish Market where you will find plenty of free parking space. From there, it is a 10-minute walk to Mutrah Souq.
Yitti Beach
If you have some spare time, then I’d strongly recommend you to drive 30-minutes to Yitti Beach and watch the sunset. Don’t forget to buy a few samosas and a freshly squeezed juice from the souq before you make your way to the beach.
The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
On day 2, start by exploring the outstanding Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.
The main interior feature that you will catch yourself staring at, is the hand-woven carpet which covers 4,343 m2 of the praying hall. The second thing is the remarkable chandelier and the mesmerizing 600,000 crystals. This is the second-largest chandelier in the world!
Must know before visiting the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
The Mosque is open to the public every day between 8 am and 11 am, except Fridays. It is paramount that you dress conservatively. Women must cover their hair, shoulders, and arms (ideally all the way to the wrist). If you don’t have appropriate attire, you can buy an abaya at the adjacent gift shop. The entrance to the mosque is for free and there is plenty of free parking space.
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DAY 3 & 4 – OMAN ROAD TRIP TO SUR
Bimmah Sinkhole
Bimmah Sinkhole was created when part of the cave collapsed. Nowadays, this beautiful natural attraction is one of the must-see places in Oman! Bring your swimsuit and take a quick swim before you make your way to Sur. If you’re brave enough, you could even try to jump off the cliff but I wouldn’t recommend it.
Wadi Al Shab
Wadi Shab is a beautiful oasis located 2 hours from Muscat and it is one of the most popular Wadis in Oman. The locals love to come here, set up a picnic, and spend a whole day swimming in its crystal clear waters.
To reach the starting point, you have to park your car at the parking lot and from there take a short 3-minute boat ride to cross the river. The boat costs only 1 OMR and it takes 45 minutes on foot to reach the 3rd pool. The hike gets a bit difficult at parts but overall it is suitable even for inexperienced hikers (such as me).
What to bring to Wadi Al Shab
Be sure to bring lots of water, and snacks. Also, wear comfortable shoes, sunscreen, and ideally a hat.
Sur
Once you spend a few hours at Wadi Shab, make your way towards Sur.
Sur is located an hour and a half from Wadi Shab and a little over 2 hours from Muscat. The city is of historical importance, famous for its shipyards which still to this day build wooden Dhows.
Drive all the way to where the lighthouse is located, where you can take beautiful pictures and enjoy the view of the Gulf of Oman.
DAY 5 & 6 – RAS AL JINZ TURTLE RESERVE
Next, drive 40-minutes to Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve where thousands of Green Turtles come to nest. This is one of the best things to do in Oman.
Ras Al Jinz is a combination of a hotel located next to the beach, a nature reserve, and a museum.
You will need to book a tour which starts at sunrise and sunset in order to see the turtles. The exact times of the tours vary depending on the time of the year.
You can either stay at Sur and drive all the way to the Reserve just for the tour or you can stay overnight at one of the lodges located nearby.
We chose the latter and stayed one night at Sama Raz Al Jinz. The hotel is located only 10 minutes from the reserve and it was absolutely beautiful! The deluxe rooms are spacious, with open-air bathrooms and a patio where you can sit and enjoy some peace and quiet. My favorite spot of the hotel, however, was the open-air cinema! It was such a unique experience watching a movie under the stars.
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DAY 6 & 7 – OMAN ROAD TRIP TO DESERT
Wadi Bani Khalid
On your way to the Wahiba Sands, make a slight detour and visit the Wadi Bani Khalid, I promise you, it will absolutely be worth your time. The road is easy to drive, so even if you don’t have a 4×4 you won’t have any difficulties reaching the Wadi. In contrary to the Wadi Shab, this one is very easy to reach and the pool is very large, making it a hotspot for tourists and locals alike. You will want to spend at least an hour here; something to factor in when you’ll be planning your Oman Road Trip.
Wahiba Sands
Visiting the Omani desert was the highlight of our trip to Oman and I’m certain you will like the experience as much as we did. We decided to stay only one night in the desert at Sama Al Wasil Desert Camp, which felt much like a hidden oasis in the middle of the desert! We parked our car at Al Maha gas station and a member of the staff picked us up and drove us all the way to the hotel, which was located 30-minutes away.
If you rent a 4×4 car then you can drive yourself all the way to the desert.
Be sure to arrive in time for sunset, climb one of the sand dunes and watch as the sun goes down. It is such a magical experience!
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DAY 7 & 8 – NIZWA
Continue your road trip by heading to Nizwa, one of the oldest cities in Oman. Nizwa is surrounded by mountains and is home to one of the most popular fortresses in Oman, the Nizwa Fort.
Located strategically in the center of the town, Nizwa Fort consists of the Fort and the Castle. The structure overlooks a lush oasis of palms and the rest of the town. A part of the castle and its maze of cells and rooms have been transformed into an Exhibits Hall and as you walk through the doors, you will come across its beautiful courtyards.
While I’d suggest you not miss a visit to Nizwa Fort, I’d also highly recommend that you make enough time to explore the Nizwa Souq which is located next to the fort. This is a great place to wander and perhaps also buy any memorabilia you’d wish to bring back home from Oman. Don’t hesitate to bargain hard!
DAY 8 & 9 – JABAL AKHDAR MOUNTAINS
Visiting the Omani mountains is the perfect way to end your Oman road trip. At Jabal Akhdar you’ll have your chance to slow down and cool off from the heat. You’ll want to spend no less than 2 days here, relaxing, taking in the sweeping views and why not, even try a new activity.
Al-Jabal Al-Akhḍar is otherwise known as the Grand Canyon of the Middle East due to its dramatic scenery. Located at a height of 2,000 m above sea level the weather is always cooler here than in the rest of the country. The area is well known for producing rosewater, walnuts and pomegranates so don’t miss your chance to try them right from the source. Also, a nice rosewater bottle will make for an excellent gift for your beloved ones back home.
A guided tour is a good way to see both the authentic Omani villages and the hidden gardens and orchards. Most hotels in this region can arrange that for you.
While the best way to reach Jabal Akhdar and explore it is by a 4×4 car, we found out that there is also an alternative way. You can park your car at the checkpoint and have your hotel pick you up and drop you off at the hotel. The checkpoint is manned by police officers, therefore your car will be very safe.
We stayed at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort, and it is safe to say that it was one of the best hotel experiences we had to date. The hotel’s unique location offers jaw-dropping views of the mountains and they offer a range of activities you can do, so you won’t have to spend a dull moment (unless you want to). This is where I tried rock climbing for the first time! The experienced staff helped me overcome my fear of heights and I must say, it was the experience of a lifetime.
Day 10 – MUSCAT
Spend your last day in Muscat, doing last-minute shopping or you could simply take it easy and enjoy a few hours by the beach before you head back home.
Where to stay in Muscat
We chose two different hotels for our stay in Muscat and we loved both of them for different reasons.
Kempinski Muscat
We chose Kempinski Muscat because we loved its proximity to the beach; the hotel is located literally 2 minutes from the beach. The rooms were great and quite spacious and the service was fantastic. You know I’m a foodie though, so naturally, my absolute favorite part was their all-day dining restaurant. The buffet had a large selection of local dishes, as well as Indian, Asian and Mediterranean options. We loved our stay here and I can’t recommend it enough!
Swiss-Bellin Hotel, Muscat
The hotel is very new and modern. Loved its cleanliness and how convenient the location was. We were looking for a hotel to be near the airport but also to have easy access to the center of Muscat. The airport was a short 10-minute drive and the city center was around 20 minutes.
USEFUL INFORMATION TO KNOW BEFORE YOUR OMAN ROAD TRIP
Car – Many people recommend that you rent a 4×4 car for your Oman road trip. While this will make the experience easier, especially if you plan on visiting many off-the-beaten-path locations, it is not necessary. If you follow the itinerary above, the only places that will require a 4×4 are the desert and the mountains. With that being said, if you have a hotel booked at these locations, then you can ask them to have their driver pick you up from an agreed location.
Alcohol – Yes, Oman is a Muslim country, so they’re very strict when it comes to alcohol consumption. You can buy alcohol from the supermarket or enjoy it at your hotel, however, bear in mind that it is EXTREMELY expensive! A more affordable alternative would be to buy it from the duty shop and bring it with you when you travel.
Infrastructure – The infrastructure in Oman is very good which is part of the reason why this country is great for a road trip. Seeing that the highways are broad and relatively free of cars you might get tempted to step on it but beware and keep an eye on the numerous speed cameras. The limit is usually 120, so be sure to keep to that limit and drive safely.
Dress Code – Oman is quite westernized as far as the restaurants, bars, and hotels go, but, when it comes to dress code the locals stay very close to tradition. Males should ideally avoid sleeveless t-shirts. The females should be respectful of the culture and wear conservative clothing and avoid short skirts, deep cleavage, or seethrough clothes.
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CONCLUSION
As you can see Oman is the perfect country to take a road trip. You will need ideally 10 days to see Oman but it is also doable in a week. However, there are so many places that you’d be missing out on if you visit only for one week. Keep an open mind, respect the culture and go off the beaten path and I guarantee you, Oman will steal your heart!
