Oman Holidays
Sitting on the eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, Oman has not bought into modern opulence as much as its neighbours. Known as a hidden gem of the Middle East, your holiday in Oman offers cultural voyages of discovery and electrifying desert adventures in equal measure.
Expect Grand Mosques, golden coastlines, off-road driving, and UNESCO World Heritage sites. Human settlement can be traced back over 8,500 years in Oman, and many of its most important landmarks still exist today. Muscat, Oman’s port capital, sits on the Gulf of Oman surrounded by mountains and desert. Home to numerous ancient forts; you’ll be transported back in time as you meander through cobbled streets, lined with jewel-shaped archways. Haggle for a bargain on aromatic spices, luxurious silks, and traditional souvenirs at one of the country’s many jubilantly chaotic souks. If you like delving into history then you will certainly enjoy a visit to The National Museum of Muscat, where you can appreciate ancient artefacts and learn of Oman's heritage, dating back to the earliest human settlement in Oman's peninsula some two million years ago.
Oman holidays - shimmering mosques & bustling souks
During your Oman holidays we highly recommend you take a day trip to the village of Birkat Al Mauz where you’ll be surrounded by breath-taking scenery and exotic fruit plantations. Learn of the local’s ancient cultivation process using the traditional falaj system. For an exhilarating adventure, why not get behind the wheel of a 4x4 and explore the sparkling natural pools of the wild wadis? You can even skate across the desert dunes, some of which rise to over 100 metres. Spend your night at a luxury desert camp and watch a breath-taking sunset over the dunes before enjoying a traditional Arabian meal under the stars.
Whatever your holiday wish list, we’ve been crafting tailor-made holidays for 65 years. Give our Destination Specialists a call today and we will help you to create an unforgettable tailor-made Oman holiday.
Destination Highlights
Great sample itineraries
Get inspired by our selection of popular itineraries for Oman holidays. With so many options for your Oman holiday package, we recommend you talk to one of our Destination Specialists to make the perfect tailor made holiday just for you.
Discover Oman
Witness the true beauty and culture of the Middle East during your eight day Discover Oman tour. Experience traditional Omani hospitality, explore ancient ruins and bustling markets where life has remained unchanged for centuries. From cityscape to desert dunes, this...
City holidays
Highlights of Oman
Oman remains one of the last great undiscovered parts of the Middle East . Our Highlights of Oman tour is a fantastic choice if you’re a first time guest to Oman, or as an extension to compliment one of our...
Cultural holidays
Our favourite hotels
Whether you are planning a family holiday in Oman or adventurous Oman multi-centre holidays, let us help you find the perfect accommodation. Browse our favourite places to stay in Oman - we are here to help you find the perfect hotel.
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Oman has an intrinsic modesty that belies its showstopping beauty. Often overshadowed by its extravagant Gulf neighbours, it’s managed to retain a sense of mystery, with unexplored deserts, untouched beaches, and Bedouin settlements where time stood still centuries back. You’ll notice even the cities, like the capital of Muscat, are high-rise-free zones. The result? You get an unadulterated taste of this country’s incredible past.
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![Oman landscape]( "Oman landscape")
Souk shopping
Brush up on bartering techniques, as you’ll need them on holiday in Oman. Haggle for a bargain on aromatic spices, luxurious silks, and traditional souvenirs at one of the country’s many jubilantly chaotic souks. An explosion of colour, Mutrah Souq is Oman’s oldest souk. Wend your way around the maze of tiny shops selling everything from daggers to shoes to famous Omani sweets. Let your nose follow the tantalising scents of frankincense before stopping just outside for a refreshing juice.
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![Jeep Safari, Oman]( "Jeep Safari")
Wahiba Sands
Omani desert dunes can rise to over 100 metres and slope at an angle over 45 degrees. For an exhilarating adventure, get behind the wheel of a 4x4 and safari dune bash alongside a Bedouin who knows each speck of sand intimately. Lengthen your stay and live like your Bedouin guides by spending the night in the desert beside your herd of camels, watching the glowing sunset and gazing up at the dazzling starry sky.
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Visit ancient forts
Oman is home to numerous ancient forts; stepping through the jewel-shaped archways you’ll be transported back in time. Bahla Fort is not only one of the oldest and biggest forts in the country, but it’s the only Omani fort on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Built as early as 500 BC, it comprises numerous wells, towers, and mosques to explore. Allow a good couple of hours to investigate each room in detail.
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Omkar
Destination Specialist
“Travel in a 4x4 to Jebel Akhdar Mountains where you’ll find operational farms dating back hundreds to thousands of years. This location is surrounded in fruit plantations and offers stunning views and scenery.”
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“When visiting the Grand Mosque, ensure you respect the religious and cultural norms of Oman. Both men and women must ensure they are dressed conservatively. Long trousers and covered shoulders for men, covered head, covered arms, and long trousers or floor-length skirts for women."
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Val
Destination Specialist
“Spend a night under the stars at a Bedouin Camp in Wahiba Sands for a real Arabian adventure. Go on an adrenaline pumping dune safari and then go for dinner, cooked in the traditional style, and underground.”
Festivals and events are wonderful to include during your Oman holiday, offering a glimpse into the country’s authentic culture and traditions.
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Muscat Festival
Lasting for a month from around the end of January, Muscat Festival is a highlight of the capital’s year, featuring nightly fireworks, a ‘living’ replica of an Omani village with sweet-making and craft displays, exhibitions from regional countries, and events such as laser shows and traditional dancing.
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Khareef Season
Oman is known for its jaw-dropping greenery and oasis in the monsoon season – referred to as khareef. The khareef causes the lands to become covered in green and the hills are often surrounded by white fog. During this season there is a light rain/drizzle almost 24 hours a day.
Get a flavour of the local culture through your palate during your Oman holiday. Here are a few of our favourite foodie dishes.
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Shuwa
Omani Shuwa is the national dish of Oman. This dish consists of slow cooked lamb, marinated with spices and usually served over deliciously aromatic basmati rice.
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Omani Halwa
Halwa is considered Oman’s national dessert and is hugely popular wherever you choose to eat. Omani halwa is made with almonds and farina (creamed, milled wheat), caramelized sugar, rose water, saffron, butter and cardamon.
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Um Ali
Um ali is a dessert that combines the creaminess of bread pudding and the cinnamon nut stuffing of baklava. This is a wonderful treat whether it is warm out of the oven or cold out of the fridge, and not to be missed during your Oman holidays.
Our Oman destinations
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct flights to Oman take approximately 7 hours and 35 minutes. British Airways currently offers five direct flights a week, from London Heathrow to Muscat International Airport, and Oman Air offers daily direct flights. Alternatively, there are several indirect options from UK airports.
