Largely known for cultural tourism centring on its magnificent mosques such as Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque as well as on its grand forts including likes of Nizwa Fort and Bahla Fort, Oman has many surprises in store for the modern visitors. In addition to pristine beaches, such as Qurum Beach and Qantab beach, that kiss the coasts of Oman; the scope of activities in this astounding Arab country extends to kitesurfing, snorkelling, diving, rock climbing, trekking as well as turtle, dolphin and bird watching.
With Sharqiyah Sands at the helm of a true-blue Omani desert encounter; camel riding, dune bashing and witnessing the glorious sunsets aboard a 4x4 are the most desirable experiences for most tourists. Additionally, the mysterious caves of Oman including the Al Hoota Cave, the mighty mountains such as Jebel Shams as well as bustling traditional markets and souqs add to the charm of visiting this stunning country in the Arabian Peninsula.
Climate and Best Time to Visit Oman's climate remains warm all year long and is favourable for tourist activity most part of the year except the summer months of June to August when the temperatures are at their peak. The best time to visit the country, however, is between October-April when it's cooler and breezy. It seldom rains in Oman, with exception of Salalah during the Khareef (monsoon).
Eating OutOman flaunts a range of restaurants and cafes dishing out sumptuous portions of Arabian and Indian cuisine. Though, a majority of high-end restaurants are limited to the capital city of Muscat and the tourist-friendly Salahah; Oman's star dishes including 'shawarma', 'biryani' and 'kebabs' are found and perfected in many eating outlets spread across the country. However, tourists looking for English-style breakfast, Chinese or American fare have to rely on hotel restaurants that serve them on the side of other international cuisines.
Shopping in OmanShopping in Oman is a very pleasurable experience as one can hoard scores of traditional Arabian products that are not found elsewhere in the world. These include aromatics such as frankincense, bukhoor and myrrh as well as Bedu jewellery, handicrafts and traditional Arabic dagger called 'khanjar' locally. Bargaining is the norm in most local markets and you’ll be wise to master the art.
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