In total, there are more than twenty civilian airports in the country. The major one is Muscat International Airport, which is located about thirty kilometers away from the main city of Oman. In 2017, after reconstruction, a new terminal, dozens of check-in counters, immigration and customs counters and a new baggage carousel were opened there.
It’s a modern airport with free Wi-Fi. There are ATMs and WCs in the hall that precedes passport control. After going through passport control, passengers can use a smoking room, visit an exchange office or duty-free shops and much more.
The second most important airport in Oman is Salalah International Airport. The new airport has four aerobridges with an air conditioning facility, as well as numerous check-in counters and a large parking lot that can fit thousands of cars.
The total area of Oman is 309,500 km2, it is the second largest state in the Arabian Peninsula. Oman borders Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in the west, and Yemen in the south.
Ancient Arab geographers divided the territory of the country into the "head", which was considered to be the Musandam peninsula, the "spine", which was the Hajar mountain range, the "back", which stretched along the mountains from Buraimi to Nizwa, and the "belly" or a coastal plain, extending to Muscat.
The main natural resources of the country are oil and natural gas. Almost the entire territory of Oman is located in the oil and gas basin of the Persian Gulf, dozens of hydrocarbon deposits have been discovered there.
In summer, it’s intensely hot in Oman, in July the air temperature in coastal regions rises up to +38°C and higher. Moreover, the weather there isn’t cold even in winter: the average daytime temperature in January is +24°C. The water in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman is warm enough for swimming almost all year round but the high season is considered to be the time from October to March: the greatest number of travelers come to the country during this period.
Muscat, the capital of Oman, can be the starting point for any trip around the country. But in the city itself, travelers will find a huge number of attractions: old fortresses, beautiful mosques and fascinating museums, a noisy and colorful traditional bazaar, a magnificent opera house, and a lovely waterfront promenade.
Portuguese forts of the XVI century with barracks, warehouses and watchtowers have been preserved in the capital's harbor. In Old Muscat there is a beautiful Al Alam Palace, one of the residences of Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said. It is a gold-decorated elegant palace in an unusual Arab-Indian style with a high spire and a bright facade. Also, guests of the capital can admire a great example of Islamic architecture, the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.
Lots of interesting places to visit are located outside the capital. For example, the Archaeological Sites of Bat, Al-Khutm and Al-Ayn, which is a group of ancient necropolises from the 3rd Millennium BC located near a palm grove in Al Dhahira region. In 1988 it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Another site from the list is Bahla Fort, which is a historic fort situated at the foot of the Jebel Akhdar. There is also Nakhal Fort, a large fortification in Al Batinah Region, the history of which dates back to the pre-Islamic period. It’s a very photogenic structure: a fort with battlements which now houses a museum surrounded by palm trees. The sights of Salalah, the second most popular city in the country after Muscat, are also worth visiting.
However, in addition to the historical sights in Oman, there are quite modern ones as well. For instance, Oman Oil and Gas Exhibition Centre in Muscat, founded in 1995. The museum is an interactive journey exploring the discovery, extraction and use of fossil fuels in Oman.
There is no railway in Oman. Getting to the secluded places of the country can be difficult, but the most popular resorts are connected by a beautiful highway that runs along the coast from Muscat to the United Arab Emirates.
To get stuck in a traffic jam is unlikely there, petrol is quite cheap, about $0.6 per liter, and there are many petrol stations along the way, which usually have WCs and small shops where you can buy snacks, drinks and sweets. It is convenient to travel around Oman on your own by a rented car or by intercity buses.
In the most visited regions of the country there are numerous hotels, entertainment facilities, markets and shops, as well as restaurants and cafes of different price categories, from cheap snack bars to fine restaurants, which are often located in expensive hotels.
Oman is a country with a rich cultural and historical heritage and amazing nature. It’s the most romantic country in the Arabian Peninsula, people come to Oman to dive in the atmosphere of an oriental fairy tale filled with incense scents.
Picturesque villages, ancient fortresses and beautiful mosques coexist there with the warm sea and large sandy beaches, deep canyons and majestic mountain ranges, oases and fantastic desert dunes.
Adventure safaris and exciting guided tours, wellness holidays on the coast and entertainment of big cities – a trip to Oman can be anything, you just need to decide on your personal preferences.
In Oman you can find hotels of any star ratings, for any purposes and budgets. As for meals, a lunch for two people in a cheap cafe will cost about $6-7.5. A three-course lunch for two in a middle-class restaurant will cost from $25 to $35.
Prices for some food products: a liter of milk can be bought there for about $1.5, and a loaf of bread for $1. The price of a 1.5L mineral water bottle is about $0.5, a bottle of wine, depending on the quality of the drink, costs on average from $13 to $52, while a bottle of beer can be purchased for $2-6.
As for souvenirs, postcards with local views cost $0.5, magnets to be a reminder of the trip – $1.7, T-shirts or traditional clothing – $7, and the price of incense is about $5 or higher.
A trip to Oman can be a real adventure with a desert safari by SUVs or camels and a trip to the mountains, or vice versa, it can be a peaceful beach holiday. However, even a beach holiday in the country can be active enough as there are many leisure activities to choose from: windsurfing, kayaking, sailing a catamaran, water skiing and jet skiing, exciting fishing.
The coastline of the Gulf of Oman is replete with rocky areas, deep coves and coastal islands, such features of the landscape attract lovers of snorkeling and diving there. You can see many marine plants and animals in their natural habitat: there are dozens of varieties of corals, fish and turtles.
Sea trips by Dhow, which are traditional wooden sailing vessels, by yachts or speedboats are also popular with tourists. Photo shoots with breathtaking scenery in the background and watching cute dolphins that can frolic right by your boat, add to the sea trip experience. Both children and adults will definitely like it.
Oman is one of the safest countries in the world and a perfect destination for business trips. There the beauty of nature is complemented by developed modern infrastructure, new hotels and business centers are being built now, well-known international hotel chains have their branded hotels in Oman and provide world-class service to MICE travelers.
The country's authorities are doing a lot to develop tourism: electronic visas have been introduced in Oman, the International Airport in Muscat has undergone major reconstruction and now serves even more passengers. A few years ago, the construction of an exhibition and congress center was completed in the capital of the country. It has dozens of sites designed for organizing exhibitions, conferences and business meetings. Oman, the fabulous country of the Persian Gulf, is getting more and more popular as a center of MICE tourism year by year.
Hot deserts and blooming oases. Majestic mountain ranges and deep canyons. Charming villages among green palm groves, ancient fortresses, beautiful mosques and modern cities. The contrasts of Oman cannot but fascinate, a trip there will be an unforgettable experience because the country is one of the pearls of the Arabian Peninsula.
Those who are eager to learn something new on a journey and explore new places, will definitely like Oman. The hospitable country can be proud of its cultural heritage, rich history and ancient traditions, which are kept alive.
Moreover, Oman is a perfect destination for beach holiday lovers. It’s a country of endless summer: the sea is warm all year round, providing tourists with great opportunities to swim and do all kinds of water sports.
The capital of Oman since 1749. The name Muscat means anchorage or the place of "letting fall the anchor". And it’s really worth "anchoring" there, at least to spend a holiday, because a visit to the city will surely be truly memorable and pleasant.
Before it was easy to get to Muscat only by the sea. By land, people got there with great difficulty, often crossing mountain passes on foot. Today, there is a developed road network and a large international airport, which underwent reconstruction a few years ago, so now it can serve a great number of passengers coming to Oman from all over the world.
Old fortresses and palaces, parks and museums – there is a lot to see in Muscat. And shopping in the colorful oriental bazaars of the city will add to the pleasant memories of the trip.
It’s the capital of the Dhofar governorate and the third largest city in Oman. Salalah is a real oasis, so one of the tourist attractions of the city is the beauty of nature.
You can get to Salalah by plane, as there’s an international airport there. When approaching the city, travelers can enjoy a magnificent view of the mountain ranges and fertile plains.
There you can soak up the sun on large white sand beaches and swim in the azure sea, learn about traditions and lifestyles of locals, as well as immerse yourself in the history of Oman by visiting archaeological sites. In the center of the city, next to the Sultan's palace, there is a bustling oriental bazaar where gold and silver jewelry, incense and much more are sold.
In Oman you can find any type of accommodation for any budget, from campsites to luxury hotels. Such large and famous international hotel chains as Intercontinental, Hyatt, Sheraton and many others are represented there.
A large number of hotels are concentrated in the capital of the country, Muscat, especially in the most popular tourist area of Al Qurum along the coastline with public beaches. Muscat's guests also like staying in the elite Al Mouj district, designed by analogy with the Dubai Marina.
In the capital, as well as in other cities of the country, there are many hotels that are suitable for travelers arriving in Oman for business purposes. The coast of the country is dotted with modern resorts, where groups of friends, couples and families with children come to enjoy sunbathing, swimming in the warm sea and other recreational activities.
Both the architecture and the interior are luxurious there. The carpet decorating the large prayer hall is listed in the Guinness World Records book.
The symbols of Muscat, Portuguese forts of the XVI century with powerful battlements.
It’s a colorful oriental bazaar in Old Muscat, where you can buy stunning Omani daggers, jewelry and much more.
Picturesque "green mountains", as their name is translated from Arabic, rise to a height of 2,980 m above sea level.
The Ethnographic Museum in old Muscat, its exposition includes ancient weapons, national costumes, and models of traditional dwellings.
It’s a picture-perfect Omani abandoned village located in the Jebel Akhdar, where the houses and steps of ancient stone stairs seem to appear out of the rocks.
It’s a ceremonial palace of Sultan Qaboos which represents one of the most extravagant expressions of contemporary Islamic design in the world.
It's the highest mountain in the country which hosts Wadi Ghul, the Grand Canyon of Oman with a view of the abyss.
There you can see ancient irrigation systems called aflaj and walk around a restored fort.
It is home to many species of turtles, including the specially protected green sea turtle.
A former capital of Oman, surrounded by palm groves, authentic villages and ancient defensive forts.
It’s a paradise in the desert, a picturesque oasis among the mountains with emerald fresh water flowing from mountain springs.
It’s a region of desert with famous multi-colored dunes up to 200 meters high, the shades of which range from black to honey-golden.
It’s a small fishing town 83 km southeast of Muscat, which is famous for a fish market and an ancient fort built by the Portuguese at the entrance of the bay.
An amazingly beautiful green valley among the rocks. People come there to relax and swim in the purest turquoise water.
A lake of turquoise waters, it’s a water-filled depression, structurally a sinkhole, which is approximately 20 m deep.
It’s an oasis with banana and date palm groves and villages that hide in the shade of palm trees.
It’s a luscious valley with a waterfall and a great place to have a picnic or ride horses or camels.
Kilometers of fiery red burning sand. A huge desert that covers the territory of four states.
The tomb of prophet Job in the mountains, half an hour's drive from Salalah. It’s a biblical place open to pilgrims.
An authentic fishing village with traditional houses and its own sardine factory.
It’s a long stretch of clear blue water with white sand and beautiful cliffs on either side of the water.
It’s one of the most famous in the Dhofar region and the most beautiful castle in Oman. In the past it was the residence of the governor of those places.
It’s the two-storey building of a luxury fragrance brand which draws inspiration from the natural resources of Oman.
It’s the ancient fortified port city 35 km away from Salalah the ruins of which make a fascinating archeological park.
It’s located in a picturesque place in the mountains. The creation of its famous carved gates is assumed to date back to the beginning of the XIX century.
It’s a town famous for the 13th century Fort which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and pottery that dates back to as early as 2500 BC.
It is so narrow that by spreading your arms, you can touch both of its walls. The bends of the canyon really resemble a snake.
It’s one of the most interesting castles in Oman, built at the end of the XVII century, a source of inspiration for writers and poets.
The old houses of the village are located in a cascade on the slopes of the mountains, above the emerald greenery of a palm oasis.
It’s a 400-year-old town notable for a number of Yemeni-style mud brick buildings near palm groves.
A place that is famous all over the world for its mineral springs and Oman's largest mineral water bottling plant.
It’s a charming village near Nizwa, a picturesque place with traditional architecture and an ancient irrigation system.
