7 best day trips from Muscat

Day trips compared

The day trips

160 km · About 2 hours by car

1.Nizwa

The former capital of the interior has a 17th-century fort with a huge round tower, a busy souq for silverware and pottery, and a weekly livestock market usually held on Friday mornings.

Getting there

Car, private driver or Mwasalat bus

Best for

Culture, First-timers

160 km · About 2–2.5 hours by 4WD

2.Jebel Akhdar

The 'Green Mountain' plateau, about 2,000 metres up, has terraced villages, rose gardens used for rose water in spring, walnut and pomegranate orchards and cliff-edge walking paths, with temperatures far cooler than the coast.

Getting there

4WD vehicle or tour (only 4WDs are allowed up the mountain road)

Best for

Couples, Quiet stays, Luxury

140 km · About 1 hour 45 minutes by car

3.Wadi Shab

A short boat crossing and a hike of about 45 minutes lead up a palm-filled gorge to turquoise pools, where you can swim through a narrow gap into a cave with a waterfall.

Getting there

Car or tour via the coastal highway

Best for

Couples, Families, Solo travellers

125 km · About 1 hour 30 minutes by car

4.Bimmah Sinkhole

A limestone sinkhole filled with clear blue-green water, set in a small park near the coast, where steps lead down for a swim.

Getting there

Car or tour; combine with Wadi Shab

Best for

Families, Couples

220 km · About 2.5–3 hours by car

5.Wahiba Sands

Sharqiya (Wahiba) Sands is a sea of orange dunes where Bedouin-run camps offer dune drives, camel rides and dinners under the stars. An overnight stay is far more rewarding than a day trip.

Getting there

4WD or tour; best as an overnight in a desert camp

Best for

Couples, Families, First-timers

200 km · About 2.5 hours by car

6.Wadi Bani Khalid

Year-round pools of green water among boulders and palms, with a paved path from the car park; easier to reach than Wadi Shab and popular with families.

Getting there

Car or tour; combine with Wahiba Sands

Best for

Families, Couples

50 km · About 1 hour by boat

7.Daymaniyat Islands

A protected chain of nine islands off the Batinah coast with coral reefs, turtles and reef fish; one of the best snorkelling and diving areas in Oman. Access is by licensed operators only.

Getting there

Licensed boat trip from marinas on Muscat's western coast

Best for

Couples, Families, Beach

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• Mwasalat public buses run along the main corridors, linking the airport, Ruwi, Mutrah and the city's districts, and also operate intercity routes.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask