My Solo Trip to Oman — Allison Anderson

A year ago, I couldn’t point to Oman on a map. I knew absolutely nothing about the destination and it certainly wasn’t on my travel list. However, while preparing for my recent trip through the Middle East, several people recommended Oman to me. I decided to include it in my itinerary and now I find myself raving about it to everyone as well.

Oman is perched on the edge of the Persian peninsula, and the capital city of Muscat is only an hour flight from Dubai making it an easy stop for anyone flying through the UAE hub. I was told that unlike shiny, commercial Dubai, Oman offers a more authentic experience of Arabic culture, and I couldn’t agree more. Here are the best things I did while visiting Oman.

The pools of Wadi Shab - yes, the water is actually this green!

Swim in the sparkling turquoise pools of Wadi Shab. Taking a dip in the waters of this oasis is a must for every visitor. Because I was traveling alone and didn’t plan on renting a car, I hired a private guide for the day to make the trip. After a two-hour drive out of Muscat, we hiked through the canyon for 45 minutes before reaching a series of pools. Leaving our belongings on the shore, we began swimming. Be sure to wear shoes because the pools vary from deep to shallow and at times you have to get out and walk/climb over rocks and paths before the next pool. At the very end, there is a tiny crevice in the rock wall that you can swim through to reach a hidden waterfall. It’s spectacular! In terms of dress, regular hiking clothing and (somewhat modest) swimwear is totally fine. I wore leggings, a loose tee and a one-piece swimsuit and saw other ladies dressed similarly.

Marvel at the beauty of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. I visited two mosques during my Middle East travels: the Sheikh Zayed in Abu Dhabi and the Sultan Qaboos in Muscat. I couldn’t believe the difference in the two experiences. The Sheikh Zayed, while stunning, was incredibly crowded and touristy even though I arrived 30 minutes before opening to line up. However, when I arrived at the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat at opening, I was literally the only visitor there. I had the entire place to myself for about 20 minutes before other people began trickling in. Note: the only place in Oman that I encountered a strict dress code was when entering the mosque. Women are required to cover to the wrists, ankles, and wear a scarf over their hair to enter. I recommend buying a long flowy tunic (I found mine on Amazon) and a scarf to throw on over your outfit. (And if you’re wondering how I got photos of myself inside of the mosque, I hired a local photographer from Localgrapher to come meet me!)

Head out on the water to watch dolphins in the Persian Gulf. The Gulf of Oman is full of wild dolphins, and if you head out early enough in the morning you have a good chance of finding some. I found a tour on TripAdvisor and spent a morning soaking in the sun, sea, and coastline of Muscat.

Visit the Muttrah Souk. One of the oldest and largest Arabic marketplaces, the Muttrah Souk is one of a few that sells gold. It’s open until late in the evening, so I hopped in a taxi to spend a couple of hours browsing the stalls.

Relax at The Chedi Muscat hotel. Located right on the beach, The Chedi Muscat is one of the most beautiful properties I’ve ever stayed at. Just strolling through the grounds is an experience, and with multiple pools to lounge by it’s a great spot to relax on a hot day.

The stunning architecture of The Chedi Muscat

The stunning grounds of The Chedi Muscat. One of my go-to outfits in Oman was a breezy linen button-down and flowy linen pants.

Wondering what to wear in Oman? As a woman traveling alone in the UAE and Oman, I was a little intimidated when packing for this trip. I knew dress standards would be conservative but I was surprised to find that it really wasn’t that difficult to adhere to (or much different from how I normally dress at home). To sum it up: cover your shoulders, knees, and cleavage. Stick with loose, flowy styles (tight jeans would be miserably hot for the weather most of the year anyway). Examples: relaxed tee and flowy capris. Boho blouse and midi skirt. I wore hiking clothing and a one-piece swimsuit at Wadi Shab, which my local guide advised and everyone we saw was dressed similarly. I recommend throwing in a lightweight scarf or two and a make sure you have at least one outfit that covers to the wrists/ankles if you plan to enter a mosque.

Overall, my experience in Oman was spectacular and I highly suspect that the destination is going to boom in popularity in the coming years. I only spent four days there but if you’re up for renting a car and driving, you can easily spend over a week exploring more of the country and its desert. Is Oman on your travel list yet?

To see more from my trip, watch my YouTube video below: