If you dream of the Orient and the scenery of the
Thousand and One Nights
, the Sultanate of Oman will certainly be your next destination.
Nestled between the Arabian Sea and the mythical Rub al-Khali, this territory is a haven of nature where you will enjoy peace and tranquility.
Imagine: you swim in the shade of the palm trees of Wadi Shab, your bare feet caress the orange dunes of Sharqiyah Sands and you dive into the turquoise waters of Musandam.
Far from its sparkling cousins Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the Sultanate of Oman is a gem in the rough.
To find out the current entry conditions to Oman, visit the website:
omantourisme-voyages.com
.
The coves of Bandar Kheiran
50 kilometers east of
the capital Muscat
,
the Bandar Kheiran region
is a superb spot for swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving.
This jagged coast is home to a multitude of deserted beaches, secluded coves and islets accessible only by boat.
You bathe in warm and transparent water in the middle of the jagged hills.
Underwater, you can observe coral reefs and colorful fish.
Practical:
the many local travel agencies at the Bander al-Rowdha marina offer boat trips (count 17,000 Omani rials for two hours, or 36 €).
Otherwise, go by car and find a fisherman who takes you on board for a few hours!
Read also:
48 hours in Muscat: incense gardens and turquoise coves on the Gulf of Oman
The swimming pools of Wadi Shab
Set off on the Wadi Shab trail for a paradisiacal hike-swim between the mountains.
Tourist Office of the Sultanate of Oman / Photo press
The
wadis
are streams that flow between the mountains, digging deep canyons.
Often dry, they are home to many natural pools where you can swim.
A 2 hour drive from Muscat via Coastal 17,
Wadi Shab
is one of the easiest to access.
The path winds first between palm trees and gardens, then you have no other choice but to take the plunge!
You swim from pool to pool until you enter a cave where a waterfall flows.
An easy hike-swimming, ideal for a hot day.
Our advice:
bring a waterproof bag to slip in your car keys, papers and phone.
Go there early in the morning to enjoy the tranquility of the place.
Access is free.
The desert of Sharqiya Sands (formerly Wahiba Sands)
The desert of Sharqiyah Sands, also called Wahiba.
Tourist Office of the Sultanate of Oman / Photo press
Located 200 kilometers south of the capital, in
the Ash-Sharqiyah region,
this sandy desert is the ancestral territory of the Wahiba tribe.
Your visit is an opportunity to discover Bedouin culture by going for a coffee with a family.
You will also be able to taste the many charms of the desert: walk in the dunes, take a camel ride, a quad bike trip or even learn to drive in a 4x4 in the dunes.
Above all, don't miss the sunset, when the sand turns red-orange.
Unforgettable.
Our advice:
spend at least one night there, either in a bivouac with a guide, or in a camp such as Thousand Nights Camp, Safari Desert Camp (both accessible from Bidiyah) or even Sama Al Wasil Camp (accessible from Al Wasil).
Read also: In the dunes of Oman
Wadi Bani Khalid
A 3-hour drive from Muscat, Wadi Bani Khalid is a natural basin located in a narrow valley at an altitude of 600 meters.
Tourist Office of the Sultanate of Oman / Photo press
Very close to the Sharqiyah Sands desert and easy to access,
Wadi Bani Khalid
is ideal for cooling off after a step in the dunes.
A first turquoise pool welcomes you at the entrance.
You cool off under the palm trees while admiring the ocher mountains.
Continuing towards
Moqal cave,
the canyon narrows.
You walk between the walls of pink rock in water of incredible softness.
A real pleasure !
Our advice:
plan a t-shirt covering the shoulders and shorts up to the knees to respect local customs.
To enjoy the calm, come early in the morning and avoid the weekend (Thursday and Friday).
Free access.
The summit of Jebel Shams
The summit of Jebel Shams offers a breathtaking view of the arid mountains of the Western Hajar.
Tourist Office of the Sultanate of Oman / Photo press
230 kilometers southwest of Muscat,
Jebel Shams
is part of
the Hajar Mountains
.
With its 3009 meters above sea level, it is the highest point in the country.
A road takes you closer to the summit.
You will enjoy a splendid panorama over this environment of deep canyons, hilltop villages and desert plateaus.
Do not miss the marked hike entitled "
Balcony Walk
".
This ancient mule track, almost suspended above the void, gives a breathtaking view of
the Grand Canyon of Oman
.
Our tip: There
are establishments offering traditional tents, rooms and cabins to spend the night at the top: for example, the Jebel Shams Resort or the Sama Heights Resort.
If you are camping, equip yourself warmly!
The mountains of Jebel Akhdar
The terraced cultures of Jebel Akhdar are a haven of freshness in the middle of the desert mountains.
Tourist Office of the Sultanate of Oman / Photo press
Still in
the chain of the Hajar mountains
,
the Jebel Akhdar
rises to 2000 meters at the level of
the Sayq plateau
.
Its name, which means "the green mountain", derives from the many terraced crops that cover its steep slopes.
You will see pomegranate trees, lemon trees, cherry trees but also fields of roses.
You will discover the irrigation canals called
aflaj
, which bring water to the gardens.
Practical:
marked trails allow you to cross hamlets perched in the mountains, such as
Al-Ain
,
Al-Aqur
or
Al-Shirayah
.
Rub al-Khali desert
In the Rub al-Khali desert, you will come across Bedouin camel breeders.
Tourist Office of the Sultanate of Oman / Photo press
With an area of 650,000 km2, more than France,
the Rub al-Khali
is one of the largest sand deserts in the world.
If you love dunes as far as the eye can see, this is the place for you!
You are walking in the footsteps of British explorer Wilfred Thesiger, who crossed this desert between 1945 and 1950 with Bedouins.
You meet breeders accompanied by their camels.
On the road to Rub al-Khali, the ruins of
the ancient city of Ubar
are worth seeing.
In Antiquity, this oasis was a stopover on the caravan route that took Arabian incense to Egypt, Greece and Mesopotamia.
Our tip:
to explore this desert, hire a professional guide.
Naura Zoubir, hiking guide based in Oman since 2009, will organize a circuit of several days with bivouac in the dunes, supervised by a team of Bedouins.
Tel / Whatsapp: +968 9281 6846. Email: naurazoubir@yahoo.fr
The Musandam Peninsula
In the Musandam Peninsula, you can snorkel to observe marine life.
Tourist Office of the Sultanate of Oman / Photo press
This Omani exclave located at the
northern tip of the United Arab Emirates
is a little gem nestled between land and sea. Its ocher mountains culminating at 2000 meters plunge steeply into turquoise waters.
These fjords are home to an extremely rich marine fauna.
The ideal is to take an excursion aboard a traditional dhow for swimming and snorkeling.
You spot eagle rays, reef sharks and turtles.
If you are lucky, dolphins accompany your boat.
You can also discover Musandam by kayak or go scuba diving.
Our tip:
Khasab Tours (khasabtours.com) and Musandam Sea Adventure (msaoman.com) offer trips from one to several days.
In practice
The best period is from November to March.
The temperatures are mild (around 25 ° C).
In October and April, it is a little warmer, but swimming in the sea is more pleasant.
The national company Oman Air operates direct flights between Paris and Muscat (7 hours flight).
Alternatively, you can fly with a stopover in Doha (Qatar Airways), Abu Dhabi (Etihad Airways), Dubai (Emirates), Cairo (Egyptair) or Istanbul (Turkish Airlines).
