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Holidays in Oman.

Sultanate of Oman on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula.

Regions in Oman : Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah and Masqat, 

Governorates in Oman : Musandam and Zufar

Cities in Oman : Sohar, Salalah, Sur, Nizwa

Oman borders the United Arab Emirates in the northwest, Saudi Arabia in the west, and Yemen in the southwest.

Capital City of Oman : Muscat


car hire, hotels, travel agencies, travel guides, transportation / traveling to oman

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Car Rental Oman

 Holiday Autos  -   
Holiday Autos offers the best fully inclusive car hire prices. Get cheap car hire quickly and securely online with holidayautos.co.uk, the experts in online car rental.

 Sixt -   
Pick-Up Station / Return Station : Muscat Airport, Muscat Downtown, Salalah Airport, Salalah Downtown

Hotels in Oman

 Hotels in Oman [ Booking ]  -  Hotels in Muscat, Salalah and Nizwa

 Radisson SAS Hotel, Muscat ****, Al Khwair, P.O.Box, 939, Pc 133, Muscat
Designed for the discerning business traveller and leisure seeker alike, the Radisson SAS Muscat offers outstanding levels of service and comfort. Smiling friendly staff will immediately make you feel welcome at your home away from home. The Radisson SAS Hotel Muscat is situated in the heart of the city's commercial and diplomatic area, only 12 minutes drive from Seeb International Airport.

 

 
Centrally located hotels ranging from small family run budget accommodation to world-class five star hotels.

More Hotels? See the page Hotels 

Travel Agents / Tour Operators

Kuoni Holidays  -  Resorts : Muscat and Salalah
Type of holidays : Beach holidays, Family holidays & Spa.
Oman highlights :
** The capital, Muscat, lining a natural, picturesque harbour overlooked by the twin Portuguese colonial forts of Al Jalali and Al Mirani, and the ancient port of Muttrah - the perfect place to shop for Omani specialities such as handcrafted silver, textiles and perfumes.
** The best of the country's more than 500 imposing forts (at Nizwa, Bahla, Jabrin and Rustaq) visitable in a day trip from Muscat.
** Salalah is a peaceful historical town of uncrowded beaches and lush coconut groves in the southern Dhofar region.
** A range of exhilarating activities including 'wadi-bashing', desert safaris, climbing and caving, diving and snorkelling, game fishing and dolphin watching.

 British Airways  -  Holidays in Oman 
Combine sea and desert activities for the perfect Oman holiday. Dive or snorkel the aquamarine waters, then relax under a date palm. Explore Oman's ancient desert forts and hike to lush oases. Climb Jebel Shams, Oman's highest mountain. No Oman holiday would be complete without visiting Muscat's mosques, museums and markets.

Adventure Holidays in Oman 
Try one of the activity holidays, travel experiences not to be missed! Adventurecompany.co.uk.

Hayes & Jarvis 
Hayes & Jarvis has been making holiday arrangements for discerning travellers since its formation in 1952 [ [ ATOL 1275 ]

Mosaic Holidays 

Thomas Cook  -  Muscat



 Bedu Expeditionen
 Oasis Travel 

Travel Guides Oman / Related Books

Oman Explorer (Explorer Publishing) 
Oman - the Jewel of Arabia - a land of stunning contrasts... Oman, this fascinating and colourful part of Arabia, is experiencing a huge growth in the number of visitors, with over a quarter of a million* travellers in 1999. In a country that is attracting such a degree of interest, the Oman Explorer is the only comprehensive leisure and entertainment guidebook. Fun and informative, the Oman Explorer is ideal for residents, short-term visitors and tourists alike - essential for anyone visiting this vibrant and surprising part of the world. Oman has so much to offer when you are willing to explore... Sections: Conveniently divided into nine colour coded sections, the book covers everything from history and climate, museums, tours, camping or beach clubs to sporting activities and clubs, shopping and night-clubs. Also included are extensive reviews of over 100 restaurants and bars - each of which has been realistically assessed by an independent team of reporters. A section for New Residents is designed to help them through the trials and tribulations of starting life here, from official documentation, to how to buy a car, apply for a liquor licence or even get married.
Paperback 280 pages (July 1, 2004); Publisher: Explorer Publishing; Language: English; ISBN: 9768182075 1st Edition
Maverick Guide to Oman (Maverick Guides) -  Peter J. Ochs
With the endorsement and assistance of the Omani government, this guide to Oman has been thoroughly updated for this second edition. The Sultanate of Oman has always been a trading, seafaring nation. Its ships ranged far in earlier days, and the Sultanate even had enclaves from Pakistan to Zanzibar. Recently, the economy has relied on oil revenues. However, with limited oil reserves, the enlightened leadership has chosen to promote tourism, a natural for a beautiful nation with amiable and hospitable citizens. The Omani people welcome tourists with open arms, and, for tourists, Oman is a veritable treasure-trove of discoveries and new experiences. Remnants of conversations that date to the beginning of recorded history will delight amateur archaeologists. Christians will discover why frankincense was one of the gifts of the Magi and how it came, in all probability, from Oman. Naturalists will find textbook-quality examples of rock formations, minerals and fossils, while animal lovers can see marine turtles nesting in their natural habitat and protected by law and custom. Helpful detailed maps complement the guide's directions, practical travel advice and everything else a visitor would need to know in order to visit the region. Numerous hikes are profiled, as are the many fortresses that dot the landscape. Also included in this guide is the most current information on: sightseeing; guided tours; wildlife; shopping; transportation; accommodations; dining and entertainment.
Paperback 374 pages (March 2000); Publisher: Pelican Publishing Company; Language: English; ISBN: 1565546873
Gulf States: Kuwait, Bahrain, Quatar, United Arab Emirates, Omen, Yemen (This Way S.) 
Paperback 124 pages (January 1997); Publisher: JPM Publications SA; Language: English; ISBN: 2884520996.
Living and Working in the Gulf States & Saudi Arabia 
Robert Hughes, Graeme Chesters, Jim Watson (Illustrator)
A comprehensive guide for anyone contemplating working in the Gulf States and Saudi Arabia, this book covers everything a person could need to live, work, study or just to spend time in the region.
Paperback 400 pages (April 9, 2003); Publisher: Survival Books; Language: English; ISBN: 1901130215

Transportation / How do I travel to Oman

 Muscat Seeb International airport

 British Airways - Flight tickets Oman 
British Airways flights to Muscat land at Muscat International Airport on the Gulf of Oman coast, 20 miles west of Muscat's city centre. After your Muscat flight, take a taxi to the centre, passing turquoise sea on one side and distant desert mountains on the other... 

Flight.co.uk -  Flight tickets Muscat

  Airline Tickets / Bargain Flights  -  price comparison possible

 Oman Air  -  Flight tickets Oman

 Maps International  -  Maps of Oman  
Mapsinternational.co.uk is one of the largest map shops online.
 Online Maps of Oman [ Uni Texas - Perry-Castañeda Library - Map Collection ]


Links 

 Travel Insurance  -  online travel and holiday insurance for UK and Irish residents

 Tourism Oman

 Ministry of Information  -  Omanet
Official source of information on the Sultanate of Oman over the Internet

 Muscat  -  Capital City of Oman

 Ad Dakhiliyah [ mintaqat / regio ]
 Al Batinah
 Al Wusta
 Ash Sharqiyah
 Az Zahirah
 Masqat

 Musandam [ muhafazat ]
 Zufar

 Ibra  -  gateway to the Eastern region of Oman
Iin the past Ibra was famous for its fine horses and horsemen. A unique feature of Ibra is the "Wednesday Souq" run entirely by women. On the far side of Ibra lies Al Mansfah village, a community of mansions once owned by prosperous merchants of the 19th century during the reign of Said the Great. With the decline of Said's commercial empire these once stately mansions fell into ruin.
 Muttrah
 Nizwa
Nizwa, the verdant oasis city with its blend of the modern and the ancient was the capital of Oman during the 6th and 7th century. One of the oldest cities of the Sultanate, this was once a center of education and art. Nizwa has been an important cross roads at the base of the Western Hajar Mountains connecting Muscat, Buraimi, and the lower reaches of Dhofar. The Falaj Daris of Nizwa is the largest single falaj in Oman and provides the surrounding country side with much needed water for the plantations.
 Ruwi
 Salaha / Salalah
Nestled in the southern region of Oman, Salalah has the benifit of the annual Indian monsoon: locally known as the Khareef. This monsoon, which extends from early June to mid September, transforms the countryside into a veritable garden with tumbling waterfalls and meandering streams. The Khareef season is a good time to visit Salalah. In July and August the government plays host for the annual Khareef Festival, a cultural highlight of the season.
 Sohar
Sohar, a seaside city, was the capital of Oman many centuries ago and legend has it that it was named after the great grandson of Noah (of the Bibical flood). Originally known as Majan (Persian-Mazoun), the city's name alludes from early ship building activity. The word "ma-gan" means ship's skeleton or chassis stemmed from its copper deposits in the mountains of Majan.
 Sur
Sur, a placid sea coast town with its striking traditional dwellings is a pleasant getaway and one of the most important towns in the Eastern region. 

 Jebel Akhdar
Jebel Akhdar in Arabic means "Green Mountains" and this region of the most verdant outside of Salalah and the Batinah Coast. To go there requires a 4-wheel drive ( and a road permit because of military installations in the area). One of the most scenic areas in Oman, coupled with the friendly local inhabitants, this region is a natural spot for tourism. Points of interest include the towns of Wadi Bani Habib, Saiq and Al Ayn, where local farmers raise grapes, pomegranates, apricots and walnuts. The climate is moderate year round as the mean altitude is about 1800 metres. Also of interest is the lookout over the canyon recently named Diana's Point, for the late Princess of Wales who spent time here in the late 80s.
 Musandam Peninsula
"Norway of the Middle East" because of the inlets likened to Norway's fjords, provides a spectacular bird's eye view. The stark mountains of this region rise 2000 meters out of the Arabian Gulf.
 Masirah Island
An island in the Indian Ocean, 20 kms off central Oman coast just South of the Wahiba Sands.
 Nakhl Rustaq Loop
From the Batinah Coast to the west of Muscat along the base of the jebels are several key towns of special interest. Along the coast is the town of Barka with an impressive fort and Bait Al Naman Castle, an early home for the Al Bu Said dynasty [ the current ruling family ].
Further along the coast is the Jazir Sawaidi, a small chain of islands near the shore where beach combing, fishing and exploring are the prime activities. Closer to the mountains lie the majestic fortresses of Nakhl, Rustaq and Al Hazm. restored by the government and preserved as national treasures
 Sumail Gap
The only natural pass through the northern jebels traces the trail of the old Silk Route caravans as they carried their goods from the Far East to communities of the interior. Follow the paths taken by Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta to Fanja, the traders' crossroads, and the towns of Bid Bid, Sumail and Al Khobar, replete with castles and fortifications. Stop by the roadside fruit markets of Ad Dasir to sample pomegranates, pumpkin and sweet lemons.
 Wahiba Sands
The great Wahiba sands are longitudinal dunes 200 km long and 100 km wide running south from the Eastern Hajars to the Arabian Sea. The dunes are 100-150 metres high in shades of colour from orange to hues of amber. Bedouin camps can be found along the tracks and trails in this isolated desert. In sporadic areas can be found stands of single-species woodlands. Where the sands meet the ocean, outcrops of aolianite (sand compressed into rock) can be found displaying unusual and attractive abstract shapes. Here the beaches mellow into soft shades of yellows and whites.
 Western Hajar Mountains
Beyond Nizwa, the southern flanks of the Western Hajar Mountains can be readily seen rising over 2000 metres above the surrounding countryside. Within these mountains, rugged networks of wadi channels have carved networks of dramatic canyons and caves.
To the west of Al Hamra is the road to Jebel Shams(mountain of the Sun), the tallest peak in Oman at 3010 metres. Here it is where you can find oone of Oman's greatest natural wonders, the Wadi Nakhr Gorge. Inside the canyon, you can haggle with the local rug weavers, trek to the cliff dwellings along the canyon rim and visit remains of towns once occupied ages ago by Persian settlers. Rock climbers will want to test their mettle on the stony crags of Jebel Misht while antiquarians willl want to visit the mysterious Beehive Tombs of Bat.

 Bank  -  Central Bank of Oman
 Birds of Oman
The latest on birds and birdwatching in the Sultanate of Oman
 News from Oman  -  Oman Daily Observer
 Press  -  Times of Oman
 Radio & TV  -  Oman TV
 University Oman -  Sultan Qaboos University
 Weather in Oman  -  Meteorological Department
Directorate General of Civil Aviation and Meteorology, Ministry of Transport and Communications Sultanate of Oman

Cuisine  -  Omani Cooking

 Recipes  -  Arabian Recipes
Cooking of the Gulf: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates 
Tess Mallos
Even the most serious and well-travelled of cooks would be amazed at the vast array of spices and fresh ingredients available in the markets of the Gulf States. The arid landscape of the region contrasts remarkably with the abundance of food and flavours. Cooking of the Gulf enables you to bring these unique flavours into your kitchen. With easy-to-prepare recipes, you will be able to delight family and friends with the aromatic flavours of Arabic cooking.
Paperback 64 pages (May 1, 2004); Publisher: Parkway Publishing; Language: English; ISBN: 1898259062

History of Oman

Independence: 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

 Oman's History  -  Wikipedia
Early history om Oman, European domination, Early 20th century, Reign of Sultan Qaboos, Sultans of Oman
Sultan in Arabia: A Private Life -  John Beasant, Christopher Ling
At a time when the influence of Islam and the Arab world dominate newspaper headlines as a result of bloodshed and terrorist threats, it will come as a welcome relief to learn of Sultan Qaboos. The very term "Sultan" conjures up shades of peacock thrones and riches beyond the dreams of avarice. This incredible scene has almost vanished, but not quite. In today's oil-rich Arabia, one Sultan remains. He is one of the world's very last absolute rulers and presides over daily rituals the Ottomans of old Istanbul would recognise immediately. Arabia's sole surviving Sultan is, however, an arch exponent of the very British practice of discretion and reserve, which is far from surprising given that he owes his throne to the machinations of a very British coup. Indeed, Sultan Qaboos of Oman exercises an iron-clad reticence over his daily routine, his own personal affairs and his people, so much so that his country has been described as the world's most secretive state. It would be quite impossible to divorce the man from the land which he has ruled for the past 32 years, so immediate is his authority, so absolute is his exercise of unfettered power. But who exactly is Qaboos bin Said Al Said? What of the journey without maps which led him to be complicit in the betrayal and overthrow of his own father? What role did he personally take in the Dhofar war of the 1970s, when he became the first Arab monarch to defeat the armed exponents of Marx and Lenin? And what of his hitherto secret connections with Margaret Thatcher and the incident that became known as the "Thatcher necklace affair"? What is the truth about his emotional condition, the marriage that never really was and the legacy of his time in an English household, where strict Christian principles had to be followed? As the winds of change blow over the Arabian peninsula, what are Sultan Qaboos's thoughts on the future? "Sultan in Arabia" is the very first biography of Qaboos bin Said Al Said. It is an account of a man and ruler who has, until now, been concealed from public view. Its publication is timely, given the very real likelihood that Arabia's very last Sultanate could well soon pass into the sands of time.
Hardcover 240 pages (April 8, 2004); Publisher: Mainstream Publishing; Language: English; ISBN: 1840188154
A History of the Arab Peoples -  Albert Hourani, Malise Ruthven (Editor)
... In this excellent book, Albert Hourani traces the history of the Arab people from the appearance of Islam, through the rise and fall of the caliphates and the Ottoman empire, to the colonial era of the Europeans and the creation of the nation states that now stretch from West Africa to the Gulf. He gives much insight into the development of culture, law, science and the many strands of religious thought in the region, and into the roots of some of the troubles of the present day...
Paperback 608 pages (September 2002); Publisher: Faber and Faber; Language: English; ISBN: 0571215912

Music, Culture & History

 Oman Centre for Traditional Music
The Sultanate of Oman's musical tradition is an integral part of its social, political, economic, geographical and religious history. Eloquent testimony to this is borne out by the thousands of anthologies of verse which form the text of Omani folk songs and which present a living history of events that have social lessons for the present and the future, as well as the past. Traditional poetry embodies all these qualities ...
 Music of Oman
Traditional music marks all the stages in the life of an Omani, including birth, circumcision, marriage and death. In contrast to many Arab countries, all Omanis participate in music, include both men and women, and young and old...
Musandam: Architecture and Material Culture of a Little Known Region of Oman 
Paolo M. Costa
Hardcover 250 pages (December 1991); Publisher: Immel Publishing Ltd.; ISBN: 090715137X

 Aramusic.com  -  Arab music
 Bookstore  -  Arab books

Web Portals / Search Engines / Directories

 Destination Oman
 Oman Internet Pages
Omani Business, Omani Tourism, Omani News, Omani Hotels, Omani Companies

 Oman Yellow Pages 

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