Weekend in Oman, a short two day guide.

Weekend in Oman a short two day guide.

Sultanate of Oman (Arabic: سلطنة عُمان‎ Salṭanat ʻUmān)

Oman with its whitewashed low rise structures some of which have been untouched for a century  is for me one of the most authentic and friendliest Gulf States I’ve had the pleasure of visiting time and time again. I first travelled to the Sultanate’s capital Muscat in 2008 for a very close friend’s wedding and instantly fell in love with this land and its people. A little bit of encyclopedic information; ‘The Sultanate of Oman lies in the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Holding a strategically important position at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, the nation is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest, and shares marine borders with Iran and Pakistan. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the southeast and the Gulf of Oman on the northeast. The Madha and Musandam exclaves are surrounded by the UAE on their land borders, with the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman forming Musandam's coastal boundaries lies in the natural wonder of a country. Oman is unique among the GCC (Gulf Corporation Countries) in the way that it has great history of civilization’ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oman  

This time around I would be travelling to Muscat on business and had a two day weekend to spare before going back to the UAE. As with all my trips to Oman I got in touch with my good friend Aziz whom I knew from our University days in London. Before I could finish my sentence, in typical Omani hospitality and warmth he had already organized two day tour of Oman which would finally show me the wonders this magnificent country had to offer outside of Muscat.

Oman faces the Gulf of Oman which is linked to the Indian Ocean and despite being mid-August the summer temperatures were by no means an issue, due to the wonderful breeze form the Ocean. The two day itinerary would be made up outdoor activities, the first day on land trekking through Wadi Shab, Wadi Dayqah Dam, Bimmah Sinkhole an off-road drive back to Muscat.  The second day would be spent on sea, a fishing trip starting at the PDO club down towards the Indian Ocean to Sifawy Hotel where we would fish and swim along the way and go off-roading in buggies through the seaside dessert.  

Day 1.

We met before noon at Aziz’s house to load the 4x4 for the day trip. The 4 man crew consisted of familiar faces from my days in the UK. Aziz and his cousin Amour, the three of us had studied at University in the UK together and then there was Azzan, Aziz’s older brother whom I also knew very well from our days in London and who has always been more than hospitable every time I’ve been to Oman in recent years. 

 Essentials 

Leaving Muscat shortly after 12.30 we headed in the direction of Sur, roughly a two hour journey will take you to the wonder that is Wadi Shab near Tiwi.