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We lately from our 4-day highway 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. If you happen to’re occupied with visiting Oman and unsure, the place to start out, the place to remain, whether or not you want an SUV for a highway 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 ceaselessly requested questions on Oman eVisa, SUV for Oman highway journey and extra.
Helpful hyperlinks for Oman
Right here’s an summary of the hyperlinks used on this article, so you’ve them multi function place for comfort.
eVisa to Oman: no extra visa on arrival
Let’s begin with some vital adjustments that have been launched earlier this 12 months. Mainly, visas on arrival to Oman have been cancelled again in 2019. Additionally, the airways now ask you to offer 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 may apply to your eVisa to Oman right here (primarily based on eligibility). You want to signal as much as this method, then choose your nationality and the system will let you know about all of the attainable visas you possibly can /want to use for.
Learn this submit about the most effective photograph places in Oman >>>
Do you want an SUV (4×4) automotive to discover Oman for the last word Oman highway journey?
If you happen to’re questioning, whether or not you want an SUV or in different phrases, 4×4 automotive to discover Oman, the reply if not so easy. It relies on your journey plans – if you happen to intend to remain on the seaside 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.
If you happen to determine to discover additional – head to Jebel Shams, have the ability to take any highway you need, drive a bit within the sands within the Sharqiya sands and maybe drive additional to Wadi Rum, on this case, you would wish an SUV in Oman.
We rented our automotive by Rentalcars.com utilizing their full insurance coverage (it was cheaper than shopping for full insurance coverage from the supplier straight). We additionally all the time e book by Quidco. Our automotive supplier was Finances and we initially booked Hyundai Tucson, nevertheless, Finances didn’t have this automotive on arrival and upgraded us to the most effective class – we acquired a model new Toyota Fortuner and it was the most effective automotive for this 4-day journey to Oman.
If you happen to e book your individual automotive, make certain to e book from a well known supplier, as we witnessed a few fellow travellers caught in Jebel Shams with a flat tyre. Their automotive wasn’t outfitted with a handbook, toolkit to alter the tire or perhaps a lock to open a spare tire compartment they usually rented it by some native firm.
Sadly, accidents like this aren’t unusual in Oman particularly if you happen to drive off-road rather a lot, so once more, I like to recommend hiring from a very good worldwide supplier on Rentalcars.com.
What to put on in Oman?
Head to my submit about what to put on in Oman to learn extra, however lengthy story quick, it is advisable gown respectfully. For a feminine, I like to recommend a protracted gown masking shoulders or a jumpsuit with sleeves and for a person – linen trousers and a t-shirt.
Itinerary for the highway journey in Oman in 4 days:
I hope you discovered the ideas above helpful. Let’s get began with issues to see in Oman in 4 days. You may modify this itinerary and if it’s too packed for you, you possibly can stretch it to 7 days in Oman relying on how a lot time you want 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, verify the supply and costs how). We additionally stayed each evening in a distinct place and solely spent one evening in a resort in Oman, you possibly can, after all, keep longer.
Day 1 in Oman: Exploring Muscat and visiting a conventional Omani restaurant
On the primary day of our highway 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 lodge. We picked Centara because it’s a well known chain and the value 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 isn’t a walkable metropolis and there are barely even footpaths for pedestrians, so the simplest solution to see the town is definitely driving by 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. Be sure that to e book it upfront right here. The speciality of Kargeen is a goat – all of the meat dishes are manufactured from goat. The parts are completely enormous – I like to recommend ordering only one essential and one starter for two individuals.
Day 2 of the highway 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 really probably the most lovely mosque we ever visited, the doorway is free, so it’s best to positively pay Sultan Qaboos Mosque a go to.
For non-Muslims, it’s open on daily basis 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 is advisable cowl your self from wrists to ankles and likewise put on a headband to enter the mosque. If you happen to don’t have an appropriate outfit, don’t fear – you possibly can 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 despite the fact that it’s fairly trendy.
Driving to Jebel Shams (+Balcony stroll) with no tour information: do you want a 4×4 automotive?
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 highway is actually powerful and solely a really expert driver with lots of expertise driving 4×4 automotive can go in.
Driving to Jebel Shams or the Grand Canyon of Oman takes round 3.5 hours from Muscat. Because the highway 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 highway. Sure, I’d say you want a 4×4 automotive to drive as much as Jebel Shams and the balcony stroll, however you don’t must be knowledgeable driver.
Nonetheless, we did see fairly just a few sedans going as much as the Balcony stroll, however as I mentioned 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 gorgeous views of Jebel Shams. One viewpoint is positioned earlier than the Jabal Shams resort, there may be the second 3 minutes driving from it and the third superb Jebel Shams viewpoint is positioned proper initially of the Balcony stroll.
I completely suggest visiting Jebel Shams because it seems to be actually spectacular in actual life and no photographs can present you the way gorgeous it’s. Many individuals determine 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, but it surely’s not fairly in Jebel Shams and it’s distinctive and opulent – you possibly can test it out right here.
We wished to remain in Alila Jabal Akhdar – one of the crucial spectacular motels I’ve ever seen, but it surely was totally 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 the 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 other than the fort, there may be not a lot to see. Nonetheless, as this place has only a few vacationers, you possibly can see in Nizwa how Omani individuals used to reside earlier than.
Day 3 of 4 days in Oman: Visiting Sharqiya Sands and staying in a resort
On day 3, we have 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 might be 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 positively 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 lovely they’re at sundown.
As we have been restricted by time and we actually wished to swim in Oman as properly, we didn’t keep in one of many desert camps. Nonetheless, when you’ve got barely extra time or simply completely different priorities, you possibly can positively keep within the Wahiba Sands in a single day.
Some nice camps to have a look at: Safari Dunes Camp, Desert Nights Camp.
Additionally, you possibly can take one of many driving within the desert excursions, the place a information will take you for a experience 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 highway 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 select a resort, as despite the fact that 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 remaining are positioned in Salalah (it’s actually removed from Muscat).
As you possibly can think about, all 5 are fairly costly and we merely picked one of many most cost-effective ones with breakfast included. That was Shangri-La Al Jissah.
Staying there actually was a pleasure and the seaside was superior.
There was conventional reside music at evening 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 rationale why we didn’t go to Wadi Shab in April
We visited Oman in April and the climate was extremely popular. It was 40 levels within the desert and 36 in Muscat. Visiting Wadi Shab requires 45 minutes climbing underneath the new solar a technique, so I wasn’t certain if I might make it. Oman in April is definitely actually sizzling, so if you happen to 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 cause why we didn’t go to Wadi Shab, nevertheless, if you happen to’re visiting Oman in every other month that April (earlier than April and after November), you possibly can positively go.
Attending to Bimmah Sinkhole from Muscat
Driving to Bimmah Sinkhole from Shangri La took about 90 minutes. Within the sinkhole, you possibly can put on no matter you need, nevertheless, on the entrance to it (there’s a 5-min stroll to it), it is advisable look presentable (no swimming shorts allowed).
We really actually loved the Bimmah Sinkhole, it was an amazing expertise, so we spent there greater than an hour (near 2 hours). The water was heat and it was stuffed with fish that eats your lifeless pores and skin cells, so it was like a spa therapy.
We needed to return our automotive at 6pm, so we headed again to Muscat, driving by the town once more to see its magnificence. We have 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 automotive early (it took an hour to return it, because the process in Oman is sort of distinctive).
I hope you loved this submit about what to see in Oman throughout 4 days: the itinerary for Oman and our highway journey in Oman. In case you’ve any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!
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