Have you ever thought about visiting Oman?

The Sultanate of Oman is a destination where you Dreams from 1001 Nights will come true. Few countries have changed so dramatically in such a short time, from traveling on a donkey to the next village to an infrastructure that most countries would be proud of today.

The big change came in 1970 when Sultan Qaboos ascended the throne in a bloodless coup. Since then, Oman has been celebrating its “renaissance”.

But you can still feel the spirit of the Arabian myth as the Omani have never lost their connection to their cultural roots and this is why You will find in Oman what you will miss in Dubai.

Here are a few things you should know if you are planning to visit Oman – you can too Discover Oman here.

Things to know about visiting Oman

Visiting Oman is not necessarily high on most travellers’ wish lists. But it is a fascinating country to visit, steeped in cultural history and traditions. If you’re not sure if it’s a destination you want to visit, do your best first learn more about Oman.

Then, once you’ve decided to put it on your travel list, here are a few things you need to know.

The best time to travel to Oman is between November and mid-March

The best time to travel to Oman lies between November and mid-March, when the average temperature is around 25° Celsius. In summer it is very hot and hazy in Oman. In the south of Oman, September after the rainy season is also a good time to travel, when everything is nice and green here.

Tip: If you choose to go to the desert In the winter months (and you should) bring some warmer clothing as it can get really cold here at night.

You can find frankincense everywhere

The scent of incense is everywhere. Whether you walk into a typical souk or enter one of the many luxury hotels, you cannot escape the scent of incense. Oman was the center of the incense trade and the myth says that even the Queen of Sheba ordered Omani incense as a gift for King Solomon. And I bet you know the “legend” of the three wise men in that book called the Bible…

There are many outdoor activities in Oman

Oman is a great destination for every outdoor fan. Next to hike, Climb, snorkeling and Divethere is one thing that makes your heart skip a beat: Off-road driving.

Although Oman has excellent infrastructure, there are still vast tracts of land without a road where you have a chance to find literally hidden treasures like an unknown wadi. Beating the dunes in the desert is something you will never forget. Besides having fun, it’s important to be careful as Oman is a big country and if you have a car accident or even just a flat tire it can take time for help to arrive.

side note: Street signs are written in English and Arabic and there are even some special brown tourist signs highlighting places of interest.

The locals are really friendly

The Omani people are very friendly and open. It often happens that they start a conversation with you and if you visit a city or area where not so many tourists go, they might even invite you to dinner. As in most Arab countries, women in particular should not be photographed without being asked. It happened to me that I had a nice chat with an Omani woman, but when I asked to take a picture of her, she refused but introduced me to her husband and children, who were delighted that they were photographed.

As with any trip, it is always important to be respectful of the local people and their customs.

You should wear appropriate clothing

Another way to respect local customs is to wear appropriate clothing. For women, this means covering knees, shoulders and cleavage, and also covering hair and ankles when visiting mosques. Men should actually consider the same thing, except covering their hair.

It happened to a friend who was wearing normal (even knee-covering) shorts when we wanted to enter the Muscat Festival that security refused to let him in like this (carrying a sarong in your pocket can be very helpful in such situations) .