15 Incredible places to visit in Oman for the trip of a lifetime

There’s a reason most people we met in Oman were return visitors. There are so many amazing places to visit, from breathtaking wadis with crystal clear water, to historic forts and castles, remote mountain villages and vast deserts.

In this guide we’re going to be sharing the best areas to visit that give you access to the most spectacular scenery and things to do in the country.

Here are some of the most beautiful places to visit in Oman.

Places to visit in Oman

A note on the landscape

Before booking accommodation for your trip, it’s worth noting that because of the topography of the country, some places that look close together aren’t.

This is most apparent in the west, where mountain ranges separate many of the places on this list, meaning that while Wakan and Jabal Akhdar look close together, there’s a steep mountain range between them, resulting in a three hour drive around the base of the mountains to get between them!

Similarly, the Wadis in Tiwi and Bani Khalid are separated by a mountain range, so you have to drive for nearly 2.5 hours to go between them.

We’ve drawn the entry roads to each place on the map to help with planning, but it’s worth plotting your own route on Google Maps to see what driving is involved before booking your trip.

1. Jebel Shams

Best for: Mountains, views & hikes
4WD required: No, but you may feel more comfortable if you have one

Jebel Shams is a small mountain village that’s home to Oman’s Grand Canyon - one of the most incredible sights in the whole country. Many places claim to have a grand canyon and not all live up to the hype.

The moment you set eyes on this one, you’ll know which category it falls in to. It’s absolutely magnificent and a true highlight of any Oman road trip.

There are many great viewpoints along the rim of the canyon, which don’t require any walking at all, but even hiking a short distance into the canyon itself offers an even more dramatic perspective.

If you’re a thrill seeker, you’ll also find a vertigo inducing via ferrata course and some pretty epic mountain hikes.

What’s more, the cool mountain air is absolute bliss, especially if you’re visiting in Oman in one of the warmer months. It’s one of the few places we could wear a jumper in the evening!

If you’re visiting between December and February you might actually feel a slight chill up here, as Jebel Shams sits at around 1,900m above sea level and can be a staggering 12C cooler than Muscat.

Whilst you can visit Jebel Shams on a long day trip from Muscat, you’ll miss out on catching sunrise and sunset at the canyon, which is the most beautiful time to be there. You can read more in our detailed guide to Jebel Shams.

2. Daymaniyat Islands

Best for: Turtles & paradise islands
4WD required: No

If you love turtles, then a visit to the Daymaniyat Islands is an absolute must. It’s easily the most turtles we’ve ever seen in our entire lives.

There were so many that I counted the number that I could see in my eye line at any one time and it was a staggering 26!

I’m delighted if I see a single turtle when snorkelling, so to see so many was just phenomenal.

Although the trips here are based around snorkelling, you don’t even have to snorkel to see the turtles as they regularly pop up above the water, often right by your head!

The islands are an easy day trip from Muscat. However, unless you camp overnight, the trips are more focussed on water than land (you’ll only spend about 20-30 minutes on an island itself).

Landings and overnight camping trips are only possible on the islands between November and April as it is an important turtle nesting site. However, day trips operate year round (but are solely water based outside this time).

The upside to visiting when landings are not possible is that you’ll be visiting in Whale shark season, something we hope to come back to experience one day.

You can read more about day tripping to the islands, including why we recommend booking one of the smaller boats, here.

3. Tiwi

Best for: Canyons, turtles & beaches
4WD required: Not to access most sites or the village, but recommended to access Wadi Tiwi

The sleepy coastal village of Tiwi would not be on most tourists radar were it not for its location. Right beside two of the most spectacular wadis in the country.

Tiwi boasts easy access to both Wadi Shab and Wadi Tiwi and both are likely to be a highlight of your trip to Oman.

We’ve travelled a fair amount in the Middle East and been lucky enough to hike quite a few canyons, never have we seen anything quite like the wadis in this part of Oman. It really is paradise.

As well as the wadis, Tiwi also has a pretty coastline where you’re almost guaranteed to see turtles, even without getting into the water.

We saw many from the cliff tops near the Heart Shaped Cave (just north of Pebbles Beach), which is a 10 minute drive from the centre of Tiwi.

You can also visit nearby Bimmah Sinkhole (a 20 minute drive away) which is a sensational and easy to access wild swimming spot, as well as Fins Beach which has a small sandy beach (as opposed to the pebble beaches found in Tiwi itself).

4. Wahiba Sands

Best for: Desert camps
4WD required: Yes (but you can drive to the edge of the desert in a 2WD then get a short transfer)

Nothing says ‘Middle East adventure’ like an overnight trip to the desert, and Wahiba Sands is where everyone comes to live out their Lawrence of Arabia dreams.

It’s not the only desert in Oman, but it is the easiest to access and the most developed, whilst still giving you that feeling of leaving civilisation behind.

Wahiba Sands is gorgeous, with quintessential rolling dunes and starry night skies. However, it is a popular place, so you’ll want to carefully pick your overnight camp.

We’d personally recommend one of the smaller, quieter camps where you can stay directly in the dunes, offering incredible sunrise and sunset watching opportunities.

We stayed at Sunrise Desert Camp and were very happy with our choice (we paid full price, so you don’t need to worry about bias). You can read more about our experience and tips for your desert trip here.

5. Misfat al Abriyeen

Best for: Mountain oasis, hikes & heritage homes
4WD required: No

The small village of Misfat al Abriyeen is like something you’d read about in a novel, with traditional adobe houses, some of which are perfectly intact and still in use, whilst some are crumbling and a little worse for wear. All are incredibly atmospheric.

The village itself is nestled into the mountainside, teeming with date palms, so you can explore to the sound of trickling water from the ubiquitous falaj, an ancient irrigation system.

With rooftop cafes, gorgeous walks and the chance to stay in old heritage houses, it’s a must when visiting Oman. It’s even a welcoming few degrees cooler than places like Muscat due to its elevation - 1000m above sea level.

Many people visit the village on a day trip from nearby Nizwa, so we recommend spending the night and experiencing it when it’s at its most quiet and peaceful.

You can read more about the things to do in Misfat al Abriyeen here.

6. Nizwa

Best for: Forts, markets & laneways
4WD required: No

Nizwa is one of the most popular places to visit in Oman, but the city still retains its traditional feel and charm.

After wandering the narrow streets you can enjoy gorgeous views from a variety of rooftop cafes, though the best views of all are from the historic fort, one of the most photographed buildings in Oman.

It’s easy to see why it attracts so many visitors with its photogenic turrets and walkways. It’s also a really fun place to explore as nothing is off limits.

You won’t find lots of handrails and barricades here, you’re free to climb to the rooftops where you can admire sensational views of the mosque and out over the city and surrounding date palm plantations. Nizwa also boasts a fantastic souq and the famous goat market (Friday mornings only).

As well as everything the city has to offer, it also provides easy access to nearby Jabreen Castle (possibly my favourite historic building in Oman) and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Bahla Fort.

7. Balad Sayt

Best for: Mountains, canyons, remote village & views
4WD required: Yes

Balad Sayt is still largely off the tourist track, though that may be set to change with the construction of a large new hotel. However, for now it remains a sleepy village where you really get to experience a little of the local way of life.

Whilst it doesn’t see too many visitors, it does boast one of the most beautiful views in the country; you’ll probably spot some photos of it up on the walls of the Oman Mall in Muscat.

It’s a captivating scene with a higgeldy piggeldy collection of houses nestled underneath a striking mountain range and luminous green terraces in the foreground (though you do need to go in the right season for the terraces to be green).

The journey to reach the village is jaw-dropping, in every sense of the word. The scenery is fantastic and the road, at times a little hairy.

A visit to Balad Sayt is definitely as much about the journey as it is the destination and you really can create your own adventure here.

It’s a great base for exploring nearby Snake Canyon (Wadi Bani Awf), an adventurous wadi involving abseiling and numerous swims.

You can read more about our experience at Balad Sayt here.

8. Wakan

Best for: Mountains, remote village & views
4WD required: Yes, but only for the last 3km, transfers available

Visiting the little mountain village of Wakan feels like stepping back in time. With a laid back vibe, phenomenal views and a cool climate (it sits above 1500m in elevation), it’s the perfect place to spend a night when road tripping around Oman.

It’s also home to a beautiful walking trail that leads to ever more incredible mountain views.

Pomegranates dangle temptingly over the pathway and the sound of rushing water from the falaj (ancient water channels) give the walk a soothing air. If you’re lucky enough to visit when the apricot blossom is in bloom then it will be even more magical.

You could easily visit Wakan on a quick day trip from Muscat, but staying the night allows you to watch sunrise or sunset over the mountains and that’s an experience you don’t want to miss.

All the details on visiting Wakan can be found in this guide.

9. Jebel Akhdar

Best for: Mountains, views, hanging village & hiking
4WD required: Yes

The cool mountain village of Jebel Akhdar is stunning. You don’t even have to walk far to experience the fantastic views of the hanging terraces and endless mountains, as many of the hotels sit right beside the lookouts.

There are plenty of hikes to explore, but if there’s one thing you shouldn’t miss when in the area, it’s visiting the 500 year old village of Suwgra.

It’s honestly one of our most memorable experiences in Oman, and you can probably see from this article that we had a lot of memorable experiences.

You’ll know you’re heading somewhere special from the drive in, when you catch your first glimpse of the village clinging to the edge of a huge cliff. It’s more like something you would expect to read about in a novel than somewhere you can stay in real life.

To set the tone: this is a place that actually has a rule that all external lights must be switched off by 10pm so that guests can enjoy the wonder of a truly dark night sky! It’s a hotel rule I’ve not seen before, but one I dearly wish to see again.

However, if you aren’t lucky enough to spend the night (you need to book early or get lucky as there are only 11 rooms), you can also visit by day, details on the best time to visit can be found in this guide. As with everything you’ve read about in this article, we paid full price for our stay.

10, Al Hamra

Best for: Abandoned village
4WD required: No

There is both a new and an old village of Al Hamra. And though we have nothing against the new village, it’s the old one we think you should visit. Entering the abandoned village of Al Hamra is like walking into a post apocalyptic world, either that or a disaster movie set.

The village has been left to slowly crumble away and the ramshackle buildings still contain some of the villagers former possessions. The remains of houses are littered with old shoes, books, bottles and even strings of garlic, all of which are covered in a thick layer of dust.

Whilst there is nothing to stop you going anywhere you want to, we don’t recommend climbing any of the old staircases, or venturing into the depths of the buildings as none of the site will be structurally sound.

Fair warning that there is also quite a bit of litter around, but it’s still a fascinating place to visit. Look up at the ceilings and you might see some of the old artworks still in tact.

Parking to explore the village can be found at these coordinates: 23.120841, 57.283655, it’s just a lay-by as there is no car park for the site.

11. Sur

Best for: Cafes & sunset views
4WD required: No

Full disclosure, we didn’t love Sur, so we don’t recommend a long visit here, but it’s worth a brief stop on route to other destinations.

There’s nothing wrong with the city, it just didn’t capture us like the other places on this list. It did however, have one of the best coffee shops in Oman, so if you’re in need of an excellent flat white, head to Brew Oz.

You can also explore the dhow yard where you can still see dhows being made by hand (there’s a small entry fee for this).

If you do happen to spend the night, Sur has a number of good sunset watching spots, including the Al-Ayjah Watch Tower and the Al-Ayjah Lighthouse, which is where we opted for.

12. Muscat

Best for: Dining, cafes, markets & culture
4WD required: No

Muscat is a fantastic city and almost everyone will spend at least a night or two here when visiting Oman. If you’re a foodie (and coffee lover) you’ll be spoilt for choice, with an incredible array of delicious places to dine, and it doesn’t have to expensive.

The one thing you must do before leaving the city is to visit the exquisite Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque (8am to 11am for non muslims, arms, legs and head must be covered, rentals available).

It’s one of the largest mosques in the world and one of the most beautiful we’ve ever seen, with gigantic hand woven carpets and extravagant chandeliers.

You can also check out the presidential palace (from the outside only, but it’s unique enough to warrant a look), as well as many museums and Mutrah souq.

There are also beaches and some great sunset spots, we enjoyed watching the sunset from the promenade by the Sustainable City (you can find it on Google Maps by clicking here). This spot offers a stunning view over the city and surrounding mountains.

13. Ras al Hadd and Ras al Jinz

Best for: Turtles, beaches & fishing
4WD required: No

The beaches of Ras Al Hadd and Ras al Jinz are stunning, especially the beach at the Ras al Jinz Turtle Reserve, which you can visit by day for a small fee.

However, the main reason that people visit this part of Oman is because it’s one of the best areas to see Green turtles in the entire world.

Peak turtle season is May to September when numbers are at their greatest, but we’re told you can see some turtles year round. We visited out of peak season, in November, and still saw a decent number.

The turtle reserve runs tours, but after reading some worrying reviews, we decided to avoid the tours and take a different approach. You can read about why here. In addition to the beaches and turtle spotting opportunities, the area is also popular for swimming with dolphins and fishing trips.

The ones that got away

Sadly for us there were a couple of places we didn’t get to on our trip and the top two we’ll be back for one day are:

14. Salalah

Best for: Wadis, waterfalls, mountains & hikes

The best time to visit Salalah is actually opposite to most of the rest of the country. The cool green monsoon season is between July and September when everything becomes lush and green and the waterfalls will be at their best.

The things to do look fabulous, from the turquoise waterfalls, to the empty sand dunes and wadis. We can’t say too much more having not visited personally, but it’s worth looking into if you have a decent amount of time in the country.

If your trip is short it likely won’t be viable as you’d have to fly from Muscat, as by road Salalah is almost 10 hours away!

15. Musandam

Best for: Fjords & views

Of all the places we didn’t quite make it to in Oman, Musandam is the one I was most sad to miss. Known as the gateway to the fjords of Arabia, the popular thing to do in this region is to take an overnight sailing trip on an old dhow and sleep out under the stars.

We met a French couple who had just been and they raved about it. It sounded like an adventure you’d read about in a travel book of old and one I hope I get to experience someday.