MUSCAT 5 October 2018: The Sultanate of Oman is rich in diverse scenic beauty. The charm of Omani nature is woven from mountains, valleys, plains and seas.
The sultanate has glorious history and old civilization, embodied in castles, forts and majestic towers.
Mountains
The Niyabat of Al Jabal Al Akhdhar is located in the Governorate of A’Dakhiliyah is one of the areas that inspire tourists. The mountain is located more than 3,000 meters above sea level and is part of the Hajar mountain range. It is characterized by its mild and pleasant weather in the summer and cold in the winter and is famous for its variety of agricultural products, such as fruits, flowers, apricots, almonds, walnuts and roses.
Beautiful in the summer is Jabal Shams. It is located in the Wilayat of Al Hamra in the Governorate of A’Dakhiliyah at an altitude of about 3,500m, and is an attraction for camping fans and Arab families looking for calm and pleasant weather, said Wam quoting ONA.
Springs
The Sultanate also has many springs of fresh and hot water to form an important tourist component. Ain Al Kisfah, in the Wilayat of A’Rustaq, is one of the springs of natural water and reaches a temperature of 45 degrees Celsius, as well as Ain Al Thawarah in the Wilayat of Nakhal.
Wadis
The valleys are beautiful. One of the most famous of these valleys is Wadi Bani Khalid, which is about 200 kilometers from the Governorate of Muscat. It is one of the most famous valleys in the Governorate of North A’Sharqiyah. Wadi Shab is located in the Niyabat of Taiwi, in the Wilayat of Sur, 76 km from the Wilayat of Quriyat. Al Abyadh Valley is also an important destination for tourists, located in the Wilayat of Nakhal in the Governorate of South Al Batinah. It is about 25 km from the center of the Wilaya. Wadi Al Hawqain, which is about 150 km away from the Governorate of Muscat, is one of the beautiful valleys in the Wilayat of A’Rustaq. It is characterized by its running water throughout the year.
Wadi Dhaiqah is another tourist destination in the sultanate. It is located in the Wilayat of Quriyat and is an extension of some valleys in the Governorate of North A’Sharqiyah. It has about 120 wadis along the course, which extends from the Wilayat of Dima and Al Ta’ayyeen to the Wilayat of Quriyat. The construction of Dhaiqah Dam has helped to make the area famous. The capacity of the dam is nearly 100 million cubic meters of water.
Castles & Forts
The castles and forts are scattered throughout the sultanate, most notably the Al Jalali and Al Mirani castles overlooking the Sea in the Governorate of Muscat. Bahla Castle is located in the Governorate of A’Dakhiliyah. It was included in the World Heritage Site in 1987. It is one of the oldest and largest castles. It has a 13 km long wall and dates back to pre-Islamic times.
Nakhal Castle and Nizwa Castle are one of the oldest castles of Oman and located in the Wilayat of Nizwa and reaches a height of 24 meters built by Imam Sultan bin Saif al-Yaraubi in the mid-seventeenth century AD. Sohar Castle dates back to the end of the third century and the beginning of the fourteenth century.
Beaches
The sultanate also has many beautiful beaches that range from mountainous to sandy. Muscat is characterized by the beautiful beaches, suitable for camping and recreation, such as Al Khairan and Al Sifa Beaches, as well as the recreational places, such as Al Qurum Beach, Muttrah, Al Athaibah and A’Seeb.
There are more beautiful beaches along the road linking Quriyat with Sur, in addition to Al Sawadi Beach in the Wilayat of Barka in the Governorate of South Al Batinah. Musandam Beach has strategic location. It derives its beauty from the straits, some of which are 20 KM in length surrounded by 2000 meter mountains. They are perfect for boat riding, diving and visiting the Fish Village.
Dhofar
The Governorate of Dhofar is among the important tourism locations in the Sultanate, particularly in the Khareef season, extending from June 21st to September 21st, where we have beautiful nature, beautiful beaches, plains, valleys and springs, in addition to drizzling rains, as well as Salalah Tourism Festival, annually held from July 15th to August 31st.