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Oman is a perfect nation that’s appropriate for a street journey. I did this street journey throughout a December vacation with my spouse and youngsters. We deliberate numerous actions from tradition, nature and a few leisure. On this Oman itinerary I take you day-to-day and step-by-step via Oman together with GPS tracks. We drove from Salalah to Muscat however after all you may drive it additionally the opposite manner. I all the time counsel to by no means backtrack the identical route however to drive both a circle or drop the automobile simply on the finish level. Way more environment friendly! Now take pleasure in this Oman street journey itinerary with me.
Just a few basic ideas when driving the Oman itinerary
In case you drive in Oman you need to hold just a few issues in thoughts to not get misplaced or get into hassle. The worst factor that may occur is you find yourself with out gasoline in the midst of nowhere; or two flat tires. Simply hold these easy guidelines in thoughts.
- All the time replenish the tank if it’s half empty, to keep away from working out of gasoline. Particularly in space’s the place there aren’t any cities.
- Ensure you have a spare tire and the instruments to alter it. If you could change it do go to the closest place to get the opposite fastened. The very last thing you need is 2 flat tires.
- Take sufficient water to outlive a day or two in case you exit on the desert roads.
- Have an excellent GPS system or smartphone with a automobile charger. Be certain that your maps are offline as there may be not all the time web service.
- In case you go off street, just be sure you know what you might be doing.
- All the time have your passport at hand in case you run right into a safety checkpoint.
Oman is completely protected to drive, so take pleasure in your journey!
Oman Itinerary – Day 1 – Arrival
We truly didn’t begin our journey in Oman, we had just a few days earlier than in Kuwait to see this nation. Examine our days in Kuwait. It is going to rely from the place you might be however a day further earlier than the precise street journey might be wanted to regulate for the timezone.
We had a Kuwait Airways flight from Kuwait to Muscat. There we needed to wait about 2 hours for our connecting flight on Oman Airways to Salalah. As this was a enterprise class flight (learn my ideas & methods to guide low-cost enterprise class flights) we may benefit from the first-class lounge at Muscat Airport which has nice service and meals! We arrived late night on the Salalah Airport the place we picked up our 4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser at Europcar which we’d later drop off at Muscat Airport. We arrived at our resort on Christmas Eve, the Crown Plaza Salalah. We missed the celebrations, however that’s a part of touring so much. The following day our precise Oman street journey would begin.
Oman Itinerary – Day 2 – Salalah & environment
Our first day of our 10 days in Oman. The fifth day of our full journey. We began the day by driving east from Salalah in direction of the Taqah Fort in Taqah (coordinates: N 17.04113 ; E 54.39600). We continued to archeological web site of Khor Rori which is a part of the Frankincense Path UNESCO World Heritage Website (coordinates N17.04176 ; E54.43580). Subsequent on our record was Mirbat Fort and a drive via Mirbat (coordinates N 16.99358 ; E 54.69314). We made a fast cease on the Mausoleum of Bin Ali.
At this level we turned again to Salalah and after 15 kilometers we drove in direction of Tawi Atayr to see the Baobab bushes and an antigravity level. That is actually superior! From right here we drove handed Salalah to the Marneef Cave and Blowholes on the Mughsayl Seaside. Subsequent on our record had been unspoiled seashores in direction of the Yemen border, simply comply with the street and go off street (at coordinates N16.85160 ; E53.71511) after all of the hairpins. We completed swimming within the afternoon and we drove again to Salalah and made a fast cease on the archeological web site of al-Balid earlier than persevering with to our resort.
Learn our expertise:
OMAN – A day in Salalah; the beginning of our street journey itinerary
Oman Itinerary – Day 3 – Salalah to Duqm
Day 3 was the longest drive on this itinerary from early morning until late night. Begin early, round 8 AM not later. First cease is at Job’s Tomb (an-Nabi Ayyub) (coordinates: N 17.11054 ; E 53.99492). Subsequent up is prophet Hoods Grave (N17.21361 ; E 54.09549). In case you run late like us skip this one! Whereas going up the mountain to the desert you will notice indicators to the UNESCO Frankincense Path: Frankincense Park of Wadi Dawkah. Cease right here for some time to see the bushes which produce Frankincense since historic time.
The final cease for in the present day might be in the midst of the desert: UNESCO Frankincense Path: Archaeological web site of Shisr. It’s situated at N 18.254958; E 53.648690. Take 70 KM after Thumrait a left flip over the desert street, the outdated street. From Shisr it’s good to drive in direction of N 18.675047; E 54.081860 in a straight line over the desert street as properly. You’ll find camel skulls, some lonely crops and desert so far as the attention can see. The final half to Duqm, nonetheless some hours, is over properly paved tarmac.
Learn our expertise:
OMAN – Exploring the Frankincense Path on our manner from Salalah to Duqm
Oman Itinerary – Day 4 – Duqm
Right now is a day we’ll spend round Duqm and extra particular a 5 kilometer abandoned stretch of white seashore. The seashore is named Ras Markaz seashore. Drive in direction of Hayma and after round 17.5KM drive to Jazar (indicators say Ras Madrakah 64KM). After 49KM go left (at coordinates N 19.221277; E 57.630410) to Ras Markaz seashore; it’s about 14 KM off street from there to the seashore. In case roads change (there are a lot of new roads constructed) use the GPS coordinates to get to that time after which drive to the seashore.
Learn our expertise:
OMAN – A stretch of white seashore close to Duqm you can’t think about!
Oman Itinerary – Day 5 – Ras al Jinz Sea Turtle Reserve
Right now we drove from Duqm to the Ras al Jinz turtle reserve (on the highest east level of Oman) to see the magnificent sea turtles. It takes round 4 hours over the newly paved street alongside the coast. A reasonably straight ahead drive and we arrived within the afternoon on the turtle refuge middle. Late night and early morning subsequent day the place the excursions to the seashores to see the turtles. This can be a lifetime expertise.
Learn our expertise:
OMAN – The Ras al Jinz Sea Turtle Reserve; a singular expertise
Oman Itinerary – Day 6 – Ras al Jinz (near Sur) to Muscat
Midway throughout our Oman street journey we had a protracted day of driving and stopping at numerous locations. The primary cease was on the Ras al Had fort (situated at N 22.525837; E 59.791153). It’s a small fort after which we made a cease on the lake (proper facet of the street in direction of Sur) close by. From there Google maps took us to Sur, first the lighthouse (N 22.568931; E 59.540464), onwards to the fortress Billad Sur (N22.554094; E59.489303) and the Sinaysilah Fort (N22.579927; E59.503765). The following cease was the traditional metropolis of Qalhat (N 22.694526; E59.372538) and a bit additional down the street the Bimmah Sinkhole within the Hawiyat Najm Park (N 23.033611; E 59.069868). A little bit of the principle street we visited the Wadi Dayqah with its dam (N 23.186287; E 58.965498). The final cease earlier than driving to Muscat was a small fort situated within the city of Quriyat (N 23.265196; E 58.916002).
Learn our expertise:
OMAN – From Sur to Muscat: forts, historic cities and delightful nature
Oman Itinerary – Day 7 – Nakhal & Rustaq Forts and off-road via the Hajar Mountains
Our base for the final a part of our Oman street journey was in Muscat, the capital of Oman. Today journey can be one of many highlights of our journey as we’d drive off-road via the Hajar Mountains. A harmful street! Right now we drove first from Muscat to the Nakhal Fort (N23.394819, E57.829787). We continued to the fort of Rustaq (N23.390747, E57.425654). These two are the principle and most lovely forts in that space of Oman.
It’s vital to complete these forts round midday to have the ability to drive via the mountains throughout daylight. I don’t suggest driving at night time as at sure space’s you’ve gotten cliffs down and up on either side reaching 800 meters. Ensure you have a 4×4 car and know function it. It’s vital that you just replenish with gasoline earlier than driving via the wadi. Take sufficient water and be sure you have a minimum of one spare tire with you.
Begin at approximate coordinates (N 23.341944; E 57.493056) and drive in direction of the mountains. Go to HATT village (after 13 KM) and after about 16 KM extra you might be at Snake Gorge. You can also make an incredible hike there into the gorge. Balad Sayt is a pleasant mountain village to go to; very peaceable. You’ll arrive on the different facet in Nizwa. We drove from there again to Muscat which was one other 2 hour drive. See the GPS map for our route via the mountains.
Learn our expertise:
OMAN – Harmful roads: Off-road via the Hajar mountains
Oman Itinerary – Day 8 – A day in Muscat
New 12 months’s Eve in Muscat. We determined to remain in Muscat and discover the town all day to be again on the resort for the New 12 months’s Eve social gathering. Within the morning we began on the grand mosque known as Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque: the spotlight in Muscat. We continued to the opposite facet of Muscat had been we’d go to: the Sultans Palace (Al Alam Royal Palace), the Muscat Gate and Clock Tower, Cornice with the Souks. We had a fast have a look at the three predominant forts: Al Jalili, Al Marini and Mutrah Fort. Within the afternoon we went swimming and after that it was social gathering time!
Learn our expertise:
OMAN – Should see locations in Muscat if in case you have solely a day
Oman Itinerary – Day 9 – Nizwa, Jibreen, Aflaj, Bahla and Bat
Right now we headed again (the quick manner) to the area round Nizwa. This can be a very lengthy day, begin at 6AM or keep in a single day in Nizwa at day 7 after which do the day in Muscat. We began on the Jibreen fort which isn’t that massive however in very good situation. After this we continued to the big fort of Nizwa within the metropolis middle. After the fort of Nizwa we visited the UNESCO Website of the Aflaj Water System (N22.971779, E57.548810). We continued to the Bahla Fort (together with outdated city and metropolis wall which is the third largest on the planet) situated at N22.964824, E57.300368 additionally listed as UNESCO Website.
From right here we needed to go to the Bee Hives Tombs that are listed as UNESCO Websites. They don’t seem to be actually on observe on the sightseeing routes, we drove in complete round 4 hours to discover two most vital websites. One row of round 12 Tombs situated at N23.213997, E56.965333. From there we drove to Bat Bee Hive web site which is a very powerful (situated N23.267862, E56.743664). The location was fenced and never open for guests with out appointment. A small secret: on the web site is an influence station the place there’s a 1 meter between the housing and the fence. We from there walked in and explored the location intimately. Late afternoon we drove again to Muscat in about 3-4 hours.
Learn our expertise:
OMAN – Nizwa and its forts and the beehive tombs of Batt in a day from Muscat
Oman Itinerary – Day 10 – Departure to Abu Dhabi
Right now we took the airplane to Abu Dhabi on Etihad Airways arriving simply after lunch time. This was leg one among our flight dwelling. We stayed for 2 nights in Abu Dhabi. Examine our days in Abu Dhabi right here. We had plenty of enjoyable throughout this Oman itinerary. A street journey we won’t overlook. We discovered about Omans tradition, nature and meals.
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