Oman
I can confidently say that Oman blew my mind. I was asked to lead a tour there and beyond Muscat I hadn’t been anywhere else before, so I figured why not! It’s not a destination that had been particularly high on my bucket list.
Maybe because I didn’t really know what to expect, I found everything about Oman amazing. The dramatic desert landscapes were simply unlike anything else I had ever seen.
We only spent 7 days in Oman, but we saw so many stunning places and did so many cool things that it felt like much longer. We hiked along the edge of Oman’s Grand Canyon, we swam in the emerald water of Wadi Shab and the Bimmah Sinkhole, we saw turtles laying their eggs on the beach, we spent a night in the desert and one in Oman’s Mud Village.
Our time in Oman was action packed and awesome. Here you will find all my top Oman travel tips.
Quick travel facts about Oman
Where is Oman? Oman is a country in the Middle East, on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula.
How to get there: You can find the cheapest flights to Oman via SkyScanner.
Currency: Omani Rial (OMR) – see the latest exchange rate here.
Electrical plugs in Oman: Type G (the ones you get in the UK) – I recommend an international adapter so you can use it on multiple trips.
Capital city: Muscat
Best time to visit: The best time to visit Oman is between October and March. During the winter months the weather is dry and warm, in a pleasant way. I was in Oman in May and while it was mostly fine, on some occasions it was almost too hot.
During the summer months the weather is almost unbearably hot, with peaks of 40°C. One thing to take into account is that Oman is a Muslim country. As such you can expect restaurants and shops to be closed if you’re travelling during Ramadan.
That said we were there during Ramadan, and didn’t find it to be an issue, if anything we got to enjoy the beauties of Oman all to ourselves. Throughout the whole week we only saw two other groups of tourists!
How to travel around Oman: The best way to get around Oman is to rent a car and drive yourself. There are public buses that can take you between cities but they’re infrequent and quite slow.
Having your own car will give you maximum freedom and allow you to go off the beaten track to explore epic canyons and wadis. Make sure to get a 4x4 as some of the roads may not be paved.
Visa requirements: Most passport holders have to apply for a visa before travelling to Oman. There are different types of visas depending on how long you plan to be in Oman. You can apply for a Omani visa here.
