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  • Middle East
    • Introduction
    • Jordan
    • Oman
  • Oman
    Overview
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    • Muscat
    • The Western Hajar
    • Al Batinah and Al Dhahirah
    • Musandam
    • Sharqiya
    • Dhofar
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  • Things not to miss
The nation’s most memorable wildlife spectacle: hundreds of Green turtles hauling themselves up out of the ocean to lay their eggs on this remote Sharqiya beach. A splendid example of modern Islamic architecture – and also the only mosque in the country open to non-Muslims. Oman’s most colourful souk is a disorienting labyrinth of tiny alleyways piled high with a bewildering array of exotic merchandise. Take a dhow cruise through Musandam’s most spectacular khor (fjord), keeping an eye out for pods of frolicking dolphins. Arabia with a difference, as the arid mountains encircling Salalah turn green during the annual khareef (monsoon). Magical cluster of Bronze Age beehive tombs atop a ridge at the edge of the Western Hajar Personable old port town, with a beautiful harbour and waterfront, and the last surviving dhow yard in the sultanate. Tackle one of the exhilarating hiking routes which crisscross the airy heights and dramatic wadis of this stunning mountain range. Aromatic wafts of frankincense smoke pervade every corner of the country, from traditional souks to modern hotels. Follow the road up into the spectacular mountains of inland Musandam, looking out for cave dwellings, bizarre rock formations, fossils and petroglyphs en route. Refreshingly breezy mountain plateau, dotted with a string of spectacular traditional villages teetering on the brink of the cavernous Wadi al Ayn. Of the five-hundred-odd forts scattered around the country, this is the finest: an absorbing maze of a place showcasing some of the country’s most memorable traditional architecture and interiors. Traditional Oman at its most magical, with a time-warped cluster of antiquated mudbrick houses in a lofty mountain setting. Explore an unspoiled underwater paradise of colourful corals and magnificent marine life. Absorbing journey though the inland Batinah in the shadow of the Western Hajar, boasting some of the country’s finest forts and most scenic wadis. Oman’s most historic town, with a picture-perfect huddle of souks and sand-coloured buildings clustered around one of the country’s mightiest forts. Sleep out amid the vast dunes of the Wahiba Sands or Rub al Khali under a sky full of stars. The country’s highest peak, tumbling dramatically into the depths of Wadi Nakhr, Oman’s “Grand Canyon”. The classic Omani off-road drive, straight down the near-vertical escarpment of the Western Hajar via the idyllic village of Bilad Sayt and the spectacular Snake Canyon to the plains below.