On a recent self-organised 2-week holiday in the magnificent Sultanate of Oman, I realised that despite my preparation, I wish I had known a few things beforehand that would have made my trip even more enjoyable. Here it is, sharing the knowledge and passion with you, fellow travellers!
1. 🚙 Rent a car
Unless you travel with a tour operator, you will need a car to get around. The capital, Muscat, is quite spread out geographically, and sites of interest around the country require transportation.
If you can, choose a 4-wheel drive that can handle rugged terrains. Believe me, you will thank me later – it will allow you to explore off the beaten track roads and sites of interest.
When renting the car, check everywhere! Up, down, right, left, top, bottom, and ask what the petrol type is, and where the petrol button is located, as they might not tell you straightaway.
Also, take a picture of the petrol level inside the vehicle, as sometimes it is not full when you pick it up.
2. 👩 It is safe for solo female travellers
I have never felt unsafe a single second during my trip – I cannot stress enough how priceless and unique that is. I was travelling by myself, riding the bus, driving, walking in dark streets at night. Not once did I have an issue: no weird gazes, no harassment, no stalking.
3. ⏱️ Build your daily schedule according to the heat
I started off planning my days as a typical European person, leaving around 9am and carrying a full day of adventures. This resulted in my being exhausted by 7pm and missing out on very cool nightlife and even cooler hours, temperature wise. Until I realised that, as shop opening times, days are split.
Start early before the heat strikes, have a break or a nap between 12-3pm, and enjoy the second half of your day! And worry not about not being able to wake up early, the first adhan (call to prayer) of the day from nearby mosques will definitely help!
4. 🎁 Take small gifts with you during the day
Because of their heightened sense of hospitality, when you enter a shop or meet people, you will get offered tea or coffee, and potentially a snack. It is a gift and there is no expectation of anything in return. I even got offered lamb in a pan with some bread while on a visit to a waterfall by two Omani men who were having a picnic nearby!
If you want to share something back with these kind people, in the morning take some dates, fruits, cookies, with you. Bringing something in return has allowed me to spend more quality time with people have great conversations!
5. 🗣️ Talk to people, Omanis are so friendly
Taking a break in Jebel Akhdar.
Building on the previous point: the people I’ve met love to share, they took time out of their day to chat and answer my questions about culture and society. Don’t hold back thinking they will be annoyed by you reaching out. Bonus points if you speak a little bit of Arabic!
6. 💸 Paying the bill is an Olympic sport
Due to their proverbial hospitality and generosity, in restaurants, Omani people you know (and even those you don’t, when you start conversing with them) will want to settle your bill. And they will fight for it. And they will almost always win.
In case of friendships, some will go as far as paying for your activities (tours, museums, souvenirs). It is very hard to decline, even if the person knows about the European culture and its habit of paying for one’s own things and splitting bills.
A workaround is to compensate with gifts (see point 4). In case you meet Omani friends there, pack some valuable gifts to somehow offset their expenses. Examples are cosmetics, accessories, prized electronics, etc. And offer to host them in your country in return.
7. 👘 Wear long clothes
Yes it’s hot, and back home, one is used to wearing light and short clothes. However, there is A/C everywhere indoor, and it gets pretty cold… Wearing long sleeves also allow you not to get sunburnt when wandering, and to save on litres of sunscreen! I also always carried a cotton scarf with me in case of wind, cold, or to use as a hat to protect my head. Quite useful when visiting mosques as well.
8. 👨 The public space is mostly male
In public spaces, you will mostly find men. I remember walking into a meat market at 11am and the place was full of men, 100%. I rarely saw solo women; they generally walk with friends or family.
In some restaurants, you will find two separate entrances: one for “families” (this also includes solo women) and one for “bachelors” (solo men).
Also, if you drive and have a break on very small and local service areas, as a woman don’t look for the restroom at the back of restaurants. I’ve had to go to the mosque (there is always a mosque) to use its facilities.
9. 🧻 Always carry tissues (and hand sanitiser) with you
If you visit remote places, restrooms will not always provide toilet paper. One reason is because of the use a pipe system instead of paper, and another is that not all places are equipped.
Wadi Darbat
10. 🌧️ Khareef season
You will hear this word everywhere and it is useful to know it, especially if you want to visit the Southern part of the country (Dhofar region, Salalah). Khareef literally translates as autumn in Arabic. Taking place between June and September, it is the – very rainy – monsoon season which transforms the Omani rocky desert plains into green valleys.
I hope this article gave you an irresistible urge to visit this beautiful place! There are probably another ten facts to point out, which I will talk about after my next trip. I am still so impressed by the rich history, culture and people’s kindness that I cannot wait to go back!
Cover picture: Travel illustrations by yours truly.
For a time reference, the holiday took place in May 2023.