What budget to travel à Oman? Money and currency

The currency of the Sultanate of Oman is the Omani rial (OMR), divided into 1,000 baizas (bz). You can change euros at banks and exchange offices. Accommodation is expensive, even in a small guest-house. But you can eat for next to nothing in the coffee shops and you can camp anywhere, an option reserved for the cooler seasons and the mountains. So you can put together an affordable stay. If you rent a car, it won't be gasoline at the price of mineral water that's the most expensive!

What budget for activities and outings à Oman?

To make Oman's heritage accessible to as many people as possible, entrance fees are often low: 3 OMR for the vast majority of forts and castles, a few OMR for museums, 5 OMR maximum for the most important ones. In general, you'll be asked to pay with a credit card, not cash. So it's best to carry your credit card with you at all times.

For a breath of fresh air without spending a penny (unless you absolutely want a guide), hiking and trekking are 2 disciplines widely practised in Oman, where countless trails have been marked out. For other activities, which are generally supervised, budgets vary according to the services offered. However, as the sultanate's standard of living is relatively high, sporting activities are quite expensive, especially as they often require special equipment and, especially for mountain sports, there are few centers with experienced instructors trained to international standards. All the companies listed in this guide are accredited. On the other hand, avoid advertising by local freelance guides, especially for climbing or canyoning. They're certainly very good, but none of them are insured.

What budget to eat à Oman?

You can eat cheaply, at any time of day, in the coffee shops scattered throughout the country, even in the most remote areas - in which case they are located at service stations. Hygiene regulations in Oman are very strict, and restaurants and coffee shops are subject to frequent checks. If a breach of the rules is detected, the establishment is obliged to close. So there's no reason why you shouldn't eat in one of these small, inexpensive establishments offering kebabs, wraps, salads, French fries, kebabs, Arabic dishes, etc. and delicious freshly squeezed fruit juices.

Elsewhere, prices vary according to the standing of the establishment: around 8 euros for a typical Omani restaurant and from 50 euros for a fine dinner in a gastronomic or fashionable restaurant.

What is the budget for accommodation à Oman?

A peculiarity of the country is that its tourism policy tends towards a high-end positioning, while tolerating wild camping on a large scale! Although the government favours the opening of luxury establishments (the country has some magnificent ones!) and rarely grants licenses to guesthouses (at least in the big cities, as they are becoming more and more numerous in the villages), you can nevertheless travel and find accommodation at all price levels in the sultanate. There are small local hotels in all the tourist regions, and while they may not be the most eye-catching in terms of décor (ah, tastes and colors...), they are generally comfortable and always very clean, hygiene being a standard that is not to be trifled with in this part of the world. Nothing, however, or it's very rare and involves sharing an apartment in a hotel residence, at less than 20 OMR for a double room, or €47 all the same. These aparthotels, with their generally comfortable and spacious units, are a good option for keeping costs down, since they allow you to share costs and save on food expenses - which, incidentally, aren't really expenses at all, since you can eat for a few euros in the ubiquitous coffee shops. Another option: apartments and houses for rent, of which there are an increasing number on dedicated platforms, in all price ranges. A local speciality: villas, often very spacious, modern and recent, are called chalets. While some are flashy, more and more are adopting more international or even European decorative criteria, and you can really find some jewels.

In the absence of a guesthouse, local hotel or rental residence, you can always pitch your tent, a practice accepted absolutely everywhere, provided, of course, you don't disturb the locals and respect their way of life. This form of globalized wilderness camping is sometimes even the only way to discover the most remote and secret parts of the country.

Travel budget à Oman and cost of living

Oman has a reputation for being an expensive destination and, indeed, international hotels and 4x4 rentals are quite expensive. However, local motels and apartment hotels, though unpretentious, can suit smaller budgets. What's more, even small guesthouses are never exactly cheap, and more and more of them are springing up in the tourist sections of the sultanate, offering great alternatives to hotels and, above all, a more authentic setting. Another significant advantage for the wallet: camping is free and permitted throughout the country, even on the outskirts of towns. Knowing that the level of safety is one of the best in the world, this is a major advantage. The only downside is that, while they do exist, serviced sites are rare, so we're talking more about wilderness camping without toilets or water.

The price of food varies from one to ten, depending on the standard of the place - from a gargote to a top-of-the-range restaurant in a luxury hotel. But it's perfectly possible to eat for a few euros every day and absolutely anywhere in the country, in the heart of the coffee-shops that are legion. It's worth noting that hygiene regulations are drastic in the Sultanate, and health checks are frequent. So there's absolutely no fear of eating on the go or sipping tons of fresh fruit juice, even on the rocks.

In terms of transport, on the other hand, there's nothing very practical for backpackers. Neither train nor metro, very few public buses and, in any case, none serving the mountainous and remote areas of the sultanate that are of interest to travellers. As a result, it is often necessary to rent a 4x4 vehicle at a not inconsiderable daily cost (a minimum of 40 OMR per day). This may be partly offset by the cost of fuel, which is much cheaper than in France. To save money, a sedan may suffice for the classic tour via Nizwa, the surrounding cultural and natural sights, the turtles, the most popular wadis (in this case, park at the entrance and hike), the coastline between Ras al Jinz and Muscat. All you need to do is ask for a transfer to a desert camp, which is often done easily.

So, if you plan your trip well in advance and opt for camping or small local structures, you can visit Oman at low cost.