Oman luxury guide
Luxury holidays in Oman are about thrill seeking in deserts, mountains and coral filled seas - and doing so in tailor made style and comfort...
Oman travel advice
Things to do tips
Liz Pepperell, Managing Director of our supplier Odyssey World knows Oman like the back of her hand, and gives great Oman travel advice on what to do there: "Oman is such a special place but is sometimes perceived as being a five star beach holiday only, with people not being aware of what the country has to offer. So, I really advise people to look beyond the sun and sand as there is so much more to the country than this. Such as the fjords in the North, where you can see dolphins and whales and the region is ideal for scuba diving."
Nigel Fisher, Director at our supplier Wild Frontiers:
“The mountain trekking is brilliant through Jebal Akhdar, but please put some time aside to walk though Oman’s secret wadis in the Sharqiyah region.”
“The mountain trekking is brilliant through Jebal Akhdar, but please put some time aside to walk though Oman’s secret wadis in the Sharqiyah region.”
Our Oman Holidays
Oman small group tour
Ancient spice trails, Wahiba Sands, superb coastal scenery
From
£1799
8 days
ex flights
Tailor made tours of Oman
Privately escorted mystical trip of stunning Oman
From
£1850
8 days
ex flights
Oman highlights tour
Journey through Oman's ancient cities, mountains and deserts
From
£2795
12 days
ex flights
Oman cycling & trekking holiday
5 night cycling and trekking adventure in Oman
From
£1395
6 days
ex flights
Luxury culture holiday in Oman
Meet the Bedouin of Wahiba Sands and Turtles of Sur in Oman
From
£1699
7 days
ex flights
Oman holidays, Arabian sands
Discover Muscat, Wadi Shab & Wahiba Sands
From
£1799 to £2335
9 days
inc UK flights
Oman holiday, Forts and Deserts of Oman
Explore the dramatic mountains and deserts of Oman
From
£2015
8 days
ex flights
Oman holiday on a shoestring
Rustic excellent value-for-money holiday to Oman
From
£1650
8 days
ex flights
Oman family holiday, tailor made
An amazing Oman off road adventure your family wont forget
From
£2795
14 days
ex flights
Camping tours to Oman
Travel overland through the desert from Muscat to Salalah
From
£2265
9 days
ex flights
Exciting family holiday in Oman
A fabulous family holiday experiencing the best of Oman
From
£1150 to £1250
11 days
ex flights
Oman and Zanzibar beach holiday
Muscat Souks followed by stunning Island relaxation
From
£1871
12 days
inc UK flights
Oman tour, a week in Oman
Oman, the most beautiful of the Gulf States
From
£1849 to £2069
8 days
inc UK flights
Oman tailor made holiday
Stunning Oman mountains and relaxation by the sea
From
£2446
12 days
inc UK flights
Oman cultural tour
Learn about the history & culture of Oman on this 8-day tour
From
£1595
8 days
ex flights
Diving holiday in Oman
Experience the best diving Oman has to offer
From
£2116
11 days
inc UK flights
Oman small group holiday
Be dazzled by the dreamlike world of Oman
From
£1372 to £1965
8 days
ex flights
Oman adventure holiday
Explore the dramatic mountains and deserts of Oman
From
£2590 to £2650
11 days
ex flights
Oman & Jordan small group holiday
Be dazzled by the dreamlike world of Oman
From
£2610 to £2765
15 days
ex flights
Luxury holiday to Oman, 2 luxury hotels
Desert dunes and the sandy shore.
From
£2266
12 days
inc UK flights
Holiday in Oman, Bedouin and fjords of Musandam
Meet the Bedouin and see the Fjords of the Musandam in Oman
From
£1699
8 days
ex flights
Oman & Dubai holiday, Six Senses Zighy Bay
Dubai city and luxurious relaxation in Oman
From
£3173
11 days
inc UK flights
Environmental tips
Mark Huggins, from our supplier Undiscovered Destinations:“Ensure that no rubbish is left; take it with you back to your accommodation if there are no facilities. Also, be very careful to follow the instructions of the guides when visiting the turtles at Raz Al Jinz so as not to disturb them.”
Cultural advice
Nigel Fisher, Director at our supplier Wild Frontiers, shares his Oman travel advice:“Be patient with your driver guides, because they do stop and pray two or three times a day. And they smoke a lot, so they like to take a cigarette break, and all this is part of their culture. The driver guides aren’t trained on all the history either, and don’t know everything that you might want to know. But be patient with them, as they couldn’t do enough for you.”
Food advice
Liz Pepperell, Managing Director of our supplier Odyssey World:“If you are offered coffee, the Omanis will keep filling up your cup unless you shake your cup to show that you have had enough.”
Packing tips
Oman travel advice from Nigel Fisher, Director at our supplier Wild Frontiers:
“You don’t actually need that much in Oman, but if you are camping in the desert you need a heavyweight fleece, because it will be really cold at night. And take some decent summer walking boots, to get around the forts and desert sands – not necessarily high tops, just cross trainer ones are fine. Just do them up tight in the sand. The ladies will need a scarf for the mosques, can’t go around in shorts, and need to have sleeves going down to their wrists. Those zip-off trousers are brilliant though, as they can zip them off when they are in the vehicle.”
“You don’t actually need that much in Oman, but if you are camping in the desert you need a heavyweight fleece, because it will be really cold at night. And take some decent summer walking boots, to get around the forts and desert sands – not necessarily high tops, just cross trainer ones are fine. Just do them up tight in the sand. The ladies will need a scarf for the mosques, can’t go around in shorts, and need to have sleeves going down to their wrists. Those zip-off trousers are brilliant though, as they can zip them off when they are in the vehicle.”
Liz Pepperell, Managing Director of our supplier Odyssey World shares her Oman travel advice for those travelling into the desert:
"If travelling into the interior take a smaller overnight soft bag and leave your main luggage at the hotel concierge. Cover the bags in plastic to keep out the sand and dust. Always have plenty of water and wet wipes & tissues."
Health & safety in Oman
HEALTH
SAFETY
Our top Oman Holiday
Oman small group tour
Ancient spice trails, Wahiba Sands, superb coastal scenery
From
£1799
8 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2019: 6 Jan, 3 Feb, 4 Apr, 27 Oct, 17 Nov
2020: 5 Jan, 9 Feb, 1 Mar, 5 Apr, 25 Oct, 15 Nov
2019: 6 Jan, 3 Feb, 4 Apr, 27 Oct, 17 Nov
2020: 5 Jan, 9 Feb, 1 Mar, 5 Apr, 25 Oct, 15 Nov
Helpdesk
Hello. If you'd like to chat about Oman or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help. Rosy & team.
Oman tips from our holiday reviews
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travellers are often... other travellers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Oman travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.
We have selected some of the most useful Oman travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.
There were a few long days of driving but these were balanced by days of no-car activity, such as a day's dhow trip with swimming and snorkelling, a day of camel riding, and a half day of hiking. 
– Sally Frohlich
“In November nights in the desert are very hot so take a sleeping bag liner to sleep in not a 3 season sleeping bag.” – Julie Collins
“I loved the night in the desert. The Bedouin tent style accommodation was charming while still comfortable with our own bathroom (open to the skies). We watched the sun set from the top of a dune well away from anyone else and all we could see was a sea of soft, silky sand. Magic. Later we gazed at the stars from the top of the dune without any light pollution at all. The weather over Christmas and New Year was perfect with blues skies and sun.” - Elizabeth Hansen
“Take warm clothes for the desert and the mountains. It gets VERY cold at night. Take a lot of small denomination dollars or rial for tips. There seemed to be a never ending stream of people to whom tips should be given. Make sure your trip is planned so that you get to the goat market in Nizwa on a Friday morning. It's great. There were a few long days of driving but these were balanced by days of no-car activity, such as a day's dhow trip with swimming and snorkelling, a day of camel riding, and a half day of hiking. The food everywhere was very, very good” – Sally Frohlich
“As the trip doesn't have much free time in Muscat I would suggest arriving a day earlier or staying one day more that is NOT a Friday so that you can see some of the museums of Muscat.” – Nancy Wiesenfeld
“I loved the night in the desert. The Bedouin tent style accommodation was charming while still comfortable with our own bathroom (open to the skies). We watched the sun set from the top of a dune well away from anyone else and all we could see was a sea of soft, silky sand. Magic. Later we gazed at the stars from the top of the dune without any light pollution at all. The weather over Christmas and New Year was perfect with blues skies and sun.” - Elizabeth Hansen
“Take warm clothes for the desert and the mountains. It gets VERY cold at night. Take a lot of small denomination dollars or rial for tips. There seemed to be a never ending stream of people to whom tips should be given. Make sure your trip is planned so that you get to the goat market in Nizwa on a Friday morning. It's great. There were a few long days of driving but these were balanced by days of no-car activity, such as a day's dhow trip with swimming and snorkelling, a day of camel riding, and a half day of hiking. The food everywhere was very, very good” – Sally Frohlich
“As the trip doesn't have much free time in Muscat I would suggest arriving a day earlier or staying one day more that is NOT a Friday so that you can see some of the museums of Muscat.” – Nancy Wiesenfeld
More about Oman
The best time to visit Oman is, quite simply, when you aren’t going to bake. May to August are kiln-like. The other seasons beckon for Omani beauty…
Oman is a country packed with mysteries and magic, like something out of Arabian Nights. Our Oman travel guide aims to bring some of these to life…
Most tourists stick to the north of Oman on their travels, but our map and highlights show that there are many other beautiful places to visit...
Jump into wadis, camp in the desert, hike through dramatic canyons, or mountain bike through extraordinary landscapes. Oman is on all cylinders…
You can spend an Arabian night in a Bedouin camp under a magic carpet of stars, sway along with a camel safari, and have fun sliding down huge sand dunes on desert holidays in Oman...
Oman is one of those countries where children won’t ask “are we nearly there yet?” because the wilderness wonders, from deserts to wadis, go on forever…
Accommodation in Oman is glam, gorgeous and often glittering. It doesn’t tick the real and local boxes though. Read more about why Oman’s places to stay are wonderful...
Oman is relatively new on the tourism scene and doesn’t come without its issues. From water usage to cultural respect to all inclusive resorts…
More relevant guides
Why book with Responsible Travel
Photo credits: [Page banner: Marc Veraart] [Things to do tip - dolphin watching: Oman Ministry of Tourism]
[Packing tips - camping : Tristan Schmurr]
[Health & safety – beach: Metteo Russo]
[Sally Frohlich review: Prasad Pillai]
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