Oman

When to Go to Oman?

Oman is essentially a desert, and planning when to go is very important for you to have a great trip. The best time is around November when the temperature is becoming cooler, especially at night, but the peak season has not started yet, so everything is still cheap (car/gear rental) and not as crowded.

Daily Budget

Traveling here can be quite expensive and isn't necessarily budget-friendly, though there are still options to manage costs. You can expect to spend around $50 - $70 USD per day per person, including food, accommodation, and transportation.

Please keep in mind that these are suggested daily budgets based on my own style of travel, which leans more towards the budget side of things. If you aim to stick to this budget, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, dining out only occasionally, and being comfortable with the cheapest and most convenient modes of transportation, which often involve a considerable amount of walking.

Which tourist SIM card is best for Oman?

Wifi is available in places like shopping malls and most Airbnb apartments in Muscat, but if you want to follow this guide and drive around by yourself, I would recommend getting a local SIM card so you can use an app to navigate through the country. You might also need to call your Airbnb host in case you can't find where it is.

Get a SIM card from Omantel at the airport before heading into the city. A SIM card for 1 GB and 3 GB with calls should cost you 3 OMR and 10 OMR, respectively. I bought the 3 GB one, and it was enough to navigate me through the country and keep in contact with family and friends.

For more info about Oman SIM card, you can read more here: Everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in Oman.

Tips: To stay connected with your loved ones at home, make sure to have a VPN service like NordVPN installed before traveling. This way, you can bypass any local Internet censorship you may encounter while in Oman.

What to Pack for Oman?

As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Oman:

• Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
• Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
• Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
• Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
• Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
• Swim Suits: A swim trunk is a must-pack item if you are planning to visit Oman in the summer, just in case there is a body of water you can jump in.
• Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
• Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
• Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
• Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
• Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
• Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
• Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.

For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.

How to Get to Oman?

Oman is located in the Gulf, and there are several Middle Eastern airlines that provide routes to literally everywhere in the world with one transit. If you are flying from the US or Europe, you can choose Etihad, Qatar, or Emirates. For a cheaper option, FlyDubai is a great budget alternative. You can browse through Expedia and Skyscanner to find the cheapest deal that works for your itinerary.

How to Get Around Oman?

Oman is not equipped for traditional backpacking methods such as staying in hostels and using public transportation. The public transportation outside of Muscat is almost non-existent, and the most beautiful places to see in Oman are often in remote areas and not accessible via buses.

For Muscat, you can take the red bus throughout the city. From the airport to all parts of the city, you can take bus number 8 to reach your accommodation. You can also use Google Maps to find the bus route you need if you plan to go elsewhere.

For this Oman itinerary, we are going to travel around Oman with a rental car, which is the only way to explore this country. You will be happy to do so, as I personally experienced how hot the desert was during the day. It was like heaven coming back to an air-conditioned car after exploring the outdoors.

Renting a Car in Oman

Don't let the concept of renting and driving your own car put you off, as renting a car in Oman is not that expensive (40 USD) and gas is dirt cheap (20 USD for a full tank). Now, if you consider sleeping in a car or a tent, a daily budget of 60 USD is not that bad, considering that you will be seeing more places in a shorter time because you have your own car.

Also, you don't have to be a strong driver to drive around Oman, as the roads are well-paved, and with the right app, navigating is a piece of cake.

For renting a car, I would recommend Nomad Tours as they are one of the cheapest, have a good selection of cars, and you can rent camping gear as well as bundle up for a discounted package.

I rented their Toyota Yaris (1.5 Lt) sedan car for 16 OMR with 200km included per day for 5 days, and I drove everywhere with it, no problem. You don't need an international driving license to rent (but try to stay out of trouble, please), unlike when you rent from international brands like Sixt or Europcar from the airport.

You can email them your plans, and they will reply immediately with a quote. Agree upon a pick-up/drop-off place and time, and then you will receive the key. They also offer free drop-off at Nomad Guesthouse, so you can pick up your car from there as well.

Do You Need a Jeep?

I had received mixed information about this before my trip, but now that I have done it myself, if you are planning to stick to this Oman itinerary, you do not need a jeep, even if you want to go up to Jebel Shams. Most of the roads are well-paved, except for the 6 km stretch toward Jebel Shams. However, even sedan cars can easily drive up there if you go slow.

I am not the strongest driver, as I hadn't driven for 5 years before this trip, and I still managed to drive up to Jebel Shams with no problem. You can see the condition of the road from the photo above, and you can be the judge. Just remember to drive slowly and make sure you have a full tank of gas before heading up to Jebel Shams.

If you are traveling with a few more people, then a jeep will be more comfortable for you, but that will double the price for the car rental.

How to Navigate Oman by Car?

Download Waze (Android | iOS) on your phone, and you can easily navigate Oman by car. The app will let you know the fastest route to take, where the nearest parking lots are, and when you will arrive, allowing you to plan your trip more efficiently.

Total Cost for the Car Rental

I rented for 5 days, so it was 95 OMR in total. I had to fill a full tank of gas twice, which cost me 16 OMR in total. I slept in the car, so it is free. I exceeded the km limit by 200, as I got lost a few times, so I had to pay 18 OMR more. So, in total, I paid 129 OMR (335 USD) for the entire trip, excluding food and entry fees.

For you, it will be around 100 OMR, which is 20 OMR (50 USD) per day. I mean, it's expensive for a week if you compare it to Southeast Asia, but Oman is not Southeast Asia. It would be a shame if you are here and didn't get to see anything.