Out and About
in oman
RUSS DARLINGTON
Published with the support of
Published by Motivate Publishing
CONTENTS
Dubai: PO Box 2331, Dubai, UAE
Tel: (+971 4) 282 4060, fax: (+971 4) 282 7898
e-mail: books@motivate.ae www.booksarabia.com Key to Maps 4
Full Map 5
Office 508, Building No 8, Dubai Media City, Dubai, UAE Foreword 6
Tel: (+971 4) 390 3550, fax: (+971 4) 390 4845
Introduction 7
Abu Dhabi: PO Box 43072, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Tel: (+971 2) 677 2005, fax: (+971 2) 677 0124 The routes
1 Wadi Shab Swimming and Wadi walks 8
London: Acre House, 11/15 William Road, London NW1 3ER
2 Jabal Akhdhar Trekking and Short walks 12
e-mail: motivateuk@motivate.ae
3 Tiwi Camping and Trekking 16
4 Snake Gorge Trekking and Swimming 20
Directors: Obaid Humaid Al Tayer 5 Mutrah Souk Shopping 24
Ian Fairservice 6 Grand Mosque Heritage 28
General Manager Books: Jonathan Griffiths 7 Ras al Hadd Turtle watching 30
8 Al Hoota Cave Natural history 36
Series Editor: Moushumi Nandy 9 Nizwa Heritage and Shopping 40
Editor: Simona Cassano 10 Sur Heritage 44
Senior Designer: Cithadel Francisco
11 Jabal Shams Trekking and Camping 46
Designer: Charlie Banalo
12 Wadi Bani Khalid Rock climbing and Swimming 50
Publishing Coordinator: Zelda Pinto 13 Out at Sea Fishing and Water sports 54
14 Hotels & Shopping Shopping and Dining 62
Front cover: Jaap Croese 15 Rustaq Fort Heritage and Fort 70
Back cover: Moushumi Nandy
16 Museums Heritage and History 74
First published 2009 17 Nakhal Fort Heritage and Fort 80
18 Masirah Island Camping and Turtle watching 84
© Motivate Publishing 2009 19 Wahiba Sands Camping and Desert driving 88
© Photographs Steve Maison and Russ Darlington, except those listed
20 Al Alam Palace Heritage 92
on page 124
THE ANNEXES
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form
(including photocopying or storing in any medium by electronic means) without the written A Global Positioning System (GPS) 96
permission of the copyright holders. Application for the copyright holders’ written permission to B Camping 98
reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the publishers. In accordance
with the International Copyright Act 1956 and the UAE Federal Law No. (7) of 2002, Concerning C Off-Road Driving 104
Copyrights and Neighboring Rights, any person acting in contravention of this will be liable to D Weather 115
criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. E Customs and Language 116
F Useful Websites 118
ISBN: 978 1 86063 274 7
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data. A catalogue record for About the Author 123
this book is available from the British Library. Acknowledgements 124
Index 125
Printed and bound by Rashid Printers & Stationers LLC, Ajman, UAE.
FULL MAP
key to maps
Parking Petrol Station
Houses
5 6 14
Hotel
16 20
Tented Camp Sohar
Barka
Rock Pools W6 Tourist Trekking 15 Seeb Muscat
United Arab Emirates 13
4 Qurayyat
11 17 1
8 2 3 Tiwi
Plantation Car Access 9
Nizwa Sur
12
10
Built-up Area Snorkelling
7 Ras al Hadd
19
Beaches Dolphins Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Wahiba
Sands
Viewpoint
Path
18 Masirah Island
Aiport
Graded Road or Hayma Ad Duqm
Track
Mosque
Single track road
Shalim
Hospital Two way road with
2 km Thumrayt
distance markers
Republic Habrut
Terrain height – High Highway
of Yemen Salalah
0 km 150 km 300 km
Terrain height – Low Coastal Road
Sinkhole Fort 1 Wadi Shab 6 Grand Mosque 11 Jabal Shams 16 Museums
Distance Marker 2 Jabal Akhdar 7 Ras al Hadd 12 Wadi Bani Khalid 17 Nakhal Fort
2321 m
Shopping Centre
3 Tiwi 8 Al Hoota Cave 13 Out at Sea 18 Masirah Island
4 Snake George 9 Nizwa 14 Hotels & Shopping 19 Wahiba Sands
* The maps in this book are intended only as a guide to the routes described and 5 Mutrah Souk 10 Sur 15 Rustaq Fort 20 Al Alam Palace
do not purport to show international boundaries.
foreword INTRODUCTION
The Sultanate of Oman is situated on the Welcome to the Out and About guide for its simple screen, you will find it easy to
east of the Arabian Peninsula. Its coastline Oman. My family and I spent three years use and it will soon become your new best
extends from the Gulf of Oman in the north in Oman and we have put together the friend. See the GPS Section in Annex A to
to Yemen in the south. best 20 trips and activities we enjoyed in see how simple it really is.
To the west of the Sultanate is the this fantastic country. They have been You should also be aware of varying
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to the north, assembled with the help and knowledge of town names; though the National Survey
the United Arab Emirates. many of our expatriate friends. Thank you Authority (NSA) is standardizing names
Musandam Peninsula is annexed in the all, especially Steve Maison for his support, across Oman, some might appear
far north of the country. It is just 50 km from comments and pictures. with slightly different spellings to those
the Islamic Republic of Iran. Each trip is laid out with general mentioned in this book, which comply to
Oman boasts a rich diverse topography information, kit list, detailed routes and GPS NSA naming convention. A good example
ranging from the spectacular rugged coordinates with reference information. of this is Azaiba or Athaiba Roundabout,
mountains to the deserts of Wahiba Sands There are also special interest boxes and actually approved by NSA as Udhaybah.
and the lush green hills of Dhofar region tips in each route. At the back of the guide, Whether you are in Oman on holiday or
in the south. Oman's coastline is peppered there are sections specifically on off-road an expat resident, you will enjoy these trips
with thousands of white sandy beaches. driving, weather, customs, camping and across the Sultanate.
Since Sultan Qaboos bin Said took over essential information, mostly obtained
the throne from his father on 23 July 1970, from the experience of the expatriate
the country has prospered exponentially. community during our time here. Country Profile
Not only embarking in the international Detailed mapping in Oman is limited
production of oil but in many other aspects His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the Sultan of to the Muscat Municipality. Out of built-up Area – 309,500 sq km
including tourism. Oman. areas, outdated main road maps, normally Head of State – Sultan Qaboos bin Said
scaled to the whole country is the norm. To Population – 3,418,085
ensure you reach your destination, each Omani nationals – 2,840,792
section has odometer zero points and km Expatriate residents – 577,293
distances for critical turns and junctions. Capital city – Muscat
Roads change at a surprisingly rapid rate Language(s) – Arabic (official), English,
in Oman, so a little judgment is required Farsi, Baluchi and Urdu
here. Also in the reference table of each Currency – Omani Rial
section are Global Positioning System (GPS) Government – Monarchy, with assistance
coordinates. If you have never used a GPS from Consultative Council
before, the chances are you are somewhat (Majlis ash-Shura)
hesitant at the confusing technology. Fear International telephone code – 00968
not, buy the cheapest hand held GPS, with www domain – .om
