Calendar Of Annual Local Events in Oman - September to November

There's so much happening in Oman all year round. Plan ahead with our monthly events calendar. 



September



Turtle Spotting



The
best time of year to spot turtles nesting on the beaches of Ras Al Hadd and Ras
Al Jinz is during September. These turtles migrate to Oman from the Red Sea and East African
Coast.



Golf



Due to
the climate, golfing in Oman
is most popular from the months of

The Golf Courses Article of Your Dreams

www.ghalavalley.com


Which would be your favourite course to play golf in Oman?



Although relatively new to the Sultanate of Oman, Muscat now has three 18-hole golf courses within easy reach of each other, with more expected to be launch in the near future. For those wanting to learn the game, each course also has an Academy staffed by qualified golf instructors who will be happy to guide

The Rich Cultural Heritage of Muscat

The
country’s rich cultural heritage is well preserved in Muscat's many museums, including:



The Oman Museum, which covers
5,000 years of local history, with displays on shipbuilding, Islam and
fort architecture
Bait
Al Zubair located
within a traditional Omani house, giving insight into Omani lifestyle and
traditions
The Natural
History Museum,
with

Oman’s Heritage: Forts, Castles And Towers

From ancient ruins and
Portuguese forts to a gorgeous Grand Mosque, Oman will satisfy even the most ardenthistory addicts.




Ancients Forts



Oman’s heritage is evident in the 500 forts, castles and towers thatshowcase its rich cultural past. Muscat’s
historical port area is the site of the Sultan’s
Palace. Here two Portuguese-built 16th-century forts, Jalali (Eastern) and Mirani (Western)

A Favourite Pastime For Omanis: Horseback Riding

Few scenes evoke wild Arabia as the image of riding horseback across desert dunes. Which makes it no surprise that there's a long tradition of riding in Oman, from show jumping and dressage to endurance racing and simple countryside exploration. 



Horses symbolise integrity and pride. Because of the horse’s high status and appreciation by Muslims, Oman has been famous since ancient times for

Ancient Trade Routes And Cross Remote Plateaus: Hiking in Oman

Oman’s mountains provide excellent conditions for trekking. Intrepid
explorers can expect to stumble across otherworldly vistas, unusual fossils and
herds of impressively sure-footed mountain goats. Hikes through Jabal Akhdar often follow T. Falaj,
or rivers of underground water that have been channelled through narrow canals
for irrigation, connect many of the mountain villages. On hot summer

Adventure travel in Oman: Cross-Country Cycling

The
Tour of Oman – which takes place on
a track designed by cycling legend Eddy Merckx – celebrated its fifth edition
in 2014. The race has attracted a wide range of
international cyclists, including stars such as Sir Bradley Wiggins, Alberto
Contador and Fabian Cancellara. British Olympian Chris Froome won the Tour of
Oman in 2014.







With
the Tour de France celebrating its 100th year in

Adventure travel in Oman: On two or four wheels

Whether it is sun-kissed desert dunes
at sunrise, verdant wadi oases at
high noon or cycling into the sunset, Oman is a delight to explore on two
or four wheels.



Desert Dunes



Best
explored in a 4WD vehicle, the dunes of Wahiba Sands cover a whopping 12,400km2.
They soar up to 200m high, and are tinged a variety of rainbow hues from orange
to deep amber. For bolder visitors, the 650,000km2

Spotting Sea Mammals In Oman

Of
the world’s 88 species of cetaceans, around a quarter have been spotted in the
coastal waters off Oman.
Whale, dolphin and porpoise spotting are hugely popular activities.
Humpback whales and Bryde’s whales are most commonly sighted, while the temperate
waters of the Musandam Peninsula are considered
a dolphin playground. Sperm whales have also been recently spotted off the
Omani coastline

Top 4 Water Adventure in Oman

Dhow Cruises


Cruising
through the northern Musandam Peninsula’s dolphin-dotted “Fjords of Arabia” (ruus al jebel) on a traditional wooden dhow boat is an idyllic and eco-friendly way to explore
Oman.
From Khasab, a small fishing port and Musandam’s principle town, dhows set out
on day, overnight or weekend cruises to the picturesque inlet of Khawr Ash
Shamm, Telegraph Island
or the

Adventure travel in Oman: Sailing

Sailors
are well catered for in Oman:
little surprise, as the country’s ancient capital Sohar was the birthplace of Sinbad
the Sailor. West of Muscat, the Millennium Resort Mussanah (www.millenniumhotels.com) offers a private 54-berth marina
managed by reputable local firm Oman
Sail (www.omansail.com). Boat rentals, sailing instruction and yacht
charter are all available. At the nearby Wave (

Bringing the Arabian Sea to life

Oman’s waters are brought to life by coral, crabs and colourful fish bringing the Arabian Sea to life. Whether it’s deep-sea diving or paddling pool depths, there is an underwater world waiting to be explored that can be appreciated from both above and below the water.





In sharp contrast to the arid environment that lies above, there is a multicoloured scene laid out below. The intricate

Adventure travel in Oman: Snorkelling and Scuba Diving

The
waters surrounding Oman
are rich in wildlife and natural beauty. From dhow cruises and scuba diving to
sailing and snorkelling, there’s plenty to keep lovers of the sea active all
year round.








Snorkelling and Scuba Diving



With
3,165km of coastline coupled with warm waters and shallow reefs, Oman’s shores provide both snorkelers and scuba divers the chance to savour life under the

Adventure travel in Oman: Super Spelunking and Creative Caving

Wadi
Bani Jabir, located in Oman’s
Al Sharqiyah region, is home to the second largest cave
chamber in the world. The Majlis
al Jinn (“Home of the Genie”) is estimated to measure around 60,000m2 – the
size of seven aircraft hangars – and is accessed via plunging abseils. The cave
also boasts two massive drops (160m and 120m)
plus magnificent cave formations coloured in delicate shades of pink,

Adventure travel in Oman: Towering Mountains

Oman is a sublime destination for serious climbers. More than
160 ascents – from beginner’s grades to technical ascents – have been established
throughout the country.



The
highest mountain range in Oman, Jabal Akhdar
(“Green Mountain”) takes its name from the year-round vegetation that covers
its slopes. The range’s tallest peak, Jabal
Shams (“Mountain of the Sun”), stands at 3,009 metres,

Adventure travel in Oman: Desert Safairs

Oman fascinates lovers of the great outdoors. Adventure seekers
will revel in skyscraping mountains, subterranean caves and hundreds of
kilometres of desert dunes.



Desert Safaris



Oman is home to a breath-taking expanse of sandy desert. At
650,000km2, the Empty Quarter spills
over the country’s borders into Saudia Arabia, UAE and Yemen to make up one of the largest
deserts in the world.

Top 5 Ultimate Ideas in Oman: Cultural and Social Interest

1. The Middle East’s new fashion scene.



2. On the trail of Sinbad the Sailor: in Sohar, Oman’s “Gateway to China”, and in the footsteps of Tim Severin’s Sindbad Voyage

3. Behind the scenes in the building of Muscat's new designer fish market - how will it change the lives of those who work and shop there?











4. Muscat as Oman’s cultural capital: Muscat Festival, Opera House et al

Top 9 Ultimate Ideas in Oman: Adventure holidays

1. Women’s sailing in the Gulf (new trend): in 2012, 21 locals were the first women to be awarded instructor’s certificates



2. Hardcore hiking in Jabal Akhdar









3. Cycling in the tracks of the Tour of Oman



4. Kayaking and canoeing through Musandam fjords   



5. Kiteboarding on Masirah Island









6. Circumnavigation of Masirah Island by bike as experienced by the European

Top 5 Ultimate Ideas in Oman: Off the beaten track

1.Hardcore hiking in Jabal Akhdar









2. Wild camping and dune-exploring in Oman’s desert interior









3. Hunting down traces of Ras Al Hadd’s hidden air base, built during World War II










4. Discovering the traditional village of Balad Sayt, coined “Shangri-La” by the Rough Guide to Oman









5. The luxury desert camp archipelago (Desert Nights, Hud Hud and others)

Top 7 Ultimate Ideas in Oman: Travelling With Kids

1. Wild camping and dune-exploring in Oman’s desert interior







2. Top five Omani campsites with kids









3. Oman’s fairy castle forts from Nizwa to Khasab









4. GPS geocaching in Oman









5. Hunting down hidden wadis and secret caves









6. Family travel through the gentle monsoon season









7. Wildlife spotting: the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary, turtles nesting at Ras