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My Favourite Photos of Oman to Inspire Your Next Adventure

Posted on the 07 December 2024 by Just Go Exploring @JustGoExploring

Oman is a hidden treasure. A timeless destination. The Arabia of myth and legend.

It’s a land of golden deserts, dramatic mountains, wild coastlines, and rich cultural heritage. Unlike Dubai or other flashy cities in the Gulf, Oman is authentic, traditional, and refreshingly uncommercialised.

I love its vast landscapes, the warmth of its people, and the lack of tourists.

Here, you’ll find ancient villages and medieval forts tucked into remote mountain valleys.

There are vast deserts on the edge of the Rub’ al Khali – the Empty Quarter – that occupies much of the southern third of the Arabian Peninsula.

Pristine white sand beaches, often completely deserted, are a refuge for nesting turtles and other marine life.

Hospitality is woven into Omani culture. Every day – sometimes several times a day – someone would stop me to say something along the lines of:

“Where are you from? Ah, very nice country. I hope you like Oman. Enjoy your stay, you are very welcome here.”

The capital, Muscat, is a perfect blend of tradition and modernity. The stunning Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, with its intricate design and peaceful, reflective atmosphere, is a must-visit.

The Mutrah Souq is another highlight – a historic bazaar filled with spices, textiles, and Omani silver. The scent of frankincense fills the air, like a scene from One Thousand and One Nights.

Oman’s natural beauty is breathtaking. The Wahiba Sands’ endless sea of dunes is a perfect place for a desert adventure. I spent a night here camping under a blanket of stars – an unforgettable experience.

Wadi Shab was another highlight. This dramatic canyon in the desert contains crystal-clear emerald pools where you can swim and cool off beneath the towering cliffs.

Next time I visit Oman, I’d love to explore the Dhofar region in the south. During the khareef (monsoon) season, it transforms into a lush green sub-tropical paradise — a stark contrast to the rest of the country.

Until then, here are some photos from my favourite moments in Oman.

Have you ever been? I’d love to hear what you thought.

Need help planning your next trip? Hire me as your Personal Travel Planner!

A man dressed in traditional Omani clothing walks through a series of intricately designed archways at a mosque, with a tall minaret visible in the background. A relaxed tabby cat with green eyes lounges on a tiled surface, leaning against a glass window. A cityscape of Muscat, Oman, at dusk, with cars filling the streets, and a mosque with a domed roof and minaret lit up against the backdrop of mountains. A panoramic view of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, showcasing its grand dome, minaret, and beautifully landscaped surroundings, set against a clear blue sky. A hallway with a series of arches in Arabian architectural style, illuminated in different colored lights, creating a visually captivating corridor. A detailed view of the dome and minaret of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, with intricate lattice designs and arched architecture. Inside a car with two Omani men driving through a sandy desert, seen through the windshield, with the barren landscape stretching ahead. A rolling sand dune in Oman’s desert, with gentle curves and wind patterns visible on the smooth sand. A clear, refreshing pool of water in Wadi Shab, Oman, surrounded by rugged, steep brown cliffs, with people swimming and enjoying the natural setting. A wide-open highway leading down to the turquoise waters of the Arabian Sea, with desert landscapes on either side of the road. A wide view of endless, undulating sand dunes in Oman’s desert, with small patches of vegetation and a soft, hazy sky overhead. A portrait shot of a small, twisted branch lying on the rippled surface of a sand dune, highlighting the fine patterns of the desert sand. A portrait shot of endless, undulating sand dunes in Oman’s desert, with small patches of vegetation and a soft, hazy sky overhead. A close-up of a small, twisted branch lying on the rippled surface of a sand dune, highlighting the fine patterns of the desert sand. Alex Tiffany driving a car through the Omani desert, looking out of the window as a camel walks alongside the road, with mountains and shrubs in the distance. A framed sketch of Sultan Qaboos in traditional Omani headgear hangs on a wall between two small arched windows, with a traditional lantern suspended above. Alex Tiffany wearing a backpack walks barefoot across golden sand dunes, leaving footprints behind, with rolling dunes stretching into the horizon. Two traditional Bedouin tents in the Omani desert, made of striped fabric, standing on the sandy ground with the arid, rolling dunes in the background. Ancient mud-brick ruins with small windows, surrounded by palm trees, against the backdrop of jagged mountains under a bright sky. A camel standing under a simple wooden shelter in the middle of a vast desert landscape with rolling sand dunes in the background, under a clear sky. The view through an open wooden door framed by thick walls, looking out at bright sunlight illuminating palm trees and stone structures. A distant view of the sun setting over the vast Omani desert, casting a soft orange glow over the sand dunes, with a small structure visible on the horizon. A winding road through Oman’s desert landscape, with distant mountains under a hazy sky and streetlights lining the side of the road. A natural sinkhole with turquoise waters, surrounded by rocky walls, with visitors swimming and enjoying the scene. A painted mural on a concrete pillar at Wadi al-Shab, Oman, welcoming visitors with colorful imagery of a sun, palm trees, and a heron. A serene, narrow gorge in Oman, framed by towering rocky cliffs, with a palm tree oasis and calm water at the base.

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