Getting there
Around 2 hours by car from Muscat
Best season
Oct to Apr for cooler air, Mar to Apr for the roses
What you'll see
Terraced farms, rose gardens and distilleries, sweeping mountain views and quiet old villages.
If you would like to include a day trip on your magical trip to Muscat, then there are plenty of places to consider. Whether you embark on an exciting drive into the stunning mountains, head to a coastal resort for some leisure activities or take a boat tour to the Daymaniyat islands to swim with turtles or whale sharks, there are lot of options to compliment your city stay in Muscat.
From Muscat, Oman, excellent day trip options include a scenic (but challenging) 4WD drive up Jabal Al Akhdar (‘Green Mountain’) for spectacular high-altitude views and fresh mountain air, or a visit to the historic village of Al Hamra with its traditional irrigation systems, rose plantations, and nearby Nizwa fortress.
Coastal alternatives feature the Jebel Sifa marina and beach area (about 1 hour away) for water sports, horse riding, dune buggies, or a relaxed lunch at spots like Dunes Beach Club, while a boat trip to the protected Daymaniyat Islands offers world-class snorkelling with turtles, colourful fish, and possibly whale sharks in season.
Got a free day in Oman? Mountains, coast or coral, each is an easy hop from the city. Tap any name to jump to the full write-up below.
Terraced farms, rose gardens and distilleries, sweeping mountain views and quiet old villages.
Soft beaches and easy swimming, calm coastal views and a relaxed resort area.
Coral reefs, turtles and shoals of fish, the islands themselves, and maybe a whale shark.
If you fancy a longish day trip from Muscat, then driving about 2.5 hours out of the city will take you to Jabal Al Akhdar (‘the Green Mountain’)which reaches an elevation of approximately 2,000m.
You must have a 4WD vehicle to attempt this journey and, in fact, there is a checkpoint at the bottom of the mountain where they check your car. The warning signs do not lie – “Series of Bends, Steep Gradient, Continue Using Low Gear with 4WD”. Experienced and confident drivers only please.
We set off early from Muscat to embark on this exhilarating drive, using up and up from sea level up endless hairpin bends to the top of the mountain. The drive itself was enjoyable but the views from the top were spectacular and rewarding – you know you are at a high altitude when your crisp packet blows up into a circular ball!
Whilst we drive up Jabal Al Akhdar and down in a day, if you fancy a special night in the mountains at a top end hotel then you could visit the exclusive Antara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Hotel (featured on BBC’s Amazing Hotels: Life Behind the Lobby – Series 2). The main roads are generally very good in Oman, and lend themselves very well to driving and road trips in Oman.
Alternatively, you could take a slightly different route and head to the historic village of Al Hamra (2 hours from Muscat) to see the Al Falaj irrigation system, deserted villages and damask rose plantations used for rosewater production.
Again, if you wanted to stay, rather than drive back to Muscat in the same day, The View Hotel is a luxury eco resort option, with a great infinity pool, or the Sahab Resort & Spa with fabulous views. This route takes you past the fortress town of Nizwa.
Jebel Sifa is a resort development and marina about one hour’s drive east of Muscat, designed for visitors to enjoy this beautiful stretch of coastline.
On the way to Jebel Sifa, we made a brief stop at Bandar Khayranwhich is an inland bay that you can only reach by off-roading down the cliffside to the water, a fun thing to do in your 4WD. The water is beautifully clear and lovely for a paddle.
There are no facilities here, it is a stop very much in nature.
Back on the road to Jebel Sifa we passed through a town which looked like it was only inhabited by goats and no people. Goats were everywhere – on the doorsteps of houses, in the road and even in trees which made for some fun goat spotting and photo opportunities.
There are numerous activities on offer at Jebel Sifa, such as, golf, water sports (jet skis, diving), horse riding on the beach from the Saheel Equestrian Ranch and even driving buggies on the sand dunes. When we visited, there was a large floating obstacle course in the water which looked inviting, although the plastic could have been a little hot in the mid-day sun.
After a morning of activities, enjoy a leisurely lunch at one of the many restaurants around the marina (options include Mediterranean, Turkish and Japanese). We drove 8 minutes north to the Dunes Beach Club at As Sifa. This restaurant is in a stunning position overlooking the sand dunes and the sea, with a great menu covering fresh fish, salads and burgers. Very much recommended.
Although Jebel Sifa is perfect for a day trip from Muscat, there are some good options to stay over if you prefer – camp under the stars at the Sifah Oasis & Beach Camp or stay in the Sifawy Boutique Hotel.
The Daymaniyat Islands are on my wish list for our next trip to Oman. The nine islands which comprise the Daymaniyats are found 27 miles (43 km) from Muscat in the Gulf of Oman, a 45 minute boat ride from Muscat’s Al Mouj Marina.
The Daymaniyat Islands are uninhabited and barren, made of rocky limestone, but surrounded by white sandy beaches and clear turquoise waters. The area is a protected nature reserve.
The coral reefs surrounding the islands give a home to many tropical fish (such as, parrot fish and angel fish), rays and sea turtles. At some times of the year, the islands themselves are closed, when they are protecting the nesting turtles, although you can still enter the water from boat trips for snorkelling or diving.
Book a Daymaniat snorkelling trip through Get Your Guide
In the warmer months of the year, the area also attracts whale sharks as they seek plankton in the warmer waters. The exact timing of this seems to vary but is most likely between July to September, but if you get lucky on timing then swimming with whale sharks is an option in this area.
For tours check out visit the website of Marmar Boat Tours for snorkelling trips or Global Scuba for diving trips. Alternatively, here is one on GetYourGuide:
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