Oman is a fascinating country located on the eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Oman is a mysterious country since we don't hear people speaking about it very often.
Visiting Oman is easy because it's very safe and full of very friendly and hospitable people.
On this page I make a list of 25 Amazing Places which are undoubtedly the country's major tourist attractions.
1- RAS MUSANDAM FJORDS - VISIT OMAN
Visit Ras Musandam Fjords - Visit Oman
Ras Musandam peninsula is separated from the rest of the country. It is famous for its breathtaking fjords of desert mountains and waters of a beautiful shade of blue.
2- KHASAB FORTRESS
Visit Khasab Fortress - Visit Oman
The capital of the region, called Ras Musandam, is the city of Khasab, and is more accessible coming from the United Arab Emirates. To get there you can also take the fastest ferry boat in the world, connecting to the capital Muscat. This fortress was rebuilt and looks very beautiful.
3- MUSCAT - THE CAPITAL OF OMAN
Visit Muscat the capital city - Visit Oman
Muscat, the capital of Oman has a very beautiful historic district. Buildings with Eastern African wooden balconies, and several seafront fortresses make Muscat a peaceful and relaxing destination. It's worth spending there a couple of days and visit the markets, museums, forts, mosques and areas near the sea.
4- MASIRAH ISLAND
Visit Masirah Island Beaches - Visit Oman
Masirah Island is a desolate and deserted destination. If you like having the feeling of being in the middle of nowhere, and in a place where hardly anyone goes, then you'll love this island off the coast of the Indian Ocean. There are several deserted beaches where you can see turtles laying eggs.
5- JEBEL AKHDAR MOUNTAIN
Visit Jebel Akhdar Mountain - Visit Oman
Crossing the Jebel Akhdar was one of the best moments of my Oman trip. I drove up departing from Al Hamra until Ar Rustaq, on the other side of the mountain. These tracks are to be made with a 4wd but I drove a normal city car. If by chance you also do it (I mean, without a 4WD), I advise you to drive very carefully. Landscapes are amazing. Everything is very beautiful.
6- TOMB OF JOB - VISIT OMAN
Visit Tomb of Job religious complex - Visit Oman
Job is a biblical character, from the Book of Job of the Old Testament. In this place one can visit his tomb, and in the outer zone is a small box where there's his footprint (it's a huge foot mark, but that's what people say). The whole area is a complex of Muslim pilgrimage. In Islam, Job is considered a prophet, and his name is known in Arabic as Ayoub. This site is located on the mountain in Salalah region.
7- TAQAH CASTLE IN MIRBAT
Visit Taqah Castle in Mirbat - Visit Oman
Taqah Castle dates back from the nineteenth century and is situated at the entrance of Mirbat. It was built to be the permanent residence of Sheikh Ali bin Al Ma'shani Timman. Very well preserved, this castle has a very interesting ethnographic museum, showing various aspects of life and culture from the region.
8- SHISR - RUINS OF THE LOST CITY OF UBAR
Visit Shisr – ruins of the lost city of Ubar - Visit Oman
Shisr archaeological ruins are not exactly the most spectacular I’ve ever visited, because there is not much to see. But the adventure of getting there, through desert track road, and arrive at an isolated village, with camels, goats and walls written with "the Lost City of Ubar" phrase - is exotic enough for me to have enjoyed going to this historic site. At the end of the village there is a small farm with lots of animals, including several camels you can make friends with.
9- SUMHURAM RUINS
Visit Sumhuram ruins - Visit Oman
The ancient port of Sumhuran dates from the third century BC to the fifth century AD. This is one of the most important places of the region's pre-Islamic time. This was one of the great centers of Frankincense production of south Arabia. The ruins are spectacular, with amazing surrounding scenery.
10- AL-BALEED RUINS - VISIT OMAN
Visit Al-Baleed ruins - Visit Oman
Al-Baleed ruins are a huge archaeological complex on the coast, near the city of Salalah. Ibn Batuta visited this site in 1329 and reported its beauty. Most of the buildings of the citadel would be built in a typical architectural style of the region of Dhofar, mixing wood and stone.
11- SAMAIL CASTLE
Visit Samail Castle - Visit Oman
Samail Castle was undoubtedly the most beautiful castle I visited in Oman. The Samail Hosn, or Samail Castle, is surrounded with mountains and huge palm trees. A true oasis in the desert mountains. A few kilometers before Samail there is another small fort known for its watchtowers which overlook the entire valley.
12- INCENSE MARKETS IN SALALAH
Visit Incense Markets in Salalah - Visit Oman
Salalah is a city of great importance in the trade of frankincense. Here, there are two markets (modern) where there are many shops with much incense and good quality products made from frankincense. I bought 4 kg of frankincense and sent it home by mail. It still burns and smells great. Salalah also has a beach area that you can visit and the huge mosque of Sultan Qaboos (ask to visit the interior of the mosque).
13- TELEGRAPH ISLAND - VISIT OMAN
Visit Telegraph Island - Visit Oman
Telegraph Island is a small piece of land in the middle of the Musandam Peninsula's waters. In the nineteenth century, there was a station here, used to boost the British telegraph messages along the Persian Gulf cable line, which was part of the London - Karachi telegraph cable. Nowadays there are only a few non interesting ruins, but the place is very nice to do snorkeling.
14- NIZWA
Visit Nizwa old city and castle - Visit Oman
Nizwa is one of my favorite cities in Oman. It has many places to visit such as the animal and vegetable market, the castle with old Portuguese cannons, the potteries and the old town. The view from the top of the castle is fantastic. In Nizwa you can also visit the famous Falaj canal system and supply of water to the oasis, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.
15- VILLAGE HAAT
Visit Village Haat in Jebel Akhdar Mountains - Visit Oman
Haat is a village lost in the mountains of Jebel Akhdar Mountains. Here, several stone houses are protected by palm trees. There is a small river, falaj irrigation system and a water tank with a member of the village always present and protecting it with an AK-47. There is also a small pool of natural water coming from a mountain spring. The children are very friendly and can "play" with the goats.
16- JABRIN CASTLE - VISIT OMAN
Visit Jabrin Castle - Visit Oman
Jabrin Castle is an excellent example of military architecture in the region. It was built by Imam Sultan bin Saif Al Ya'arubi in 1670. It is fantastic to explore the interior of this huge castle, enjoy the views from the top of the tower and also discover the fabulous ceilings of many rooms and halls inside.
17- BAHLA FORTRESS
Visit Bahla Fortress - Visit Oman
Bahla Fortress is one of the historical forts near the Djebel Akhdar. The castle dates from the thirteenth century and is well-preserved after being closed for renovation for several years. This building is surrounded by an oasis with some amazing views. This place is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
18- AL HAZM
Visit Al Hazm castle and village - Visit Oman
Al Hazm is a place with lots of history. Al Hazm has a big fortress and various ruins of an old village and even an ancient tomb at the top of the hill. The scenery is very beautiful, mixing green palm trees and desert mountains.
19- SADAH COAST - VISIT OMAN
Visit Sadah Coast and desert mountains - Visit Oman
Driving to Sadah Coast is fantastic. The landscapes are amazing and of unique beauty. Sadah is a small village by the sea. The surrounding mountains are made of black rock and "invaded" by sand from the beach.
20- DUNES OF RAMLAT AS SAHMAH
Visit Dunes of Ramlat as Sahmah - Visit Oman
The Dunes of Ramlat the Sahmah are basically the end of the Great Desert of Rub Al Khali in Saudi Arabia. Here, orange dunes of fine sand delight desert lovers like me. You can climb to the top and enjoy the fantastic views.
21- OIL WELLS IN FAHUD
Visit Oil wells in Fahud - Visit Oman
Fahud is a major oil center of Oman. Here, in the desert, there are immense infrastructures to extract oil and gas. The combination of towers and pipelines make this environment a bit surreal. To get here you need to drive into the desert on a dirt road. At one point I found out that it was forbidden to be there, so I ended up with military escort during 30 kilometers.
22- OMANI FAMILY HOMESTAY
Omani Homestay - Visit Oman
To be received by an Omani family is a unique experience because these people are very friendly and excellent hosts. I was offered a lot of food and, to my big surprise, they gave me a set of traditional clothes and a turban. When someone invites you home to drink tea, coffee or eat... accept the invitation.
23- RIMA PETROSTATION - VISIT OMAN
Visit Rima Petrostation - Visit Oman
The landscape in Rima is dry with desert mountains and a large valley of huge cliffs. Here, there is a large oil field with machines that operate 24 hours a day to get the "black gold" from the earth. The sound of these machines is strangely nice.
24- ABANDONED BOATS IN RAS-HILF
Visit Abandoned boats in Ras-Hilf - Visit Oman
Ras-Hilf is the capital of Masirah island. Although the city itself does not have much interest, its beaches with many ship wrecks are always a beautiful "landscape" to see and take pictures of. You can also go up the abandoned boats.
25- CHASING CRABS ON RAS MADRAKAH BEACH
Chasing crabs on Ras Madrakah beach - Visit Oman
Beach landscapes in Ras Madrakah are quite beautiful. Here, thousands of crabs make from the wild beach their territory, and it's very funny running after them towards the water. However, they do not let themselves get caugh... It's wonderful to hear the symphony of waves, running back and forth with Nature.
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