Oman – To go or not to go? As mentioned in my first blog about Oman (click here to read) I arrived in Muscat, the capital city, one week ago. After my awesome roadtrip I am now back in Muscat again, catching a bus to U.A.E.
My week in Oman was amazing! So, the answer to the above question is simply YES!
Oman – my summary
Oman, where the men gather at the end of the day to drink their tea. WHERE the sun looks bigger than normal setting over the magnificent mountains. WHERE you can see more goats than dogs. WHERE food is marinated in the most amazing spices. WHERE I had to change my outfits from shorts and singlets to long pants and sleeves. WHERE you find signage about appropriate dress codes and avoiding affectionate display. WHERE the people are friendly and welcoming. WHERE the ocean is as blue as it can be and the mountains rugged but stunning!
It is definitely worth a trip!
Muscat 
Sur
Muscat
Muscat is the capital city of Oman and spreads over a wide area. From the old town’s forts to the expat areas, the grand architecture as well as the little local shops create an appealing city that is different from what I have explored so far. I especially enjoyed the rather quiet streets coming from 3 months in SE Asia and their huge populations.
Muscat Old Town
The Mosque
I ate some amazing food and drank in tiny coffee shops, but visiting the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque was definitely my highlight in Muscat. Completed only in 1994 it is open for non-Muslim visitors from 8am-11am daily but make sure you get there early before the tourists start appearing in masses. For me it was my first visit to a mosque, and although it might not have been the biggest in the world, the grand size was still quite breathtaking.
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
Sur
Sur is a port city on Oman’s eastern tip and was my stop after the mountains and the desert during the road trip. I stayed here for two days and drove around exploring the different areas. There are some great swimming spots nearby. In addition, walking up to the Ayjah View Point created some amazing photos of the overall city. I felt relaxed and rested in Sur and the scenery reminded me the most of my time in Croatia. Loved this spot!
Generally I didn’t run into too many tourists. Whether it was the time of the year or the general lack of tourists I am not sure. However it won’t be much longer before Oman will be on everybody’s list to visit.
Personally, it popped up on my list because I saw images on Instagram and thought it looks stunning. And so it was! I feel like the one week was enough to experience it all at a leisurely pace. Respect the culture and their beliefs and you will have an unbelievable time. I did! Thank you Oman, I might be back one day!
TRAVEL TIP
If you are on a road trip through Oman be aware of the speed bumps! Really! You will know what I mean once you’re here. You will thank me I promise xx
P.S. I hope you like all my travel photos from my Oman posts. Be careful of taking photos of locals and people in Oman in general. It is not welcomed and I tried to stick to it!
