Best Activities to Do in Oman

Function of 3 sectors of Oman Adventure clubs

• Water
• Land
• Air

Land activities

• Camp on a desert island

The sand dunes of Masirah Island rise up from the sea like a golden mountain range, their soft peaks ever-shifting with the salty breeze. Away from the mainland, nature is king: swarthy camels patrol the dunes, while the beaches have been claimed by nesting green turtles.

Few visitors set foot on this lonely isle, but more fool them: Masirah is a fantastic hiking and wild camping spot. A light touch is essential, however: the landscape is pristine, and it’s your responsibility to help keep it that way.

• Picnic on top of the ‘Grand Canyon’
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All sheer-sided cliffs and razor-edge peaks, the Western Hajar mountains rip through Oman’s vast interior – a landscape that couldn’t feel further from those flat desert plains. Up here, you’ll find awesome hiking routes and heart-in-mouth viewpoints – especially atop Wadi Nakhr, dubbed the country’s ‘Grand Canyon’ for its vast, yawning chasm.

Millions of years ago, Oman’s lofty highlands were actually under water. Don’t believe it? Look closely at the limestone beneath your feet: it’s littered with the swirls and swells of tiny marine fossils, preserved for eternity in these magnificent mountains.

• Cruise the Musandam Peninsula

Closer to Dubai than it is to Muscat, the Musandam Peninsula is a tiny nugget of Omani territory, separated from the mainland by the UAE. It’s a short flight from Muscat, but well worth the effort: this mountainous coastline pokes out into the Strait of Hormuz – where inquisitive dolphins surf in the wake of fishing boats, pirouetting in the warm turquoise waves.

For now, it’s a blissfully crowd-free spectacle, best enjoyed from the upper deck of a wooden dhow boat. Many of these traditional vessels have been converted especially for dolphin watching, and also offer jaunts to quiet coves for snorkelling and beach barbecues.

• Hiking in the mountains

The mountains of Oman are trekking country par excellence. Dramatic paths thread their way across the windswept heights of spectacular ridges, or wind through sheer-sided wadis and canyons. An extensive network of usually well-marked hiking trails exists throughout the country, particularly in the Western Hajar. Wadi (river valley) walks are another popular excursion, involving exhilarating scrambles up gorges, clambering over boulders and wading through rock pools. Popular and easy wadi walks include Wadi Shab and Wadi Tawi on the coastal side of the Eastern Hajar Mountains, and Wadi Bani Khalid on the inland side.

It goes without saying that it is essential to be well prepared for hiking in Oman’s climate. You will need to be appropriately dressed, carry plenty of water and keep an eye on the weather conditions. The best time for hiking in the country is from October to April.

Water activities in oman

Spread across one of the longest coastlines in the Arabian peninsula at 2092 km The Sultanate of Oman is bordered by three bio geographically distinct water bodies: the Arabian or the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman also known as the Oman Sea, and the Arabian Sea.

So it is no wonder that while exploring Oman, some time dedicated to the water activities is a must. Despite all the great land activities, it is a must to discover our Omani ocean’s beauty.

 

• Dolphin Watching

Discover an amazing experience of getting up close to dolphins and whales in the water while visiting Muscat in Oman. The duration of the dolphin excursion can vary, but most tours last about two hours. Dolphins are spotted in Muscat year round and dolphin tours take place year round. Visitors can take the unique opportunity to experience the ethereal thrill of watching these creatures dance with the waves. In addition to watching dolphins, visitors on these tours also have the opportunity to enjoy the scenic beauty of Muscat’s coastline.

 

Many species of dolphins and whales have been spotted in Oman. The most common dolphin species seen around Muscat are spinner dolphins which are often joined by long-billed common dolphins and can be seen in a mixed group on the waves. But on a less regular basis, Bryde’s whales, humpback whales, Risso’s dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, false killer whales, and the occasional pod of killer whales, among others. Spinner dolphins are also commonly seen in Muscat and surprise the viewer with their spinning jumps.

When dolphins are in a playful and social mood, they can be extremely tactile with each other and can be spotted playing games. It is during this playful time that they are most likely to socialize with people and often look for boats to surf with. These playful creatures are incredibly intelligent and curious creatures, and dolphins sometimes come to greet visitors.

• Snorkeling and diving

The Sultanate of Oman contains more than 530 km2 of coral reefs spread across three bodies of water, so it’s no surprise that the waters are a diver’s paradise. These coral reefs around Oman are home to more than 100 species of coral and 579 species of reef fish, as well as one of the largest fishing economies in the region. Diving and snorkeling in Oman should be high on your bucket list, especially snorkeling or scuba diving in the Daymaniyat Islands, a nature reserve protected by the Omani government. The area has crystal clear waters with warm water providing incredible visibility most of the time especially during the winter months when temperatures are cooler and there is less plankton in the water. In the period from October to May, visibility can sometimes reach up to 30 meters. The water can vary between twenty-three degrees Celsius in the winter and up to thirty-two degrees in the summer.

•   The marine life around Oman, but especially on Daymaniyat Island, is full of life and color. There are plenty of hard and soft corals that will stun you and the area is populated with colorful tropical fish, nudibranchs, reef fish, and different species of turtles, sharks including zebras and black reef sharks, a variety of rays such as stingrays or cowtail rays and much more marine life to watch to discover. The dive sites of the Ad Daymaniyat Islands are ideal for both newly certified divers and advanced divers, with a multitude of dive sites to choose from ranging up to thirty meters in depth.

Snorkelers leisurely explore the breathtaking vistas of Oman’s underwater beauty while watching the marine life as usual.

• Big Game Fishing

There is a range of options for those interested in deep sea fishing or big game fishing, as well as organized tours for the same. South Oman in particular has one of the most thrilling fishing experiences you can have, not only in number and variety of fish, but their size is phenomenal. The waters around the Al-Hallaniyah Islands in southern Oman are probably the best place in the world to catch a game over 50kg, with huge beasts tipping the scales at 70kg.

Air activities in Oman

Omanis are passionate about racing. For centuries, this was all about camels – a tradition that the Sultanate is keen to support and sustain. These days, it is yachting, cycling, and motor racing that get us on our feet.

The Sultanate’s world-class golf courses are bound to bring out the best in your game. With championship-standard courses surrounded by impressive scenery, a relaxing round of golf can feel like an adventure in Oman.

Thirsty for adventure? When it comes to Oman’s adventures, the sky is the limit. Contact our experts to tailor-made your adventure in Oman, and have a go at hiking, climbing, abseiling, caving, or off-roading.

• Skydiving

To skydive in Muscat is a great way to spend your time and we are stoked to share our knowledge with you. So scroll down, look at the top holidays, best courses, epic experiences, awesome accommodation, money saving discounts and inspiring articles in this guide to Muscat skydiving trips.Skydiving includes free falling (usually from an airplane) through the air prior to opening a parachute. Typically skydives are carried out from around 4,000m (or 12,500ft) offering 40 to 50 seconds of freefall time. Longer free fall times can be achieved by exiting an aircraft at altitudes much higher than 4,000m, but very high jumps require pressurized air within the aircraft, and bottled oxygen for the diver.

 

During a skydive, total freedom and control of the air can be enjoyed as well as many complex and spectacular maneuvers including flat turns, somersaults and formation skydiving. Skydiving can be enjoyed either as an individual – doing solo(alone) jumps – or as part of a team carrying out formation skydiving. Generally, the term ‘skydive’ refers to the time spent in freefall from exiting an aircraft to deploying a parachute but skydiving does include some disciplines such as accuracy landings and canopy formation flying which concentrate on the time spent once a canopy has been deployed.

• Kite boarding course in oman

At Kitebeach Muscat Al Hail / The Wave Muscat you will find the best conditions available all around in Muscat! The wind which is mainly thermic caused, coming from northern directions and blows onshore and sideshore very constantly without any flaws. At these conditions, the Kitebeach is protected behind the breakwater of The Wave Muscat. This ensures calm and flat waters even on days with higher winds.

A shallow area between 50 and 200 meters gives enough space for a safe schooling operation and for practising on your own. There will always be a safety distance to the beach, even during days with onshore wind. The ground is sandy and there are no obvious or hidden risks or barriers. The conditions are fine for beginners and advanced riders as the water is flat even at stronger wind due to the mole which is situated windward.