Holidays in Oman

Oman is officially known as the Sultanate of Oman. This Middle Eastern kingdom has the types of attractions that visitors would expect to find in this part of the world. There are beaches, elaborate mosques, old forts and busy markets. The population of Oman is relatively small with roughly two and a half million inhabitants and the capital, Muscat, has almost 700,000 residents. The current leader of Oman is Qaboos bin Said al Said.

Introduction to Oman holidays

Most of Oman is very hot and dry for much of the year. Coastal areas are humid, while the interior is dry. Winter is a nice season for Oman holidays because the temperature doesn't go much lower than twenty five degrees celsius but there is abundant rainfall. To get to Oman from the UK visitors will have to book their tickets with Oman Air, the only carrier that flies directly to Muscat. The currency is the Oman rial, the time zone is GMT +4, and the dialing code for the country is 968.

Oman holidays highlights

In all likelyhood visitors will begin their Oman holidays in Muscat. Ruwi is the district in which all the hotels and main commercial activities are located. On a friday, when the cattle market is in full swing, visit the souk at Nizwa or Jabrin Fort, Muscat's famous 17th century castle. Another must-see is the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, one of the most stunning ever built, which took six years to construct. Outside Muscat, Salalah is the capital of Oman's southern Zufar and Dhofar region historically famous for its frankincense trade. Established in 1996, the Ras Al-Jinz Turtle Reserve is located on the eastern shore of the Arabian Peninsula and it's the only place where tourists can watch the nesting process of the large green turtles.