The sun shines brightly, and the dark, brown mountains guard the capital city. The pristine, clear sea with palm trees add to the beauty along with golden, vast stretches of sand and the mountain peaks perched highest in the region. Rainwater making its way through the mountains and the locals dwelling in the feet of these peaks. Life is slower, simpler but serene in this country than the rest of the region.

Being born and brought up in this diverse country, I take you through 7 days in Oman with all the insider tips and information.

Before getting on a long trip, it is always advisable to buy safety insurance. Check out Safety Wing, providing 10 days safety insurance for as little as 13.2 USD (5 Omani Rial) only!!

Oman is a country that was known only as a neighbour of the sandcastle, Dubai for a very long time. Only until a few years ago, when the majestic charm of this country become known to the people. Among the GCC, undoubtedly, Oman offers the most to explore and experience for a person who is fond of natural beauty. Let’s discover this gem of Arabia together and plan for your next 7 days in Oman. I promise you wouldn’t regret it.

To rent a car in Oman, check out Rentalcars.com.

Day 1 of 7 days in Oman: Explore the capital city of Muscat

Muscat, the capital city of Oman, isn’t short of any beauty. You may drive through the commercial area of the town and reward yourself with mesmerizing rugged mountains all around. There is a long stretch of coastline that runs through the entire city, and you are never far away from a clean, pristine beach.

Upon landing in Muscat, it is wise to spend your 1^st day exploring the beauty of this city. There are some iconic landmarks in the city that aren’t to be missed by anyone visiting Oman.

Explore the Sultan Qaboos Mosque: The Grand Mosque

Early in the morning, head over to the Sultan Qaboos Mosque in Muscat.

Standing as a symbol of grandeur, The Sultan Qaboos mosque in Muscat is a stunning piece of architecture that signifies beauty, religion and the glory of this country. Any visit to Muscat isn’t completed without visiting the Sultan Qaboos Mosque. The mosque is named after the Sultan Qaboos, the father of the nation, who had driven the country to the pinnacle of success before passing away in January 2020.

A mesmerizing chandelier made with 600,000 shining Swarovski crystals and 14 metres in height, decorates the main prayer hall of the mosque. Moreover, the mosque proudly claims the title for having the second largest single piece hand-woven carpet in the world, a staggering 70m in length and 60m wide. The mosque can accommodate a whopping number of 20,000 worshippers at one time.

The Sultan Qaboos Mosque welcomes visitors from every religion. However, for tourists, the visiting hours are 8 AM-11 AM every day, except Friday. Tour groups are allowed during this time only. There isn’t any ticket for visiting the mosque. However, both men and women are supposed to dress conservatively while visiting the mosque, with legs, arms and shoulders covered. A headscarf is mandatory for women while visiting the mosque.

Time to spend: 2-3 hours is enough time to visit the Grand Mosque

Visit the Royal Opera House, Muscat

Once done exploring the Grand Mosque, head over to the Royal Opera House of Muscat.

Another must-see symbol of the country’s wealth and grandeur is the Royal Opera House in Muscat. This marvellous building stands tall depicting the commitment to arts and culture in the country. The Opera house offers various shows and performances; music, dance, and education, but the actual reason to visit this place is to explore the beautiful architecture. It is a fantastic white coloured building in the heart of the city. The interior is even more stunning and royal. An entrance in the Opera house takes one through the royalty practised in the country.

The main hall where all the shows and performances are held can be explored by paying a minimal fee, Adults OMR 3; Children OMR 1; Groups OMR 2 (per person). The hall opens for general tours, Saturday to Thursday, 8.30 AM- 5.30 PM.

Time to spend: 1-2 hours is sufficient to explore the Royal Opera House of Muscat

Discover the old Muscat at Muttrah Corniche and Muttrah Souq

Want to experience the vibes of old Muscat city, before the oil wealth of the country transformed it? Want to see how the ancient people of the capital managed their livelihood? Head over to the Muttrah area in Muscat. Once the main port of the country, Muttrah is the oldest town in Muscat and Muttrah Corniche has been a popular outing spot for the residents since forever. However, now the port hosts only cruise ships coming into the country.

Standing at the Muttrah Corniche, once can look around and feel the true essence of this city. There is a Muttrah fort too nearby, which rewards the visitors with stunning views of the Muttrah Corniche. The fort was built by the Portuguese in the 19^th century and is free for access. It opens all days a week, 9 AM- 4 PM.

Another highlight of visiting Muttrah is exploring the Muttrah Souq (souq is an Arabic word for market). This is an old market that focuses on selling souvenirs of the country along with much other merchandise. It is always worth visiting. However, do remember to bargain well as the shopkeepers tend to give higher rates to the tourists.

Time to spend: 2-3 hours is enough for souq and corniche to be explored. Muttrah fort would require another 40 minutes- 1 hour if you wish to visit.

Where to stay: There are hundreds of options available for accommodation in Muscat.

Some of the luxury hotels located in the heart of the city are Chedi Spa and Resort, W Hotel, Grand Millennium Hotel, Grand Hormuz and Grand Hyatt Hotel.

For comfortable but somewhat lesser budget travellers, Muscat has Crowne Plaza Qurum, Crowne Plaza OCEC, Ramada Muscat, Radisson Blue, Hilton Hotel, Holiday Inn Seeb, Park Inn Hotel, Ibis Hotel, Intercontinental Hotel, Levatio Hotel, Somerset Panorama Hotel, and Novotel Hotel.

If you want to stay near the airport, opt for Carnelian Glory Bower Hotel which comes with a beautiful infinity pool.

If you are looking for budget accommodation, there are plenty of those. However, I would suggest opting for the one which is in the centre of the city, the areas of Azaiba and Al-Khuwair. This would help you explore the city with some ease.

Please do remember, Oman is an expensive country, and there aren’t any hostels. Be ready to shell out 14 OMR- 25 OMR per night for budget accommodation.

Some of the budget hotels in the city centre are Safeer Continental, Hotel Muscat Holiday, Centara Muscat Hotel, Samara Hotel, Best Western Premier Muscat, Waves International Hotel, Tulip Inn hotel, and Hala Suites.

Day 2 of 7 days in Oman: Explore the stunning coastline of Muscat city

Undoubtedly, Oman has stunning coastline; calm, pristine and tranquil, and it offers perfect beaches to enjoy.

Enjoy the stunning Daymaniyat Islands

Located around 30km from Al-Mouj Muscat, are the Daymaniyat Islands in Oman. Immensely beautiful and a nature reserve, these islands are a must-visit and offers some perfect spots for snorkelling and diving.

Al- Mouj Marina is the coolest place in the town with many yachts parked at the marina, some of the most expensive apartments in the city, two of the luxury hotels including Kempinski and Mysk Al-Mouj and excellent restaurants and cafes. Perhaps, the liveliest place in the town, Al-Mouj hosts a farmer’s market every Saturday morning and is a perfect place to spend your evenings when in the city.

There are many boat tours operated from Al-Mouj, and it is the best choice to hop on tour for Daymaniyat Islands. A fast boat takes about 40 minutes to reach the islands. These are seven islands altogether. These islands are one of the perfect spots for turtle watching in Oman during the nesting season of Turtles.

The water near the islands depicts mesmerizing blue and green colours, and the islands have white sand beaches, which present a spectacular sight. Different kinds of birds can be seen around the islands. These islands offer perfect snorkelling and scuba diving spots with plenty of captivating marine life.

Daymaniyat Islands are a nature reserve, and therefore you may find marine police around. Camping can be done on the islands; however, access is prohibited from May to October for landing on the islands. The sea area can be explored anytime, though. In case you take your boat, you will need to have a permit for entering the islands. In case of going with a tour, the permit cost of 3 OMR per person is covered in your tour operator’s price.

The best time to visit the islands is from April to October when the season is warmer and more marina life can be seen. During August- October, there is a chance to see the whale shark near the islands, and it is worth trying.

There are plenty of tour operators running the tours for these islands which offer snorkelling or diving along with lunch and snacks on the trips. These trips are usually 3-4 hours long and cost around 25- 28 OMR per person.

Where to stay: If you are looking for accommodation at Al-Mouj, there are two luxury hotels. Kempinski Hotel is an ultra-luxury hotel with a private beach and presents excellent views of the sea. Another hotel in Al-Mouj is the Mysk Al-Mouj located right opposite to the marina.

Head over to the stunning beaches of Muscat

After a perfect day at the Daymaniyat islands, you may either opt to have a good dinner or smoke sheesha at one of the cafes in Al-Mouj or can explore the beaches in the Muscat city. The best thing about Muscat is that you are never far from the beach. The entire town has a coastline running in parallel. The beaches in Muscat are well-equipped with all the facilities, have plenty of restaurants and seating facilities. Shatti beach, Azaiba beach, and Qurum beach are the most visited ones.

Shatti beach and Qurum beach are at walking distances to one another. One can start walking from one shore and end up in another. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes along the coastline, and during the winter season, these eateries are your best bet as winter in Oman is mild and pleasant.

During evenings, families and young people flock to these beaches to enjoy their time. BBQ is allowed on the beaches but only on the sandy part. It is highly prohibited on the grass.

Beaches in Oman are quite modern and wearing beachwear isn’t prohibited. However, it is always advisable to respect the culture of the country and limit beachwear to your swim only. You never know when a local might ask you to cover up.

Day 3 of 7 days in Oman: Explore the coastal region of Al Sharqiyah

Located some 200km from Muscat, is the Al Sharqiyah region, one of the most visited areas by the tourists and home to some beautiful natural wonders. On the 3^rd morning of your 7 days in Oman, head over to this region. A direct road through the Al- Amerat area in Muscat, leads to Al- Sharqiyah via Quriyat.

Swim in the Bimmah Sinkhole

Bimmah Sinkhole, known as Hawiyyat Najm in Arabic, is a natural depression filled with water. It presents emerald, green water and is common for swimming. It is 50 m to 70 m wide and is 20 m deep. Locals believe it was formed by a falling meteorite and hence the name Hawiyyat Najm which means, a deep well of a falling star. However, the truth is, it was formed by a collapse of the surface layer due to the dissolution of the underlying limestone.

To preserve this natural wonder, the municipality has built a park around it with stairs leading down to the sinkhole. The park has necessary facilities for benches and toilets and is free to visit. The park opens all 7 days of the week from 8 AM-8 PM.

Bimmah Sinkhole is a beautiful wonder of nature in the country and a must-visit place. One can go swimming in the water before heading over to the next destination.

Time to spend: 1 hour is enough for the Bimmah Sinkhole

Get mesmerized by the Finns beach and Wadi Shab

Located at a distance of 50 km from the sinkhole, the road leads you to the Finns beach and Wadi Shab. Finns beach is a beautiful, white sand beach with blue, clear water. Just opposite the beach is the Wadi Shab.

Oman has plenty of wadis, and Wadi Shab is one of these. Wadi in Arabic refers to a small body of water among the trees surrounded by mountains. When it rains, the water flows from the mountains to fill these wadis.

To access Wadi Shab, there is 5 minutes’ boat ride. The locals of the area run their boats just opposite to the Finns beach and drop you to the wadi area. They charge 200-300bz per person, so do ensure you carry change with you.

To access the actual water body, you need to walk and hike for quite some time which isn’t very easy. At the end of this hike, a beautiful water body awaits you.

However, not everybody makes it till the actual wadi and prefers to return midway.

In case, you don’t want to go for Wadi Shab, located at a distance of another 2 hours is the Wadi Bani Khalid.

You can skip Finns beach and Wadi Shab altogether and instead go to Wadi Bani Khalid directly from Bimmah Sinkhole. It is a beautiful, spacious wadi to swim and spend a perfect afternoon.

Time to spend: 2-4 hours is ample time for any wadi

All these locations can be accessed through a non-4WD drive.

Where to stay: When staying in Al-Sharqiyah, the best option is to stay in the largest town of Sur. There are plenty of options available in Sur. Sur Beach Holiday Resort is a resort with all the necessary facilities. It’s pretty reasonable and situated right in the heart of the city. Other than this, there are many different options for accommodation including Sur Plaza Hotel, Sur Hotel, Sea Hotel Apartments, Sur Grand Hotel, Bait Al Afia Hotel Apartment, Al Basateen Hotel Apartment, and Al Jumhour Hotel Apartments.

Day 4 of 7 days in Oman: Be a Bedouin in the Wahiba Sands

Accessed from the Al Sharqiyah region, is the golden desert of Oman, Wahiba Sands. When in a desert country, any trip wouldn’t be completed without visiting a desert.

Defined by a boundary of 180km from north to south and 80m from east to west, an area of 12,500 sq. Km is the Wahiba Sands desert. There are massive dunes as far as the eyes can see and the desert presents a perfect stargazing opportunity with no light pollution in the vicinity.

There are plenty of good hotels and resorts in the desert, which gives you a perfect desert life vibe, slow and simple. Most of these hotels offer tent-like rooms to provide you with an ideal desert life feel. Many tour operators run tours from Muscat that includes dune bashing and other activities including the accommodation in the desert. Many of the hotel owners offer a pickup for you. You can park your car where the dunes start, and they pick you from there at some price. You may check with the hotel if they offer this facility.

In the desert, many locals take you for dune bashing at a very minimal price.

How to visit: To access the Wahiba Sands, a 4WD drive is mandatory. Not only a 4WD vehicle, one needs to have desert driving experience as it is very different driving on soft, desert sand. Strict measures are required; otherwise, one can get stuck in the sand.

Please opt for a tour and don’t try to access the giant dunes on your own if you aren’t an experienced desert driver. Less sand area can be located easily.

If you fancy visiting the Wahiba Sands and experience a Bedouin lifestyle without having a 4WD drive or desert driving experience, book Al-Reem Desert Camp. This is a beautiful, all facilities desert camp located very near to the paved road and can be easily accessible without a 4WD drive.

The hotel offers rooms for all budgets. These are typical tent-like rooms with all the required facilities. These rooms ensure you get the typical desert vibe of living like a bedouin. The room cost includes breakfast, dinner and a bonfire to give you a perfect desert vibe. This is an excellent desert camp to help you explore the Wahiba Sands without a 4WD drive.

Where to stay: If you are travelling without a 4WD drive, Al- Reem Desert Camp is your best bet. In case you are looking for an accommodation in the heart of dunes, away from the road, check out Safari Dunes Camp, Wahiba Bedouin Rustic Camp, Starwatching Private Camp, Sand Delight Camp, Legend Desert Camp, Desert Retreat Camp, and Thousand Nights Camp.

All of these camps have tent-like rooms and gives you a proper bedouin life feel.

You can wild camp in the Wahiba Sands too without the need of any special permit.

Spend a night in the Wahiba Desert. Experience the cold desert wind, the sand getting stuck in your air, the tranquillity and serenity of the environment and feel the lifestyle of many of those bedouin people who live in the deserts without necessary facilities like electricity and internet. 

Internet is available in most of the areas of Wahiba Sands; however, very few hotels provide Wi-Fi. Therefore, it’s better to have your SIM data loaded.

I am sure you would love spending your night in the desert before heading off to your next location in the morning.

Day 5 of 7 days in Oman: Visit the ancient town of Nizwa

Located at a distance of 195km from the Wahiba Sands, is the ancient town of Nizwa in Oman, home to the Nizwa fort and Nizwa Souq. Nizwa is located in the Ad Dakhiliyah governorate of the country at a distance of 200km from Muscat.

Shop in the Nizwa Souq

After leaving the Wahiba Sands, head over to the city of Nizwa and visit the oldest souq in the country, Nizwa Souq. This souq sells a variety of fruits, vegetables, traditional jewellery, pottery and various souvenirs of Oman.

Almost all of the shops are run by the locals in Nizwa Souq. The souq is very picturesque too, especially the pottery shops. To experience an authentic, traditional vibe of Oman, Nizwa Souq is the perfect place.

The souq opens every day of the week and can be visited all afternoon, except on Friday when it closes for the Friday prayers. There is ample parking available too. The entrance is free to the souq.

It is recommended to cover your shoulders and knees while visiting the souq as Nizwa isn’t as modern as Muscat and most of the locals in the souq are the older people who frown upon more revealing clothes. To respect the culture of the country, more covered garments are always the right choice.

Time to spend: 1 hour- 1.5 hours would be enough to explore the souq.

Get lost in the Nizwa Fort

Once you are done visiting the Nizwa Souq, head over to the Nizwa Fort. A 9^th-century fort that was renovated at the beginning of the early 17^th century, Nizwa Fort is exceptionally picturesque. The fort is standing tall as a symbol of culture, history, and heritage in the country.

The central tower of the fort has a 45m diameter and is 34m high.  There are various rooms in the fort, and a map of the fort can be obtained upon entering it. Some of these rooms are beautifully decorated, while others are kept simple.

The fort depicts ruins hundreds of years old along with traditional Omani jewellery, masks, coffee, and frankincense.

There are various levels in the fort, and you can visit all of them. The topmost level presents you with a beautiful view of the Al-Hajar mountain range along with beautiful palm trees all around.

The fort was once used in the war, and therefore it has thick, heavy doors and canons which were once in action against the enemies of the country.

The fort opens all 7 days of the week, from 8 AM-8 PM and there is an entry fee of 5 OMR for visiting the fort.

Nizwa Fort is a perfect place to learn about ancient Oman as well as about Oman’s history.

Time to spend: 1 hour- 1.5 hours would be enough to visit the fort.

Where to stay: There are plenty of hotels available in Nizwa, mostly mid-range hotels like Golden Tulip Hotel Nizwa and various budget accommodation like Nizwa Hotel Apartments, Al Diyar Hotel Antique Inn, Date Palm Inn, and Orient Apartments.

Day 6 of 7 days in Oman: Watch the sunset at the highest point in the region, Jabel Shams

Next morning, start your trip to the highest point in the region and unlock the Grand Canyon of Arabia, Jabel Shams mountain.

Located at the height of 3500 metres from the sea level, is the Jabel Shams mountain peak in Oman, the highest point in the region and the eighth highest peak in the Middle East.

Jabel Shams mountain, also known as The Mountain of the Sun, is a part of the Al-Hajar mountain range. Beautiful Wadi Ghul sits at its feet, and the canyon presents mesmerizing views of the surroundings. No visit to Oman is completed without visiting the Jabel Shams mountain.

Read in detail about the mesmerizing journey to the Grand Canyon of Arabia, Jabel Shams Mountain.

Your best bet would be to plan a night out at the mountain peak and experience sunrise as well as the sunset at the summit. You can either wild camp or stay in one of the hotels there as plenty of options are available. Jabel Shams is famous for stargazing in Oman as the peak is high enough to filter the light pollution from the surrounding areas.

One can also opt for hiking while visiting the Jabel Shams. There are three different types of hikes available.

How to visit: Jabel Shams mountain is located in the town of Al-Hamra, and the ascend to the mountain peak is sign-posted, as well as can be seen on Google Maps. It takes around 1 hour to reach the mountain peak. A non-4WD drive can be taken to Jabel Shams; however, 4WD is always recommended. The road is well paved except 12km in between which is a graded road.

Spend a night at Jabel Shams, lit a bonfire, watch the sunrise, sunset, gaze stars and admire the breath-taking views around. Jabel Shams offers some of the best mountain views in Oman.

Where to stay: There are two resorts located at the peak of Jabel Shams. These are not very fancy, expensive resorts but are very decent and reasonable: Jabel Shams resort and Sama Heights Resort. They both offer bedouin style tent rooms and presents beautiful views of the surroundings.

For mid-range and budget travellers, Canyon Rest House, Abu Omair Jabel Shams House, Jabel Shams Star House, and Jabel Shams villa are the best options.

The final day of 7 days in Oman: Visit Al-Hoota Cave and the Green mountain, Jabel Akhdar

On your final day of 7 days in Oman, discover another two wonders of the country.

Explore the underground marvel: Al-Hoota Cave

After spending the night at Jabel Shams, start your descend to the town of Al-Hamra. A little further from the foot of Jabel Shams mountain, is the Al-Hoota cave, another popular destination in the country.

Al-Hoota cave is estimated to be over 2 million years old and is home to many geological marvels. The length of the cave is 4.5km, and only 500m is easily accessible to the public. An electric train runs to take the visitors inside the cave, and this is the only electric train in the country.

There are four lakes inside the cave and the largest of these four is estimated to have 30,000 cubic metre water. The cave is 800m long, 10 inches in width with a maximum depth of 15m.

Al-Hoota caves have a vibrant ecosystem inside. It is home to some of the species of blind fishes, bats, snails, water beetles, and many other animals.

Weird cravings have been formed in the cave by the dissolution of limestone by acidic water. These cravings have formed over millions of years as every 100 years’ water dissolves through only 10mm of rocks. Al-Hoota Cave is indeed an underground wonderland to explore.

The lightning in the cave is done in a way that doesn’t disturb the animals, and once the visitors leave, the lights are put off. For the same reason, flash photography is prohibited inside the cave.

The cave has all the facilities required: a restaurant, gift shop, geological exhibition, Wi-Fi, toilets and plenty of parking spaces.

The cave opens every day of the week, 9 AM-4 PM. The entry fee for the non-Omanis is 7 OMR for the adults and 3.5 for children.

Ascend the mighty Jabel Akhdar

Standing at the height of 3000m is the Jabel Akhdar mountain in Oman, also known as the Green mountain. It is the second-highest peak in the region and presents spectacular views around. It also forms a part of the Al-Hajar mountain range in Oman.

The next morning, after visiting the Al- Hoota Cave, ascend the peak of Jabel Akhdar which is easily accessible on your way back to Muscat from Al-Hoota Cave.

The ascend to the mountain peak is quite steep. Moreover, there is a military camp located on the summit. Jabel Akhdar is only accessible with a 4WD drive as there is a check post at the foot of the mountain which only lets the visitors with a 4WD to pass.

The mountain plateau is much greener and serene than Jabel Shams. However, there isn’t precisely one viewpoint on the peak. The mountain peak offers views of the old traditional houses in the valley below where some locals still dwell.

Wild camping is permitted at Jabel Akhdar. However, the number of campers is less than Jabel Shams. Jabel Akhdar is another popular spot for stargazing in the country. People also opt for cycling and hiking at the plateau.

Once you spend your night at the peak of Jabel Akhdar, descend the mountain and start your journey back to Muscat to catch your flight. Muscat International Airport is located at a distance of 150km from Jabel Akhdar.

Where to stay: Jabel Akhdar mountain peaks host two very luxurious resorts, presenting breath-taking views of the surroundings; Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort and Alilia Jabal Akhdar. Besides these two, Sahab Resort and Spa is another luxurious hotel at the location.

For more mid-range and budget accommodation, check out Sama Hotel Jabal Al Akhdar and Al Hana Luxury Apartments.

If you chose to stay at the foot of the mountain, rather than the peak, check out various hotels in Nizwa.

Still got time to spare, visit the Masirah Island in the Sharqiyah region of Oman!

Best time to visit

Oman is a hot and humid country with temperatures soaring to 50° C during peak summer months, May to July. Therefore, it isn’t advisable to visit during this time. The best time to visit the country is from November- March. The climate is pleasant with a cool breeze blowing, and the average temperature remains between 15°-20° C in Muscat city. It tends to get lower in Sur and Nizwa.

Check out more winter activities in Oman!

The Wahiba Sands is also best enjoyed during the winter season. It is an open desert, and during winters, the cool desert wind blows, making the atmosphere very pleasant.

On the peaks of Jabel Shams and Jabel Akhdar, the average temperature goes below 0° C during the peak winter months, and hailstorms aren’t uncommon. Winter is perhaps the best time to enjoy Oman.

I am sure you would fall in love with this country that I have called my home, since forever.

Do let me know how did you find Oman in comments below.

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