Oman Road Map Pdf Download
Samantha Figueredo
These two destinations are all within a two-hour drive from Muscat and make for a great day trip if you have an extra day before heading into the desert. You can visit both spots or pick and choose as you wish.
The valley is home to a number of small villages and farms, and is also a popular spot for camping and picnicking. To get to this wadi though, you definitely need a 4WD vehicle as the terrain requires off-roading.
Sur is the capital of the Ash Sharqiyah Region and has a population of about 70,000 residents. The city is known for its traditional dhow shipbuilding industry, and looking out at the wooden ships in the harbor feels like peeling back the curtain on another era in Oman history.
Before sunset, make the drive to Bidiyah, which is the launching point into the Wahiba Sands Desert. I highly recommend having a desert camp booked here for a couple nights so that you can enjoy the desert ambiance to its fullest.
If you have any concerns about driving in sand, I highly recommend going with option #2, which is what we did. Some of the drive is along pretty packed, flat sand, but towards the end of the drive it felt like we were driving on rolling dunes, so I feel like you need to be pretty expert level to do this on your own without issues!
The Wahiba Sands Desert, also known as the Sharqiyah Sands, is a vast desert region located in the eastern part of Oman. The desert is characterized by vast stretches of golden sand dunes that can reach heights of over 300 feet.
The Nizwa Fort is a testament to the rich history and culture of Oman. With parts of it originally built in the 9th Century and then renovated in the 17th century, the fort served as the seat of power for the ruling Imams of Oman.
This is an incredible place to visit any time of day, but sunset is particularly magical and you can watch the sun go down from atop one of the higher levels of the fort which gives you a nice vantage point over the city.
About 25 minutes from Nizwa are the Birkat Al Mouz Ruins, two separate groups of traditional Omani villages that are mostly now abandoned. You have a few options for including these epic ruins in your Oman road trip itinerary.
In my opinion, there are two ways that you need to experience the Birkat Al Mouz Ruins. The first is to actually go into the ruins and walk around them to get an up close look at the unique mud village construction of the area.
This structure was built in the late 17th century and is considered one of the best-preserved castles in the country. It was constructed using traditional building techniques and materials, including mud bricks, gypsum, and wood and has two main towers.
Al Hamra is a small 400 year-old village known for its traditional mud houses, which are sometimes built multiple stories high. The houses are made of mud bricks and are cooled naturally by the thick walls, which help to keep the interior temperature comfortable even in hot weather.
Prices for food, accommodation, and transportation are generally lower than in other Middle Eastern countries, although of course prices can vary greatly depending on where you go, where you stay and what you do.
Despite this, I still found that how people dressed in Oman was a lot more laidback that in other Muslim countries and we saw plenty of people hiking in shorts, wearing bikinis at swimming holes and at the luxury resorts, etc.
During this Oman road trip itinerary, I was traveling with two other women and we never felt unsafe at any point. I even spent the entire last day alone driving our rental car back 2 hours to Muscat by myself and I was fine.
However, as with any destination, it is always a good idea to be aware of your surroundings and to take standard precautions to protect your personal safety. Here are a few tips to help you stay safe in Oman:
If you ever do encounter problems or need assistance while traveling in Oman, you can contact the local police or the tourist police. The tourist police are specially trained to assist tourists and can be reached by calling 9999.
Hi Elisa! I think I spent about $250 per day including hotels but keep in mind I was sharing a rental car with three girls and splitting hotel rooms with one other person so that helped us cut costs. We stayed at a mix of really luxury hotels and then some cheaper more local stays in the desert and Nizwa. You could do it for less I think but I hope that gives you an idea!
Situated in the Middle East, is an other-worldly landscape with ancient cities, jagged mountain peaks, endless sand dune deserts, river gorges, and a coastline and islands with some of the clearest blue waters. Oman is a country that dates back thousands of years, to the origins of civilization, and has a rich culture and history, among so many natural wonders. Oman is also one of the safest and most stable countries in the Middle East - with great highway infrastructure and very modern roads. The country's tourism industry has begun to boom in the last few years, adding more tour companies and glamorous luxury resorts in a number of different areas.
Road tripping through Oman was a huge travel highlight of the past few years, and my biggest regret is simply not planning a few extra days here. This 7-Day Road Trip Itinerary is jam-packed, but I wish we had even more time to explore, see more, and then just relax and enjoy slower in the desert and the seaside towns.
Which is why, on top of the 7-day Itinerary, is a 10-Day alternative with the best places to add additional days. If you have the time, go for the 10-day instead! You will not get bored, you will not get tired of this country, and I wish we would have taken the 10-day option ourselves. In the last few months, I have not stopped talking about how much I loved Oman - and I know you will love this country and it's varied sights just as much as we did!
1. A 4 Wheel Drive Rental Car: As soon as you land in Oman, pick up your rental car from Muscat Airport. This way, you have the most options and it is easy to drop your car off right before you fly out after your trip. It is very important to reserve a 4 wheel drive SUV to make the most of this beautiful country. You cannot drive out on the sand dunes or up to the mountains without one. The extra cost is not just worth it - but necessary. A 7-10 Day SUV Rental will cost approximately $500-800, and make sure to reserve your car in advance! There are a number of rental options from reputable, international brands:
2. An International Data Plan/SIM car: I use T-Mobile for international data and found the service across most of Oman to be very sufficient. Our friend Lisa bought a SIM at the Muscat airport for data - which was much faster than ours. I don't always get a foreign SIM when we travel, but for a road trip it is definitely essential! In case of any emergencies, and to book hotels and find restaurants, gas, or other needs as you go.
3. Google Maps offline: Before you head out, make sure to download the entire area of Oman you will be traveling through to be viewable offline on Google Maps. This way, even if you are out of service or have limited service, you will always be able to pull up driving directions and know where you are going.
Start your journey in Oman's Capital city. Pick up your rental car at Muscat Airport when you arrive, stay in one of Muscat's beautiful hotels, visit the Grand Mosque, and end your day at the Mutrah Souq Night Market.
Muscat has by far the best hotels in Oman (with a few glamorous exceptions sprinkled throughout the country.) Take advantage by staying in one of the beautiful hotels in the city before heading out to more undiscovered areas.
An unexpected must-do in Muscat is to take a Day Trip to the incredible white sand beaches and brilliant aqua waters of the Daymaniyat Islands. Book a tour and enjoy a day at sea in the Gulf of Oman - it will be one of the highlights of your trip!
We spent a couple of days at the Shangri-La Al Husn and LOVED our time here. The pools, the ocean, the pink sunrises and the golden rocks at sunset made for a luxurious and beautiful stop. And the hotel's many restaurants were all incredible! If you want to add a little relaxation to your journey, this is a great spot to add a day.
If you have additional time, we would recommend spending an extra day here to explore Al Kamil Wal Wafi and Wadi Bani Khalid and more of the Sur area before heading inland to the desert. There is a lot in this area - I wish we would have had more time here to explore!
Wake up early to hike along the oasis of Wadi Shab before both the mid-day heat and the crowds. Swim in the pools for a couple of hours then make your way over to the Wahiba Sands desert for a night at a desert camp, surrounded by miles and miles of endless golden sand dunes.
If you have more time, book 2 nights at your desert camp to fully enjoy the experience and take advantage of all of the amenities and options the camps have. Book a camel riding or ATV tour, try out sand-boarding, take yourself walking deeper in the sand dunes, or just spend a hot desert day at the gorgeous swimming pool at 1000 Nights Camp. There is so much to do and enjoy out here, and it truly feels like being on another planet. If you came for the desert, spend two nights and really enjoy it all!
Wake up early to see the sunrise over the dunes - there is truly nothing like it! Spend your morning enjoying the desert camp, then drive to Nizwa to explore Bahla Fort and then Nizwa Fort for sunset.
Finally, after islands, ancient cities, and desert, end your Oman journey in the Jabal Akhdar Mountains. Some of the countries best hotels are located up here if you want to stay a while, or you can just pass through on your way back to Muscat Airport. The mountain sites and gorges here are truly stunning and worth a visit. But bring a jacket! It's much colder and wetter up here than Muscat or the desert.
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