Ultimate Oman Road Trip: Muscat, Hajar Mountains, Sharqiya Sands & Turtle Watching
Oman is a rising star in Arabian travel. Beyond summer's scorching 40°C heat, it's buzzing with appeal thanks to its thriving tourism sector and rich natural and cultural heritage.
Where else in the Arabian Peninsula offers a captivating capital, otherworldly Martian mountains, wind-carved deserts, endless pristine beaches, while staying authentic, accessible, and safe? Add luxurious accommodations—with upcoming openings from Four Seasons, Anantara, Kempinski, and Jumeirah—and Oman is skyrocketing on travelers' bucket lists.
Oman stands out as the region's premier road trip destination. Rent a 4WD for optimal exploration: roads are excellent, English signs abound (widely spoken), and fuel remains affordable (around 20p per litre as of original reporting). Discover these unforgettable Oman road trip highlights.
Marvel at Muscat
Most visitors arrive in Muscat, Oman's storied capital. Spend a few days here before venturing to mountains, deserts, or coastlines. Unlike Dubai's skyscrapers, Muscat preserves its whitewashed charm, blending traditional Islamic architecture—from arabesque windows to modest domes—in a modern setting. The past lingers like frankincense smoke as locals in dishdashas (robes) and kumas (embroidered caps) head to mosques.
Spanning Ruwi, Mutrah, Old Muscat, and beyond along 50km of Arabian Sea coastline, the city is best explored via guided tours amid heavy traffic. Viator and Oman Day Tours offer group and private options.
What to Do
The Grand Mosque, built for Sultan Qaboos' 30th reign anniversary, stuns with its 300,000 tonnes of Indian sandstone exterior and opulent interior: 14m chandeliers illuminate the world's second-largest hand-loomed Persian carpet.
Completed in 2011 by the same architects, the Royal Opera House hosts opera, ballet, Islamic, and Arabic performances. No show? Join daily morning tours of this architectural gem.
Eastward, Mutrah Souq thrives since pre-Portuguese times, selling antiques to quirky mosque clocks. Souvenir hunters: source gold, frankincense, and myrrh like the biblical Magi. At the corniche's end, the fish market buzzes with fresh Arabian Sea catches—bring your camera, but brace for the aroma.
Where to Stay
In Bandar Jissah east of Mutrah, Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa dazzles with kids' clubs, dive centers, 22 dining options, and shuttles to Muscat highlights—ideal for families and explorers.
From here: Drive west to the Western Hajar Mountains.
Explore the Mountains
4WDs are essential for Oman's rugged terrain, especially the Western Hajar Mountains. Highlights include Jebel Shams (Oman’s 3,075m peak), Wadi Ghul (Arabia’s Grand Canyon), and Jebel Akhdar ('Green Mountain') region with its Saiq Plateau orchards yielding pomegranates, apricots, and rosewater.
What to Do
Test your skills on the thrilling 70km off-road route from Rustaq to Al Hamra: steep, narrow paths with sheer drops offer epic views. Pack spares (tyre, jack), water, warm clothes, food; check weather—avoid rain. Easier: the sealed 4WD road to Jebel Akhdar.
Where to Stay
Anantara Alila Jabal Akhdar clings to a gorge edge, blending into limestone forts with local art and textiles. Award-winning (top 2015 lists), it offers hikes to abandoned villages like Srab and Wadi Ben Habib.
From here: Head southeast to Sharqiya Sands dunes.
Experience the Desert
Sharqiya Sands spans 12,500 sq km of dreamlike copper dunes. Bedouin camps dot the south; northern luxury camps await via 4WD from Muscat-Sur Hwy turn-offs at Al Mintirib or Al Wasil. Deflate tyres beforehand.
What to Do
Enjoy dune-bashing, quad-biking, sandboarding, camel rides, or treks. The highlight: sunset from a dune top—pure magic.
Where to Stay
Luxury camps like Desert Nights Camp or 1000 Nights offer plush tents, dining, entertainment.
From here: Drive southeast to Ras Al Jinz coast.
Watch Turtles Nesting
Oman hosts five sea turtle species; loggerheads and greens nest at Ras Al Jinz, Arabia's eastern tip. The government Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve offers guided tours for conservation. Sightings aren't guaranteed, but likely.
What to Do
A solemn privilege: observe quietly, follow guides, no flash photos to avoid stressing turtles.
Where to Stay
The reserve's hotel or eco-tents include two nightly tours (evening/morning).
From here: Coastal road north to Muscat.
Rules of the Road
From one sealed road in 1970 to a vast network today, Sultan Qaboos transformed Oman's infrastructure. Drive right; watch for tailgating near Muscat. Rural roads are serene but beware camels, goats, flash floods. Use 4WD for mountains/deserts; carry phone, supplies, share plans.
James Kay travelled to Oman with support from Cox & Kings. Lonely Planet contributors do not accept freebies for positive coverage.
