Things to do in Oman

Witness the first rays of light igniting golden sand waves in a vast desert that seems endless, with only the tracks of camels and the wind for company.

Stand beneath the massive Italian chandelier and walk barefoot on the second‑largest hand‑woven carpet in the world, surrounded by intricate sandstone and marble.

Glide through crystalline shallows alongside grazing hawksbill and green turtles, while clownfish dart around protected coral gardens in this marine reserve.

Ascend the massive 17th‑century fortress for sweeping date‑palm views, then plunge into the adjacent market for silver, halwa and pottery.

Step into a 400‑year‑old village where multi‑storey mud houses with carved wooden doors crouch at the foot of the Hajar mountains, seemingly frozen in time.

Traverse Oman’s Grand Canyon on a narrow ledge with sheer 1,000‑metre drops into Wadi Nakhr, surrounded by juniper trees and ravens circling the abyss.

Sit by the lagoon as master carpenters shape teak planks with traditional tools, assembling majestic wooden vessels exactly as they did centuries ago.

Descend steps into a surreal limestone crater filled with turquoise, fish‑teeming water, while sea breezes from the nearby Gulf of Oman cool the air.

Spoon up rose-infused, cardamom‑laced gelatinous sweets cooked in a copper pot, while the vendor explains the recipe handed down through generations.

Stroll along the seafront promenade as the sun sinks behind rugged mountains, the call to prayer echoes and ships’ lights begin to twinkle on the water.

Pitch a tent on the edge of the world’s largest sand sea, where absolute silence and an impossibly clear Milky Way create a humbling desert night.

Touch the gnarled bark of trees whose resin was once worth its weight in gold, in a UNESCO‑listed valley that still oozes sacred wadi aromas.

Settle into a seat of Italian marble and inlaid wood in the Gulf’s most opulent opera house, where Arabesque arches frame a programme of ballet, jazz and classical music.

Drop into clear blue water off a rocky islet where schools of barracuda, moray eels and shy reef sharks patrol healthy hard‑coral formations.

Roam the windswept ruins of a once‑great trading port, where the broken dome of Bibi Maryam’s tomb still guards a story of Hormuzi power and maritime glory.

Climb into cool, green mountains where pomegranate orchards, damask roses and stone houses cling to steep slopes, and the scent of drying petals fills the breeze.

Get lost in a labyrinth of frankincense‑scented alleys under a wooden roof, haggling over curved Omani daggers, Bedouin masks and hand‑pressed turmeric.

Paddle past towering rust‑coloured cliffs that plunge into mirror‑calm, dolphin‑dotted waters, camping overnight on a deserted white‑sand beach.

Clamber through a pre‑Islamic fort perched on a boulder, then ease tired muscles in the warm, mineral‑rich water gushing from the base of the range.

Arrive at dawn to a dusty, raucous circle where Bedouin traders in dishdashas auction prize camels, rams and cattle under a haze of dust and shouts.

Follow the ancient water tunnels that still irrigate date palms in a ruined mud village, with the jagged peaks of Jebel Akhdar rising behind.

Swim through crystal‑clear limestone wadi pools, scramble over boulders and squeeze into a cave where a waterfall cascades into a turquoise grotto.

Handle traditional weapons, jewellery and costumes displayed in a restored merchant’s house, then sip kahwa in the replica village courtyard.

Crouch on carpets inside a black goat‑hair tent as your host pours cardamom‑scented qahwa from a brass dallah and offers fresh dates, the sacred welcome of the desert.

Stand near limestone cliffs as waves force foaming plumes through natural shafts, creating towering geysers that drench the surrounding rocks with a deep roar.