Discovering Oman
The Switzerland of the Middle East
Lots of news lately on this region of the world, so I thought to offer a different perspective, having recently returned from a visit to the U.A.E. and Oman with a group of travel industry peers.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi alone are getting their share of attention this week, but Oman has also been in the news for their role in facilitating nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran. Very little is known about Oman to the American public, however. Yet the country as a holiday destination has been on my radar for years, ever since reading an article about it in a San Francisco newspaper back in 2014. It did not disappoint! Experiencing Oman for the first time far exceeded my expectations.
The variety of contrasting experiences available to tourists in this small country (population around 5 million) is impressive. They have a gorgeous coastline of beaches, one where we were able to feast picnic-style with few other swimmers in sight.
There’s the Arabian desert, where we spent a night in tented camps, rode camels, surfed sand dunes, and awoke to watch the sun rise over miles of rippling sand.
Oman is known for their wadis, the rocky river gorges that serve as natural swimming pools (ladies need special covering for these wadis, from shoulders to knees.) Or visitors can sail into deep waters, to watch pods (pods!!) of dolphins race one another, playfully doing flips in the air, and within minutes also sail to coves with clear green waters, where visitors can snorkel among sea turtles.
The city of Muscat has the requisite vibrant souk and exotic wares one finds in many cities in the Middle East, and for culture they even have a beautiful Royal Opera House. Within a 2-hour drive from the city, there are mountains to explore, and we were told that Salalah, another desert city in the southwestern part of the country, becomes lush and green with waterfalls during the monsoon season from June to September.
The most surprising thing of all was to discover how safe it is to travel in Oman. I was aware of its proximity to other countries touched by war, yet we were told time and again by expats and citizens alike that I could leave my phone behind in a restaurant, only to return the next day and find it in the same place, untouched— a credit to the the culture of the Omani people. (To note, I am referring to petty crime. Each country in the region has their own social norms they adhere to and expect foreigners to respect as well, such as mode of dress in certain public places.)
The Omanis we met were kind and humble, proud and enthusiastic to share their country, it made such a difference in our experiences. Omanis do not encounter Americans often, and the only other Americans we met ourselves were exploring the country on their own by self-drive. We did see a handful of other tourists from Italy, Germany, and Russia in our travels, but mostly visitors from the surrounding region. I will most definitely return to tour again, either independently or with friends, and would feel safe in doing so.
The lack of crowds and the joy of discovery gave Oman the allure of an insider’s secret— a best-kept secret, for now.
In Oman we were guests of Jumeirah Muscat Bay. If interested in booking travel to explore this fascinating country, contact Wandernest to help design your itinerary.
Please ❤️ this post if you would like to learn about other hidden gems around the world!
Wow ! What an amazing trip, thank you for sharing such incredible information on a country that would not be on my bucket list but now is!
I echo this! It is such an incredible destination! Worth the visit!