top of page
Search

🇴🇲 Oman Adventure Week 1: 4 Weeks Off-Road, Wadis & Pure Silence

  • Writer: Kiki
    Kiki
  • 3 hours ago
  • 3 min read

Our first week (of 4)


Oman is a country that instantly captivates you. Nestled between rugged mountain ranges, deep blue wadis, and the warm hospitality of the Omani people, we embarked on a four-week road trip adventure. Here is our report from the start of our journey – including valuable tips for planning your own trip.


🛬 Getting there: Tips for a relaxed start


Our journey was incredibly straightforward. Whether flying directly to Muscat or via Larnaca/Dubai – the connections are excellent.



• Money-saving tip:

Booking night flights often saves on travel budget!


• Internet:

Get a SIM card directly at the airport (e.g., from Omantel or Ooredoo). But be aware: In remote wadis you'll be completely offline – so download offline maps beforehand.

WARNING: Oman is apparently blocking all VoIP to protect the state-owned telephone company OMANTEL. This means calls via WhatsApp and Instagram won't work. Our attempts to circumvent this using a VPN have also failed miserably…


🚁 Important for drone pilots!

If you want to take aerial photographs, prepare well. Rainer had the required license and passed the Oman test, but a small transposition error in the serial number caused 45 minutes of nerve-wracking waiting at customs.

Here is the link to the registration and approval process.



Checklist:

Have your license ready, take the test beforehand, and check the serial number on the form three times! The officials are friendly, but very thorough.



🚙 Our “home” on four wheels


After a short rest in Muscat, we picked up our off-road vehicle. The briefing takes about an hour – time you should take before heading into the wilderness for four weeks.

We can definitely recommend our rental company for the off-road vehicle with roof tent:

The vehicles are perfectly equipped and include everything you need for the road trip. There's also a WhatsApp group where you can stay in touch with everyone else traveling at the same time. You can sometimes get valuable tips from the community.



Pro tip for your first purchase:

We visited what might be the world's largest supermarket! "LULU HYPERMARKET" is located in every major city and is highly recommended. It's often combined with a mall.


Stock up on plenty of water and supplies in Muscat.


• Culinary hack:

The markets everywhere offer fantastic, freshly prepared rice dishes. We often bought them and ate them at the campsite – this saves you the trouble of cooking and lets you enjoy authentic local food.


🏜️ Route Highlights: Wadis & Mountain Landscapes

Wadi Al Khoud & Wadi Al Abyadh


In Wadi Al Khoud (Zone 6) we pitched our rooftop tent for the first time. Wadis are dry riverbeds that are perfect for off-road driving.

Wadi Al Abyadh is a true gem, home to the famous "White Pools" – natural limestone pools fed by mountain water. The silence there is indescribable – you could hear a pin drop.


Nakhal & Al Rustaq


In Nakhal, an impressive fort towers over the city. Right next to it, a hot spring bubbles up from the mountains.


• Fun fact: Small fish nibble at your feet in the springs – a free natural spa in the middle of the wilderness!

In Al Rustaq , the former capital, you can immerse yourself in the culture.

• Danger:

Friday is a public holiday. Most shops are closed, but the famous cattle market takes place early in the morning (which we unfortunately just missed – so be there early!).



Snake Canyon & Jebel Akhdar


Snake Canyon in Wadi Bani Auf offers pure adrenaline for climbing and swimming. The drive along the Al Barida Road through the mountains is breathtaking, but challenging. We were rewarded with the sight of the terraced fields at Jebel Akhdar .


• Knowledge:

The fields are irrigated using the centuries-old Falaj system (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). It's fascinating to see how everything blooms in this barren landscape.



🛌 Accommodation tip in Nizwa

After days in the rooftop tent, we treated ourselves to a little luxury in Nizwa : the “ Stay Inn ” .


It's a bit out of the way, but worth every kilometer. The chalets are brand new, have their own kitchen, a great terrace and even a hot tub – perfect for sorting your gear and recharging your batteries.


🔗 Useful links for your trip



This was a brief overview of our first week. The others will follow shortly or are already online?


Follow us for more!

Do you have any questions about our route or the drone license? Feel free to leave a comment here or contact us via our Instagram or Facebook account .




Comments

bottom of page