Oman is a perfect nation that’s appropriate for a highway journey. I did this highway 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 day-to-day and step-by-step via Oman together with GPS tracks. We drove from Salalah to Muscat however after all you’ll be able to drive it additionally the opposite method. I at all times counsel to by no means backtrack the identical route however to drive both a circle or drop the automotive simply on the finish level. Rather more environment friendly! Now get pleasure from this Oman highway journey itinerary with me.
Just a few common ideas when driving the Oman itinerary
When you drive in Oman it’s important to hold 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 fuel in the midst of nowhere; or two flat tires. Simply hold these easy guidelines in thoughts.
- All the time refill the tank if it’s half empty, to keep away from operating out of fuel. Particularly in space’s the place there aren’t any cities.
- Be sure to have a spare tire and the instruments to alter it. If you might want to 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 a very good GPS machine or smartphone with a automotive charger. Make sure that your maps are offline as there may be not at all times web service.
- When you go off highway, just be sure you know what you’re doing.
- All the time 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 truly 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’s going to rely from the place you’re however a day further earlier than the precise highway 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 guide low cost enterprise class flights) we might benefit from the top notch 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 lodge on Christmas Eve, the Crown Plaza Salalah. We missed the celebrations, however that’s a part of touring rather a lot. The subsequent day our precise Oman highway 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 checklist was Mirbat Fortress and a drive via 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 checklist had been unspoiled seashores in the direction of the Yemen border, simply observe the highway and go off highway (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 lodge.
Learn our expertise:
OMAN – A day in Salalah; the beginning of our highway 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 historical time.
The final cease for at present can be in the midst of the desert: UNESCO Frankincense Path: Archaeological web site of Shisr. It’s situated at N 18.254958; E 53.648690. Take 70 KM after Thumrait a left flip over the desert highway, the outdated highway. From Shisr it’s good to drive in the direction of N 18.675047; E 54.081860 in a straight line over the desert highway as effectively. 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 effectively paved tarmac.
Learn our expertise:
OMAN – Exploring the Frankincense Path on our method from Salalah to Duqm
Oman Itinerary – Day 4 – Duqm
In the present day is a day we’ll spend round Duqm and extra particular a 5 kilometer abandoned stretch of white seaside. The seaside is known as 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 highway from there to the seaside. In case roads change (there are lots 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
In the present day 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 highway alongside the coast. A fairly 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. It is a lifetime expertise.
Learn our expertise:
OMAN – The Ras al Jinz Sea Turtle Reserve; a singular expertise
Oman Itinerary – Day 6 – Ras al Jinz (near Sur) to Muscat
Midway throughout our Oman highway journey we had an extended day of driving and stopping at varied locations. The primary cease was on the Ras al Had fort (situated at N 22.525837; E 59.791153). It’s a small fort after which we made a cease on the lake (proper aspect of the highway 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 subsequent cease was the traditional metropolis of Qalhat (N 22.694526; E59.372538) and a bit additional down the highway the Bimmah Sinkhole within the Hawiyat Najm Park (N 23.033611; E 59.069868). A little bit of the primary highway 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 situated within the city of Quriyat (N 23.265196; E 58.916002).
Learn our expertise:
OMAN – From Sur to Muscat: forts, historical cities and exquisite nature
Oman Itinerary – Day 7 – Nakhal & Rustaq Forts and off-road via the Hajar Mountains
Our base for the final a part of our Oman highway 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 via the Hajar Mountains. A harmful highway! In the present day 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 stunning forts in that space of Oman.
It’s essential to complete these forts round midday to have the ability to drive via the mountains throughout daylight. I don’t suggest driving at evening as at sure space’s you will have cliffs down and up on each side reaching 800 meters. Be sure to have a 4×4 car and know how one can function it. It’s essential that you simply refill with gasoline earlier than driving via the wadi. Take sufficient water and be sure to have at the very least 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 a fantastic hike there into the gorge. Balad Sayt is a pleasant mountain village to go to; very peaceable. You’ll arrive on the different aspect in Nizwa. We drove from there again to Muscat which was one other 2 hour drive. See the GPS map for our route via the mountains.
Learn our expertise:
OMAN – Harmful roads: Off-road via 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 the town all day to be again on the lodge for the New 12 months’s Eve occasion. Within the morning we began on the grand mosque referred to as Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque: the spotlight in Muscat. We continued to the opposite aspect 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 have a look at the three essential forts: Al Jalili, Al Marini and Mutrah Fort. Within the afternoon we went swimming and after that it was occasion 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
In the present day we headed again (the quick method) to the area round Nizwa. It is 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 huge however in very good situation. After this we continued to the massive 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 outdated city and metropolis wall which is the third largest on the earth) situated 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 aren’t actually on monitor on the sightseeing routes, we drove in complete round 4 hours to discover two most essential websites. One row of round 12 Tombs situated at N23.213997, E56.965333. From there we drove to Bat Bee Hive web site which is a very powerful (situated 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
In the present day we took the aircraft to Abu Dhabi on Etihad Airways arriving simply after lunch time. This was leg considered one of our flight house. We stayed for 2 nights in Abu Dhabi. Examine our days in Abu Dhabi right here. We had numerous enjoyable throughout this Oman itinerary. A highway journey we won’t neglect. We realized about Omans tradition, nature and meals.
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