bonjour
je suis en train d'oraganiser mon nouveau voyage en israel.j'ai adoré!
je suis donc en train de budgetiser mon voyage en octobre.a votre avis:combien faut-il de jours et de temps pour visiter:
- bethleem et si je pars de jerusalem, est-ce qu'il vaut mieux trouver un hebergement a bethleem ou revenir a jeru?si je pars de jeru et que je reviens le soir pour peut-etre y retourner le lensemain si besoin, a quelle heure partent les 1ers bus le matin et a quelle heure reviennent-ils au plus tard?
- combien de jours ou est-ce qu'une journee est suffisante pour visiter massada et jericho?
- et pour hebron-qui apparament est une belle ville?
enfin, qui connaitrait un petit hotel sympa et pas trop cher ou une guest-house sur les bords de la mer morte?merkii
😎
bonjour
je suis en train d'oraganiser mon nouveau voyage en israel.j'ai adoré!
je suis donc en train de budgetiser mon voyage en octobre.a votre avis:combien faut-il de jours et de temps pour visiter:
- bethleem et si je pars de jerusalem, est-ce qu'il vaut mieux trouver un hebergement a bethleem ou revenir a jeru?si je pars de jeru et que je reviens le soir pour peut-etre y retourner le lensemain si besoin, a quelle heure partent les 1ers bus le matin et a quelle heure reviennent-ils au plus tard?
- combien de jours ou est-ce qu'une journee est suffisante pour visiter massada et jericho?
- et pour hebron-qui apparament est une belle ville?
enfin, qui connaitrait un petit hotel sympa et pas trop cher ou une guest-house sur les bords de la mer morte?merkii
😎
De ta liste je n'ai vu que Massada, mais pour ça je pense qu'une bonne demi journée est nécessaire, surtout si tu montes/descend à pied.
As-tu vu Ein Gedi? c'est à côté de Massada sur la mer morte, et c'est une très belle oasis avec des sentiers de randonnée qui vont jusqu'à 7h de marche.
Bonjour et merci pour le conseil!effectivement l'une de mes collègues vient de me dire que le parc est magnifique .je viens de rajouter 2 nuits à mon petit trip dans ce coin
Ein Gedi n'est pas tout à fait à coté de Massada, 20 kilomètres, une paille toutefois. Et de l'autre coté Ein Bokek à la même distance avec ses hôtels assez particuliers.😎😎😎
Pour Bethleem, une demi-journée suffit. Cela se fait depuis Jérusalem sans problème, les petits bus palestiniens partent de l’une des deux stations de bus en face de la porte de Damas. Ils démarrent vers 6h30 et roulent jusqu’à environ 20-21 heures.
La vielle ville d’Hébron est magnifique. C’est aussi une tragique illustration des séquelles des colonies et de l’occupation en territoire palestinien. Vous pouvez y aller en bus depuis Bethleem. Une fois à l’entrée de la vielle ville, vous pouvez visiter la Cave des Patriarches / mosquée d’Abraham par vous-même, puis revenir au marché ou les petits gamins palestiniens vous feront visiter les lieux en détails contre quelques pièces. Vous pouvez aussi contacter l’association France-Hébron, qui organise des visites passionnantes et en francais de la Vieille Ville avec le soutien du centre culturel français :
www.hebron-france.org/fr
www.hebron-france.org/fr/?page=one&cat=39
La ville de Jéricho est profondément différente des autres villes palestiniennes. Elle est assez difficile à visiter en transports communs.
La ville de Jéricho est profondément différente des autres villes palestiniennes. Elle est assez difficile à visiter en transports communs. Ça me parait difficile de faire Masada dans la même journée.
Pour Massada, peut-être pouvez-vous loger une nuit à la YMCA (auberge de jeunesse) d’Ein Gedi, juste en face de la mer morte, puis aller ensuite visiter Massada. Le coucher de soleil sur la Mer Morte est magnifique. A noter que le littoral de la Mer Morte se trouve en territoire palestinien (partie nord) et en Israël (partie sud).
Hé hé!!oui mais il peut aussi y avoir des caves le vin israélien que j'ai bu était bon et il paraît qu'il y
à des vignes en plein désert.
Concernant la reponse de catw qui disait qu'une partie de la mer morte était en israël et l'autre en palestine, que les porteurs de passeport israéliens n'ont pas le droit d'entrer en palestine;c'est vraiment 1 grosse fumisterie car rien ne les empêche d'aller en palestine par la mer!
Je vais bethleem depuis jeru et j'ai reservé3 nuit à arad je serai véhiculé car je craignais de ne pas avoir beaucoup de bus.je vais contacter l'assoc d'hebron .j'avais vu qu'ils pouvaient fournir 1 logement chez l'habitant mais je ne savais pas qu'ils organisaient les visites merci pour le tuyau!
J'ai pensé a la question toute la journée:est-ce que finalement ça vaut vraiment la peine de louer une voiture au depart de jerusalem pour aller en cisjordanie?je vais y rester 3 jours.est-ce qu'il des sherout au depart de jerusalem pour rejoindre arad ou est-ce qu'il y a des bus regulierement pour se deplacer de arad a massada ou vers hebron et ein guedi?
merci a vous et bonne soirée🙂
Bonsoir😏
mon voyage se peaufine!encore 3 mois a attendre!je compte louer une voiture a jeruslem mais ça a l'air d'etre une vraie galere pour descendre jusqu'a arad.alors j'hesite.est-ce qu'il y a des loueurs a arad meme, ce qui me permettrait de descendre en bus jusque la-bas et de louer sur place?
bah oui en partant toute seule pas facile de garder l'oeil sur le volant et la carte!!😮autre possibilite:j'ai un gps sur mon samsung qui se cale sur les satellites gps.est-ce que quelqu'un s'en est deja servi et est-ce que c'est debité du forfait avec une facture salée a l'arrivée?normal pour la mer morte!!!😄😄😄
ou alors est-ce que les voitures sont equipées de gps?
autre question:j'ai lu sur un autre forum-sur lequel je n'ai pas de compte car celui-ci, il faut le dire c'est le top!😄😄😄!!!
donc j'ai lu qu'a ben gourion on vous posait plein de question sur votre sejour, visites....mais je ne me souviens pas de ça.on vous a deja demandé ou vous alliez?est-ce que quand vous passez un check-point entre israel et la cisjordanie on vous tamponne le passeport?parce que honnetement a l'aeroport en janvier, on m'a demandé ce que j'etais allée faire a dubai, on m'a retourné la valise au retour, analys le sel que m'a offert un commercant au marché, viré les bouteilles d'huile d'olive enroulé dans 3 metres de papier bulle dans un autre carton, mais on ne m'a rien demandé d'autre.
alors la!🙁chais plus comment faire!
bon week end
Sur Ben Gourion, on vous demande où vous allez au moment du passage aux guichets des passeports. ensuite, c'est un aéroport normal. Sauf si vous êtes identifiée par le Shin Bet comme une opposante à la politique du pays où si sur votre passeport, il y a des visas de pays non-amis. L'entretien peut durer de 10 minutes à deux heures selon affinités.😎
Au check-point, on ne demande rien sauf en cas de tensions.... Il y a des points de passages où un touriste avec une voiture de location israélienne ne passera pas de toute façon. Donc prévoir autre chose.
Bonsoir,
je n'avais pas encore lu ton message:finalement j'ai eu des tuyaux par le prprio de l'hotel a arad.je prendrai le bus jusque la-bas et ensuite une voiture sur place.en plus je gagnerai 2 journees de location.c'est un peu long en bus par contre de jeru jusqu'a arad.j'espere que jaurai une voisine ou un voisin de bus sympa!si c'etait un voisin d'ailleurs, pas mal...😉
pour les affinites a l'aeroport au controle, j'ai eu une femme en janvier.on verra bien😎😎😎
Bonjour, je projette de partir pendant 2 semaines au mois de septembre à israel et en cisjordanie, nous voulions prendre en point de chute un appartement a tiberias et louer une voiture 2 semaines.
Peux tu me donner des informations sur tes hotels ou auberges réservés sur ton périple, car l'idée de circuler comme toi m'interesse.
bonjour,
personnelemnt, j'ai pris 3 nuits a arad car c'est bien placé pour aller a massada, et du bon coté apparament pour acceder a la rampe.et puis c'est a une soixantaine de km de ein guedi et ein bokek, ca se fait assez vite.a arad, j'ai reservé a la villa 1000, car pour octobre il n'y avait plus de place en auberge de jeunesse.mais j'ai vu qu'il y avait le kibboutz de ein guedi, par contre c'est assez cher.le proprietaire de la villa 1000 m'a donné des tuyaux.je fais un stop a jeru en arrivant, et j'ai prevu de prendre le bus pour m'y rendre car bien et economique.c'est un peu long, mais ça permet dd'apprecier le paysage.
le proprio m'a donné l'adresse pour louer une voiture a arad, je te laisse les coordonnées:
Herz Dead Sea: mobile: 0543999020
offfice: 086584530
fax: 089973679
une des personnes qui y travaille parle francais, elle s'appelle susie.
voilou😏😏😏sherwood
Pour info quand même, ni Hebron, ni Bethlehem, ni Jericho, ni la partie Est de Jérusalem ne font partie d'Israël : il s'agit, au regard du droit international, des "Territoires palestiniens sous occupation israélienne depuis 1967".
Sans rancune, mais il est simplement je crois préférable de voyager les yeux grands ouverts, et de bien distinguer où l'on va -- ne serait-ce que pour respecter la population locale, en l'espèce la population palestinenne qui le mérite d'ailleurs doublement car vous y serez bien accueillie !
Bon voyage !
bonjour clarissa7,
je ne sais pas si ce message m'est destiné car tu m'a repondu a moi, mais si tu lis bien mon message, je parle bien de cisjordanie et non pas d'israel en ce qui concerne massada, ein guedi....pour moi la cisjordanie et israel font 2, meme s'ils sont situés, comment dire?sur un meme territoire🙂
bonne journée
Ho !! Massada est en Israël. Ne commencez pas à refaire la géographie à votre guise. Ein Guedi je veux bien mais faut pas pousser.
Ben Ein Gedi aussi c'est côté Israelien "israelien"
Pour le GPS perso j'ai un gps de voiture normal sur place. Bon, la route n'est pas bien compliquée en soit, c'est pas la banlieue parisienne en termes d'options de route.
En revanche, les noms sont écrits en arabe, en hébreux (donc dans les deux cas incompréhensible si on ne lit pas l'alphabet), et en lettres latines. Problème, d'un panneau à l'autre, l'interprétation des alphabets arabe/hébreux vers le latin se fait différemment! La même destination peut donc avoir plusieurs orthographes sur la même route... et pour entrer dans le gps du coup c'est assez agaçant, faut trouver le bon nom.
Attention juste à une chose: si on est sur l'autoroute, et qu'on rate la sortie, y en a pour un bout de temps ...
Ben Ein Gedi aussi c'est côté Israelien "israelien"
Pour le GPS perso j'ai un gps de voiture normal sur place. Bon, la route n'est pas bien compliquée en soit, c'est pas la banlieue parisienne en termes d'options de route.
En revanche, les noms sont écrits en arabe, en hébreux (donc dans les deux cas incompréhensible si on ne lit pas l'alphabet), et en lettres latines. Problème, d'un panneau à l'autre, l'interprétation des alphabets arabe/hébreux vers le latin se fait différemment! La même destination peut donc avoir plusieurs orthographes sur la même route... et pour entrer dans le gps du coup c'est assez agaçant, faut trouver le bon nom.
Attention juste à une chose: si on est sur l'autoroute, et qu'on rate la sortie, y en a pour un bout de temps ...
A quelque kilomètres près on va pas chipoter... Mais Massada.......
Ah ca va etre pratique😄concernant le gps, je ne sais pas si quelqu'un pourra me repondre:j'en ai un sur mon telephone et me mets sur les satellites de ggogle pour le guidage.est-ce que ça debite le forfait internetsur le telephone ou est ce que ça reste gratuit?parce que la note risque d'etre presque aussi salée que la mer morte!!
et puis ma question de l"autre de jour:est-ce la rampe pour monter a massada est eclairée des l'ouverture?
suedois, moi je , 'ai rien contre que massada soit cote israe, mais dans le lonely, il mette le site dans la partie cisjordanie du bouquin!🙂
pfff!j'ai pas envie de partir bosser!je resterais bien la a papoter avec vous!
Ah ca va etre pratique😄concernant le gps, je ne sais pas si quelqu'un pourra me repondre:j'en ai un sur mon telephone et me mets sur les satellites de ggogle pour le guidage.est-ce que ça debite le forfait internetsur le telephone ou est ce que ça reste gratuit?parce que la note risque d'etre presque aussi salée que la mer morte!!
et puis ma question de l"autre de jour:est-ce la rampe pour monter a massada est eclairée des l'ouverture?
suedois, moi je , 'ai rien contre que massada soit cote israe, mais dans le lonely, il mette le site dans la partie cisjordanie du bouquin!🙂
pfff!j'ai pas envie de partir bosser!je resterais bien la a papoter avec vous!
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!
