Cities and Sights to See on an Oman Holiday By Claire Bryant At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Oman at a Glance

Oman is by no means a stereotypical holiday destination. With its vast gravel desert plains, its mountain ranges stretching along the coasts, crystal clear seas and ancient cities, this is an undeniably unique destination, and an Oman holiday is an exciting experience.

Oman is situated in South West Asia, on the coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Your holiday in Oman will see stark comparisons between the beautiful beaches and warm waters on the coast, and the gravel deserts inland. The area used to be covered by the sea, leaving fossilized shells waiting to be found in the deserts and on the coast.

Oman has four major cities: Muscat, Matrah, Sur and Salalah. Each city offers its own attractions and atmosphere, making for a varied Oman holiday.

Multi-Ethnic Muscat

Muscat is the capital city of Oman, and lies in the North East, bordered by the Arabian Sea and the rocky mountains of Western Al Hajar. The landscape is interesting, with volcanic rock lining the Gulf of Oman coast, and desert vegetation covering the land. An Oman holiday in this area offers a range of interesting activities.

The Qurum Nature Reserve is situated in Muscat, where you can learn more about the unique vegetation in this dry region. For some insight into the Hindu culture of Muscat, there are two temples which you can visit, both a Shiva and a Krishna temple; and for a bit of culture and history, there are a number of museums which you can explore.

The Seaport of Matrah

The city of Matrah is located within the province of Muscat. It is one of the largest seaports in the region, and was the former centre of commerce in Oman. A holiday to this city could give you an idea of Omani culture and trade, and there are some interesting sights to see too.

Pay a visit to Souq Muttrah, a traditional bazaar. You can buy the local crafts and enjoy the cultural experience of this community market. Another place worth seeing is Sour Al-Lawatiah, a small, traditional community of houses surrounded by an ancient wall.

Sail on a Dhow in Sur

Sur is the capital city of the Ash Sharqiyah region in north east Oman. Holidays including a visit to this city are of interest to those fascinated by the history of dhow building in this country. The city lies on the coast of the Gulf of Oman, and it was established primarily as a major dhow building town. Throughout the history of this city, locally-built beautiful wooden ships would set sail from Sur across the sea to China, India, Zanzibar, Iraq and many other international destinations.

A Tropical Escape in the City of Salalah

From June to early September, this city becomes a hub of activity, fairs and festivals. People from across the Persian Gulf flock to Salalah in summer to avoid the extreme and harsh heat in their own locations, seeking refuge in the tropical climate of this part of Oman. This period is called ‘Monsoon season,’ and the town’s population nearly doubles during this time. An Oman holiday to Salalah during Monsoon season will involve attending the local fairs, and the well-known event, the Khareef Festival at Ittin. It also a fantastic destination at other times of year with luxurious resorts to enjoy.

Salalah enjoys a tropical climate for most of the year, with summer temperatures reaching 40˚ and winter temperature only dropping as low as about 22˚.

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