Oman Tourism and Travel Guide

Oman (/oʊˈmɑːn/ oh-MAAN; Arabic: عمان‎ ʻUmān), officially the Sultanate of Oman (Arabic: سلطنة عُمان‎ Salṭanat ʻUmān), is an Arab country in the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Holding a strategically important position at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, the nation is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest, and shares marine borders with Iran and Pakistan. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the southeast and the Gulf of Oman on the northeast. The Madha and Musandam exclaves are surrounded by the UAE on their land borders, with the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman forming Musandam's coastal boundaries.From the late 17th century, the Omani Sultanate was a powerful empire, vying with Portugal and Britain for influence in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. At its peak in the 19th century, Omani influence or control extended across the Strait of Hormuz to modern-day Iran and Pakistan, and as far south as Zanzibar (today part of Tanzania, also former capital). As its power declined in the 20th century, the sultanate came under the influence of the United Kingdom. Historically, Muscat was the principal trading port of the Persian Gulf region. Muscat was also among the most important trading ports of the Indian Ocean. Oman's official religion is Islam.Oman is an absolute monarchy. The Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said has been the hereditary leader of the country since 1970. Sultan Qaboos is the longest-serving ruler in the Middle East. Oman's human rights record has been the subject of criticism.Unlike its resource-rich neighbors, Oman has modest oil reserves, ranking 25th globally. Nevertheless, in 2010 the UNDP ranked Oman as the most improved nation in the world in terms of development during the preceding 40 years. Oman is categorized as a high-income economy and ranks as the 59th most peaceful country in the world according to the Global Peace Index.
Show More
Get Customised Packages

Frequently Asked Questions

The national currency of the Sultanate of Oman is Omani Riyal (OMR). It is made up of 1,000 baisa. One OMR is around INR 215.

The capital of Oman is Muscat.

Yeah, ATMs are available in all the touristy cities and towns across Oman.

Being the third highest rated currency in the world after Kuwaiti and Bahraini Dinar, Oman is rated as an expensive country.

Credit cards are widely accepted in all hotels, some restaurants and sometimes even in souqs. Most accepted ones are Most accept Visa, MasterCard, Electron, Cirrus, Maestro and InterBank cards. 

The official language of Oman is Arabic. 

 

It is easiest to drive around since the roads are well-paved. Although, finding public transport is difficult as there is hardly any. Only a handful of buses ply between main towns and cities. Uber is not available but there are several other local taxi applications for Oman Taxi: Otaxi and Marhaba Oman taxi. You can also rent a car and self-drive.

Oman’s time zone is known as Gulf Standard Time (GMT +4).

For a country that can be deemed warm, the best time to visit Oman is October and April, when the temperatures vary between 17°C to 35°C. 

Oman in general is a very safe country and crime against women is next to nil. In fact, as per a 2018 report from the World Economic Forum, Oman is listed as the 4th safest country in the world.

 

Direct and one-stop flights to Muscat, Duqm, Khasab, Salalah and other places are available from Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Kochi, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.

Oman experiences an average temperature of 10oC to 12oC in the northern part and 16oC to 18oC in the southern part. Oman loosely follows UK seasonal patterns

Spring: March to May

Summer: June to August

Autumn: September to November

Winter: December to February

The wettest months are January and February. A subtropical, dry climate with summer monsoons and hot, dusty winds is what best describes the climate of Oman.

No, Indians can no longer get their visitor visa on arrival. They need to apply online and procure it before visiting Oman.

Yes. You must have a passport and a valid visa to enter Oman. As long as Indians have a valid residence or visa from Australia, Canada, Japan, the U.K., the USA, or a Schengen country, they can apply for an Oman visa online. The visa requirements have been explained on https://india.embassy.gov.au/ndli/vm_visitaus.html

In order to financially secure your trip, it is essential to buy travel insurance that includes medical emergencies as well.

  • Shangri-La Al Husn Resort and Spa, Muscat
  • Atana Musandam
  • Crowne Plaza Resort Salalah
  • Alila Jabal Akhdar, Al Hajar Mountains 
  • Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara
  • Six Senses Zighy Bay, Musandam Peninsula
  • Anantara Jabal Akhdar
  • Jumeirah At Saraya Bandar Jissah, Muscat
  • Intercontinental Muscat
  • Desert Nights Camp, Al Wasil
  • The Chedi, Muscat
  • Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Muscat
  • Majboos
  • Shuwa
  • Mashuai
  • Mushaltat
  • Dates
  • Shawarma
  • Mishkak
  • Omani Laban
  • Halwa
  • Kahwa
  • Omani Bread
  • Harees
  • Luqaimat
  • Omani Pudding
  • Halwa Al Jazar
  • Maho Halwa
  • Halawet Ahmad

 

Muscat

  • Mutrah Corniche
  • Grand Mosque Muscat
  • Royal Opera House, Muscat
  • Wadi Bani Khalid
  • Yiti Beach
  • Al Alam Palace
  • Al Mirani Fort
  • Bimmah Sinkhole
  • Al Jalali Fort
  • Amouage Perfumery and Visitor Centre
  • Qurum Beach
  • Mutrah Souq
  • Al Araimi Boulevard

 

Salalah

  • Mugsail Beach
  • Wadi Darbat
  • Sumhuram Archaeological Park
  • Taqah castle
  • Al Marneef Cave
  • Jebel Samhan
  • Al Baleed Archaeological Park
  • Tawi Atayr Sinkhole
  • Anti-Gravity Point
  • Al Husn Souq
  • Gun Souq

 

Nizwa

  • City Circle Tram
  • Jebel Akhdar
  • Nizwa Fort
  • Jabreen Castle
  • Tanuf Ruins
  • Nizwa Souq
  • Wadi Ghul
  • Nizwa Grand Mall
  • Birkat Al Mouz Ruins
  • Falaj Daris
  • Bahla Fort

 

Wadi Darbat

  • Tawi Atair
  • Sumhuram Archaeological Park
  • Mirbat

Contrary to the idea of what a desert country can offer, Oman has quite a lot to offer. For a short trip, 4-5 days are appropriate. Although, to get a hang of the place, a week or 10 days in Oman would be ideal. For an extensive tour of Oman, a two-week vacation would be perfect!