With one foot in its storied past and the other stepping into a promising future, Oman is a diverse and exciting destination topped off with a wealth of staggeringly beautiful landscapes you can click your camera at. This is a place where warm Arabian hospitality ripples through the mountainous slopes of Jebel Akhdar and into the deep canyons of the Hajar Mountains. The Oman landscapes offer swoops of sand dunes, golden crescent beaches and mountains that carve their way across the skyline. Whether you’re a first timer or Omani enthusiast, you’ll no doubt find solace and a newfound appreciation for some of the unmissable landscapes not to miss during your trip to Oman.
- Jebel Akhdar
- Wadi Ghul
- Empty Quarter
- Daymaniyat Islands
- Wahiba Sands
- Ras al Jinz
- Dhofar Desert
- Majlis al Jinn
- Musandam
- Salalah
1
Jebel Akhdar
First up on the list of Oman landscapes and towering to a staggering 6,000ft above sea level is the grass-coated peak of Jebel Akhdar. The Al Hajar Mountain range sleeps below, offering tour-guided adventures and a hidden labyrinth of terraces and wadis to wade through. The fragrant Damask rose (that blooms with rainfall) perfumes the colder mountain air, while ripe figs, pears and more grow fruitfully. Spend a few days here visiting the area’s remote mountain villages, complete with pristine gardens and orchards, exploring caves and touring an Arabic calligraphy embossed castle.
2
Wadi Ghul
That same mountain range is also home to Oman’s very own Grand Canyon, the second largest in the world (but without the frenzy of tourists). Here, you’ll find the gravity-defying Balcony Walk, a strip of rocky pathway knotting its way around the canyon's edge, which has excellent views over the abandoned village of Al Sab. This is natures amphitheatre, setting the scene with dramatic rock faces and a sparse terrain. It’s a spot where keen hikers can go sunset chasing, wild campers can pitch up in the ultimate location and day trippers can tick off a picture-perfect moment. It’s a must see when it comes to the top Oman landscapes.
3
Empty Quarter
The Empty Quarter (or Rub’ Al Khali desert) is the largest continuous sand sea in the world and its seemingly never-ending dunes roll and pitch like waves across the southern part of the Arabia. Oman shares its sprawling edges with Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the United Arab Emirates. Visitors here would be forgiven for mistaking the folds of burnt orange sand for a Mars expedition, but rocket launches aren’t needed to discover this otherworldly sandscape. Instead, opt for 4x4 drives, camel rides and dune camp outs because this is up there with Oman landscapes well worth discovering.
4
Daymaniyat Islands
Of course, it’s not all sand dunes and mountain ranges; Oman has something for the ocean lovers too. While this contender among unmissable Oman landscapes worth seeing might be slightly cheating (it’s more of a seascape) the small Daymaniyat Islands archipelago, located just off Muscat, couldn’t be missed off the list. The phosphorescent waters hug the coastline and keen snorkellers can boat their way over to this chain of paradisical islands. Once docked, coral reefs brimming with vibrant shoals of fish, sea turtles and whale sharks (regular visitors to these waters) await discovery. It'll be a day jam packed with pinch-me moments, followed by quick sail back to the marina under a setting sun.
5
Wahiba Sands
We couldn’t stray from sand dunes for too long, especially when this sun scorched landscape could captivate keen travellers for days. The continually changing dunes are home to Bedouins, camels and very little else but these desert nomads can share age-old Omani tales and glimpses of a nearly lost lifestyle. This sometimes unforgiving landscape is best experienced over the course of a few days exploring, and after evenings spent luxe camping and stargazing, it’ll be easy to understand why so many find themselves longing for another night's stay.
6
Ras al Jinz
If swimming with turtles off the coast of the Daymaniyat Islands wasn’t enough of a fix, heading to the pearly beaches of Ras al Jinz (Oman’s very own turtle reserve) could be just the ticket. Spot everything from loggerheads and leatherbacks to Olive Ridleys and hawksbill turtles, as they take to the shores and release their precious cargo. Enjoy guided tours, long walks along the coastline, hatchlings making their dash to the ocean and a museum packed with turtle facts and stats.
7
Dhofar Desert
Experience the lesser tourist trodden province of Dhofar and its billowing sea of sand dune desert. The barren landscape here offers little more than stony plains and empty desert land for miles, yet the Boswellia sacra trees (or frankincense) still stand tall, despite the harsh climate. It’s natures very own medicinal ailment, that’s been used in practice for centuries, thriving in the barren conditions where little else does. This is a pilgrimage you won’t want to miss.
8
Majlis al Jinn
For this unmissable addition to Oman landscapes, you need to see, we’re taking you into the depths of the largest sunlit subterranean chamber in the world: the Majlis al Jinn caves. This satisfyingly off-map spot is found southeast of Muscat and translates to “Meeting Place of the Spirits”. It’s big, bold and breath-taking inner cave rooms are a sight to behold and with a trusty tour guide on hand to ensure a seamless journey, you’ll be able to appreciate the site in its entirety.
9
Musandam
No, we haven’t snuck a Norwegian entry in, but you’d be forgiven for thinking it. Especially when Musandam, aptly named “The Norway of Arabia”, is complete with an elaborate winding system of steep-sided fjords (khors), islands (only really accessible by boat) and cliff faces. This largely untouched natural environment marries mountains and maritime landscapes, all teetering on the north-eastern tip of the Arabian Musandam Peninsula. It’s an exclave that’s surrounded by the sprawling UAE territory, looking proudly out at the rest of Oman from afar and is perhaps the most scenically spectacular area in the entire Gulf and one that’s well worth exploring.
10
Salalah
Last, but not least, is the third-largest city in the Sultanate of Oman; Salalah. Renowned for its thriving banana plantations and secluded sandy beaches that are lapped by the Arabian Sea, this haven has captivated many a curious traveller. Its transformative annual monsoon season – Khareef (meaning autumn in Arabic) - sees the stark desert terrain become a green and luscious landscape with flowing seasonal waterfalls. This verdant oasis is a must for keen explorer, eager to see the many faces of Oman’s changing climate and landscapes.