When tourists visit The Middle East they often travel to destinations such as Dubai, Cairo, or Jordan.
For some unknown reason, Oman Travel remains less discovered, and that is such a shame as there are a lot of great things to do in this beautiful and cultural country.
Which, by the way, is an extremely safe place to visit!
You may also mistakenly believe that Oman travel can be very expensive. Of course, it can cost you an arm and leg if you stay in luxury resorts.
But we want to prove to you that it is possible to visit on a budget, especially when some great attractions are completely free to visit!
Before we show you our favorite 8 places we visited for free on our Oman travel adventure, let’s find out a bit more about this less-traveled nation.
Where is Oman?
Oman is in the Middle East and even though it is the second largest country in the Arabian Peninsula.
Oman tourism is not as popular as its northern neighbour, the UAE with cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
To the west lies the massive oil state of Saudi Arabia and on the southern side it borders Yemen. Oman is roughly the same size as the United Kingdom.
How Do I to Get to Oman?
For the majority of people who want to visit Oman, they will have to fly into the gorgeous and prestige international airport in Muscat (seriously, this is one immaculate airport!)
From the airport, you can either take a taxi, public transport, or a hired car into the capital city for your first night. We always get our cheap flights through a bit of research on Skyscanner.
Another option to think about is to incorporate a visit to UAE alongside an Oman Holiday.
Whilst you are in this part of the world you may as well see as much as possible, right?! You will get to discover two very different worlds, which sounds like a win-win situation to us!
Just be careful that when you hire a car in either country, you must pass through the border crossing town of Al-Ain.
If you drive to any other border crosses you will be refused entry and told to turn around.
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How Many Days is Enough for an Oman Holiday?
There is much to see and do in this part of the country. Our trip was for 10 days, so the minimum we would recommend is at least, a very busy, yet fun and adventurous week.
A popular destination in the South of Oman is the city of Salalah, but unfortunately, we have not been there yet, which only gives us a great reason to return for another Oman holiday!
What we would not recommend however is to visit in the summer months (June – August) as it can get unbearably hot.
We visited in April and every day it was in the mid to high thirties. We would suggest visiting in the winter season when you probably are craving some well-needed sun and warmth anyway.
Oman Holiday – Top Free Sights
To get around Oman you will need to hire a car. There are great deals available on DiscoverCar, depending on the size of the car and amount of passengers that are needed. We rented a Suzuki Baleno for our Oman holiday for 7 days with insurance, costing us 32 euros per day.
Driving during your Oman trip is very easy and similar to Western countries.
Do watch out for speed cameras and speed bumps which are everywhere. Especially the speed bumps which are nearly invisible at times!
Should you choose to go proper offroad or hit the dunes of the Wahiba Sands then you must hire a 4 x 4. All of the attractions we will tell you about do not need 4 x 4.
Yes, there will be roads that turn into tracks, but that doesn’t mean you need a four-wheel drive for that.
Unlike some advice that is on the internet, it is just a dirt road! Drive to the conditions on the road and you and the car will be fine.
Also, don’t come knocking on our door if you are driving like a rally driver in a rental and end up damaging it!!
Now we have a small bit of knowledge about Oman tourism, let’s have a look at what there is to see and do.
The following attractions are ranked in order of our favorites and all are FREE TO VISIT!!!
8 – Best Things to Do in Oman: Muscat
Oman travel must include the capital – Muscat. When you arrive in Muscat you may expect to see a city with many high-rise towers like its Arab neighbour cities such as Dubai, Cairo, or Doha.
The reality is very different and you may even think you are in a small chilled-out neighbourhood seaside town in Spain.
Muscat is quite a large city that is stretched out over a long distance. The city is very clean and very modern, yet it is so quiet with an almost zero chance of hearing a car honk.
If you are seeking culture and heritage but especially peace and quiet, then Muscat is your place.
You will only need two days maximum here as it is easy to explore all within that time frame.
The main attractions to visit are – the Mutrah Souq, Qurum Beach, and the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, it is possible to visit all of these sights in one day.
Regarding accommodation, find out where to stay in the top five hotels in Muscat.
After two days in Muscat, you will start the drive to the city of Sur. On this short road trip, you will discover some more of Oman’s free, fun, and famous attractions.
7 – Best Things to Do in Oman: Dayqah Dam
Once you have left the capital city on your way to Sur, your first stop is only an hour and a half away.
Wadi Dayqah Dam is a great stop-off for lunch, a stretch, or, just a walk around to take in the magnificent views. Unfortunately, though, you are not allowed to swim here.
Nearby the dam you can hike The Wadi Mangal. Chances are quite high that you will have the entire place to yourself.
Scramble over some huge boulders to some crystal clear pools at the end for a refreshing dip. Thankfully there you are allowed to swim!
6 – Best Things to Do in Oman: Wadi Ban Khalid
Oman is the land of Wadis and one of the main reasons you should visit.
In Arabic countries, a wadi is a valley or channel that is dry except in the rainy season.
The first one we are going to mention is Wadi Ban Khalid. This natural playground is located only an hour and a half by car from Sur.
The spectacular drive will take you through a massive mountain range with breathtaking views.
Once you get to Wadi Ban Khalid you will discover a very unique place where the desert meets the tropics. In a landscape of grey and brown rocky peaks, you will find blue pools with crystal clear water, surrounded by green palm trees.
You can easily spend a full day here before returning to Sur or continuing on to Nizwa.
5 – Best Things to Do in Oman: Nizwa
Nizwa is one of the oldest cities in Oman and was in fact the capital of Oman back in the 6th and 7th centuries.
This is another great place to base yourself for day trips such as Bahla Fort, and more destinations that are still to be mentioned.
The most popular part of Nizwa is the Old Town where Nizwa Souq and Al Qala’a Mosque are located.
Make sure to get up early to see the Old Town kick into life when hundreds of sellers and buyers venture into the streets to buy anything from garlic to guns!
Every Friday the goat market takes place which starts at 6.30 AM.
Nizwa Fort is also located here, but unfortunately, this is not a free site to visit. Tickets cost 4 Rial per person, around 10 Euro.
4 – Best Things to Do in Oman: Hoqain Blue Pools
If you love canyoning then this is the place for you. But what makes it even better, is that again all this can be done for free!
The Hoqain Blue Pools are about an hour and a half from Muscat by car. At weekends it can be very busy as it is a local favourite, but during the week it will be a lot quieter.
On Google Maps the place is called Wadi Al-Hoqain aka the blue pools.
This is a stunning natural playground for water enthusiasts and those who love adventure.
For several kilometers, you can explore through turquoise waters with 5 to 10-meter cliffs on either side. Along the way, you will discover many natural slides and small waterfalls.
In some places it can be quite deep, so practice caution and always have a buddy with you.
Some good news for nervous swimmers, there are plenty of rest stops and shallow areas along the way where you can walk or just sit and chill in the warm water.
3 – Best Things to Do in Oman: Bimmah Sinkhole
After you have visited #9 Dayqah Dam on your way to Sur, your next stop will be Bimmah Sinkhole.
Local legend has it that a star fell to earth creating this gorgeous natural pool. There is also a second legend that a monster lurks in the water beneath…..
This did not deter us and we swam in the turquoise pool anyway without encountering any underwater monsters.
But don’t be shocked when you feel tiny fish nibbling at your feet…..or was that something else?!
The sinkhole is located roughly past the halfway mark between Muscat and Sur.
You can easily spend a few hours here relaxing with free parking, toilets, and picnic benches available. Bring your own snacks though as you won’t be able to purchase them here.
2 – Best Things to Do in Oman: Wadi Shab
Only 20 minutes from Bimmah Sinkhole is Wadi Shab, this is a must-visit for Oman travel.
Technically this place is not entirely free as you must pay for a very short ferry crossing. Literally, it will take less than one minute for 1 Rial per person but the return ride is included with this fee.
On the other side, you will start your 4-kilometer hike to the pools. Along the way, you will be surrounded by gigantic cliffs and sight the greenest waters you will ever witness.
After 40 minutes of hiking on easy ground, you will reach the end mark with plenty of swimming holes of all sizes to cool off in.
But wait, there’s one more really cool activity!
For those on the adventurous side, you can swim up the main pool to a secret cave. This does take a bit of effort and the water is deep the entire way.
Once you swim to the end you will see a crack in the rocks that is just over a foot wide.
Unless you have a massive head you will fit! Under the water, you will have plenty of space for your body to maneuver through.
Swim through for about 5 meters and you will come into the secret chamber with a small waterfall inside.
At the beginning of the trek where you get the boat crossing it is possible to hire a life jacket for 1 Rial.
If you are not a confident swimmer then take this opportunity to hire the life jacket. Do not miss out, this is a very fun adventure and truly a spectacular sight to behold.
1 – Best Things to Do in Oman: Jabal Shams
So, what was our favourite activity on our Oman travel adventure which didn’t cost us a cent?!
A 2-hour drive from the town of Nizwa lies Jabal Shams, the highest peak in Oman.
It sits around 1900 meters above sea level and when translated it means – The Mountain of the Sun.
Here we witnessed some of the best views we have ever seen – Wadi Ghul, also known as the Grand Canyon of the Middle East.
Besides taking in the spectacular views from the many platforms and natural viewpoints, it is also possible to hike along these steep cliffs.
The hike is called The Balcony Walk and goes all along the Wadi Ghul Canyon with drops of over 500 meters to your side!
Have no fear though as this sounds a lot more terrifying than it actually is in real life.
Altogether the hike is just over 8 kilometers and will take 3 to 4 hours to return. At the end of the trail, you will discover an old abandoned village made out of rocks.
Apparently, there is also a waterfall but it was dry when we were there, and looked like it had been for quite a while!
Jabal Shams: The Drive Getting There is Tough!!
We heard many stories about the need for 4wd to get there. We also read stories that you do not need it!! So which advice did we take do you think?!
Of course, the one that said you do not need it. Why, because one thing we have learned is that many people give shit advice online – we know, how ironic is this?!!
Yes, the road is far from perfect and can be tough in places. But as previously mentioned, drive to the conditions and you and the car will be fine, it is just a dirt road.
If you are the type of person who needs someone to mention that you need to bring the obvious items such as water, hat, sunscreen, etc then maybe don’t hire a car…..
Little would we know that the most dangerous thing for the rental was the goats headbutting our parked car looking for food!
For all the information you need for your Oman Holiday, check out the post below.
Oman Holiday – Final Tips
There you have it, 8 reasons why Oman Travel should be on your bucket list. Not only are all activities a lot of fun and beautiful to behold but they are also all FREE TO DO!!!
Before you start planning your trip read these last bits of advice.
- The complete itinerary is in this order #8 Muscat #7 Dayqah Dam #3 Bimmah Sinkhole #2 Wadi Shab – Sur #6 Wadi Ban Khalid #5 Nizwa (Bahla Fort) #1 Jabal Shams #8 Muscat.
- #4 Hoqain Blue Pools can be visited from Muscat on a day trip
- The towns of Sur and Nizwa have been mentioned numerous times. Hence the importance of why you should use these towns as a base to explore.
- Many of these activities involve swimming, invest in a good waterproof dry bag to ensure the safety of your possessions. Crime is very low in Oman, but do not take a chance by leaving your gear unattended.
- If traveling on a budget, then check out supermarkets such as Hyper Market that often serve delicious hot food. Another cheap alternative is the bakery, be prepared to stuff your face for very reasonable prices.
- Use Google Maps whilst driving, it will tell you when you are approaching speed cameras, trust us there are many!
- Even more than speed cameras, are the speed bumps. Most often the paint is very faded and they are extremely hard to see until it is nearly too late.
We absolutely loved our Oman Holiday adventure and even surprised ourselves with how fun and beautiful the country is.
If outdoor and adventurous activities such as swimming, hiking, and canyoning are your kind of thing then you should most definitely consider Oman Travel- The Pearl of Arabia!
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