Jebel Shams
The highest mountain in Oman, with a vast canyon edge sometimes called the Grand Canyon of Arabia. Rim viewpoints and walking trails offer dramatic scenery and cool mountain air.
Jebel Akhdar
Canyon views, rose gardens and terraced villages mark this cool mountain plateau, which contrasts with the hot lowlands.
Attractive locations
Al Hajar Mountains
A long range of rugged peaks and deep valleys running across northern Oman. It shelters terraced villages, old forts and walking routes, and gives a very different side of the country from the coast.
Wadi Bani Awf
A scenic valley with a winding mountain road, palm groves, small villages and clear pools. It is best explored with a four-wheel-drive vehicle, and it makes a rewarding day trip for adventurous travellers.
Snake Gorge
A narrow canyon cut into the mountains, popular with hikers and canyoning groups. Parts of the route involve climbing and swimming, so it is best done with an experienced guide.
Rustaq Fort
A large, restored fort on the northern side of the mountains, with towers, courtyards and rooms to explore. It is one of the older forts in the country and a good example of Omani military architecture.
Airports
Muscat International Airport MCT
It is about 98 km in a straight line from Jebel Akhdar.
Suhar International Airport OHS
It is about 147 km in a straight line from Jebel Akhdar.
Scams and safe taxis
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan18.6 °C13 mm
- Feb20.5 °C12 mm
- Mar24.0 °C23 mm
- Apr28.8 °C14 mm
- May33.1 °C7 mm
- Jun34.9 °C11 mm
- Jul35.0 °C14 mm
- Aug34.0 °C11 mm
- Sep32.1 °C6 mm
- Oct28.7 °C6 mm
- Nov23.8 °C9 mm
- Dec20.1 °C9 mm
Driest months: May, Sep, Oct. Wettest months: Mar, Apr, Jul.
Costs
Prices here are about 47% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
9999 for police, ambulance and fire.
local government
Ministry of Heritage and Tourism
Helps with: Oman's tourism ministry. Its headquarters contact page lists phone numbers and email for inquiries, and the ministry's website has a suggestions and complaints section.
Who qualifies: Anyone visiting Oman or planning a trip there.
Phone: +968 22088000
Email: info@mht.gov.om
Address: P.O. Box 200, P.C. 115 Madinat Al-Sultan Qaboos, Muscat, Al Khuwair, Thaqafah St
local government
Royal Oman Police
Helps with: Oman's national police. Its website has a general email, a phone directory page and a map of police stations. No tourist police unit is shown there.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Oman who needs police services.
Phone: 9999
Email: info@rop.gov.om
embassy
Foreign embassies and consulates in Oman (Ministry of Foreign Affairs list)
Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy. This official list gives each mission's email, phone and address; some missions are based in other countries.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy or consulate.