Oman is a perfect nation that’s appropriate for a street journey. I did this street journey throughout a December vacation with my spouse and youngsters. We deliberate numerous actions from tradition, nature and a few leisure. In this Oman itinerary I take you daily and step-by-step via Oman together with GPS tracks. We drove from Salalah to Muscat however after all you possibly can drive it additionally the opposite means. I at all times counsel to by no means backtrack the identical route however to drive both a circle or drop the automobile simply on the finish level. Much extra environment friendly! Now take pleasure in this Oman street journey itinerary with me.
A number of common suggestions when driving the Oman itinerary
If you drive in Oman it’s a must to hold just a few issues in thoughts to not get misplaced or get into hassle. The worst factor that may occur is you find yourself with out gasoline in the midst of nowhere; or two flat tires. Just hold these easy guidelines in thoughts.
- Always refill the tank if it’s half empty, to keep away from operating out of gasoline. Especially in space’s the place there are not any cities.
- Make positive you may have a spare tire and the instruments to vary it. If you have to change it do go to the closest place to get the opposite fastened. The very last thing you need is 2 flat tires.
- Take sufficient water to outlive a day or two in case you exit on the desert roads.
- Have a superb GPS gadget or smartphone with a automobile charger. Make positive your maps are offline as there may be not at all times web service.
- If you go off street, just remember to know what you’re doing.
- Always have your passport at hand in case you run right into a safety checkpoint.
Oman is completely secure to drive, so take pleasure in your journey!
Oman Itinerary – Day 1 – Arrival
We really didn’t begin our journey in Oman, we had just a few days earlier than in Kuwait to see this nation. Read about our days in Kuwait. It will rely from the place you’re however a day additional earlier than the precise street journey might be wanted to regulate for the timezone.
We had a Kuwait Airlines flight from Kuwait to Muscat. There we needed to wait about 2 hours for our connecting flight on Oman Airlines to Salalah. As this was a enterprise class flight (learn my suggestions & methods to e-book low cost enterprise class flights) we might benefit from the top quality lounge at Muscat Airport which has nice service and meals! We arrived late night on the Salalah Airport the place we picked up our 4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser at Europcar which we might later drop off at Muscat Airport. We arrived at our lodge on Christmas Eve, the Crown Plaza Salalah. We missed the celebrations, however that’s a part of touring rather a lot. The subsequent day our precise Oman street journey would begin.
Oman Itinerary – Day 2 – Salalah & environment
Our first day of our 10 days in Oman. The fifth day of our full journey. We began the day by driving east from Salalah in the direction of the Taqah Castle in Taqah (coordinates: N 17.04113 ; E 54.39600). We continued to archeological website of Khor Rori which is a part of the Frankincense Trail UNESCO World Heritage Site (coordinates N17.04176 ; E54.43580). Next on our record was Mirbat Castle and a drive via Mirbat (coordinates N 16.99358 ; E 54.69314). We made a fast cease on the Mausoleum of Bin Ali.
At this level we turned again to Salalah and after 15 kilometers we drove in the direction of Tawi Atayr to see the Baobab bushes and an antigravity level. This is absolutely superior! From right here we drove handed Salalah to the Marneef Cave and Blowholes on the Mughsayl Beach. Next on our record have been unspoiled seashores in the direction of the Yemen border, simply observe the street and go off street (at coordinates N16.85160 ; E53.71511) after all of the hairpins. We completed swimming within the afternoon and we drove again to Salalah and made a fast cease on the archeological website of al-Balid earlier than persevering with to our lodge.
Read our expertise:
OMAN – A day in Salalah; the beginning of our street journey itinerary
Oman Itinerary – Day 3 – Salalah to Duqm
Day 3 was the longest drive on this itinerary from early morning until late night. Start early, round 8 AM not later. First cease is at Job’s Tomb (an-Nabi Ayyub) (coordinates: N 17.11054 ; E 53.99492). Next up is prophet Hoods Grave (N17.21361 ; E 54.09549). In case you run late like us skip this one! While going up the mountain to the desert you will note indicators to the UNESCO Frankincense Trail: Frankincense Park of Wadi Dawkah. Stop right here for some time to see the bushes which produce Frankincense since historical time.
The final cease for immediately can be in the midst of the desert: UNESCO Frankincense Trail: Archaeological website of Shisr. It is situated at N 18.254958; E 53.648690. Take 70 KM after Thumrait a left flip over the desert street, the previous street. From Shisr it’s good to drive in the direction of N 18.675047; E 54.081860 in a straight line over the desert street as nicely. You will discover camel skulls, some lonely crops and desert so far as the attention can see. The final half to Duqm, nonetheless some hours, is over nicely paved tarmac.
Read our expertise:
OMAN – Exploring the Frankincense Trail on our means from Salalah to Duqm
Oman Itinerary – Day 4 – Duqm
Today is a day we’ll spend round Duqm and extra particular a 5 kilometer abandoned stretch of white seaside. The seaside known as Ras Markaz seaside. Drive in the direction of Hayma and after round 17.5KM drive to Jazar (indicators say Ras Madrakah 64KM). After 49KM go left (at coordinates N 19.221277; E 57.630410) to Ras Markaz seaside; it’s about 14 KM off street from there to the seaside. In case roads change (there are numerous new roads constructed) use the GPS coordinates to get to that time after which drive to the seaside.
Read our expertise:
OMAN – A stretch of white seaside close to Duqm you can’t think about!
Oman Itinerary – Day 5 – Ras al Jinz Sea Turtle Reserve
Today we drove from Duqm to the Ras al Jinz turtle reserve (on the highest east level of Oman) to see the magnificent sea turtles. It takes round 4 hours over the newly paved street alongside the coast. A fairly straight ahead drive and we arrived within the afternoon on the turtle refuge heart. Late night and early morning subsequent day the place the excursions to the seashores to see the turtles. This is a lifetime expertise.
Read our expertise:
OMAN – The Ras al Jinz Sea Turtle Reserve; a novel expertise
Oman Itinerary – Day 6 – Ras al Jinz (near Sur) to Muscat
Halfway throughout our Oman street journey we had a protracted day of driving and stopping at numerous locations. The first cease was on the Ras al Had fort (situated at N 22.525837; E 59.791153). It’s a small fort after which we made a cease on the lake (proper aspect of the street in the direction of Sur) close by. From there Google maps took us to Sur, first the lighthouse (N 22.568931; E 59.540464), onwards to the fort Billad Sur (N22.554094; E59.489303) and the Sinaysilah Castle (N22.579927; E59.503765). The subsequent cease was the traditional metropolis of Qalhat (N 22.694526; E59.372538) and a bit additional down the street the Bimmah Sinkhole within the Hawiyat Najm Park (N 23.033611; E 59.069868). A little bit of the primary street we visited the Wadi Dayqah with its dam (N 23.186287; E 58.965498). The final cease earlier than driving to Muscat was a small fort situated within the city of Quriyat (N 23.265196; E 58.916002).
Read our expertise:
OMAN – From Sur to Muscat: forts, historical cities and exquisite nature
Oman Itinerary – Day 7 – Nakhal & Rustaq Forts and off-road via the Hajar Mountains
Our base for the final a part of our Oman street journey was in Muscat, the capital of Oman. This day journey can be one of many highlights of our journey as we might drive off-road via the Hajar Mountains. A harmful street! Today we drove first from Muscat to the Nakhal Fort (N23.394819, E57.829787). We continued to the fort of Rustaq (N23.390747, E57.425654). These two are the primary and most lovely forts in that space of Oman.
It’s necessary to complete these forts round midday to have the ability to drive via the mountains throughout daylight. I don’t advocate driving at evening as at sure space’s you may have cliffs down and up on either side reaching 800 meters. Make positive you may have a 4×4 car and know function it. It’s necessary that you just refill with gasoline earlier than driving via the wadi. Take sufficient water and be sure to have at the very least one spare tire with you.
Start at approximate coordinates (N 23.341944; E 57.493056) and drive in the direction of the mountains. Go to HATT village (after 13 KM) and after about 16 KM extra you’re at Snake Gorge. You could make an important hike there into the gorge. Balad Sayt is a pleasant mountain village to go to; very peaceable. You will arrive on the different aspect in Nizwa. We drove from there again to Muscat which was one other 2 hour drive. See the GPS map for our route via the mountains.
Read our expertise:
OMAN – Dangerous roads: Off-road via the Hajar mountains
Oman Itinerary – Day 8 – A day in Muscat
New Year’s Eve in Muscat. We determined to remain in Muscat and discover the town all day to be again on the lodge for the New Year’s Eve get together. In the morning we began on the grand mosque known as Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque: the spotlight in Muscat. We continued to the opposite aspect of Muscat have been we might go to: the Sultans Palace (Al Alam Royal Palace), the Muscat Gate and Clock Tower, Cornice with the Souks. We had a fast have a look at the three essential forts: Al Jalili, Al Marini and Mutrah Fort. In the afternoon we went swimming and after that it was get together time!
Read our expertise:
OMAN – Must see locations in Muscat when you have solely a day
Oman Itinerary – Day 9 – Nizwa, Jibreen, Aflaj, Bahla and Bat
Today we headed again (the quick means) to the area round Nizwa. This is a really lengthy day, begin at 6AM or keep in a single day in Nizwa at day 7 after which do the day in Muscat. We began on the Jibreen fort which isn’t that massive however in very good situation. After this we continued to the big fort of Nizwa within the metropolis heart. After the fort of Nizwa we visited the UNESCO Site of the Aflaj Water System (N22.971779, E57.548810). We continued to the Bahla Fort (together with previous city and metropolis wall which is the third largest on the earth) situated at N22.964824, E57.300368 additionally listed as UNESCO Site.
From right here we wished to go to the Bee Hives Tombs that are listed as UNESCO Sites. They will not be actually on monitor on the sightseeing routes, we drove in whole round 4 hours to discover two most necessary websites. One row of round 12 Tombs situated at N23.213997, E56.965333. From there we drove to Bat Bee Hive website which is an important (situated N23.267862, E56.743664). The website was fenced and never open for guests with out appointment. A small secret: on the website is an influence station the place there’s a 1 meter between the housing and the fence. We from there walked in and explored the positioning intimately. Late afternoon we drove again to Muscat in about 3-4 hours.
Read our expertise:
OMAN – Nizwa and its forts and the beehive tombs of Batt in a day from Muscat
Oman Itinerary – Day 10 – Departure to Abu Dhabi
Today we took the airplane to Abu Dhabi on Etihad Airlines arriving simply after lunch time. This was leg one among our flight house. We stayed for 2 nights in Abu Dhabi. Read about our days in Abu Dhabi right here. We had numerous enjoyable throughout this Oman itinerary. A street journey we is not going to neglect. We realized about Omans tradition, nature and meals.
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