TEN MORE REASONS NOT TO MISS OMAN
SAUNTER ROUND THE MAZE OF THE SOUK
THE bay called the Corniche is the heart of the oldest part of Oman’s capital, Muscat, and the Muttrah souk lies just off it. Here you’ll find a maze of passageways with stalls selling silks, spices and gold, as well as Omani antiques, including Bedouin jewellery. There are also cafes. Head into the streets behind and eventually you’ll reach Bait al Baranda, a museum charting Oman’s history, housed in one of Muscat’s oldest buildings. baitalbaranda.mm.gov.om
GO SHOPPING… AND IT’S WOMEN-ONLY
IBRA is the oldest city in Oman and holds a women-only souk every Wednesday. Pick up a bag of frankincense – the sap tapped from the Boswellia tree that grows in Yemen, Somalia and Oman, which is supposed to be the best in the world.
TAKE THE ARIA AT THE OPERA HOUSE
SOME Middle Eastern countries celebrate the shopping mall but Muscat sets more store by its opera house and its cultural programme that includes jazz and classical but concentrates on opera with a series of visiting companies. Even if you don’t come for Mahler, a tour to marvel at the architecture and decor is worth it. rohmuscat.org.om
DINE LIKE A LOCAL ON CAMEL BIRYANI
AUTHENTIC Omani food is hard to come by but Ubhar, near Qurum beach, allows you to immerse yourself in traditional spiced fish, camel biryani and frankincense ice cream. Alcohol is available in larger hotels and some restaurants but it’s an offence to drink in a public place. Omani coffee is delicious, made with rosewater and usually served with dates. ubharoman.com/ubhar
DIP INTO BIMMAH SINKHOLE AND WADI SHAB
A DAY trip from Muscat is the Hawiyat Najm Park. Here you’ll find the Bimmah Sinkhole – a miniature lake where tiny fish will give your feet a pedicure while you paddle. Further along the coastal path, a hiking trail along gorges and date plantations brings you to Wadi Shab, a series of rock pools that are perfect for cooling down in. Expect to take four to five hours to do the hike properly, and bring plenty of water and money for the short boat trip that takes you to the starting point.
AN ISLAND ADVENTURE TO SEE SEAHORSES
OFFSHORE from Muscat, the Daymaniyat Islands have beaches of white sand and the nutrient-rich waters are home to seahorses, manta rays and barracudas. The islands are a nature reserve but SeaOman can arrange day trips. seaoman.com
WATCH RARE TURTLES AS THEY LAY THEIR EGGS
ON OMAN’S eastern peninsula, Ras al Jinz is a turtle sanctuary. The best time of year to visit is June to August and numbers are tightly controlled, with 300 visitors a day – 100 in the morning, when you can often see the turtles return to the water after laying their eggs, and 200 in the evening when the turtles come ashore. There’s huge demand for tickets so you need to book in advance. However, the centre has some accommodation in cabins and tents which automatically includes access to the turtle tours. rasaljinz-turtlereserve.com
SLEEP UNDER THE STARS LIKE A NOMAD
MANY people ‘wild camp’ in Oman but Sharqiya Sands camp is worth a visit because it’s run by an Omani family. It’s simple – there’s no electricity– but well managed, with dinner provided. nomadicdesertcamp.com
CRUISE ON A DHOW AND SPOT SPLASHING DOLPHINS
IN THE north, Khasab is a remote but beautiful part of Oman. A cruise in a dhow, the traditional wooden boat of the Middle East, allows you to experience the coastline, usually with dolphins playing alongside. Oman has more than 20 varieties in its waters. You can do trips overnight but you’ll see the area’s fjords – craggy cliffs amid turquoise waters – on a day trip. khasabtours.com
GO GREEN DURING THE SUMMER MONSOON
THE countryside around Salalah in the far south of the country experiences a summer monsoon called khareef. Between July and September, a large amount of rainfall means that the countryside becomes a carpet of greenery. You’ll need to book accommodation in advance. alfawaztours.com