The Mesmerising City of Muscat

The Muttrah Souk is a paradise for souvenir-hunting tourists.

This multicultural coastal city located in the northern part of the country on the Gulf of Oman, boasts majestic mosques, grandiose forts and picturesque, pristine beaches. All of these are reminiscent of Muscat’s magnificent past. Despite having gone through remarkable development in the past four decades, Muscat never lost its pride in its heritage and culture. Modern stores sit alongside ancient traditional Arabic market places, known as souks, surrounding the captivating capital city of the Sultanate. One of the oldest and by far the most well-known souk of  is in Muttrah, on the Corniche full of gold and silver jewellery as well as countless wooden carvings, ornaments, clothing (dishdashas, kummas, massar) and spices. Here, gold and silver are reasonably priced and are sold mainly by weight. Amongst the best-buys you will find incense burners as well as silver khanjars (the traditional Omani dagger, worn by men). The Muttrah Souk is a paradise for souvenir-hunting tourists.

There are many Muscat attractions, such as the exquisitely beautiful Al Alam Palace. Aside from this, Muscat has golden, sandy beaches, which include the Qurum Beach and the Bandar-Al Jissah. Surrounded by beautiful palm trees and offering quaint picnic spots for visitors, the Qurum Beach is a favorite among locals and tourists. The Bandar Al-Jissah on the other hand, is a secluded bay surrounded by steep rocks. It is a great place to escape and experience some solitude away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Meanwhile the popular Al Sawadi Beach Resort offers fun-filled water activities such as snorkeling, speedboat rides, water scooters and dives. It also has a Jacuzzi and a temperature controlled swimming pool, perfect for the actively aquatic.

The Sultanate’s landscape also offers some exciting opportunities for adventure with its dramatic and spectacular scenery of endless deserts and mountain. Avid trekkers will enjoy walking through the myriad of pathways, criss-crossing the country’s fascinating mountains and canyons. The most renowned Omani desert, which is called the Sharqiyah Sands (also known as Wahiba Sands), has dunes rising to nearly 200 meters. Watch the glorious sunset here or wait until the sun has drifted below the dunes, to witness a mesmerizing blanket of stars.  With desert adventures to enjoy such as an Omani style BBQ under the stars, camelback riding, sleeping in Barsti huts, visiting the Bedouins or sand boarding, the Oman is the perfect destination to try adventurous new things. So what are you waiting for?