J'ai dans l'idée de partir à Oman cette année (plutôt fin d'année) mais le hic c'est que ce serait un voyage en solo, je n'ai personne pour m'accompagner.
Evidemment si je vais à Oman, c'est pour 'me perdre' dans les grands espaces et non pour rester siroter un cocktail sur le bord de la plage ^^ ... bien qu'au vu des plages qu'il y a la bas, ce serait dommage de ne pas en profiter quelques jours pour se reposer.
J'ai l'impression que le 4x4 est obligatoire pour aller dans des coins plutôt reculés...
Mais tout seul en 4x4 (que je n'ai jamais conduit) dans le désert, ca fait un peu peur tout de même.
Qu'en pensez vous ?
Selon vous, quelle serait l'envisigeabilité de ce projet ?
Est ce que ça se tente, ou il faut vite oublier ?
En vous remerciant par avance pour toutes vos réponses,
Bonjour,
le 4x4 vous donnera en effet énormément de liberté.
Dans les montagnes (pistes en terre/graviers) ce n'est pas déraisonnable d'être seul. Et il y a quand même du passage.
Pour le désert (je pense qux Wahibas Sands), il serait dangereux de s'aventurer loin tout seul, et plus exactement avec un seul véhicule. Si vous restez dans la zone touristique (les 30 premiers km environ), en suivant la piste de sable qui va vers les camps de touristes, vous pouvez envisager d'aller tout seul chercher un petit coin de bivouac. En gros, en veillant à être à une distance à pied de la piste ou d'un camp. Ce n'est pas "être perdu" mais c'est déjà mieux que rien.
Bon voyage,
Au niveau du Wahibas Sands, si l'on sort de la piste principale, sommes directement dans les dunes de sable ou est-ce qu'il y a possibilité de les éviter par des petites pistes?
Encore une fois, je n'ai jamais conduis de 4x4 et encore moins dans les dunes, je ne pense pas que cela s'improvise du jour au lendemain... j'ai envie de dire malheureusement.
Pour les autres parties du pays, est-ce qu'il est facilement faisable de sortir des routes / pistes sans se mettre trop en danger ?
Enfin, je vais profiter encore un peu de votre connaissance du pays, sur un temps de 3 semaines environ, privilégeriez vous plutôt le nord ou le sud du pays?
Bonjour,
dans le désrt des Wahibas, il y a de longues dunes rectilignes orientées Nord-Sud (bien visibles sur Google Earth). La piste principale est une piste en sable située entre ces dunes. Donc à droite et à gauche, on a des dunes, et si on les franchit transversalement, on arrive dans une "vallée" parallèle à la piste principale.
Pour répondre à votre question, non, il n'y a pas de petites pistes transversales qui permettraient de s'éloigner de la piste principale sans franchir les dunes. Sauf à de rares endroits où celles-ci sont un peu moins hautes. On voit de temps en temps des traces de 4x4 qui franchissent un "col" pour passer dans la "vallée" d'à côté. Vous pouvez tenter de suivre un tel chemin dans là mesure où: 1/ vous ne vous éloignez pas à plus d'une dune de la piste principale (donc c'est faisable de la regagner à pied si votre véhicule est enlisé) 2/ vous n'êtes pas trop loin sur la piste principale, de sorte qu'il y a "suffisamment" de passage.
Partez avec beaucoup d'eau et beaucoup d'essence. Degonflez les pneus vant de rouler sur le sable. Évitez accélérations et freinages brusques. N'hésitez pas à vous garer en pente, c'est plus facilite pour la remise en mouvement.
Pour les autres parties du pays, on sort facilement des routes pour aller sur des pistes. Sortir des pistes... je ne vous le conseille pas (d'ailleurs souvent on ne peut pas c'est tout simplement trop rocailleux).
Sur 3 semaines, ne manquez pas le nord où il y a plein de choses à voir (Nizwa-Sur-Mascate) mais vous avez le temps de pousser vers le sud aussi (Khaluf-Massirah Island voire Salalah).
Pour te rassurer, je reviens d'un voyage dans le Dhofar (Sud). C'est mon second voyage en solo dans le Sultanat et je n'ai pas rencontre de problemes particuliers, meme en privilegiant les endroits recules.
Si tu loues un 4x4, penses bien a verifier la pression et l'etat des pneus avant de partir sur les pistes caillouteuses.
Un GPS peut se reveler utile voire crucial dans certains endroits ou la carte routiere fait defaut.
Durant ton voyage, as tu rencontré d'autres personnes voyageant de la même manière ?
J'ai pour habitude de voyager seul et de rencontrer du monde sur place, le plus souvent dans des Guest House, ce qui fait un peu défaut au sultanat.
Du coup, partir tout seul durant 3 semaines en étant vraiment tout seul, j'ai un peu peur que la solitude me rattrape.
Lors de mes deux voyages en Oman, je n'ai rencontre aucune autre personne voyageant de cette meme maniere. Il faut dire que les touristes se trouvent rapidement disperses dans le Sultanat, tout comme les habitants de ce dernier.
Dans certaines regions desertiques en dehors de la cote, proches du Yemen ou de l'Arabie Saoudite, les contacts humains se resument essentiellement aux points de controle militaires et aux peu nombreuses stations services.
En revanche, dans le village d'Al-Hashman aux portes du Rub-Al-Khali, j'ai fait la connaissance d'enseignants tunisiens vivant sur place, et ai donc pu discuter en francais au milieu de nulle part. Comme quoi, les rencontres ne dependent pas uniquement du lieu ou tu te trouves.
Bonjour!
très intéressée par votre séjour dans le Dhofar! en effet nous partons mon époux et moi en novembre prochain pour 9 jours dans cette région! je voudrais savoir jusqu'où maximum on peut descendre vers le Yémen, les points sympa de bivouac....on campe rarement mais si c'est en toute sécurité comme le disent tous les forumers, je préfère ça à tous les hôtels du grand sud malgache, où là-bas pour le coup, camper est plus que dangereux...
nous sommes intéressés par les beaux paysages, la flore remarquable, les marchés, les ports....
preneuse de toutes vos remarques pour cette région...!
Je suis ravi que quelqu'un s’intéresse a cette région d'Oman!
J'imagine que vous arrivez directement par l’aéroport de Salalah. De quel genre de véhicule disposerez-vous?
J’étais dans le Dhofar en février et j'ai pu rouler sans problème jusque Sarfait, Al-Mazyunah, Habrut... Mais vous ne pourrez bien sur pas aller au Yémen (les Omanais, eux, semblent pouvoir facilement passer la frontière)
Il y aura un peu plus de militaires et de checkpoints en s'approchant de la frontière suite aux troubles ayant lieu au Yémen, mais rien d'oppressant. La région reste donc très sure.
Je ne connais pas le sud malgache mais vous pourrez pratiquer le camping sauvage sans problème dans le Dhofar, tout comme dans le reste du pays. Vous ne serez pas dérangés, vos seuls voisins suivant les endroits risquent d’être les chameaux.
Pendant 4-5-6 jours, vous pourrez rayonner autour de Salalah. Je cite dans le desordre principaux points d'interetsSalalah: Museum of the Frankincense Land, souk a encens, vendeur de fruits au bord des nombreuses bananeraies, Ouest de Salalah, massif du Jabal Qara: Plage Al-Maghsail et son geyser, plage de Fasayah, plage de Rakhyut, Dakhyut, quelques sections de route a epingle jusque Sarfait (vue imnpressionnantes sur la mer depuis + de 1000m garantis), je peux vous donner en MP des waypoints pour d'autres curiosites.Arriere pays de Salalah, massif du Jabal Qamar: tombe de Job, gouffre de Tawi Attair refuge de nombreaux oiseaux (descente de 100m physique jusqu'une plateforme metallique), Tayq sinkhole, Khasbar Cave (peintures rupestres), Wadi Ayun, Wadi Darbat et travertine curtain, Khor Ruri et la Cite archelogique de Sumhuram, Wadi Dawqah et ses boswellias (franckincense) si vous sympatisez avec le jardinier pakistanais, il pourra vous offrir un peu de resine.Est de Salalah: ville de Taqah, son fort du 19e et sa longue plage, Jabal Samhan (dernier refuge du leopard arabe) et vue a couper le souffle depuis 1500m, Mirbat ses ruines et son fort, tombe de Bin Ali et le cimetiere, les baobabs a Wadi Hinnah, Vous pourrez ensuite partir vers le desert en direction de la cite perdue de Ubar a Shisr (site archelologique et ancienne etape sur la route de l'encens) . Si vous desirez rejoindre le desert de sable, dirigez-vous vers le village Al-Hasman (Ramlat Fasad), vous pourrez camper au pied d'une dune, silence garanti. Attention de puis Shisr vers Al Hashman c'est de la piste desertique peu frequentee.
Si vous desirez plus d'informations detaillees, n'hesitez pas a me contacter.
merci!
oui nous arrivons à Salalah profitant de quatar aiways et sa liaison via Doha! ce sera une arrivée très matinale et j'espère que le loueur le sera aussi ('matinal!)..j'espère avoir un Prado puisque tout le monde le conseille....je pense que les routes seront du billard par rapport aux pistes malgaches qui relèvent de l'inconscience pure.....
en fait les attractions dites touristiques seront anecdotiques pour nous....ce qui nous intéresse réellement c'est la flore très particulière et la faune mais que peu de voyageurs remarquent d'après ce que j'ai pu lire sur le forum....!!!
nous essayerons de descendre jusqu'à Sarfait effectivement.......mais nous sommes prudents, si nous sentons un souci nous renoncerons..et nous nous inscrivons toujours sur le portail ARIANE du gouvernement, ça marche très bien, on reçoit des messages au moindre souci....
serpents, scorpions et compagnie sont-ils très fréquents? personne n'en parle et pourtant il semblerait qu'on en rencontre!
je liste les sites où nous aimerions nous attarder et on en parle dans quelques jours..merci!
Pour le Visa a l'aeroport, compter une demi-heure voire plus suivant la queue. Je crois me souvenir de l'avoir paye par carte bancaire.
Pour info, j'avais loue le 4x4 chez Thrifty a l’aéroport de Salalah. L'agence ouvrait a partir de 9h et il était impossible de faire une resa internet avant cette heure. Je pense que c'est valable pour les autres agences. Donc le mieux est d'aller a l'hotel pour vous reposer un peu avant de prendre un taxi pour l'aeroport (demandez a la reception de l'hotel)
Il y a un mall carrefour a Salalah pour ce qui concerne les provisions, materiel de camping et certainement le jerrycan.
En quittant la cote les seuls villes pour vous approvisionner, manger et faire le plein de carburant sont Thumrait et Al-Mazyunah. On peut faire le plein de carburant a Shisr. A Fasad (Al Hashman) dans le desert rien de tout ca, soyez auto suffisants.
Pour 50 euros, vous aurez une chambre propre dans le centre de Salalah, prevoyez toutefois des serviettes bains, il peut en manquer. Regardez les offres sur Booking et les commentaires.
Bonjour !
Nous sommes un couple français et nous souhaiterions partir 15 jours faire le tour d'oman en louant un 4x4. J'ai ainsi quelques questions: partir fin avril au niveau du temps c'est OK? Avez vous les coordonnés d'une agence pour louer voiture Et équipement de camping? Avez vous un trajet à nous conseiller pour ces 15 jours? Nous adorons la randonnée et le snorkeling (dauphins et tortues) je voudrais plonger. Je vous remercie !!
Belle journée
Bonjour Eugénie,
Je retourne prochainement pour la 4eme fois à Oman en septembre.
Après de nombreuses recherches, les locations de 4x4 les moins chers étaient avec Europcar que ce soit de Mascate ou Salalah.
Attention dès fin avril les températures montent vite et j'ai déjà eu 40/45°c à mascate fin avril, début mai.
Sur 15 jours cela me semble un peu court pour aller à Salalah ou à Mussandam, même en avion. Profitez de Mascate, Nizwa, Sur, les wadis, Rustaq, le Jebel Akhdar. Pour les tortues (la ponte) la réserve de Ras Al Jinz vers Sur, attention, il faut réserver, mais avril n'est pas la meilleure saison il me semble. Je les ai vues pour ma part en octobre. Bon voyage. Franck
Bonjour. Super merci pour les infos. Nous voudrions louer voiture avec matériel de camping complet pour 15 jours. As tu des plans?
Merci pour les tortues j vais regarder. Une amie y est allée en mars elle en a vu plein.
Pour les dauphins et la plongée tu as des plans?
Merci pour tes conseils on va suivre ton itinéraire !!
Perso, je ne fais pas de campings, mais pour avoir lu de nombreux forums, nombreux achètent du matériel en centre commercial en arrivant.
J'ai bien sûr oublié de te citer le désert de wahiba sands que tu peux faire également dans les 15 jours. Les lieux indiqués étaient dans le désordre 😉
Il y a des centres de plongées proches de Mascate (entre Muttrah et le shangri-la). Je ne les ai pas testés. Pour les dauphins, des bateaux partent de Mascate, mais les centres de plongées n'étant pas loin tu dois pouvoir combiner les 2.
Bonjour,
Même si vous avez déjà tout en France, il est moins cher d'acheter sur place que de louer. Disons 20 € la tente 4 places à Carrefour.
Je ne connais pas d'agence qui loue du matériel de camping à Mascate.
Il y a à Dubai Nomadrive.com, c'est tenu par un Français, il projetait à une époque d'ouvrir un bureau à Mascate. Il faut regarder sur le site.
Hello, We re back from an amazing 18-day solo trip in the Sultanate of Oman. Here s all the practical and useful info (I think). Flights with Oman Air from CDG…
Hello Fellow Travelers,
I’ve just returned from a week-long trip to Azerbaijan, covering both Baku and the country’s main sights.
Contrary to what the "Travel Advisory" from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says, you can travel everywhere safely—the Azerbaijanis are lovely to foreigners, and the police are absolutely helpful.
Just follow the local laws, as you would anywhere, to avoid any trouble.
I highly recommend visiting this stunning country.
Antoine
Hi,
We’re supposed to go to Oman from October 17th to 30th for a 4x4 road trip. We’d already bought our flight tickets before the war started... We’re looking for recent traveler feedback from anyone who’s been there lately. Obviously, we plan to avoid areas around American military bases as well as the Salalah, Duqm, Musandam regions, and the border with Yemen.
Thanks in advance for your input.
lili
Hello, we’re two senior couples who often travel with a guide and driver. For this trip to Oman, though, we’d like (for various reasons) to have a fixed base and visit the must-sees with a local guide but on a hub-and-spoke basis. Do you think that’s possible, and what would be the best place to stay?
We’ll be in Oman for 7 days in March 2026.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
Hi there,
This year we want to go to Georgia. We have a ticket to Istanbul and would prefer to avoid an Istanbul/Tbilisi flight to see a bit of Turkey, which I love.
I found a train from Ankara to Kars (25h): why not?
But how do we cross the border: which town? Is it easy (or not)?
I’m leaning toward Batumi, but I’m not sure about anything—thanks for your tips!
Thanks for your insights
I’m planning a two-week trip to Iran in September and I’m reaching out for some valuable tips....
After doing a bit of research, I’ve sketched out a rough itinerary.
I plan to spend 2–3 days in Tehran, then head down to Isfahan for 4–5 days with an overnight stop in Kashan. After that, I’m thinking of going to Shiraz for 2–3 days, including a visit to Persepolis.
Then back to Tehran with a 2-day stop in Yazd.
What do you think? Is this doable? Are there any other must-see spots?
The north, with Tabriz and Masuleh, also caught my eye, but what should I cut to fit them in?
If you have any recommendations for high-quality, authentic hotels, I’d love to hear them.
And one last (silly) question—I’m a smoker (unfortunately!), so is it allowed for women to smoke in Iran? If so, under what conditions?
Thanks in advance for your help, and I’m all ears for any advice!
hi,
do we absolutely have to get the ETA before traveling to Israel these days?
some people say it’s not mandatory, others say it is.
any feedback, please?
thanks
Hey everyone!
A comeback after so many years... but my question is simple:
"Has anyone wandered around these two countries recently? (The posts and travel journals I’ve read are a bit dated.) I’m planning a trip for late spring—one I had mapped out for 2023 but never got to do.
For any info on transportation, border crossings, cost of living, and interesting hostel/GH addresses, thanks in advance! 😉
Hi,
We’ve got flight tickets for a two-week trip to Georgia from April 8th to 23rd.
Should we go ahead with our trip or postpone it to September, given what’s been happening in the Persian Gulf since late February 2026?
Are there any impacts in Georgia?
Thanks for your help
Hi there, I’d like to spend a few days in these two countries. How many days do you recommend? Any ideas for things to see? Which airline should I take to go from one to the other? I think there are no more direct flights? Thanks
Hi,
We’re heading to Asia this summer, and to avoid arriving in the middle of the night, we’ve decided to stop over in Dubai for a day and a half on the way there and back. Any ideas for activities during this super-hot period? Bonus points if they’re reasonably priced 🙂 Which neighborhood is best to stay in?
Thanks in advance, and have a great day!
Bruno
We visited the northern/northeast part of Oman, the most touristy area, last February over 11 days there. It’s a great time to go because the temperatures are pleasant and there aren’t too many tourists, even though the country is only just starting to develop its image. 11 days was enough for us to see the essentials, but you can always extend your stay depending on what you want.
2 days in Muscat, 2 days in the desert—we would’ve happily stayed longer—2 days in the mountains, 3 days in the wadis, and the rest for the cities, villages, and the coast.
Oman offers stunning landscapes and a genuinely warm welcome. We always felt safe, never experienced any malicious looks or gestures.
As usual for our trips, we chose to organize everything ourselves but with a guide to better explore and soak up the local culture.
The point of my post isn’t to recount our journey but to encourage and reassure anyone considering this destination.
If I can be of help, I’m happy to answer your questions based on what I know.
Living in Amman, Jordan, I’d like to visit Jerusalem and the surrounding areas during the Christmas season.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on:
- the security conditions in Israel/Palestine,
- sightseeing in Jerusalem during the Christmas period.
Hi! If anyone has been to Georgia recently and could tell me if it's feasible to travel around the country using public transport. My itinerary would be Kutaisi (my arrival airport), Tbilisi, Mestia, Ushguli, Batumi, and back to Kutaisi (departure airport) in ten days. My flight arrives late at night, around 1 AM—would it be possible to take a taxi to get to the city center?
Any advice is welcome, and regarding the language, can you get by with English? Thanks in advance.
Hi everyone, I’m married to a Kurd from Iraq, and we’re heading to Kurdistan in November with our two-and-a-half-year-old son. Even though I’m really excited about this trip and happy to go, I’m a bit nervous because as a European woman, I feel like there’s nothing to do and I have this image of a dangerous country… To put my mind at ease, I’d love to chat with other Europeans who’ve been there. Thanks! !
Hi there
Does anyone know if it's allowed to use a drone (under 250 g) in Oman?
If so, is there any registration required for the device?
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Laurent
Hi there,
We’re traveling from 12/23/2025 to 1/9/2025 in Oman.
However, our flight lands in Dubai.
So I’m looking for a car rental company that allows crossing the border into the Sultanate of Oman.
Thanks for your recommendations!
I think I saw there’s also the option of vehicles with rooftop tents…
Hello... nothing new for several
years now...
Can you go there independently from the rest of the country? Any recent experiences, either in Kurdistan or the rest of Iraq?
Thanks a lot
Hi, we’re traveling to Georgia soon and want to go to Azerbaijan. I’m having trouble finding info on crossing the border.
Is it possible to do it by car or train? Are the land borders between the two countries open? Or do we have to fly?
Thanks in advance
Since I had trouble finding up-to-date info, here’s an update on some key points for Jordan/Egypt ferries as of August 2025.
Right now, AB Maritime is the only company still operating ferries. Other companies sometimes mentioned (Jordan Sinaï Hotel and Tour, Sinaï Ferry, etc.) have stopped running (no response by phone or email, and confirmed on-site).
On the Jordanian side, the fast ferry doesn’t leave from the port of Aqaba but from Tala Bay (20 km further south). There’s supposedly a slow ferry that departs in the evening from Aqaba port (according to a taxi driver), but I couldn’t find any info about it.
Currently, there’s one ferry per day in each direction for Aqaba/Taba and another for Aqaba/Nuweiba. But the schedules aren’t great for backpackers—and they’re not the same every day.
On the Jordanian side at Tala Bay, you access the port by walking through a large resort, go through border control before boarding the ferry (+ luggage check). You have to pay the exit tax of 10 JOD (12 €) to "someone sitting on a bench in front"!!! It’s true—you need to ask who to pay, or customs won’t let you through without the magic coupon.
Oddly, I arrived early and managed to take a different ferry than the one I’d booked online by insisting (it wasn’t open for online reservations).
I bought the ticket on the AB Maritime website. Confirmation by email was brief. Then you have to find another person outside the port who has the passenger list and will give you the actual ticket. (What a joy this organization is!) Luckily, everyone’s really friendly with tourists.
On the Egyptian side, arrival in Taba isn’t in Taba itself but at Taba Heights (20 km further south), in a hotel zone. Immigration can be more or less quick depending on your place in the queue at the single office... (free Sinai visa or paid Egypt visa). And outside... nothing. Nothing: no exchange bureau, no ATM, no drink or SIM vendor... A nightmare. No bus station. One or two taxis at prohibitive prices. Personally, I walked about fifteen minutes to the Strand Hotel to find someone who could actually help me (ATM out of service in that big resort). From there, two bus companies currently operate: Webus in small vans but you have to book at least 2 days in advance (frequent, fast, reasonable prices) or GoBus with large buses (only one per day, even cheaper). They head south to Nuweiba, Sharm El Sheikh, etc. A taxi from Taba to Sharm was quoted at 120 USD at the port exit!
For me, the ferry and GoBus schedules didn’t align at all. If I’d known about Webus earlier, I could’ve saved 6 hours of waiting...
On another note, a Taiwanese traveler I met also mentioned that the Hurghada-Sharm El Sheikh ferry is no longer running.
Basically, these border crossings and ferries are more suited to organized tours than backpackers, but it’s still doable.
Hello everyone,
We’re just back from a wonderful adventure exploring Wadi Rum.
We spent 3 days and 2 unforgettable nights there. Our guide, Mohamad, introduced us to the desert—its beauty, its mysteries—with rare skill, kindness, and generosity. We hiked through breathtakingly beautiful places, slept in a Bedouin tent and under the stars, enjoyed delicious meals, and shared moments of incredible quality.
Mohamad honored us by sharing songs, poems, and stories, and introducing us to his family. His humor, life philosophy, and empathy will stay with us forever.
Without a doubt, one of the most beautiful experiences we’ve ever had.
Mohamad’s contact details can be shared via private message.
I’m also happy to provide any info about this unforgettable trip.
Michèle
So happy to be back with you all that I’m rushing to share my trip report!
We chose to stay exactly 14 days to avoid paying for a visa. As a result, we didn’t have time to explore the south—we’ll be back because Oman is a great destination in January. Temperatures were a perfect 25–27°C during the day. No rain for us, but it can happen.
We bought the *Évasion Oman* guidebook. We started with the Jebels (the mountains), abandoned villages, then the desert, wadis along the coast, and finished in the capital. For us, it was easier to go from cold (2,000 meters, after all) to hot before returning to our freezing Normandy in January.
The people were incredibly welcoming and lovely. We camped in natural camping areas where you can make a fire (free, no facilities or water). Easy to find—just search "camping" on Google Maps (an essential app). We traveled as a group of five and rented a 4x4 seven-seater from Europcar before leaving (price included our insurance): 800 euros for 14 days. Essential for getting everywhere, as there are lots of dirt tracks. We brought our camping gear from France since the baggage allowance is 30 kg. Oh, and also two liters of rum and a box of white wine—also essential.
Food was tricky if you don’t like spicy dishes or just chicken. You have to eat at international restaurants, which cost about the same as back home. We’d packed vacuum-sealed meat for the first three days and a few cans. For beaches, stick to the ones marked on Google for swimming—otherwise, they can be dirty and full of oil.
We arrived at 6:30 AM, bought a SIM card (make sure to remove yours before arriving and tape it to the back of your phone), exchanged money (not great rates at the airport—better in malls or souks; no exchanges in banks), and picked up the car. Then we headed to a Carrefour supermarket, but it was closed. We drove to Jebel Al Akhdar, the Sayq Plateau, where we found markets along the way. There are also bazaar shops where you can get gas bottles—they’re everywhere in mid-sized towns. There are even hypermarkets.
We hiked the well-marked old Sayq trail (red and white markings). Our return was improvised. We camped on the plateau and got cold—bring 0°C sleeping bags! The next day, we visited the abandoned villages of Wadi Bani Habib: juniper forests, canyon viewpoints. Then Birkat Al Maws on the way down—a beautiful palm grove. Next, Nizwa Hotel. The beds were really hard there—ask to see the rooms and test the beds before booking. There’s always availability, with prices starting at 35 euros for two.
On the third day, we went to Jebel Shams. Hiked along the canyon starting from Ghul, then descended. Camped on the road to Balha Fortress, which we visited the next morning (stunning!). Then we explored Nizwa before heading to the Wahiba Desert. Camped along the way, then drove to our accommodation: two days in the desert. We found the Thousand Nights Camp 40% cheaper a month before. Note: you have to leave by 1 PM in a convoy to reach the hotel.
On the sixth day, we hiked in the desert on our own because the activity prices were outrageous.
On the seventh day, we headed to a wadi, Bani Khalid, then to Sur, a seaside hotel. We booked just one room for five of us—hotel apartments are huge, and since we had our camping mattresses, it wasn’t a problem to set up in the living room. There’s even a kitchen. In cities, camping spots are poorly located—near intersections, etc.
Beach time and sightseeing on the eighth day, then we drove to the white sand beach in Fins, where we stayed for two nights (we left the tents set up but empty). This was our favorite campsite—go all the way to the end of the road, there’s a small cove and a stunning spot.
On the ninth day, we visited Wadi Shab and the Salma Plateau to find the tombs. The hike up from Fins was way too long—probably better to take the route suggested in the guidebook for a round trip. Meh, no one really enjoyed it.
On the tenth day, we went to Wadi Al Arbiyyin and drove to Seeb Al Mouj to book a diving trip. Stayed at Al Ferdous Hotel Apartments until the end—well-located for visiting Muscat and a great value. Just make sure to check the room first, as some beds are very hard and others aren’t.
Eleventh day: diving and beach time.
Twelfth day: visited the Grand Mosque (unlucky—first day it became paid, and not just a little: 8 OMR). Then explored the old city.
Thirteenth day: the Grand Opera and beach at The Village, where we found a great pizzeria: pizzawifi.com.
Fourteenth day: And that’s it—back home, thrilled to have discovered this magical country. We’ll be back!
Hi everyone!
I’m giving this a shot, hoping to get some answers that can help clear things up.
We’re planning a trip to Oman in February and want to rent a car.
The catch is we probably won’t have received our international driving permits in time.
After some research, we still can’t figure out if there are any rental companies that only require a French license...
or possibly a certified translation of it.
Given that the French license is recognized in Oman, we’re hoping for some advice.
Any tips would be hugely appreciated, and thanks in advance to those who can help!
Best regards,
Olyana
Hi there, 😄
my friend and I are leaving in 15 days for Kurdistan, by road, in our little converted van... The only thing we're sure of (well, the only thing we've actually thought about! The adventures will take care of the rest!) is that we're planning to take a month to get there, 15 days on site to visit my sister-in-law who's been living there as a teacher for a year! and 15 days to rush back, because my boyfriend has to go back to work on November 3rd!! After that, the itinerary isn't set yet—I've just bought a map of Europe... and still haven't found one of Kurdistan! or Iraq! I just finished work yesterday... and until now, this trip felt so far away... I didn't imagine much about it... I kept telling myself, "You'll see when you're done working, your brain will be more available!" Well, now my brain is in "gooo go go!" mode 😮 and it's going fast! I've got tons of questions popping up all at once!
- The itinerary... (we're thinking of lingering a bit in Greece on the way there... and taking a more direct route back). I don't think we've fully grasped what it's going to be like to cover at least 5,000 km in such a short time! Bibi's tinkering with the van (a Peugeot Expert that goes anywhere) and I'm the tour guide!
- Camping in the van... where? Under what conditions? Areas to avoid? Places not to miss?
- The borders... especially the Iraqi one! What are the formalities? Visa or no visa?
- The political situation in the countries we'll cross... (with our entourage putting pressure on us—they're right, of course! How many times have we heard, "You're crazy! Oh, you're really going? We've been hearing about this for a year but didn't think it was so soon... and with everything going on right now, isn't it risky? Aren't you afraid of getting kidnapped?" 🤪 To be honest, we don't know much, we've been a bit out of the loop, working hard... and just craving adventure! But I admit, sometimes I get little waves of panic 😕 when I check official websites... then I go back to daydreaming!
- Why not Couchsurfing?
- Oh crap, the most annoying part... the paperwork, insurance, health stuff, blablabla...
- Will the van hold up? 😐
- Should we prepare for the possibility of not making it all the way, and accept that not as a failure but as a different kind of adventure? Well, there you have it—a little peek into the chaos in my brain! 🤪/😎
So if any of this resonates with you... if you feel like sharing ideas, advice, or stories... we're all ears! Well, I am, and I'll pass it on to Bibi, the fearless warrior, wrench in hand, new tires at the ready, changing the oil and fine-tuning the beast! When I ask him what he expects, what he thinks, what his fears are (with me being the eternal scaredy-cat about wild camping in places I can't picture when we arrive at night—apparently a typical female fear, according to my surveys!—and the wonder of waking up to discover our surroundings... we made the right choice!), his desires... he just says, "Well, we'll start the car, go straight ahead, and see what happens. What do you think could go wrong?!" We complement each other well!
