10 days in Oman. How to plan a perfect road trip guide and itinerary.

I love road trips and you might know that already if it is not your first time on the blog. I carefully plan every trip with some time for flexibility. In this post, I would like to give you some tips and ideas on how to plan a wonderful road trip in Oman if you have only 10 days. And that’s not all, I want to share with you all the tips I learned about renting a car and driving in Oman.

I have heard some comments regarding the Middle East countries and travelling independently there, stereotypes seem to stop people from going on great adventures. I can assure you that Oman is easy to travel around. The map I prepared for you shows the route I did in 6 days with 3 additional days just for Muscat. It might seem that this trip could be done in less than 6 days, however, the truth to be told, making frequent stops and bad quality toads at times slow down the whole plan. Therefore, use this Oman road trip 10-day itinerary to help you plan a perfect trip in this lovely country.

What you need to know about renting a car and driving in Oman

Renting a car planning a road trip in Oman is one of the best ways to explore the country’s stunning landscapes, from dramatic mountains to serene deserts and pristine coastlines. Driving in Oman is straightforward, with well-maintained roads, clear signage in English and Arabic, and relatively light traffic outside the cities. When renting a car, you’ll need a valid driver’s license from your home country or an international driver’s permit.

Most rental companies are available at Muscat International Airport and throughout the city. However, I would advise that you rent a car in advance, so you do not face what we did on arrival. Taxis asked for horrendous prices and not a single rental car was available. We learned the lesson hard way.

Unless you hire a tour, renting a car is a good idea. Try Discover Cars as they compare not only the most known car rental companies but also local ones, which are sometimes cheaper. Driving in Oman was somehow easy and not as hectic as in Lebanon, for example.

Oman drives on the right side of the road, and traffic rules are strictly enforced, so obey speed limits and wear seat belts. Additionally, many roads outside of Muscat are remote, so it’s essential to carry water, a map or GPS, and ensure your fuel tank is full before heading into more isolated areas like the Empty Quarter or mountainous regions such as Jebel Akhdar. Some routes, especially to wadis or mountains, may require a 4×4 vehicle (but we did not need it and you can see the route we did on the map below). Be aware that Oman’s weather can affect driving conditions, with flash floods sometimes occurring in the wadis.

Main stops on the 10-day road trip

Start in Muscat

Starting your trip in Muscat is a good idea. If you are interested I wrote a while ago a more detailed post about things to do in Muscat. I started and finished my trip in Muscat (flights were the obvious reason), I planned it the way so I could see the city first before starting the road trip. This way I could be more flexible with timing and not rush back to Muscat in order to explore it. My last day back in Muscat was purely for the need to spoil myself and spend some time at the pool suntanning.

There is not that many places to see in Muscat, nonetheless here is what you can do. This list I already mentioned in a more detailed post about Muscat, if you’re interested click here for the post.

• Fish market in the morning (Mutrah)
• Souq in Mutrah (morning or evening)
• Sultane Palace and Oman National Museum (best to go from Mutrah by bus, taxi or walking).
• Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque (free; 8:00-11:00, Fridays closed). In my opinion, this is one of the most beautiful mosques and even beats the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.
• Near Sultan Qaboos Mosque you have Bin Ateeq restaurant for traditional Omani food.
• In Mutrah, the restaurant Bait Al Luban is very popular, and nice but needs reservation in advance.

I think you could be able to do all of these activities in one day, however, it would be rather rushed. I did this plan in two days.

 

Where to stay:

• Mutrah: Sheraton Oman
• Qurum beach: Intercontinental Hotel

Nizwa and Fanja

From Muscat, I headed towards Nizwa, which is only under a two-hour long drive. Nizwa is really a must, however around this town, there are a few other places worth visiting.

• Stop in Fanja on the way to Nizwa, it has a small souq, where you can find handmade pottery pieces, dry fish or other traditional products.
• Fanja Wadi. You might have a quick stop there, for me this wadi was a bit disappointing.
• Nizwa: see the fort and souq. Nizwa is a charming town with a beautiful souq. The biggest attraction for me, however, was the fort, where you watch traditional dance shows and watch a sunset.
• Eat shawarma lice a local. In front of the fort, with tables outside under trees, there is a nice and cheap place for shawarmas.
•  Also in front of the fort, there is a great, big shop for halwa. If you are a fan of this Arabic dessert, I guarantee you won’t leave empty-handed.

Where to stay in Nizwa: 

• Nizwa Heritage Inn

 

Jebel Shams

Jebel Shams is one one the biggest reasons to visit Oman. You might have seen photos of a giant cliff in the middle of a desert. It’s quite impressive, especially that a massive part of the Middle East is a sandy, flat desert with occasional hills. I saw some people camping there, it looked rather rough and I guess very hot from spring till autumn. As much as I can admit it is a pretty place, I was not wowed by it. I blame high expectations set by other people.

Before the trip, I was told that to get to this place you need a 4×4 and it might be required by the local police at the entrance to the area. I had a normal, small car and nobody asked me to have an off-road car. The road is not the best, but good enough to manage with any car.

The distance from Nizwa is not too big, however curvy, dirt roads in the mountains do not really allow fast driving. In the area, there is a beautiful hotel (where I celebrated my birthday) and I would highly recommend it. You can hike around, relax in the spa and eat the tastiest food overlooking a lovely view.

What else can be seen in the area? In Al Hamra go to a wadi with an oasis and ruins. It is kind of abandoned with some locals going there for a picnic. To get there you can choose a shortcut that takes no more than 30 minutes or a long walk around for approximately 1,5 hours (remember water and a hat…it’s going to be roasting).

Before you continue your trip you need to go back to Nizwa. The road from Al Hamra to Nizwa via Hoota Cove is quite picturesque.

Where to stay: Alila Jabal Akhdar Hotel-This hotel on its own is a great attraction. It is located in the middle of nowhere in the mountains, the views from there are breathtaking. I spend my birthday there and highly recommend it to anyone, who wants a little bit of luxury, pampering and calmness.

Wahiba Sands

Wahiba sands is a white and red-sand desert, which makes it an interesting and unique place to go to. I got as far as the beginning of the desert when a huge storm came and I was forced to stay in a small hotel in a nearby village, Bidiyah. If you want, you can camp in Wahiba Sands overnight.

Along the inland road 23 to Sur make sure to stop in Wadi Bani Khalid, which is one of the prettiest places I saw in Oman. It is quite popular and crowded, but the oasis and places to swim there are really beautiful.

Sur

The main reason to visit Sur is the Ras Al Jinz turtle reserve, which is possible to be visited at night and if you are lucky you can see adult females lay eggs or baby turtles hatching. The reserve is located 51 km south of Sur, but check the times and dates beforehand as the beach visits are carefully planned and only if a turtle shows up (for which you might spend hours waiting…can’t predict the nature). There are eco tents and rooms to rent inside the reserve, a good option if you want to slow down and relax.

From Sur take the coastal road number 17 back to Muscat. There are quite a few stops to make on the way, so leave early.

• Bimah Sinkhole (natural underground pool)
• Wadi Shab (beautiful river gorge), you can swim in a cave there. Take a boat from the parking (OM1), then walk 45 minutes each way. Wear good shoes to walk to wadi as some parts are slippery and bring water and rubber shoes as the floor of the pool is covered with small stones that make it impossible to walk.
• Wadi Tiwi, Finns (traditional villages)
• Wadi Al Arbeieen

Ideas if you have more time:

• North of Muscat: Thowaran for natural springs
• Barka fish market
• Ristaq, Al Hazm, Nakhl (forts, road 13)

A few tips:

• • Taxi to the airport from Mutrah OM 10 (this is the price recommended by hotels), taxi drivers ask from much more.
  • Best to prebook a car and pick it up at the airport, otherwise, you are trapped at the airport (in the middle of nowhere and no bus, nor metro) and taxis to Muscat will ask over 200 euros.
  • Bring water shoes (not flip flops) for wadis as it is very slippery there and the stones make it very uncomfortable and painful to walk. If you don’t have much space in your luggage, I’d recommend you walking shoes that dry quickly or just normal beach shoes.

Don’t forget the insurance

This might sound like common sense, but you cannot imagine how many people get into trouble for not having insurance. I always have my international health insurance, but depending on the destination and activities I plan to do, I buy additional insurance. One of the best ones on the market is provided by World Nomads  as they offer sports and natural disaster coverage.