Oman - an overlooked country, close to Dubai is written by Henriette Krog-Andersen.
Oman's many experiences
We spent a week in Oman and came home with a suitcase full of good and overwhelming experiences.
It is easy to travel in the country and there is a fascinating Arab culture, traditional building style and no skyscrapers. There is also a rich and different wildlife. And most importantly, there is a really sweet and welcoming people who stand with open arms and wait for us to come and visit them.
It is hot in Oman, but if you travel from October to April, the temperature is "only" 25-35 degrees. So we recommend that you travel to Oman in the autumn or winter season.
Nizwa Fort and the Muscat Souq
The Nizwa Fort is really nice and maintained, and it sends one's thoughts back to "ancient Arabia". The fort's neighbor is a 'souq' - market in Arabic - with many interesting stalls. There are both tourist stalls, but also many stalls where the locals shop.
The souq is the market in the capital Muscat. Here you will find everything your heart desires. One cannot help but be completely overwhelmed by all the impressions. There is so much to look at, experience and smell, and if you like gold jewellery, you will be thrilled by the many, many streets with jewelery shops.
Leave the scarf at home
Oman is a Muslim country and one sees the Omani women in everything from headscarf to Niqab. The men are most often dressed in a white 'dishdasha', and the headgear is most often a 'kumma' - as seen in the picture above - or a turban.
But as a non-Muslim tourist you feel very welcome. You just have to make sure to keep your shoulders and knees covered at all times, so you don't bump into anyone. Women do not need to cover their hair unless visiting a mosque.
If you want to swim in a bikini, you can do it at the big hotels, as it is not well-regarded to do so on the public beaches.
Buildings of Oman: Impressive Arabic architectural style
Sultan Qaboo's Grand Mosque is impressive - both in size and appearance. It is a very beautiful building in Arabic style with carvings and mosaics from all over the world, and there can be 20.000 worshipers in the mosque.
In the dome there is an overwhelmingly large chandelier, and for several years they held the record for having the world's largest carpet. However, it is surpassed by another mosque today.
To the mosque there is a beautiful park with many colorful flowers. You do not see this in so many places in Oman, as you have to water a lot because it is so hot, so it is completely unique.
The desert in Oman
Oman is a very hot country where it is easily 40 degrees in the summer. This of course means that it is not so lush, but in return there is plenty of beautiful desert.
If you rent a car with four-wheel drive, you can drive around in the desert yourself. For example, there are many tourist camps in the Wahiba Sands desert, which it is possible to drive to, even if you are not used to desert driving. If you want to "play" driving off-road in the sand dunes, you can book a trip with a professional driver.
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Wadi Shab
Wadi Shab is Oman's oasis, and a Wadi is a partially dried up river bed. When it rains, however, water collects in the wadis, and therefore it is lush.
Oman is generally a dry and relatively barren country. So when you come to a beautiful place with delicious green palm trees and turquoise green water just to bathe in, it feels absolutely amazing.
Qantab Beach
The picture shows Qantab beach in Muscat, and in the late afternoon the Omanis come out on the beach. Here you meet the young boys playing football, the older men who look like they are holding a city council, and the families who enjoy the fact that the temperature is falling a little.
In general, Oman has many delicious beaches to go to and swim at.
Meet the sea turtles and dromedaries of Oman
The sea turtles come to Oman's beaches to lay their eggs. It is truly a fascinating sight to see this large animal that has existed for so many years.
And fortunately, Oman does a lot to take care of the turtles and make sure that the tourists have the opportunity to see them without getting too close to the animals.
Camels were the preferred means of transportation in Oman in the past, and there are still plenty of them. They walk around freely, which can seem a little scary when you drive on a country road at 80 per hour, and then there is such a big animal out on the side of the road. But they now stay nicely out in the side. And by the way, they are actually dromedaries, but the Omani call them camels.
Table customs in Oman
The Omanis sit on the floor and eat. As you can see in the picture above, we were in a luxury hotel where there is a cushion to sit on. And there was now always a European section in the restaurants, where there were chairs and tables. You may just have to get used to this when traveling in Oman.
When tourists become an attraction
Oman does not have that many tourists yet. So you do not have to be very far away from the main attractions before you become an attraction yourself.
The waiters serve for cars that stop to the side to buy a cup of coffee through the window. When a school bus stopped to buy coffee, the school children were just as preoccupied with us as we were with them.
Oman is a fascinating travel country and worth a huge recommendation.
Here are 7 amazing experiences in Oman
- Wahiba Sands
- Muscat's cultural attractions
- Nizwa Fort
- Jebel Shams
- Diving in the Daymaniyat Islands
- Al Hoota Cave
- Ras Al Jinz Tortoise Reserve
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7: Barcelona in Spain
6: New Delhi in India
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