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Asia Destinations

Oman: What to See and Where to Go

Oman is a Middle East country with climate and traditions typical for this region of the plant. Hot climate, rich natural resources and friendly people living here make this country a wanted travel destination.

Oman is a country with diverse natural resources: mountains, waterfalls, deserts and dunes, oases and sandy beaches. Unique arid lands of northern Jabal, the green pastures of Dhofar, the sea of sand in Rub al-Khali, Umm al-Sami salt plateau, dusty rocks and more than 2 thousand kilometers of coastline are a wonderful set of tourist attractions for numerous visitors. Oman is really unlike the countries of the Arabian Peninsula.

Its coastal waters are rich in marine fauna. There are also a few hundred kilometers of picturesque sandy beaches, well known outside the country. And, of course, Omanis themselves are ancient and distinctive people, known for their rich traditions and hospitality.

Muscat is the most visited city in Oman. A truly unique city with mosques and traditional buildings that neighbor with the modern business area. Stretched along the coast for about 200 kilometers, it used to be a small town in the Upper Bay of Khor Muscat. Gradually, Muscat has become one of the most beautiful cities in the Arab world, absorbing a lot of old coastal settlements.

The main attractions are the fragments of the old city walls, Portuguese forts Mirani and Jalali, both built in the 16th century, Fort Matruh, the fort of Beit al-Falaj, the old city gate, the palace of al-Alam and many others. Scattered throughout the city, a great number of mosques are worth being visited by the guests from other countries. It is surprising that in Oman one can also find carefully preserved religious monuments represeting other cultures of the world. In Muscat alone, one can see Hindu and Buddhist temples, the Portuguese Church, the Catholic and the Protestant Church.

Special attention should be given to the museums of the capital. Omani museums have good historical expositions, and the best known ones are the Museum of Natural History, the Oman-French Museum, the Museum of Omani Habitat in Fort Jalali, the National Museum, the Military Museum at Fort Beit al-Falaj etc. Unique oriental flavor can be felt in the markets, such as Matruh and many smaller markets and private shops throughout the city. Compared with other cities in the Arabian Peninsula, Muscat is surprisingly rich in vegetation. It is known for having a lot of parks and beautiful gardens, as well as amusement parks for children and grown-ups. The city even has an indoor skating rink. Not far from the capital one can visit medieval fortresses, hot springs, an aquarium, a yacht club, a sailing club, and a diving center.

To the north of the capital, between the sea and the mountain range of Jebel Hajar, there is the fertile Batin valley, which is the breadbasket of the country. The region’s capital is one of the oldest cities in the world, the city of Sohar, famous for its fortress built in the 9th century. Many old buildings, the tourist bazaar and the famous fish market decorate the narrow streets of the old city and are its main sights. This land is famous for its landscapes and is often called the greenest corner of the Arabian Peninsula. Musandam is a northern enclave in Oman, recognized as the area of picturesque mountains and bays, extremely popular with tourists. Interior regions of Oman are famous due to many ancient fortifications and severe nature. Dhofar is the most southern and the most unusual province of Oman, where coconut palm groves, cacti, and mangroves, arid plateaus and rich gardens, desert sand dunes and salt lakes are neighboring on the picturesque coastline.