Travel Guide Sur

In Oman, the name Sur immediately brings to minddhows , the famous boats that made the region famous and the town prosperous, and which are still being built today - a visit to the shipyards is recommended. A dynamic metropolis, Sur was born from the amalgamation of four villages located at the mouth of the Wadi Fulaij: Sharayah, Sarray Salah, Ayga and Bilad Sur. Its economic activity was based on trade with Africa, at the time when Oman began to take an interest in this continent, as early as the 6th century. It was also a hub of the slave trade until 1822, when Said bin Sultan put an end to this activity. Today, the city's main source of income is its natural gas liquefaction plant (L.N.G.).As far as tourism is concerned, it's a pleasant seaside town, bristling with ochre-coloured hills topped by watchtowers, and partly built on either side of a lagoon that lends it great charm. This arm of the sea, which empties in part at low tide, is crossed by a suspension bridge linking the modern town to the old quarter of Al-Ayja, with its white houses with carved doors and its lighthouse. If the walk is pleasant, prefer the bustle of the souk at the end of the day. This is where all the economic activity is to be found: restaurants, coffee shops, travel agencies, small hotels, cobblers and barbers. It's a hive of activity where you can enjoy a fresh fruit cocktail on a terrace, and catch a glimpse of life.