Oman Holidays

Everything for the Family

Oman also scores very highly when it comes to family holidays, which are particularly important for Muslim travellers -- in fact the country has just about everything any family could wish for. Miles of beautiful soft-sand beaches offer opportunities for surfing, dolphin, turtle and whale watching, fishing trips and boat rides from Qantab Beach, and palm-shaded picnics on Qurum Beach. Inland there are caves, lagoons, canyons and the wonderful Wadis, such as Wadi al Arbaeen and Wadi Bani Shab, with waterfalls, boat trips, natural pools for swimming and amazing wildlife to observe, as well as opportunities for jeep safaris and camel rides in the desert. Then of course there are fabulous museums, such as Bait al Baranda in Muscat, with interactive displays and exhibits, which keep children enthralled for hours.  

Enchanting Towns and Cities

There are many wonderful towns and cities to explore, including the picturesque capital Muscat with its famous souks, and the second city Salalah, the cultural capital and the birthplace of the current Sultan. Salalah has a gorgeous beach and numerous attractions, in particular the Al Baleed Archaeological Park, created around the excavation of an ancient Iron Age city, with a museum and lots of adventures for children, including a boating lake. Salalah offers a wealth of facilities for Muslim visitors, with mosques at every corner and plenty of halal restaurants.

Other enchanting towns include Nizwa, about 140km from Muscat, one of the oldest cities in Oman. It was Oman's capital in the 6th and 7th centuries A.D. -- its Jama or Grand Mosque was a famous centre for Islamic learning, and there are many other renowned mosques, some 1,000 or more years old. It also has an amazingly impressive 17th century fort, and the second largest souk after Muscat. Not far away is the rocky canyon town of Misfat al Abreyeen, a stunningly picturesque huddle of ancient houses perched on mountain tops, providing a genuine glimpse of how Arab tribes lived centuries ago.

Lovely Hotels

The country has many beautiful hotels, both luxury and family-oriented, and increasing numbers are becoming halal-compliant. One of the country's most renowned luxury hotels, Shangri-La's Barr al Jissah Resort, offers a wide range of facilities for Muslims, including a gender-segregated spa, designated prayer rooms and a copy of the Quran in every room. The brand new Muscat Grand Millennium Hotel, with its quintessentially Arabian design, is one of a growing number of hotels specifically designed to be halal-compliant.

Oman is becoming a top favourite among the Gulf countries, as more and more travellers discover its charms. Not only is it full of natural beauty, it is also steeped in Arab tradition and full of fascinating history. Now with the increasing emphasis on halal-compliant tourism, it is increasingly becoming a favourite with Muslims too.