We drove across Oman’s northern area during the course of a seven-day trip. We planned to visit impressive forts, stunning mosques, and spend the night in the desert. We had cool swim breaks in the numerous wadis throughout the nation, spent an evening watching green turtles lay their eggs on the sand, and gorged ourselves on delectable Omani cuisine. Driving around Oman was the greatest way to view it.
Large, new, and well-designed roads in Oman make independent travel comparatively uncomplicated. The locals drive carefully, and there isn’t much traffic on the roadways. The best way to see this beautiful country is with a 7-day itinerary in Oman.
Oman is one of the Middle East’s safest nations, and as tourism there is still growing, you’ll often feel like you have the place to yourself.
Because gas is cheap and public transportation hasn’t yet evolved in this area, everyone has a car. Unless you are traveling on a scheduled small-group adventure, like this one with G Adventures, having your own vehicle is vital.
Visa Information
A 30-day on-site visa is available to most nationalities. A desk is located at Muscat International Airport on the right side, just before you go through immigration.
For 21 OMR ($54 USD), Visa can be purchased with cash or a credit card. You can proceed through immigration after you have a receipt for your visa payment.
At the arrivals desk, across from the visa counter, there are two ATMs with no withdrawal costs.
Should you hire a 4WD in Oman?
Many people suggested that we rent a 4WD for our road trip through Oman. It depends on what you want to see and do while you’re here. They do cost twice as much as a typical 2WD car.
We made the decision to pay more money and rent a 4WD automobile since we wanted the flexibility to drive the car wherever we pleased.
There were a few places on our holiday where we wished we had spent more money on a 4WD. The road to Jebel Shams is fairly steep and has a 7 km unpaved portion with loose gravel. Even though a 2WD could have made it, we felt much safer because our 4WD had more power.
Car hire recommended for a road trip in Oman
We rented a Toyota Fortuner through Expedia car rental at the Muscat airport for $311 USD for six days. The daily mileage limit in our rental agreement was 200 kilometers.
Every additional kilometer is charged at a rate of 6 OMR.
Driving is done on the right in Oman. All roads are fairly broad, and all streets are identified by street signs in both English and Arabic. The typical speed restriction in urban areas is either 60 or 120 km/h. It is advisable to adhere to the posted speed limit due to the numerous speed cameras that have been placed along roadways.
There are gas stations around, and all of them have people who can assist you. Payments can be made with credit cards or cash. Some may have restrooms, and many will have a store.
Gasoline is only 0.22 OMR (0.57 cents) per litre.
Buy a SIM card on arrival or Buy an eSIM
When we got there, we went to the counter at the airport and bought an Omantel SIM card. There are numerous providers from which to choose.
We paid 7 OMR ($18) for it. Our SIM card had 2 GB of data (valid for 30 days). We didn’t know how long we would be in Oman, so we paid a few more rials for a longer plan.
Most sim packs last 7–10 days and cost 5 OMR. Make sure to switch off all of your phone’s apps before inserting the SIM card to avoid your phone eating up all of your data right away.
We used Waze navigation to get around Oman because our Google Maps app’s turn-by-turn directions weren’t very good, and the data package is superb.
Prior to your trip to Oman, try downloading the Waze app. Without a doubt, you’ll use it during the upcoming week in Oman.
Oman money & travelling costs
Currently, one OMR (Omani rial) is equal to $2.60 USD. One rial equals 1000 baisa.
In spite of the fact that credit cards are accepted for many purchases in this nation, it’s a good idea to always have some cash on hand.
We used an excel spreadsheet to record all of our expenditures while we were in Oman.
Our entire spending in Oman was $998 USD for two people and seven days. This includes housing, a rental car, gas, groceries, entertainment, and other small expenditures.
Our flights and visas are not covered. I advise you to search Aviasales for the most affordable flights based on your departure city.
Food in Oman
We discovered that Oman’s indigenous cuisine was reasonably priced. A shwarma normally costs 1 OMR and comes with hommus, a salad, and bread. For a supper of rice, pork, and salad at local prices, Pepsi costs 0.20 OMR, while a cup of coffee costs 1. Spend no more than 6 OMR for dinner at a nicer restaurant.
They claim that drinking the water in Oman is safe. If you’d like, you can purchase bottled water in significant quantities. We purchased a big 6-pack of water from Carrefour and kept it in the car. The total cost of the six bottles was 0.625 OMR.
What to Wear in Oman
Everyone should dress correctly because Oman is a Muslim country. Women must cover their shoulders and knees, while men are expected to wear t-shirts and long pants.
For the bulk of our trip, I wore loose-fitting clothing, such as long, light cotton pants and light, long-sleeved blouses. Only in the Grand Mosque in Muscat were we required to cover our hair.
If you’re a woman and wish to enter any other mosques, you must cover your hair. We frequently carried a thin scarf in Oman because they are both quite useful and inexpensive there.
Best time to visit Oman
The best time to visit Oman is in the winter because the country’s summers may be quite scorching. We went in the middle of May since we really had no choice but to travel to every country. Additionally, Ramadan was in effect while we were there. We saw moderate nights and warm days (between 35 and 41 degrees Celsius).
Accommodation
As we had done on previous trips, we booked our accommodations through Booking.com. Although Oman’s costs are quite high for what you get, there are some undiscovered gems. Remember that if you have a car, you can afford to stay at a motel a little bit outside of town.
We chose classy lodgings with features like free parking, an ensuite, ac, and dependable WiFi.
If you’re on a tight budget, the most cost-effective option is to buy a tent and wild camp for nothing almost everywhere in the country. The next time, we would absolutely do this because it is so safe.
Our Oman Itinerary
Nizwa for two nights.
Wahiba Sands for one night (desert camp)
Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve for one night
Muscat for two nights
Over the course of six nights and seven days, we drove a total of 1286 kilometers to get to Oman.
When planning your itinerary, keep in mind that many locations will be closed on Fridays because Oman is an Islamic country and the weekend is observed on Friday and Saturday.
Where to Stay in Nizwa
Although driving is necessary elsewhere, the majority of Nizwa’s hotels are within a 10-minute drive from the city center. We had a great time at the Tanuf Residency Hotel. In Oman, a new hotel with reasonable rates
Outstanding lodging, brand-new beds and linens, lightning-fast WiFi, air conditioning, TV, fridge, and kettle. The price per night was 22 OMR ($57 USD), and a breakfast buffet was also included.
Where to Eat in Nizwa
Since there is a Carrefour close by, self-catering is a possibility. We were eager to try shuwa, a native dish comprised of fragrant rice and slow-cooked lamb or chicken. After reading several reviews and blogs, we found this eatery, Arab World Restaurant. The food was good despite being orderly and simple.
On a total of 2 full dinners, we spent 3.40 OMR (1 x chicken shuwa and 1 x lamb shuwa). Each meal consisted of a vegetable soup, a small salad, and the main course. The fresh mint tea they provided us with was a lovely finishing touch.
Just $4.40 USD per person is required. One of the nicest lunches I’ve recently had was that one.
Should you drive into the desert?
We made the decision to drive the 15 kilometers into the desert to go to our camp, but on the way there, we got stuck in the sand. Fortunately, the manager stopped by in his 4WD and helped us.
On sand that is loose, the ascent is difficult. It is recommended that you accept the hotel’s offer to pick you up at the Al Maha petrol station, which is 15 kilometers from the desert camp, if you don’t have much experience driving. Even if you have a 4WD, it might be safer to leave it there and use the pickup to avoid any problems.
When we arrived, we checked in and were immediately given dates, coffee with a cardamom flavor, and oranges. Our room was beautiful, spotless, and equipped with cozy mattresses and a private toilet. Air conditioning and ceiling fans were provided in the rooms.
Visitors could unwind and enjoy the view on the small terrace that stood in front of the house. We climbed the sand dunes as the sun began to set over our camp. Apart from us, there were just two other people, so it was really quiet.
We ate dinner in the evening. a lot of food Hummus, chicken, bread, rice, vegetable curry, and boiled potatoes. We then had custard for dessert and coffee and tea to follow.
The next morning at 5:00 I awoke, the sun had not yet risen, but it was getting light outside. I ascended the dunes once more to watch the sunrise. Perfect. We had a filling breakfast and then got dressed and left.
We proceeded for about two hours, feeling refreshed, to the coastal city of Sur. Along the ride, excellent roads were encountered. We stopped at a Carrefour in Sur. Women can take advantage of free showers and spacious, amazing toilets. We went and got some food after that, then we started touring in Sur.
Sur is a lovely seaside town with whitewashed, winding alleys, a beach where people swim and work out, and a lot of little fishing boats. Before watching the sunset, we went for a few drives.
What to eat in Sur
We went to a small eatery named “Al Sharad” for dinner. It is just behind Sur Sea, in the centre of town, and close to the water.
Even though it’s full, the vibe is positive, and the prices are reasonable. Shwarmas made with lamb and chicken are now being produced in the front of the shop. We choose to get the chicken shwarma plate with bread, hummus, and salad for one OMR apiece. The cuisine was excellent.
Where to View Turtle Nesting
Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve was 45 minutes away by car, where we could watch turtles laying their eggs on the sand. These all cost 7 OMR each. Here, for 1 OMR each, you can find a cafe, a museum, bathrooms, and wonderful coffee.
No flash photography was allowed, and the turtle tour started at 9.30 p.m. (it may start sooner, so confirm in advance). However, make sure the flash is off and bring your camera or iPhone.
For the 15-minute stroll to the beach, heed the instructions. Five different turtles were observed digging tunnels, laying eggs, and then returning to the sea over the course of the next 35 to 45 minutes. a wonderful experience.
We decided to spend the night in the car in the beach parking lot with a few sarongs for some privacy and the windows half down.
Total Spent on Petrol
During our 1286-kilometer journey, we used 35 OMR ($91) in gas. Yes, that is a lot. You will be charged if the car is returned dirty both inside and out and with obvious exterior damage.
We paid a 5 OMR airport fee to return the vehicle, as well as an extra 5 OMR because we traveled 86 kilometers over than the permitted limit.
I would suggest getting the Lonely Planet guidebook to Oman if you plan to go by car there. This book is filled with tons of helpful tips and information on many of the attractions.