Oman is a place to unwind from the hustle and bustle of city life and business routines that engulf us in the UAE. Here, you can spend hours enjoying nature or sipping cocktails in a cool pool after a spa ritual.
Oman is famous for snorkelling, where you can encounter turtles, dolphins, stingrays, tiny sharks, and countless beautiful fish in local waters. Renting a boat or yacht at dawn is ideal for immersing yourself in the tranquillity of the sea.
In Salalah, you can explore archaeological excavations, banana and coconut plantations, traditional villages, or mountains where you can witness waterfalls. Boswellia sacra trees, from which frankincense is made and can be bought at the local market, grow in Oman.
In Muscat, you can go hiking in the mountains and visit Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, the colourful old Muttrah Souq, Al Alam Palace, and Al Jalali Fort. Muscat is considered more modern and dynamic than Salalah, though the pace of life here is certainly different from Dubai. When you leave the UAE for Oman, it feels like you have arrived at your country house.
Oman has almost no nightlife, and beverages are only served in hotel restaurants and bars, so if your primary interest is gastronomic hedonism, we recommend exploring all the venues within your hotel's premises.
Shopping is an activity practically absent in Oman. Premium brands are not represented here, so at most, you can stroll through local markets to choose a fragrance (by the way, the globally renowned brand Amouage originates from Oman, although the perfumes are now produced in France) or frankincense.
But if you prefer unconventional souvenirs, buy a silver coin called "thaler" with a portrait of Maria Theresa. The word "dollar" originated from this ancient currency. Zanzibar, which was once a territory of Oman, paid tribute to the Sultanate with such coins.