What to See
AboutLocationBest time to goWhat to doWhat to seeMuscat - Known as "Arabia's Jewel", the sparkling capital city of Oman lies intricately tucked into the bases of mountains spilling down to the Arabian Sea. It's a masterful blend of ancient forts like Jalali and Mirani guarding the entrance to Muscat Bay, with world-class business scurrying about on modern highways, and elegant suburbs blended perfectly with traditional Islamic architecture. You'll forget you're in the desert while visiting Muscat because of the lush, green, well- manicured lawns and trees, and we'll bet you return home with comments about their traffic roundabouts!
You'll experience the rewards of the city and its balance of old and new while strolling through The Corniche, a promenade dotted with souqs, stopping here and there, especially at the old souq of Muttrah to bargain for treasures and keepsakes;, and visiting Sultan Qaboss Grand Mosque;, and drifting along at sunset on a dhow cruise before returning to your hospitable, world-class hotel. It is a city of great beauty and sublime contrasts...a must-see for anyone that visits the mid-east.
Sur - From Muscat, the placid coastal town of Sur can be reached by traveling over-land, through the Hajar Mountains and cutting through wadis (dry, rock-bottomed rivers) or by following the coastal highway with beautiful views of white beaches, sparkling with colored shells, and deep ravines, with precariously hung cliffs falling in to the azure sea. Either route is worth the trip on its own, but Sur offers itself as a bonus when you reach it. It's labyrinth of streets proudly show their aged but timeless houses with arabesque windows, and carved doors. Sur is renowned for it's dhow shipyards, and believed to the home of Sinbad. The view of the dhows in the harbor with the Gulf of Oman as a backdrop is a view not to be missed.
Nizwa - As the capital of Oman during the 6th and 7th century, and one of the oldest cities of the Sultanate, Nizwa is an important historical and cultural center located at the base of the Hajar Mountains. Nizwa is a veritable oasis in the dessert due to the precious commodity of the largest single falaj (water management system), the Falaj Daris of Nizwa, in Oman which provides much needed water to the countryside plantations.
Two of the many historic monuments are The Nizwa Fort, completed in the 1650s and one of Oman's oldest mosques (reconstructed) the Sultan Qaboss Mosque. The city thrives and trades at it's expansive souq where you'll find local handicrafts, leather goods, swords, antiques and silver, and more.
Jabreen Castle - This massive three-storied fort was built in the mid 1600s during the Al Ya'ruba dynasty. It's an impeccable example of Islamic architecture, and known for it's ceiling murals, beautiful wooden inscriptions and decorated walls. Between Nizwa and Jabreen Castle is the town of Bahla, which is surrounded with the myths and legends of the centuries. Some locals are superstitious and believe that black and white magic are still practiced there. This small town is where you'll find the oldest fort in Oman. The immense Bahla Fort, with its towers of unbaked brick and stone foundation is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Sohar - Many centuries ago Sohar was the capital of Oman and legend says it was named after the great-grandson of Noah. Maybe shipbuilding runs in the family! The city lies in the Bainah coast region and is lush and green and surrounded by thick plantations of mangoes, dates, limes, and bananas. One of the must-see landmarks of the city is the Sohar Fort, with five towers, sitting on a hill-top it is truly impressive and is the only fort in Oman that is whitewashed...as is much of this quiet seaside city.
Ibra - Once famous for its exceptional horses and horsemen, Ibra is the gateway to the Eastern region of Oman. Ibra's famous Souq Al Arba'h (Wednesday's market) is unique in that it's restricted to women, allowing them to chat, negotiate and sell their wares. It's a colorful frenzy of activity, not just in the women's souq, but in the adjoining co-ed souqs. The once stately community of Al Mansfah has fallen into fascinating ruins from what is was during the reign of Said the Great, and is a wonderful place to wander and lose yourself for a while.
Rustaq, Nakhl & Barka - To the west of Muscat, and along the famous Batinah plain, Oman's main agricultural area, are some of the most impressive of the ancient desert forts.: Bait Na'am, a fortified house where Imams used to overnight during their journeys; the imposing Al Hazam Fort; and one of the oldest and tallest forts with four watch towers and a mosque, the Rustaq Fort. You'll encounter picturesque wadis traveling to Oman's most spectacular fort, the Nakhl Fort, built over 350 years ago and nestled in a gorge surrounded by mountains.
Along the coast and near to the shore is a small chain of islands, the Jazir Sawaidi, with picturesque beaches ideal for fishing, beach combing and exploring. For the more ambitious, there are many wadis running through the foothills for hiking and trekking, and some challenging trails for canyoning.
Salalah - Each July and August the government hosts the annual Khareef Festival, the cultural highlight of the season, and for good reason; Salalah has the benefit of the annual Indian monsoon, which brings a transformation of the countryside into lush gardens with gentle, wandering streams and sparkling waterfalls.
Salalah is an area of great and contrasting beauty. Through the countryside the Boswellila Sacra tree grows. It's sap is better known as Frankincense, and the trees grows no where else in the world. The gentle unspoiled beaches of Salalah are perfect for scuba diving, canoeing, jet skiing, snorkeling and sailing for most of the year. The coastline is dotted with marshy khawrs which provide sanctuary for migrating birds of a wide variety and is becoming known as a bird-watcher's haven.
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