This 1-week Oman itinerary will help you to discover the best places to visit.
I will share my experiences, driving From Muscat to the coast, through the Wahiba Sands desert and the mountains back to Muscat.
One of the first things I noticed was the friendliness of the Omanis. The taxi driver told me all about the country, asked me where I was from, and recommended his favorite places to visit. Even security guys at the airport welcomed me!
Oman is one of my favorite countries. Let’s go!
Oman 1 week itinerary
Day 1 Opera House & Shouks
Let’s start in Muscat with a Muscat itinerary. I spent two days in the city and immediately noticed the cleanliness and maintenance of everything. It has a certain Disney theme park vibe, from the grass along the road to the Arabian-style streetlights!
Opera House
The first thing I visited was the Opera House, it’s not the number one most popular tourist place, but that made the experience so lovely. There were barely any people during the day. And the building is beautiful, with so much white marble and Omani-style architecture.
I arrived just before a tour started. I joined the tour for a few OMR to learn more about the building and its instruments.
Muscat boulevard
The old city center can be found near the boulevard of Muscat, where the Mutrah Souq market is. It’s a network of small alleys with local shops.
Mall of Oman
The Mall of Oman is not a culturally rich area, but it’s nice to visit if you have some extra time in the evening.
There’s even an area where you can ice-skate, snowboard and take a twirling zipline down while hovering over the skiing area, while it’s 50 degrees outside!
Especially for myself, living in Erbil, there are few places to shop, so visiting the Mall of Oman was a nice experience. Parking is free.
Tours & Things To Do in
Discover epic activities in Oman through Viator.
Day 2 · Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque & Qantab
There are many things to do in Muscat. Some say you can skip the city and go immediately to the wadis and desert, but I wouldn’t skip it at all. It has some beautiful places to visit.
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
The most beautiful structure in Muscat is undoubtedly the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.
Make sure you wear clothes covering your shoulders, knees, and ankles, and for ladies, their hair. If you forgot to bring them, don’t worry; you can rent a scarf and an appropriate dress for a small fee.
It can get quite busy in the mosque, especially during the last few hours of the opening times.
Opening times for visitors are between 8am and 11 am.
Read the full story: Photographing The Beauty Of The Sultan Qaboos Mosque Muscat. Click here.
Qantab Beach
Just below Muscat on the coast, you can find Qantab beach. It’s a secluded beach located just 15 minutes from Muscat. The crystal-clear waters and the white sandy beach looked like being in Aruba.
We met a local Omani who showed us the coastline and told us all about the turtles and the construction of the resorts that endanger the territory of the turtles. Luckily Qantab beach was still untouched and authentic.
I prefer a tour with a local always above a commercial organized tour! Locals will tell you so much more and you get to hear the authentic story of Oman.
Somewhere during the trip I somehow remembered Oman was the country where the famous DJ Aviici past away.
The local guide pointed right at the hotel where it happened.
It was so strange that I remembered it right at that moment!
After visiting Qantas Beach, the trip continued on the coast to Fins.
If you’re at Qantab Beach make sure to take a boat trip with one of the locals. It helps the local economy and it’s a lot of fun. Our captain was super friendly.
Day 3 Fins, Wadis & Bimmah Sinkhole
The distances in Oman are relatively short. Driving from Muscat to Fins will take around 1,5 hour.
Bimmah Sinkhole
An excellent place to visit is the Bimmah Sinkhole. It’s not the wildest or most remote location, but it’s fun to dive in and super easy to reach.
Just follow the signs of Bimmah village, where you can take the road to the parking lot. After a very short walk, you’ll get to the sinkhole. Make sure to be there early; many tourists and locals will visit the place.
In all honesty, it’s a great place to visit but not something to spend an entire afternoon. I would just take a dive and not spend more than an hour at the Bimmah Sinkhole.
Wadi Shab
Wadi Shab is one of the best places to visit in Oman. Locals told me this is the most beautiful Wadi in Oman, and they’re right!
After a hike, which was longer than I anticipated, I arrived at a stunning natural pool.
The hike takes about 1,5 hours, one way.
Make sure to wear some sturdy shoes.
I didn’t bring my camera because when you arrive at the end, you will either have to leave your stuff and pick it up later after swimming in the cave or take it with you in a waterproof bag.
I was glad there were other tourists because I wouldn’t have dared to jump in and swim through the narrow opening.
On the other side, it was spectacular.
Day 4 · Sur & Turtles
A small harbor town is Sur. What I like so much about Oman are all the different surroundings. Sur is, again, a very different city than most other locations. If you are passing through, make sure to quickly stop here.
Turtles
Right on the edge of the country on the southeast side, there are several places where you can see turtles. In all honesty, I didn’t go see the turtles. I heard that it disturbs their habitat.
But it’s incredible to drive along the coast, and the natural surroundings are very different from other parts of Oman.
This valley used to be a sea, it was covered with coral turned into stone. It felt like being on a different planet.
Day 5 · The Desert of Oman
Drive to Bidiya to visit the desert of Oman.
Wahiba Sands
My favorite area of Oman is, the desert! In my opinion this is the best place to visit in Oman.
Read my Ultimate Guide about sleeping in the desert of Oman and All You Need to Know when wild camping in Oman.
Depending on the time you have left, spending two nights here would be a great choice.
Wahabi Sands is one of the most spectacular locations of Oman in my opinion!
Day 6 · Return to Muscat
It’s time to relax. After spending the night in the desert in Oman and camping in the wild, it’s nice to spend the last night in a comfortable bed. The last day before departing, it’s a three-hour drive back to Muscat.
W Hotel
Hotels in Muscat can be expensive, but the W hotel was well worth it for us. The huge pool is open until late, around 11 pm, the rooms are unique, and the rooftop pool is incredible.
If you want a drink in a stunning location, check out the rooftop pool at the W Hotel. It’s located right behind the Opera House.
Even if you’re not staying at the hotel, the rooftop terrace is open for anyone wanting a drink or a bite. The rooftop bar is relatively quiet, and we were the only ones visiting on a Saturday.
Day 7 · Flying back
One thing that surprised me is how early the sun goes down. So, if you are planning to camp with a rooftop tent in Oman, you will have to find a spot to sleep early.
This makes the days quite short to visit all the places in Oman. So, camping for one week in Oman becomes much shorter.
Final Thoughts & Tips
Oman is in the Arabian Peninsula, with neighboring countries the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.
There is so much to see and do in this beautiful country, from exploring ancient forts and museums to swimming in crystal-clear waters in the Wadi’s and going to the desert.
To make the most of your 7 days in Oman, it’s best to rent a car.
I rented my car from Nomad Tours.
The main roads are in perfect condition, and people drive relaxed, but when you go off the main road, many roads don’t have asphalt and are mostly made of sand and small stones. Besides that, the roads can become quite steep! Even if you are not planning to visit the desert with a 4×4, I recommend renting a 4×4 in Oman.
8 facts about Oman
- Oman is very safe, often compared to Japan. Read more.
- Arabic is the official language of Oman, but English is widely spoken
- The best time to visit Oman is between October and March
- Oman has an incredibly diverse range of landscapes, from deserts to mountains to beaches, so there is a lot to see.
- Oman is known for its hospitality, and the locals are friendly and welcoming
- Oman is a Muslim country, and visitors should respect local customs and traditions
- Dress modestly when visiting mosques and other religious sites. Shorter swimwear is acceptable at Wadis or beaches.
- Oman’s currency is the Omani rial (OMR)
Road Trip in Oman: The #1 Playlist
F.A.Q.
Is one week enough in Oman?
Oman has so much to offer that one week wouldn’t be enough to visit all the places. Down in the south, there are the Sugar Dunes, which are beautiful but much further from Muscat. Read the full article on how many days to spend in Oman.
Is Oman cheap or expensive?
The prices in Oman are similar to those in Europe. So, it isn’t cheap, but it is also not that expensive. 1 OMR is 2,50 euros/dollar.
What is Oman famous for?
Oman is famous for its diverse landscape and Omani architecture. The mountains, desert and coastline are the main features.
Is Oman a safe country?
Oman is a very safe country, often compared to countries such as Japan.
What is the name of the desert in Oman?
The Wahiba Sands are the desert of Oman and stretch 160 km long.
Is Oman in Dubai?
Oman is not in Dubai. It is a different country just below the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Dubai is the capital of the UAE.
Is Oman a desert country?
Oman is not a desert country, its landscape is incredible diverse with mountains, a coastline, jungle like landscapes, dunes and an ocean.
Enjoy this personally curated playlist while you’re on the road in Oman!
