Vacation is leisure time. But vacation is also about being active, trying new things. The activities listed below guarantee a unique experience.
Desert safari
Oman is a modern country with excellent roads. But it is the expanses of sands that invite you to take a 4x4 car out to explore, maybe even tour for a couple days. It is a marvelous experience to spend the night in a Bedouin camp, where the seemingly primitive tents suddenly reveal interiors equipped with luxurious beds and minibars, surrounded by nothing but sand, sand, and more sand…
Tip
Don’t drive your car too close to the camels; they’ll jump in front of the car if their rest is disturbed.
Diving
Unspoiled reefs with an abundance of gorgeous corals and fish that you’ve never heard of, visibility up to as much as 65 feet (20 m) and water temperatures as high as 82ºF (28ºC). There is a good chance that you’ll also see dolphins from the boats that carry you to the diving sites. Oman has various diving schools that offer lessons, equipment, and recommendations for great diving locations.
Walking
No shortage of walking routes in and around Muscat. Of course you’re free to strike out on your own, but it’s more fun to join in with the Monday Walkers who set out every Monday afternoon around 4 p.m., April through October, for a two-hour walk in the greater Muscat area.
Shopping
Charming, truly fun shopping in Muscat is not a problem. No gigantic mega shopping centers here - there are three shopping malls: Ruwi, Qurum, and Al Khuwair - but there are dozens and dozens of tiny shops and markets where everything is for sale. Even more fun: visit the souks, fairytale-like covered markets, where you’ll be surrounded by the characteristic Middle Eastern atmosphere amidst fragrant herbs and incense. One of the oldest existing souks is located in Muscat, filled with Arabian curios and trinkets. Of course a vast array of incense and myrrh are also on offer.