Holidays in Oman

Oman is a very old state that has been separated from the rest of the world for a long time. Due to this, the country of Oman managed to preserve its own culture and not succumb to European influence. Now the country is actively developing, including in terms of tourism, but it still remains a living example of a real oriental fairy tale.

How to get to Oman

By plane

There are no direct flights to Oman from Russia, but you can fly with a transfer by plane, for example, in the United Arab Emirates. It is also convenient to get to Oman from Istanbul, Cairo or Doha. The airport in the Sultanate of Oman is located in Muscat, at a distance of 40 kilometers from the capital.

By bus or taxi

The overland road to Oman lies through the UAE – there are several checkpoints on the border, or through Yemen. You can also get there by sea – from Mombasa, Dubai, Bahrain and Kuwait cruise ships go to Salalah, Sohar and Muscat.

Transport in Oman

Highways in Oman are well maintained. In Muscat there are asphalt roads, in the province the roads are mostly unpaved, but they are very well leveled. In total, there are 42,300 kilometers of roads in the state. During the rainy season, the roads are often flooded with streams of revived dry rivers.

In general, drivers in Oman are more careful than in other Arab countries. Traffic rules are quite strict, everything is very strictly monitored, and the fines are quite large.

If you plan to travel around Oman on your own, then you can rent a car here. You will need an international driver’s license. It also requires a driving experience of more than a year, and the driver himself must be over 21 years old.

You can rent a car in almost any hotel, and there are offices of well-known international companies. You can even register a car through a travel agency in advance, and at a discount and benefits.

Public transport

Oman has an extremely well-developed bus network – for 10-12 RO you can drive almost through the entire country. There are also many minibuses and service taxis, within the city you can travel for literally 1 RO, and between cities – about 3 RO per 100 kilometers. So getting to the beaches and attractions will not be difficult at all, even if your hotel is not very convenient.

Taxi

Taxis in Oman are driven exclusively by local residents. They are always painted white or orange, and passengers are lured by loud horns. There are no meters in taxis, so everything needs to be agreed in advance. The fare usually costs around 10 rials for a trip around the city, but at night the prices increase significantly.

Money in Oman

The main currency in the Sultanate of Oman is the Omani rial, which is equal to one hundred beys. You can exchange currency at exchange offices or at banks, but at banks it may take too long. Sometimes stores accept UAE dirhams or US dollars, but the rate is always rounded in favor of the seller. Bank cards are also accepted for payment, however, it will not be possible to pay with cards of international systems in the province. ATMs also usually accept cards only from local banks.

Entertainment and attractions in Oman

Oman is ready to offer its guests not only beaches – here tourists can expect a lot of interesting entertainment. There are especially many of them in Muscat – on the beaches here you can ride water skis, banana boats and aqua bikes, as well as go in for underwater fishing and diving. Also in Oman there are amusement parks with attractions for children and adults – amusement park Sinbad Fan City and Riyam Park, located in Matrah.

Oman also offers outdoor activities such as rock climbing, mountain hiking, cave visits and off-road driving.

There is practically no “Western” entertainment here – Omanis absolutely do not like nightclubs and bars, mainly because of the Muslim traditions in the country. So if you want a vibrant nightlife, then stay in more expensive hotels where such entertainment is available.

Attractions

Of the sights, first of all, we advise you to pay attention to the museums of Muscat, for example, such as:

• Museum of Life, located in the form of Jalali;
• Museum of Omani History;
• Omani-French Museum;
• Military Museum.

Many of them are free to visit.

If you come to Oman with children, be sure to visit the Children’s Museum. Children are allowed to participate in interesting experiments and learn more about the achievements of modern science. Also, the little guests of Muscat are always delighted with the aquarium near the main square, which is home to various marine animals, including octopuses and dolphins.

Oman is especially famous for its fortified forts – there are more than five hundred of them. Two of them are located in Muscat – Fort Mirani and Fort Jalali. Bahla Fort is located near Mount Akhdar, which was included in the UNESCO list due to the 11-kilometer fortress walls.

There are many religious monuments in Oman – prayer houses and mosques. Of particular interest is the Sheikh Qaboos Mosque with the world’s largest carpet.

The natural attractions of Oman are also interesting. For example, you can see interesting dry riverbeds – wadis, along which roads pass. And in the Wahiba desert, tourists have the opportunity to look at the highest dunes on earth.

There are many national parks in Oman with rare animals, such as the leopard and the Arabian wolf.

Where to taste Omani cuisine

Finding traditional Omani dishes in local restaurants is not easy, but large international hotels have a couple of Omani dishes on the menu. This is due to the fact that most of the chefs in Oman have Indian roots, and native Omanis rarely visit local restaurants. For this reason, one of the most affordable and convenient dining options in Oman is to visit one of the great many Indian restaurants (they are almost always unlicensed). Alcoholic drinks in the state are served mainly only in hotels of high and medium price categories, where the menu is often represented by international, Chinese, Italian and Lebanese cuisines.

In the capital lands there are a large number of cozy restaurants and cafes. If you are looking for an elite restaurant, you should pay attention to expensive hotels. There are not too many mid-range restaurants in Oman, but visiting an Indian establishment will please you with prices and atmosphere. Here every tourist will taste a wonderful curry.

Omani cuisine does not imply a special gastronomic framework, so it is difficult to find it in its pure form in the menu of local restaurants. However, the state has a chain “Bin Ateeq”, where chefs create national dishes and serve them in a traditional setting. Here visitors will get a little introduction to the basics of Omani cuisine and sitting on cushions right on the floor. Today the network has 3 restaurants – in Salalah, Nizra and Muscat (al-Khuweira). Cafes with local dishes, aged in the traditions of the Sultanate, are available on the territory of the market in Muttra.

In the most affordable local establishments, a 2-course lunch will cost from 2 to 7 rials, in an establishment of an average price category – from 7 to 12 rials. In elite restaurants located in 4-5 * hotels, lunch costs from 15 to 20 rials without alcohol. If the visitor wants to drink, then the cost of a good lunch reaches the amount of 25 rials (with service and tax).