Oman is an expanse of endless dunes, a land of barren mountains, beautiful wadis, pristine blue beaches all at once. The beauty of the country lies in its diversity and you could experience all of the above and more over a long weekend.
Oman is often ignored as a tourist destination in favour of its glitzy neighbours Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Muscat lacks the airport connections of these cities and the complicated visa process (for Indians) makes it a difficult proposition. Many countries (other than India) are offered a visa upon arrival in Oman. Indians, however, need to apply for visa through an Oman-based tour agency or hotel (Update: Now e-visa is available within minutes for those having a valid US or Schengen visa). UAE has a similar rule but all hotels can get you the visa easily. Hotels in Oman do to help out for visas and many tour agencies also declined. The visa itself is easily processed and once you experience Oman it will be worth the effort.
I found 2 travel agents who were willing to not only customise our itinerary as we wished but also arrange for visas and ensure a seamless holiday. Mark Tours and Tour Oman, both were extremely helpful and I would recommend them to anyone planning a holiday in Oman. We finalised with the latter and can vouch that they deliver on what has been promised with friendly, informative drivers and excellent cars.
A tentative short Oman itinerary for the long weekend would be as follows:
Day 1: Arrive and transfer straight to Jebel Akhtar or Jebel Sham mountains.
Day 2: Nizwa Souk and Fort and forts in Bahla/Jibreen before proceeding to Wahiba Sands
Day 3: Dune bashing and Quad-biking followed by Wadi Bani Khalid. You can reach Ras al Jinz in the night for viewing of the turtle nesting.
Day 4-5: Back to Muscat for a relaxing 2 days at the beach. You must visit the Grand Mosque in Muscat. You can also shop in the mutrah souk or even go dolphin viewing.
- The mountains of Jabal Akhdhar / Jebel Shams
You must have one mountain experience while in Oman and where you go would more depend on the hotel you choose. We stayed at the Alila Jabal Akhdar and it is fabulous to say the least. The views are unmatched, the infinity pool stunning, the villas luxurious, service top-notch and the food exhorbitant. Other choices in the area would be the View Oman or the just about to open Anantara. Slightly reasonable accommodation would be the Sahab Hotel or Jebel Shams Resort.
Nizwa, town at the base on the mountains, is the old capital of Oman. it has a small souk near the Nizwa Fort for souvenir shopping. The areas has a few other forts at a short distance like the Jibreen Castle and the Bahla Fort (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Though the forts are beautiful and of great historical value they cannot match the grandeur or uniqueness of the Forts in India. They might be underwhelming for anyone who has visited the likes of Mehrangarh, Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh etc., but worth a visit if you cross Nizwa on way to the mountains.
We had visited Jabal Akhdar and the drive from Nizwa involves an ascent from 500m to 2000m above sea level. However, the excellent road conditions ensure that the same can be accomplished in 45 minutes flat. The mountains were barren but along with the deep canyons they made for gorgeous views. As we reach the top there is a definite nip in the air, a welcome change from the sweltering Nizwa. The Alila has a beautiful property where the main hotel along with the villas literally cling to the mountains at the edge. The construction is all from local natural materials and blends in with the landscape. You can walk the entire length of the property at the mountain edge taking in the landscape or opt for hikes of various intensity in the mountains. For the more adventurous cycling through the mountains is an option. Or you could just relax in the stunning infinity edge pool and spa.
Nothing beats an early morning sunrise walk in the mountains and the Jabal Akhdar is no different. You have the mountains all to yourself and after the walk you can indulge in some Yoga on the viewing deck. It is Omani hospitality at its best. Relax, unwind, hiking or cycling, the Alila does in style.
2. Dunes in the Wahiba Sands Desert
One of the lasting images of Oman like many other middle eastern countries if of endless desert and Oman is part of the Rub’ al Khali or the Empty Quarter, the largest contiguous sand desert in the world. The Empty Quarter though has no hotels and only camping options. Also it is very far off from the main tourist circuit in Oman. However, one can get a feel of the same by a visit to Wahiba Sands. There are many desert camps in the area and choosing the right one can make all the difference. The Desert Nights Camp is the best luxury option and beside it is the more reasonable Arabian Oryx Camp. Another good option is the 1000 Nights Camp, which even has a swimming pool, but it is 35kms inside the desert and hence takes more time to reach.
The camps are all of a high standard and have an excellent setting; against the backdrop of unending high sand dunes, beneath the starry sky, far away from all civilisation. All camps have a similar activity list and high on your list should be Dune Bashing. Zipping through the dunes, going up and down them at exhilarating speed, many times even at steep angles and sometimes even backwards, all in the comfort of your 4 Wheel Drive. The dune bashing can be great fun or hazardous depending on the expertise of the driver and that’s why it is important to select the right camp. Another adventure in the dunes is quad biking and here one can do the dune bashing by themselves though you need to be careful. For the less adventurous guests the camps arrange a sunset drive into the dunes. Nothing better than sitting on top of the dunes gazing into the sunset in solitude. The sunset is also the best time for photography as the dunes turn into various shades of brown, beige and orange. For the smaller children a camel ride is always available.
3. Swimming in Wadi Shab / Wadi Tiwi / Bani Khalid
Wadis in Oman refer to dry river beds between the mountains which contain water during the rains or an intermittent stream. Some of the Wadis have a permanent source of water. There are hundreds of wadis in Oman but the best amongst them would be Wadi Tiwi, Wadi Bani Khalid and Wadi Shab. It is an absolute must to swim and picnic at one of these scenic spots and it is one of the highlights of Oman.
All of the wadis have crystal clean water and many swimming spots between the mountains or inside caves or under small waterfalls. They can get many visitors on a holiday and it is best to go a day when you have the wadi all to yourselves. Swimming in the natural outdoors is really enjoyable and the children had a blast. But one needs to careful about rocks beneath and should ideally swim where the water is deeper.
Wadi Shab involves a good amount of hiking, while the others can be reached by car. There is a good resort near Wahi Shab and Tiwi if one wants to stay overnight for stop for a meal.
4. Turtle Watching in Ras al Jinz
Ras al Jinz is an important turtle nesting sight for the endangered green turtles and over 20000 of them come annually to the beach in order to lay eggs. The area is under government supervision for conservations and it is only possible to visit in an escorted tour. Groups are limited to 20-25 persons and there are 8 tours per night at around 9pm another 4 tours in the early morning.
It is wonderful to see the turtles hatching on the beach in the twilight. The government takes great effort not to disturb or interrupt this natural phenomenon and we as visitor should be responsible when visiting. The beach is quite a walk from the visitor centre and groups are expected to take turns viewing the turtle, always from a non-intrusive distance. It is extremely important to be quiet and not use the mobile flashes. There are always tourist that do not adhere and it takes away from the experience disturbing the turtles.
Away from the action, the guides do give a detailed explanation of the turtle hatching and answer all questions. There were a lot of observant children with our group asking lots of questions. The guides however, were upto it explaining patiently.
5. Muscat
A trip to Oman without a beach resort is incomplete and Muscat has a good number of them to choose from. The Chedi Muscat is the most luxurious of the lot but the best for location and activities for families would be Shangri-La Barr al Jissah.
It is complete with three resorts, 2 of them connecting via a 500m long lazy river, located on a secluded bay with a great soft sand beach and an array of swimming pools. There are a lot of eating options across the hotels and activity for children included a play zone, An adventure zone and an aqua park. All types of water sports are available and one can also go on a dolphin watching trip from the resort. But the highlight is the private beach which is perfect for swimming, sunbathing or water sports.
While in Muscat one must visit the Grand Mosque in the city. It is a modern mosque and houses the second largest carpet in the world. The mosque is extremely beautiful and the interiors are must see including large chandeliers are intricately carved wood and ceramic work. The entire mosque is very well organised and visit is only possible in the morning outside of prayer times. Other places of interest is the Mutrah Souk and promenade for souvenir shopping, but is nothing special compared to souks in Istanbul, Marrakesh etc.