Oman has an excellent air transportation system with other countries. There are more than twenty airports in Oman that serve flights of both local and international airlines. The most important airport in the country is located thirty kilometers from the capital Muscat.
Muscat International Airport was renovated in 2017. During the upgrade, a new terminal, dozens of check-in counters, immigration counters and a new baggage belt were put into operation. ATM machines, a smoking room, an exchange office, a duty-free shop, and free WI-FI are available to passengers.
Oman's second main airport is Salalah International Airport. It is a modern building with numerous check-in counters and convenient telescopic air bridges equipped with air conditioning. There is also a parking lot at Salalah Airport, designed for thousands of cars.
Oman is the second largest country in the Arabian Peninsula. Oman borders Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to the west, and Yemen to the south.
Oman has a territory of 309,500 km2. Ancient geographers divided this country into the "head" or the Musandam peninsula, the "spine", the Hajar mountain range, the "back", which stretched from Buraimi to Nizwa, and the "belly", a coastal plain extending to the capital city of Muscat.
Oman's main natural resources are natural gas and oil, which is also called "black gold". The country's territory is located in the oil and gas basin of the Persian Gulf, dozens of hydrocarbon deposits have been found here.
The climate in Oman is good for traveling. You can swim in the sea all year round, there are almost no periods of cold weather here. Summer is the perfect time for those who like hot weather. In July the air temperature in coastal areas reaches +38°C and above. Winter is warm and mild, the average daytime temperature in January is usually +24°C.
The best way to start exploring Oman is to visit its capital, Muscat. In this city history is closely intertwined with modernity. There are ancient fortresses and magnificent mosques, museums with interesting collections of exhibits and a colorful traditional bazaar, an opera house and a beautiful promenade.
In Muscat harbor, you can admire the Portuguese forts that were built there many centuries ago. The old part of the city is famous for the luxurious Al Alam Palace, which was the residence of Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said. This gilded building in the Arab-Indian style makes a great impression on tourists. While traveling around Muscat, you should have a look at the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. It is an interesting example of Islamic architecture.
There are also many interesting places to see outside the capital. You can see the sites that are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. For example, a necropolis in the province of Al Dhahira or Bahla Fort at the foot of the legendary Jebel Akhdar Mountain. Another attraction worth visiting is the pre-Islamic defensive structure in the Al-Batinah region, a fort with battlements that now houses a museum. And, of course, it is worth visiting the tourist area of Salalah, which is hypnotizing with its beauties.
Those who are more interested in modern sights will enjoy visiting the Oman Oil and Gas Exhibition Centre in Muscat. A tour there will be a detailed excursion into the history of the discovery, production and use of oil in Oman.
There is no railway network in Oman. But this is not a problem, since Oman has high-quality highways that run through popular local resorts. The highway runs from Muscat to the border with the UAE.
Gasoline in Oman is inexpensive, it costs about $0.6 per liter. Petrol stations are located along the highway, they’re equipped with toilets and shops selling food and other necessary goods. It makes traveling through the resort areas on the coast of the country comfortable for tourists traveling by intercity buses or taking cars for rent.
Although there are many hard-to-reach places in Oman, in resort areas there are many hotels for any taste, modern entertainment centers, shops, markets, as well as numerous restaurants and cafes.
Oman is an amazing tourist destination that is not yet as familiar to travelers as the United Arab Emirates. Due to the smaller number of tourists, the traditional spirit and romance of the Arabian Peninsula are felt stronger here.
Many people come to this country to experience the atmosphere of the fairy tales of the "Thousand and One Nights". Here the rich cultural and historical heritage harmoniously combines with the pristine nature. Travelers can see ancient fortresses, mosques of incredible beauty, oases, picturesque villages, great mountain ranges and fantastic dunes of the desert.
In Oman everyone will find something to do. Tourists can go on educational excursions or an exciting safari, have a relaxing beach holiday or attend cultural events.
In Oman, travelers will find hotels of different star ratings, for any purposes and budgets. As for the cost of meals, lunch for two in an affordable cafe will cost an average of $6- $7.5. A three-course meal in a medium-level cafe will cost from $25 to $35.
Let's take the example of prices for some food products in Oman. A liter of milk can be bought for about $1.5, a loaf of bread for $1. A liter and a half of mineral water will cost about $0.5, a bottle of wine will cost from $13 to $52, and a can of beer will cost from $2 to $6.
As for the prices for souvenirs, magnets cost about $7, postcards with views of $0.5, incense are available for about $5 and more, and traditional clothes cost about $7.
Oman delights travelers with a rich choice of leisure options. Here you can go on adventurous safaris through the desert and mountains by SUVs and camels. Travelers can combine relaxing holidays at local resorts with fishing or water sports activities: windsurfing, kayaking, catamaran riding, water skiing and jet skiing.
Diving and snorkeling are popular in Oman too. Divers appreciate the rocky parts of the coastline of the Gulf of Oman, thanks to the landscape of which each dive becomes an exciting underwater trip. During such mini trips you can examine in detail the life of various inhabitants of local waters such as corals, turtles and fish.
Guests of Oman can enjoy boat trips on traditional sailing wooden dhow boats, sailboats and modern speedboats. Photos and videos taken in front of the incredibly beautiful landscapes will be wonderful souvenirs from such a trip.
Oman is developing as a safe and convenient tourist destination for MICE trips. Oman authorities have already done the following: introduced electronic visas, carried out reconstruction of the International Airport in Muscat. For MICE trips it may be relevant that a congress center has been built in the capital, which has many venues for organizing exhibitions, conferences and business meetings.
The incredibly beautiful nature of local resort areas is successfully complemented by all the necessary infrastructure for organizing the most comfortable MICE trips. There are hotels of large hotel chains and world-famous brands in Oman. Therefore, it will not be a problem for groups of MICE tourists to find accommodation with quality of service at the European level. New hotels and business centers, entertainment and shopping complexes, restaurants and cafes are built here. Every year Oman becomes a more and more perfect place for business trips, harmoniously combined with a high-class vacation.
The name of the capital of Oman can be translated as "the place where the anchor is dropped". It is so. Travelers who come to this city want to stay longer to feel the magical atmosphere of this city. Muscat has a very distinctive pace of life, sometimes modern and dynamic, sometimes charmingly slow, immersing visitors in ancient times.
Muscat became the capital of the country in 1749. Nowadays, there are high-quality highways and a large airport that recently underwent reconstruction. Muscat Airport receives daily flights from different parts of the world. But once it was extremely difficult to get here either by sea or on foot through the mountains.
In Muscat travelers can visit many sights. For example, parks and museums, old fortresses, and palaces. It is also worth visiting the colorful oriental bazaars, where you can find incredible souvenirs that will be an ideal reminder of visiting this bright and original place.
This region is famous for its natural beauty with lots of colors and incredible freshness. At the same time, it is a comfortable city with a developed modern infrastructure, the second largest city in Oman.
Salalah is an administrative center of Dhofar Province. The city of Salalah has an international airport of the same name, serving flights from different countries of the world daily.
Flying up to Salalah, you can admire the mountain ranges and plains that frame this city. The magnificent beaches of Salalah are covered with soft white sand. Here is the crystal-clear turquoise sea. Travelers can choose from a wide range of excursions. For example, they can go to archaeological sites to get acquainted with the traditional way of life of local people and learn about the history of this country. Tourists can also admire the view of the Sultan's palace or bargain at the colorful oriental bazaar, immersing in the atmosphere of Arab antiquity.
Nowadays the Oman government pays special attention to the development of the tourism industry. World famous chains of hotels, such as Intercontinental, Hyatt, Sheraton, successfully operate in this country. So even the most demanding travelers will be able to find comfortable accommodation with a full range of necessary services.
Here you can find a hotel that suits both the purpose of your trip and your budget. Travelers can choose between luxury hotels, middle priced hotels and low-budget camping. Holidays in Oman will satisfy both those who travel with family, and groups of friends, and tourists who blend vacation with business issues.
The capital city Muscat is one of the most popular resort areas in the country. Lots of hotels are concentrated there. In this city, tourists prefer to stay in one of the two tourist districts of Al Qurum and Al Mouj. Al Qurum is located along the coastline with public beaches. Al Mouj attracts tourists by being designed like Dubai Marina. Here you can enjoy a classic beach holiday, visit restaurants and cafes or take part in exciting excursions that allow you to get to know this interesting tourist destination as closely as possible.