Oman, the gem of the Arabian Peninsula, is full of surprises and contrasts. Its natural scenery includes endless windswept sand dunes whipped up by jagged mountain ranges that cut into the clear blue skies. Its sheer-walled orange-brown sand dunes and canyons give way to lush rivers and cascading streams.
The country’s 1,700 kilometres (1,060 mi) of picturesque coastline has no shortage of pristine, stunning, and secluded beaches with crystal-clear emerald waters.
Rich in history, Oman’s ancient watchtowers and fortresses stand guard over bustling souqs (markets) and modern white-washed towns. Stunningly ornate mosques rise high above mud-walled villages, while donkey carts and luxury cars share the same roads.
Oman’s roads are well-constructed, fuel is cheap, and there’s no shortage of interesting natural scenery and captivating villages in every direction – the ideal scenario for any inquisitive traveller.
Officially called the Sultanate of Oman, this Islamic country is located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, sharing borders with Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Along its southern coast is the Arabian Sea, and to the east lies the Gulf of Oman which separates it from Iran and Pakistan. Compared to its neighbours, Oman is one of the most stable and generally safest countries for travel.
Come along as we explore Muscat, the capital of Oman and its largest city. From Muscat’s old town with its authentic souqs and fish market near the Mutrah Corniche seafront, we drive to the west of town to visit the colossal Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.
From here we continue southwest into the interior to the historic town of Nizwa, known for its fortress, souqs, and Falaj Daris, an extensive irrigation system of falaj (a water channel, plural: aflaj) used over centuries as a lifeline to the town’s immense palm tree plantations.
While we hardly scratched the surface of what Oman has to offer, this short trip is a brief introduction to why “Gem of the Arabian Peninsula” is a very appropriate description of Oman.
Why travel to Oman?
- The low-down: Oman has some of the most unique mountain and coastline scenery in the world! Combine that with remote villages, oases, castles, deserts and desert islands, bustling souks, and great hospitality – and you can see why it is easy to spend a few weeks in Oman.
- The brightest highlight: Oman’s coastline is home to many fishermen and Bedouins who have traditionally lived off the waters and valleys of this fjordic landscape. A must-do experience!
- Intrepid destination: Other than Muscat, much of the country is off-the-beaten-track.
- Globerovers score (10 is highest): Sadly I only saw a small part of Oman and can’t wait to get back. Based on the little I have seen, it gets a score of 8.5/10.
Table of Contents
Muscat, Oman’s sleepy capital
Oman has been ruled for millennia by various indigenous tribes and foreign powers including the Persians, Portuguese, and the Ottoman Empire. All have left their mark, so today the city’s architecture and culture attest to its rich history.
The city’s old quarters as well as the port district of Mutrah, with its corniche and harbour, are of most interest to visitors.
Stretching almost 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) along the Omani coastline, Muscat offers a real taste of Arabia, despite its recent modernisation and building frenzy. Fortunately, most of the new buildings are less than three stories high and are white-washed to blend in with the historical buildings. Much of the old city has retained its old-world charm.
Life in Muscat is dominated by its old corniche seafront in the Mutrah area, fringed by 18th-century buildings and the imposing 17th-century Mutrah fort. The harbour is usually awash with locals selling the fresh catch of the day, with a variety of fish and other exotic creatures from the sea.
The city boasts several imposing mosques, of which the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is the largest and most prominent. Muscat also offers several museums, beautifully restored houses, an opera house, the Al Alam Sultan’s Palace, parliament buildings, fortresses, and the bustling Mutrah souq which is said to be one of the oldest marketplaces in the Arab world.
Engulfed in the mixed smells of frankincense, perfume oils, fresh jasmine, and spices, you can shop for Omani gold and silverware, embroidered bright coloured cloth, pots, paintings, hookah pipes, framed khanjars (daggers), leatherwork, incense, and so on.
The Grand Mosque of Muscat
Qaboos bin Said al Said, the previous Sultan of Oman who died on 10th January 2020, ordered the Grand Mosque in 1992. Construction started in December 1994 and took six years and seven months to complete.
Constructed from 300,000 tons of Indian sandstone, the main prayer hall has a central dome rising to a height of 50 metres (160 ft) above the square 74.4 by 74.4 metre (244 by 244 ft) carpeted floor.
This hall can hold over 6,500 worshippers while the adjacent women’s prayer hall can hold 750, and the outer marble-paved area an additional 8,000 people.
The mosque has four flanking minarets each measuring a whopping 45.5 metres (149 ft) high. Truly an architectural masterpiece.
While the main structure is impressive, the interior design is record-breaking.
The chandelier above the main prayer hall is 14 metres (46 ft) tall, eight metres wide (26 ft), weighs 8.5 tons, includes 600,000 pieces of crystal trimmed with gold, uses 1,122 halogen bulbs, and even has a small staircase inside for workers to perform maintenance. The carpet below this massive chandelier was woven in Iran and contains a whopping 1.7 billion knots, weighs 21 tons, and took four years to weave. At the time the carpet was laid, it was the world’s largest single-piece carpet.
It dropped to the second spot in 2007 when a larger carpet was laid in the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Nizwa at the Al-Hajar Mountains
Located 140 kilometres (87 mi) southwest of Muscat at the base of the Al-Hajar Mountains, Nizwa is one of the oldest oasis towns in Oman.
With its authentic souq, it was once a major centre of trade in the Arabian Peninsula and over the centuries also played a prominent role in Oman’s religion, education, and art.
Surrounded by a verdant spread of date palms, much of the old part of Nizwa was built with clay bricks and mud. Best known for its now heavily renovated fort that was built in 1668 AD, it is a reminder of the town’s significance throughout its turbulent history.
The large Nizwa souq remains quite authentic and is famous for its variety of local handicrafts and agricultural products.
At this bustling market, you can find everything from freshly slaughtered meat and fish, local fruits and vegetables, gold, silverware and copperware, and a mind-boggling array of spices. It is best to get lost in the souq and just enjoy the adventure.
☛ Read more: Blog posts of the Arabian Peninsula
Further reading
- Oman Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know | WildJunket
- Blog GlobeRovers posts of the Arabian Peninsula
Blog post and photos by Peter who has been travelling almost full-time since 2005 and has been to over 122 countries. He visited several countries, such as Japan, more than 20 times. Peter is Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of GlobeRovers Magazine, an independent travel magazine focused on intrepid destinations.