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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 the event you’re excited by visiting Oman and unsure, 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 outline of the hyperlinks used on this article, so you’ve them multi functional place for comfort.
eVisa to Oman: no extra visa on arrival
Let’s begin with some necessary modifications that had been launched earlier this yr. Principally, visas on arrival to Oman had been 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 night time on Sunday and we obtained our visas the very first thing within the morning on Monday.
You possibly can apply in your eVisa to Oman right here (primarily based on eligibility). You could signal as much as this method, then decide your nationality and the system will let you know about all of the potential visas you possibly can /want to use for.
Learn this put up about the very best picture areas in Oman >>>
Do you want an SUV (4×4) automobile to discover Oman for the final word Oman street journey?
In the event 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 will depend on your journey plans – should you intend to remain on the seaside more often than not or simply to a few locations like Nizwa or Bimmah sinkhole, you then don’t want an SUV in Oman.
In the event 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 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 guide by Quidco. Our automobile supplier was Finances and we initially booked Hyundai Tucson, nevertheless, Finances didn’t have this automobile on arrival and upgraded us to the very best class – we obtained a model new Toyota Fortuner and it was the very best automobile for this 4-day journey to Oman.
In the event you guide your personal automobile, be sure to guide from a widely known supplier, as we witnessed a few fellow travellers caught in Jebel Shams with a flat tyre. Their automobile wasn’t geared up with a guide, toolkit to vary the tire or perhaps a lock to open a spare tire compartment they usually rented it by some native firm.
Sadly, accidents like this should not unusual in Oman particularly should you drive off-road quite a bit, so once more, I like to recommend hiring from worldwide supplier on Rentalcars.com.
What to put on in Oman?
Head to my put up about what to put on in Oman to learn extra, however lengthy story quick, it’s worthwhile to gown respectfully. For a feminine, I like to recommend a protracted gown overlaying 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 possibly can modify this itinerary and if it’s too packed for you, you may stretch it to 7 days in Oman relying on how a lot time you wish to spend on the seaside.
We stayed in Oman for 4 days and 4 nights (we flew with Qatar Airways, nevertheless, there are many direct flights from Europe, test the provision and costs how). We additionally stayed each night time in a unique place and solely spent one night time in a resort in Oman, you may, after all, keep longer.
Day 1 in Oman: Exploring Muscat and visiting a conventional 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 test in and depart baggage in our first lodge. We picked Centara because it’s a widely known chain and the worth was very interesting. The service within the lodge was impeccable and the room was good and comfy.
As soon as we left our baggage, we went for a drive within the metropolis to see the Qurum seaside, the port and drive previous the spectacular Oman Royal Opera Home.
Muscat will not be a walkable metropolis and there are barely even footpaths for pedestrians, so the best strategy to see town is definitely driving by it.
After our drive, we went to the well-known Kargeen restaurant that really required an advance reservation as a result of it was completely full. Be sure that to guide it upfront right here. The speciality of Kargeen is a goat – all of the meat dishes are product of goat. The parts are completely big – I like to recommend ordering only one major 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 principle spotlight of Muscat and it’s very spectacular inside. It’s truly probably 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 every single 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, it’s worthwhile to cowl your self from wrists to ankles and in addition put on a headband to enter the mosque. In the event you don’t have an appropriate outfit, don’t fear – you may lease an abaya proper on the entrance. Males have to put on lengthy trousers.
Total, as I already talked about, the mosque may be very spectacular and price visiting although it’s fairly trendy.
Driving to Jebel Shams (+Balcony stroll) with no tour information: do you want a 4×4 automobile?
After visiting the Sultan Qaboos Mosque, we began driving to Jebel Shams. We had just a few considerations, as we learn on-line that the street is de facto powerful and solely a really expert driver with numerous 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 beautiful, the time passes quick.
The ascending half wasn’t as difficult as I’ve imagined. Pepe by no means drove an SUV earlier than and there was completely no drawback 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 must be an expert driver.
Nevertheless, we did see fairly just a few sedans going as much as the Balcony stroll, however as I stated earlier than, it’s not solely Jebel Shams the place you’ll 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 situated earlier than the Jabal Shams resort, there’s the second 3 minutes driving from it and the third superb Jebel Shams viewpoint is situated proper initially of the Balcony stroll.
I completely advocate visiting Jebel Shams because it appears to be like 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 may test it out right here.
We wished to remain in Alila Jabal Akhdar – one of the spectacular accommodations I’ve ever seen, nevertheless it was absolutely booked 2 months earlier than our journey, so we drove all the best way to Nizwa (about 1.5 hours).
Exploring Nizwa and staying in a conventional Omani home
We arrived in Nizwa simply earlier than the sundown, checked in in our very spectacular lodging (a conventional 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. Nevertheless, as this place has only a few vacationers, you may see in Nizwa how Omani folks used to dwell 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 best way to the sand dunes which are closest to Nizwa and Muscat. The closest sand dunes to Muscat are known as the Wahiba Sands or Sharqiya Sands close to Badyiah. They’re situated nearly 2 hours 45 minutes driving from Nizwa. To drive there, you want a 4×4 (this time for certain), nevertheless, it’s undoubtedly price 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 wished to swim in Oman as properly, we didn’t keep in one of many desert camps. Nevertheless, if in case you have barely extra time or simply totally different priorities, you may 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 may take one of many driving within the desert excursions, the place a information will take you for a trip within the sand dunes (I don’t advocate 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 situated outdoors Muscat. It additionally took me ages to choose a resort, as although Oman has a protracted 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 situated in Salalah (it’s actually removed from Muscat).
As you may 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 seaside was superior.
There was conventional dwell music at night time and the dinner was additionally superb.
Final day in Oman: Bimmah Sinkhole and Muscat
On the final day in Oman, we determined to take probably 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 mountaineering underneath the new solar a technique, so I wasn’t certain if I might make it. Oman in April is definitely actually scorching, so should you aren’t feeling properly when it’s so scorching, I like to recommend choosing 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, should you’re visiting Oman in every other month that April (earlier than April and after November), you may undoubtedly go.
Attending to Bimmah Sinkhole from Muscat
Driving to Bimmah Sinkhole from Shangri La took about 90 minutes. Within the sinkhole, you may put on no matter you need, nevertheless, on the entrance to it (there’s a 5-min stroll to it), it’s worthwhile to look presentable (no swimming shorts allowed).
We truly actually loved the Bimmah Sinkhole, it was an important 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 town once more to see its magnificence. We had been nonetheless staying in a single day in Muscat in a lodge 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 put up about what to see in Oman throughout 4 days: the itinerary for Oman and our street journey in Oman. In case you’ve any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!
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