Oman

Remarkably diverse country with deserts, mountains and beaches

Oman is more than just desert. What would you think of an azure-coloured sea, green tropical oases, vast mountain ranges and ancient culture?

This is a land full of mystery, and it’s relatively unknown. The first association is probably sand, but that’s inaccurate since there are also lots of mountains, wadis and even fjords.

There is no less than 3.165 kilometre of coastline in Oman. There are both sandy and rocky beaches. Their marine life is extremely rich, with a surprising amount of sea turtles, for example. But there’s also plenty of fish, which has kept the people fed for centuries.

Oman is in the east of the Arab Peninsula, and Sharjah en Fujairah (the United Arab Emirates) separate it the Omani governorate Musandam, located on the north-eastern tip of the peninsula.

Muscat

The capital of Muscat is intriguing thanks to the souks, the markets where you can enjoy hours of shopping, and get to know the rich Oman cuisine.

Mountains of Oman

There are also mountains for 2000 metres high, in the rugged north. You’ll find an intriguing mix of mountains and wadis (oases) near Nizwa. It’s a window into a lesser-known part of Oman.

A wadi near Nizwa. ©Corno van den Berg

Musandam

Musandam might be the most beautiful area of all of Oman. The Omani call it the Norway of Arabia. Musandam has lots of fiords, which you can see (or rather, experience) from land or by traditional dhow.

Best time for Oman

The best time to go is from October to April, when the temperature is between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius.

The coast in the north has a subtropical climate. The hinterlands have a desert climate. The low humidity there makes it a pleasant place to be. The south has a tropical climate and in summer it is around 35 degrees Celsius and in winter around 25. In summer the south-western monsoon offers respite from the heat with lots of rain and mist.