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 children. We deliberate varied actions from tradition, nature and a few leisure. On this Oman itinerary I take you daily and step-by-step by way of Oman together with GPS tracks. We drove from Salalah to Muscat however after all you possibly can drive it additionally the opposite method. I all the time recommend to by no means backtrack the identical route however to drive both a circle or drop the automotive simply on the finish level. Way more environment friendly! Now get pleasure from this Oman street journey itinerary with me.
A number of basic ideas when driving the Oman itinerary
Should you drive in Oman it’s a must to preserve a couple of issues in thoughts to not get misplaced or get into bother. The worst factor that may occur is you find yourself with out gasoline in the course of nowhere; or two flat tires. Simply preserve these easy guidelines in thoughts.
- At all times refill the tank if it’s half empty, to keep away from operating out of gasoline. Particularly in space’s the place there are not any cities.
- Be sure you have a spare tire and the instruments to vary it. If it is advisable change it do go to the closest place to get the opposite mounted. 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 GPS gadget or smartphone with a automotive charger. Make sure that your maps are offline as there may be not all the time web service.
- Should you go off street, just remember to know what you’re doing.
- At all times have your passport at hand in case you run right into a safety checkpoint.
Oman is completely secure to drive, so get pleasure from your journey!
Oman Itinerary – Day 1 – Arrival
We really didn’t begin our journey in Oman, we had a couple of days earlier than in Kuwait to see this nation. Examine our days in Kuwait. It would rely from the place you’re however a day additional earlier than the precise street journey may very well be wanted to regulate for the timezone.
We had a Kuwait Airways flight from Kuwait to Muscat. There we needed to wait about 2 hours for our connecting flight on Oman Airways to Salalah. As this was a enterprise class flight (learn my ideas & 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’d later drop off at Muscat Airport. We arrived at our resort on Christmas Eve, the Crown Plaza Salalah. We missed the celebrations, however that’s a part of touring loads. The following 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 Fortress in Taqah (coordinates: N 17.04113 ; E 54.39600). We continued to archeological web site of Khor Rori which is a part of the Frankincense Path UNESCO World Heritage Website (coordinates N17.04176 ; E54.43580). Subsequent on our listing was Mirbat Fortress and a drive by way of Mirbat (coordinates N 16.99358 ; E 54.69314). We made a rapid 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. That is actually superior! From right here we drove handed Salalah to the Marneef Cave and Blowholes on the Mughsayl Seashore. Subsequent on our listing had 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 rapid cease on the archeological web site of al-Balid earlier than persevering with to our resort.
Learn 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. Begin early, round 8 AM not later. First cease is at Job’s Tomb (an-Nabi Ayyub) (coordinates: N 17.11054 ; E 53.99492). Subsequent up is prophet Hoods Grave (N17.21361 ; E 54.09549). In case you run late like us skip this one! Whereas going up the mountain to the desert you will notice indicators to the UNESCO Frankincense Path: Frankincense Park of Wadi Dawkah. Cease right here for some time to see the bushes which produce Frankincense since historic time.
The final cease for in the present day shall be in the course of the desert: UNESCO Frankincense Path: Archaeological web site of Shisr. It’s positioned 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 vegetation and desert so far as the attention can see. The final half to Duqm, nonetheless some hours, is over nicely paved tarmac.
Learn our expertise:
OMAN – Exploring the Frankincense Path on our method from Salalah to Duqm
Oman Itinerary – Day 4 – Duqm
Immediately is a day we’ll spend round Duqm and extra particular a 5 kilometer abandoned stretch of white seaside. The seaside is named 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 a lot of new roads constructed) use the GPS coordinates to get to that time after which drive to the seaside.
Learn our expertise:
OMAN – A stretch of white seaside close to Duqm you can not think about!
Oman Itinerary – Day 5 – Ras al Jinz Sea Turtle Reserve
Immediately 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 reasonably straight ahead drive and we arrived within the afternoon on the turtle refuge middle. Late night and early morning subsequent day the place the excursions to the seashores to see the turtles. This can be a lifetime expertise.
Learn our expertise:
OMAN – The Ras al Jinz Sea Turtle Reserve; a novel expertise
Oman Itinerary – Day 6 – Ras al Jinz (near Sur) to Muscat
Midway throughout our Oman street journey we had a protracted day of driving and stopping at varied locations. The primary cease was on the Ras al Had fort (positioned at N 22.525837; E 59.791153). It’s a small fort after which we made a cease on the lake (proper facet 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 citadel Billad Sur (N22.554094; E59.489303) and the Sinaysilah Fortress (N22.579927; E59.503765). The following 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 positioned within the city of Quriyat (N 23.265196; E 58.916002).
Learn our expertise:
OMAN – From Sur to Muscat: forts, historic cities and delightful nature
Oman Itinerary – Day 7 – Nakhal & Rustaq Forts and off-road by way of the Hajar Mountains
Our base for the final a part of our Oman street journey was in Muscat, the capital of Oman. Today journey can be one of many highlights of our journey as we’d drive off-road by way of the Hajar Mountains. A harmful street! Immediately 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 by way of the mountains throughout daylight. I don’t advocate driving at night time as at sure space’s you’ve gotten cliffs down and up on either side reaching 800 meters. Be sure you have a 4×4 car and know learn how to function it. It’s necessary that you simply refill with gasoline earlier than driving by way of the wadi. Take sufficient water and ensure you have a minimum of one spare tire with you.
Begin 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 can also make an excellent hike there into the gorge. Balad Sayt is a pleasant mountain village to go to; very peaceable. You’ll arrive on the different facet in Nizwa. We drove from there again to Muscat which was one other 2 hour drive. See the GPS map for our route by way of the mountains.
Learn our expertise:
OMAN – Harmful roads: Off-road by way of the Hajar mountains
Oman Itinerary – Day 8 – A day in Muscat
New 12 months’s Eve in Muscat. We determined to remain in Muscat and discover town all day to be again on the resort for the New 12 months’s Eve celebration. Within the morning we began on the grand mosque known as Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque: the spotlight in Muscat. We continued to the opposite facet of Muscat had been we’d go to: the Sultans Palace (Al Alam Royal Palace), the Muscat Gate and Clock Tower, Cornice with the Souks. We had a fast take a look at the three important forts: Al Jalili, Al Marini and Mutrah Fort. Within the afternoon we went swimming and after that it was celebration time!
Learn our expertise:
OMAN – Should see locations in Muscat you probably have solely a day
Oman Itinerary – Day 9 – Nizwa, Jibreen, Aflaj, Bahla and Bat
Immediately we headed again (the quick method) to the area round Nizwa. This can be a very 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 middle. After the fort of Nizwa we visited the UNESCO Website 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) positioned at N22.964824, E57.300368 additionally listed as UNESCO Website.
From right here we needed to go to the Bee Hives Tombs that are listed as UNESCO Websites. They don’t seem to be actually on observe on the sightseeing routes, we drove in whole round 4 hours to discover two most necessary websites. One row of round 12 Tombs positioned at N23.213997, E56.965333. From there we drove to Bat Bee Hive web site which is crucial (positioned N23.267862, E56.743664). The positioning was fenced and never open for guests with out appointment. A small secret: on the web site 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 location intimately. Late afternoon we drove again to Muscat in about 3-4 hours.
Learn 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
Immediately we took the aircraft to Abu Dhabi on Etihad Airways arriving simply after lunch time. This was leg one among our flight dwelling. We stayed for 2 nights in Abu Dhabi. Examine our days in Abu Dhabi right here. We had plenty of 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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