oman trip - ideas please

oman trip - ideas please

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shirt

Original Poster:

22,508 posts

200 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
given the length of time i've been here now, it is rather poor form that i have hardly explored the emirates, let alone been accross the border to oman.

i'm looking at going for a few days in november, i'd like to do muscat, wadi shab, a night in the desert camp and maybe turtle beach.

any other must sees and hotel ideas? also looking for a rough itinerary for a roundtrip to avoid a straight 7hr drive to muscat.

yorky500

1,715 posts

190 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
shirt said:
given the length of time i've been here now, it is rather poor form that i have hardly explored the emirates, let alone been accross the border to oman.

i'm looking at going for a few days in november, i'd like to do muscat, wadi shab, a night in the desert camp and maybe turtle beach.

any other must sees and hotel ideas? also looking for a rough itinerary for a roundtrip to avoid a straight 7hr drive to muscat.
7 hour drive - you Grandma you! hahahaha

I have only driven in and around Muscat (ok, to and from Muscat as well), so have no real idea where else to go.

shirt

Original Poster:

22,508 posts

200 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
my car cannot physically go beyond 140kph!

Reardy Mister

13,757 posts

221 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Read-up on the border crossing procedure(s).


yorky500

1,715 posts

190 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
shirt said:
my car cannot physically go beyond 140kph!
Ahhhhhhhhh, sorry, you are taking the bus! I have always stuck to the "black" stuff. South of Muscat is a nice place to go and explore - some very nice beaches and the like down that way (some very nice roads too!)

Max allowable speed in Oman is 130km/h or 10km over the stated speed limit, so be careful, but then at AED100 per fine, you can afford to break a few speed limits (if you are ever notified).

rabailey

312 posts

149 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Reardy Mister said:
Read-up on the border crossing procedure(s).
Because it will have changed !

Turtle beach and Oman Dive Center beach huts used to be really nice but there has been a lot of "development" since I was last there.


IanUAE

2,927 posts

163 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Oman you say, only been working there mostly on with some off for the last 18 months. What to do? no idea as I come back to Dubai at weekends......

To visit turtle beach this has to be booked in advance.

In other words I am no help......

Gentleman Geoff

1,058 posts

211 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
I've been a few times in the last couple of years. In fact, I was there again last weekend throwing myself down Snake Canyon with a few friends. Somehow, the whole country seems much more scenic and greener than the UAE.

Muscat is nice for a couple of days, especially the older bit around the corniche and the souk. The drive to Muscat is pretty boring if you go the most direct route from Sohar down the coast. But you don't have to venture too far off the main road to find some very pretty villages and impressive forts, particularly at Nakhal. I also really like Nizwa, which has a massive fort and a cracking market on a Friday morning. Goats and cattle wandering around all over the place; it really feels like a proper taste of old Arabia.

If you have time, head down the coast to Sur and you'll be able to check out the turtle beach at Ras Al Jinz and also Wadi Shab and the neighbouring Wadi Tiwi. All outstanding. This is also the best part of Oman for your desert trip near to Bidiyyah. The drive to Salalah is something of an endurance event and best left as a separate trip in my view.

Accommodation options depend on your budget. At the top of the market, The Chedi Muscat is reputedly the best. I've stayed at the InterContinental and Shangri-La's Barr Al Jissah Resort and both were excellent. At the opposite end of the spectrum, three of the worst hotels I've ever stayed in were in Oman. One in Ibri, one in Salalah and the Qitbit rest house in the Empty Quarter. I've also stayed at some nice mid-range places in Nizwa and Ras Al Hadd. I'll dig out the details for you.

Or you could just throw the tent in the Jeep and do this:



Taken last Friday night after the canyoning trip. smile

Dusty964

6,919 posts

189 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
Make sure your insurance covers you for Man, or buy additional insurance at the crossing point.
Its not 7 hours- unless you get stuck in a huge line of idiots all trying to leave at the same time as you- you can then spend 3 hours there like i did, surrounded by teachers moaning about the number of people there.
As has been said, its a nice place to go for a couple of days- be sure to get down to the water at some stage just to see if Al Said is there, then wonder at the amount of wealth available to have it as your private yacht.
When are you going? BM will be back in 8 days- you are of course welcome to take that instead of the Jeep.

shirt

Original Poster:

22,508 posts

200 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
cheers for the info. geoff and wow, that scenery is amazing! where's that??

mr dusty, ta for the kind offer but i will need desert ability. looking at a few days in early november as m immediate priority is to find somewhere to live before the 21st!

yorky500

1,715 posts

190 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
shirt said:
cheers for the info. geoff and wow, that scenery is amazing! where's that??

mr dusty, ta for the kind offer but i will need desert ability. looking at a few days in early november as m immediate priority is to find somewhere to live before the 21st!
You have still not found anywhere????????? You are dithering about longer than you did trying to find a car! hahaha

shirt

Original Poster:

22,508 posts

200 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
i am the worlds greatest procrastinator!

started looking at vilals but was a hiding to nowhere, the places with a garage were at the top of our budget and potential dewa bills were offputting.

now looking at a 2/3 bed apartment and then will find a lockup to rent in jebel ali or dwc.

Reardy Mister

13,757 posts

221 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
Gentleman Geoff said:
Or you could just throw the tent in the Jeep and do this:



Taken last Friday night after the canyoning trip. smile
That's a thread ender, right there. thumbup

yorky500

1,715 posts

190 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
shirt said:
i am the worlds greatest procrastinator!

started looking at vilals but was a hiding to nowhere, the places with a garage were at the top of our budget and potential dewa bills were offputting.

now looking at a 2/3 bed apartment and then will find a lockup to rent in jebel ali or dwc.
Friends of ours have just rented a 3 bed apartment in Motorcity for AED110,000 per year - loads of underground parking and a lock-up behind one parking space for storage

OR

These guys are advertising warehouse space for rent: details here http://www.evolve.ae/forum/index.php?/topic/12500-...


shirt

Original Poster:

22,508 posts

200 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
if it's a 2 bed then there's freer choice of location, but if a 3 it has to be the marina/jbr [possible 3rd flatmate's terms]. for a lockup i'll send that guy a PM but jebel or dwc would be easier to get to and cheaper.

oh and ive still gotta find/fit a transfer case :S

oilydan

2,030 posts

270 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
Back to Oman...

Wadi Bani Khalid
Wahiba sands
Sur
Aseela


I'm driving down on Sunday, staying at the Al Bustan for the week.

Gentleman Geoff

1,058 posts

211 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
shirt said:
wow, that scenery is amazing! where's that??
It's a on a fairly remote track about halfway up the northern face of Jebel Shams. We were following my mate's 'Off-Road Oman' Explorer book to a remote village in the mountains and we just came across the perfect campsite. I'll try to dig out the details.

shirt

Original Poster:

22,508 posts

200 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
i'll buy the book, that looks a must see! will def. be hitting the wadi's and wahiba sands as i'll be having one night in the desert camp nr bidiyah.

al bustan looks a winner as well.

rabailey

312 posts

149 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
When we were first out here we went to Wahibi sands on our OWN !!!.
A hours drive in the sands before we realised how stupid we were if we got stuck so we turned around and went the long way round.

Gentleman Geoff

1,058 posts

211 months

Saturday 13th October 2012
quotequote all
shirt said:
i'll buy the book, that looks a must see!
p150. 10km before Yasab. wink