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We lately from our 4-day street journey to Oman and it’s time to share with you our ideas on what too see in Oman in 4 days in addition to share our full itinerary. In case you’re thinking about visiting Oman and undecided, the place to start out, the place to remain, whether or not you want an SUV for a street journey in Oman, I’ll reply all these questions and extra.
So with out additional ado, let’s get began! However first, let’s clear a few regularly requested questions on Oman eVisa, SUV for Oman street journey and extra.
Helpful hyperlinks for Oman
Right here’s an summary of the hyperlinks used on this article, so you will have them multi function place for comfort.
eVisa to Oman: no extra visa on arrival
Let’s begin with some necessary modifications that had been launched earlier this 12 months. Mainly, visas on arrival to Oman were cancelled again in 2019. Additionally, the airways now ask you to supply your visa /eVisa voucher to Oman earlier than check-in and boarding.
Excellent news: the eVisa to Oman prices solely 5 OMR for 10 days and takes as much as 4 days to get. It took us solely 8 hours to get this visa although. We accomplished the shape at evening on Sunday and we acquired our visas the very first thing within the morning on Monday.
You’ll be able to apply for your eVisa to Oman here (primarily based on eligibility). It’s worthwhile to signal as much as this method, then choose your nationality and the system will inform you about all of the potential visas you possibly can /want to use for.
Learn this publish about the perfect photograph places in Oman >>>
Do you want an SUV (4×4) automobile to discover Oman for the final word Oman street journey?
In case you’re questioning, whether or not you want an SUV or in different phrases, 4×4 automobile to discover Oman, the reply if not so easy. It depends upon your journey plans – in the event you intend to remain on the seashore more often than not or simply to a few locations like Nizwa or Bimmah sinkhole, then you definately don’t want an SUV in Oman.
In case you resolve to discover additional – head to Jebel Shams, have the ability to take any street you need, drive a bit within the sands within the Sharqiya sands and maybe drive additional to Wadi Rum, on this case, you would want an SUV in Oman.
We rented our automobile by means of Rentalcars.com utilizing their full insurance coverage (it was cheaper than shopping for full insurance coverage from the supplier immediately). We additionally at all times book through Quidco. Our automobile supplier was Price range and we initially booked Hyundai Tucson, nevertheless, Price range didn’t have this automobile on arrival and upgraded us to the perfect class – we acquired a model new Toyota Fortuner and it was the perfect automobile for this 4-day journey to Oman.
In case you e-book your personal automobile, ensure to e-book from a well known supplier, as we witnessed a few fellow travellers caught in Jebel Shams with a flat tyre. Their automobile wasn’t outfitted with a handbook, toolkit to vary the tire or perhaps a lock to open a spare tire compartment they usually rented it by means of some native firm.
Sadly, accidents like this will not be unusual in Oman particularly in the event you drive off-road so much, so once more, I like to recommend hiring from an excellent worldwide supplier on Rentalcars.com.
What to put on in Oman?
Head to my publish about what to put on in Oman to learn extra, however lengthy story quick, you could costume respectfully. For a feminine, I like to recommend an extended costume masking shoulders or a jumpsuit with sleeves and for a person – linen trousers and a t-shirt.
Itinerary for the street journey in Oman in 4 days:
I hope you discovered the guidelines above helpful. Let’s get began with issues to see in Oman in 4 days. You’ll be able to modify this itinerary and if it’s too packed for you, you’ll be able to stretch it to 7 days in Oman relying on how a lot time you wish to spend on the seashore.
We stayed in Oman for 4 days and 4 nights (we flew with Qatar Airways, nevertheless, there are many direct flights from Europe, verify the provision and costs how). We additionally stayed each evening in a distinct place and solely spent one evening in a resort in Oman, you’ll be able to, after all, keep longer.
Day 1 in Oman: Exploring Muscat and visiting a standard Omani restaurant
On the primary day of our street journey in Oman, we arrived round 4 pm, collected our employed SUV that we rented although Rentalcars and went to verify in and go away baggage in our first resort. We picked Centara because it’s a well known chain and the worth was very interesting. The service within the resort was impeccable and the room was good and cozy.
As soon as we left our baggage, we went for a drive within the metropolis to see the Qurum seashore, the port and drive previous the spectacular Oman Royal Opera Home.
Muscat shouldn’t be a walkable metropolis and there are barely even footpaths for pedestrians, so the simplest approach to see town is definitely driving by means of it.
After our drive, we went to the well-known Kargeen restaurant that truly required an advance reservation as a result of it was completely full. Ensure that to e-book it prematurely right here. The speciality of Kargeen is a goat – all of the meat dishes are product of goat. The parts are completely enormous – I like to recommend ordering only one fundamental and one starter for two folks.
Day 2 of the street journey in Oman – Jebel Shams and Nizwa
On day 2, we had our breakfast in Centara Muscat and headed straight to the Sultan Qaboos Mosque. The mosque is the primary spotlight of Muscat and it’s very spectacular inside. It’s really essentially the most stunning mosque we ever visited, the doorway is free, so it’s best to undoubtedly pay Sultan Qaboos Mosque a go to.
For non-Muslims, it’s open day-after-day from 8am to 11am solely. I like to recommend arriving early, because it will get fairly crowded, as teams from the cruise ships arrive round 9-10am. As a feminine, you could cowl your self from wrists to ankles and in addition put on a scarf to enter the mosque. In case you don’t have an appropriate outfit, don’t fear – you’ll be able to lease an abaya proper on the entrance. Males have to put on lengthy trousers.
General, as I already talked about, the mosque could be very spectacular and value visiting regardless that it’s fairly trendy.
Driving to Jebel Shams (+Balcony stroll) with out a tour information: do you want a 4×4 automobile?
After visiting the Sultan Qaboos Mosque, we began driving to Jebel Shams. We had a couple of issues, as we learn on-line that the street is actually robust and solely a really expert driver with a whole lot of expertise driving 4×4 automobile can go in.
Driving to Jebel Shams or the Grand Canyon of Oman takes round 3.5 hours from Muscat. Because the street is ideal up till the ascending level to Jebel Shams and the landscapes are attractive, the time passes quick.
The ascending half wasn’t as sophisticated as I’ve imagined. Pepe by no means drove an SUV earlier than and there was completely no downside utilizing that street. Sure, I’d say you want a 4×4 automobile to drive as much as Jebel Shams and the balcony stroll, however you don’t have to be knowledgeable driver.
Nonetheless, we did see fairly a couple of sedans going as much as the Balcony stroll, however as I stated earlier than, it’s not solely Jebel Shams the place you’d require a 4×4 in Oman.
Visiting Jebel Shams
You don’t have to hike the Balcony stroll to see the beautiful views of Jebel Shams. One viewpoint is positioned earlier than the Jabal Shams resort, there’s the second 3 minutes driving from it and the third wonderful Jebel Shams viewpoint is positioned proper firstly of the Balcony stroll.
I completely suggest visiting Jebel Shams because it seems actually spectacular in actual life and no pictures can present you ways beautiful it’s. Many individuals resolve to remain there in a single day tenting or keep in both of the 2 resorts in Jebel Shams.
There’s additionally a 3rd resort with spectacular views, nevertheless it’s not fairly in Jebel Shams and it’s distinctive and opulent – you’ll be able to test it out right here.
We needed to remain in Alila Jabal Akhdar – probably the most spectacular inns I’ve ever seen, nevertheless it was absolutely booked 2 months earlier than our journey, so we drove all the way in which to Nizwa (about 1.5 hours).
Exploring Nizwa and staying in a standard Omani home
We arrived in Nizwa simply earlier than the sundown, checked in in our very spectacular lodging (a standard Omani home within the coronary heart of town surrounded by the citadel) Nizwa Heritage Inn and headed straight to the Nizwa Fort to see the sundown. The doorway prices 5 OMR and covers the fortress and the museum inside.
We additionally went for a stroll within the city, however aside from the fort, there’s not a lot to see. Nonetheless, as this place has only a few vacationers, you’ll be able to see in Nizwa how Omani folks used to reside earlier than.
Day 3 of 4 days in Oman: Visiting Sharqiya Sands and staying in a resort
On day 3, we had been fairly drained, so we didn’t get up very early. We left our lodging round 11 am and headed all the way in which to the sand dunes which are closest to Nizwa and Muscat. The closest sand dunes to Muscat are referred to as the Wahiba Sands or Sharqiya Sands close to Badyiah. They’re positioned nearly 2 hours 45 minutes driving from Nizwa. To drive there, you want a 4×4 (this time for certain), nevertheless, it’s undoubtedly value it. We didn’t drive there for some time, nearly 40 minutes or so and noticed so many camels. The sand dunes are very spectacular and I can think about how stunning they’re at sundown.
As we had been restricted by time and we actually needed to swim in Oman as properly, we didn’t keep in one of many desert camps. Nonetheless, you probably have barely extra time or simply completely different priorities, you’ll be able to undoubtedly keep within the Wahiba Sands in a single day.
Some nice camps to take a look at: Safari Dunes Camp, Desert Nights Camp.
Additionally, you’ll be able to take one of many driving within the desert excursions, the place a information will take you for a journey within the sand dunes (I don’t suggest doing it by your self). We didn’t drive within the dunes ourselves – we simply took a street that goes between the dunes.
Staying in a resort in Oman
It took us about 3 hours to drive to our resort, Shangri La positioned outdoors Muscat. It additionally took me ages to choose a resort, as regardless that Oman has an extended and spectacular coast, there are only a few resorts. Omanis are actively constructing new resorts, nevertheless, proper now there are about 4 or 5 and the remainder are positioned in Salalah (it’s actually removed from Muscat).
As you’ll be able to think about, all 5 are fairly costly and we merely picked one of many least expensive ones with breakfast included. That was Shangri-La Al Jissah.
Staying there truthfully was a pleasure and the seashore was superior.
There was conventional reside music at evening and the dinner was additionally wonderful.
Final day in Oman: Bimmah Sinkhole and Muscat
On the final day in Oman, we determined to take essentially the most from our resort and keep there till the checkout. Due to that (and the climate), we determined to not go to the well-known Wadi Shab and simply go to the Bimmah Sinkhole.
The explanation why we didn’t go to Wadi Shab in April
We visited Oman in April and the climate was highly regarded. It was 40 levels within the desert and 36 in Muscat. Visiting Wadi Shab requires 45 minutes climbing underneath the recent solar a technique, so I wasn’t certain if I might make it. Oman in April is definitely actually sizzling, so in the event you aren’t feeling properly when it’s so sizzling, I like to recommend selecting one other month. As a Northerner, I don’t benefit from the warmth that a lot and I did really feel unwell twice in Oman, so watch out.
That’s the one purpose why we didn’t go to Wadi Shab, nevertheless, in the event you’re visiting Oman in some other month that April (earlier than April and after November), you’ll be able to undoubtedly go.
Attending to Bimmah Sinkhole from Muscat
Driving to Bimmah Sinkhole from Shangri La took about 90 minutes. Within the sinkhole, you’ll be able to put on no matter you need, nevertheless, on the entrance to it (there’s a 5-min stroll to it), you could look presentable (no swimming shorts allowed).
We really actually loved the Bimmah Sinkhole, it was an incredible expertise, so we spent there greater than an hour (near 2 hours). The water was heat and it was filled with fish that eats your lifeless pores and skin cells, so it was like a spa remedy.
We needed to return our automobile at 6pm, so we headed again to Muscat, driving by means of town once more to see its magnificence. We had been nonetheless staying in a single day in Muscat in a resort A’Sinamar near the airport, however our flight was departing at 6am, so we determined to return the automobile early (it took an hour to return it, because the process in Oman is sort of distinctive).
I hope you loved this publish about what to see in Oman throughout 4 days: the itinerary for Oman and our street journey in Oman. In case you will have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!
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