Oman is special. Where else on the Arabic Peninsula has some of the “Sinbad the Sailor” feeling survived? Besides this 1001 Nights flair, we were stunned by lush oases, ancient fortresses, sandy beaches, dramatic mountain scenery, rolling desert dunes, picturesque wadis, deep Fjords and overly friendly people. All in one country! – Here you find a selection of 62 pictures from Oman.
Archive | Middle East
Itinerary & Travel Guide To Oman
1001 Nights Flair, Ancient Culture, Stunning Landscapes & Such Gentle People!
Oman is special. Where else on the Arabic Peninsula has some of the “Sinbad the Sailor” feeling survived? Besides this 1001 Nights flair, we were stunned by lush oases, ancient fortresses, sandy beaches, dramatic mountain scenery, rolling desert dunes, picturesque wadis, deep fjords and overly friendly people. All in one country!
Budget Guide To Oman – An Upscale & (Very) Expensive Destination…
Type Of Travel
Oman is an upscale and expensive destination, with a significant “but”: although the government is looking for “high value visitors”, i.e. tourists ready to dish out significant amounts of money, they also allow almost unlimitedly wild camping…
So choose your pick! Either you want something rather “classical” – expect a mid-range to high-end type of budget. Or you just go wild camping, and you can surely travel in Oman for a very reasonable budget. Note that this second option can be challenging both for Musandam and for the Wahiba Sands.
Dhow Cruise In The Fjords Of Musandam
The Peninsula of Musandam, Oman’s most northern enclave, is sitting right on the Strait of Hormuz, facing Iran and one of the most important sea trade-route in the world. For those with a more untamed mind, the rigged coastline resembles giant crippled fingers reaching out into the ocean. Steep slopes of bare rocks, completely void of vegetation, line these long inlets. The longest of these fjords, Khor al Sham, is 17 kilometers deep and a popular place to visit by Dhow. Continue Reading →
Wadi – Wadi – Wadi
“Wadi” means “Valley”, and there are dozens of those valleys carved into the mountains, some offering emerald water pools that invite for a quick refreshing dip into the water, some filled with Falaj and date plantations. You surely can spend weeks visiting the numerous Wadis throughout Oman.
Magical Wahiba Sands
The Shaqyriah, also called Wahiba Sands, are in my opinion THE highlight of any trip to Oman! There are many deserts on this planet, but the Wahiba Sands are surely what comes closest to what one has in mind when imagining endless sand dunes of various shapes, heights and colors. It simply goes as far as the eye can see, and beyond… You come here to experience and enjoy this endless immensity, the total quietness of the desert, with only the wind on the dunes as a background music, and marvel at the sheer beauty of this so hostile nature. Continue Reading →
Nizwa & The Surrounding Forts
Nizwa is the second largest city in Oman and a major tourist hub. It is basically on everyone’s route when visiting Oman, and it will most likely be your base for various ventures:
- Discovering the mountain ranges of Jebel Shams & Jebel Al Akhdar
- Marveling at the various Forts around Nizwa
- Wandering through some of the numerous “Abandoned Cities”
- Before moving further south to the desert and beyond
An Unexpected Highlight – Harat Al Bilad Heritage Village
Al Hamra Abandoned Village, Tanuf Castle Ruins, Birkat Al Mouz Ruins… There are numerous “abandoned villages” throughout Oman, and you can spend a whole trip there only visiting those. You will find quite a few in your travel guide, some highly recommended. These old traditional villages were simply abandoned when newer cities were built from scratch over the last 3 to 4 decades, offering modern housing to the Omani population. If they indeed make for an interesting glimpse of what life might have been only one to two generations back, all in all they largely look the same. Far more interesting and still completely below the radars of most visitors, as it only opened shortly before the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, is Harat Al Bilad Heritage Village, about 20 km south of Nizwa (22°47’27.924″ N 57°36’7.218″ E). Continue Reading →
Friday Goat Market In Nizwa – A Photo Essay
I experienced twice the Friday Goat Market in Nizwa: in 2014 and in 2022. This is a unique experience, and one of the most vibrant markets I have ever experienced in all my trips (a few years back, I ranked it as second best market I have ever attended in Africa, Asia, the Middle East or South America…) Continue Reading →
Jebel Shams & Jebel Al Akhdar
Visiting the mountain ranges of Jebel Shams & Jebel Al Akhdar is clearly one of the highlights of Oman, and one that deserves 2 to 3 days at least. Of course, you can stay much longer there, especially if you are into serious hiking: possibilities are numerous, for beginners and seasoned trekkers alike. Continue Reading →