Why go to Oman? The 10 good reasons to go Oman
Musandam and Salalah
2 extensions of stay: in the north, fjords, dhows and dolphins; in the south, beaches and coconut trees.
Modernity and traditions
Not very touristy, the country preserves its traditions but offers modern infrastructures.
A country for all types of tourism
Swimming, cultural, sports, life-size... for couples, families and friends.
Citadels, castles and aflaj
Ubiquitous. A must see: Bahla, Jabrin, Nizwa, Al Hazm, Mutrah..
Varied landscapes and biotopes
Mountains, canyons, fjords, wadis, dunes, oases, palm groves, islands, endless beaches..
The desert
Silent, fascinating, it occupies the ¾ of the territory and composes unforgettable escapes.
Omani hospitality
Of a gentle and tolerant nature, the Omanis perpetuate an ancestral culture of hospitality.
Sweetness of life in Muscat
A capital of nature and culture: beaches, dolphins, mountains, museums, cafes, opera..
Dolphins and turtles
They are abundant in Omani waters, especially in Ras al Jinz and Masirah for turtles.
Adventure with a capital A
Recent, the destination still offers vast unexplored spaces..
What to visit Oman?
Interview: My Oman
By Cathyline and Caroline, authors of the guide
A curious professional and passionate traveler, Cathyline has been an editor at Petit Futé since the creation of the Country guides. Originally a specialist in Southern Africa, then in destinations such as Mauritius and Madagascar, she has been writing about the Emirates and Oman for over 20 years. In the Sultanate, she works in duo with Caroline, an avid traveler and co-editor of the guide.
See the video of the interviewGood to know to visit Oman
Timetable
In Muscat most of the major museums are open from 10am to 5pm or 6pm every day except Friday morning. However, for the smaller museums in the country, the hours are variable and it is best to check before visiting. As far as forts and castles are concerned, everything depends on their importance: the biggest ones like those of Nizwa, Jabrin, Bahla... are open from 9am to 4pm every day (sometimes even later, 8pm for the fort of Nizwa for example) except on Fridays during prayer time. The smaller ones are generally open in the morning and close according to the number of visitors or the good will of the guardian.
To be booked
A pleasure for frequent travellers, there is no need to book in advance, as the destination is still in its infancy and has not yet reached mass tourism. To date, there are no queues at the entrance to forts or museums.
Budget & Tips
To make Oman's heritage accessible to as many people as possible, entrance fees are often derisory: 500 bz or 1 OMR for the vast majority of forts and castles, a few OMR for museums, 5 OMR maximum for the most important ones.
Main events
A few rare festivals take place every year. Among the main ones, let us note, in the heart of "winter" in January-February the Muscat Festival, the main one in the capital and, in the heart of summer (contradictorily the coolest season in the south) the Salalah Festival or Khareef, the monsoon festival.
Guided tours
Guided tours are neither frequent nor systematic, with the exception of the Royal Opera House, the Amouage factory and the Bait Al Safah living museum in Al Hamra. In the main forts, however, audio-guides in several languages, including French, are being developed, an effort that is all the more welcome as the explanations are fascinating.
Smokers
Smoking is prohibited in public places.
What's very local
As soon as you leave the "private" sphere of the hotel to go sightseeing, wear covering clothing: legs and shoulders covered. When visiting a mosque, especially the Great Mosque of Sultan Qaboos, the only one "easily" accessible and organized to welcome travelers, cover your arms and hair as well.
