The mysterious and mysterious Arab East has always excited our imagination. We, locked in the stone jungle of cities, dream of the romance of Scheherazade’s fairy tales, coral necklaces and crazy aromas of oriental incense. And now many rush there to feel and taste a piece of romantic dreams about the beautiful East.
Bare lonely rocks, desert sands, fertile coasts and valleys – this is how Oman appears to travelers who first came here. Long-term isolation from the rest of the world, careful attitude to religious and cultural customs, suspicious attitude towards foreigners did not contribute to the development of mass tourism in the country.
Until 1970, the country was ruled by a militant and paranoid ruler, Said bin Taimur. One example of his rule was the ban on glossy magazines and sunglasses. In fact, everything Western was banned. The only Europeans who could move freely around the country were the British, who then, using these privileges, contributed to the change of power in the country.
City of Sib – an independent vidayet and the administrative center of Muscat, which is part of the Muscat agglomeration in the Sultanate of Oman. In Es-Sib, you can see magnificent gardens, many large and luxurious villas that complement and decorate the architectural ensemble of the city. The world-famous Beit el-Baraka Palace located here is the official residence of the Sultan of Oman. Here are the royal stables and the equestrian center, as well as the Royal Guard. This palace is closed to tourists. Between the highway and Beit el-Baraka is the Royal Omani Symphony Orchestra, an institution founded in 1985 by
Mutrah – Vilayet center in Mintaq Muscat. Matrah is located in the east of Oman near the Gulf of Oman. While in Matrah, you should definitely visit the city market Souk Mathrah. In this famous place you can buy or sell anything. This is a historical place of the city, where you can learn the features of oriental culture.
Did you know that there are over 500 forts, fortresses and towers in Oman that were built to protect the country’s 1700 km coastline.
Interesting facts
According to Sportsqna, the first settlements on the territory of Oman appeared 3000 BC.
There are no permanent rivers in Oman. All rivers have only seasonal flow (in winter).
About 60% of those working in the country are foreigners.
Intercity bus service is developed: for 10-12 RO you can drive through the whole country. The system of service taxis and minibuses is very convenient, travel in them is quite cheap (3 RO per 100 km on intercity routes, -1 RO – within the city). In Oman, taxis (orange and white cars) are driven by local residents, they attract the attention of pedestrians with beeps, do not use meters, and pay by agreement. On average, they ask for a quarter to a half of RO per kilometer. In the evening and at night, taxi prices increase.
Musandam – Arabian Norway
Musandam Peninsula (Sultanate of Oman) – Arabian Norway.
The Musandam Peninsula belonging to Oman (an area of about 3 thousand square kilometers) in the northeast of the Arabian Peninsula is often called “Norway” by guidebooks because of the large number of narrow fjord bays bordered by rocks.
Musandam is not only untouched nature, secluded beaches and harsh Al-Hajar mountains up to 2 thousand meters high. It is also a paradise for divers. The magnificent underwater landscape with passage caves and coral gardens, rich fauna and water transparency up to 20 meters attracts more and more diving enthusiasts.
Among the well-developed scuba diving sites are Khor Ash-Shamm, the famous Octopus and Lima Rock underwater cliffs, as well as Hablain. The waters in the north of the peninsula beyond the Strait of Hormuz, where two deep-sea sites with strong currents are located, are considered a place of first-class diving. There is a Russian diving center on Musandam.
Unforgettable impressions are given to tourists by leisurely boat trips and trips along the coast, where fishing villages are located. The largest is the large Bedouin village of Kumzar (population over 3 thousand people), whose inhabitants speak their own dialect – a mixture of Arabic and Farsi. The villages of Sibi, Shamm, Kanakha and Nafidi are also picturesque. One of the sights of Musandam is the Telegraph Island with a lighthouse. Here was the British station for monitoring the telegraph cable laid from India to Basra in 1864.
In Khasab, the main city of Musandam province, there is a Portuguese fort built in the 16th century. Now it houses the Museum of Folk Crafts of Oman.
Breathtaking views open from the highest mountain Harim and from the cliffs of Khor Najd Bay.
There are several modest hotels in Khasab, as well as the excellent Golden Tulip Resort Khasab, which has become a popular holiday destination for many Omanis and tourists from neighboring UAE. The second deluxe hotel, the Golden Tulip Resort Diba, will open in October in Dibbe, on the Indian Ocean coast, with 54 rooms.
