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Nizwa and the
northern Mountains |
East Coast Oman |
Salalah
Oman and Dhofar |
SALALAH Oman can be
enjoyed either as part of a holiday in all Oman
or as a holiday with OMAN Holiday only in
Salalah enjoying the comforts of the Hilton
Hotel Salalah and the
Crown Plaza Hotel Salalah. |
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ARABIA FELIX |
Famed in
the Arabian Peninsular for its summer monsoon, in
the south of Oman, Salalah is certainly different.
In history it was part of Arabia Felix 'Happy
Arabia'. Of course it has a desert; in fact the Rub
Al Khali is the largest sand desert in the world; we
can offer a single day excursion or an overnight
visit where you can enjoy silence and the majestic
canopy of stars overhead. Certainly it has soft
white sandy beaches but it also has mountains which
during the summer months receive the mists of the
Monsoon creating the lush green of some well watered
country while nearby regions sizzle in the heat. We
can offer a selection of tours that include these
mountains.
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FRANKINCENSE |
Salalah
the main town of the region of Dhofar is fringed by
these mountains which in summer change like a
chameleon into an emerald green land. Instead of
date, the palm in Salalah is the sub-tropical
coconut and the town is intersected by palm groves
which contain a variety of sub-tropical fruit.
Salalahs' fame is enhanced by the Frankincense tree
which provide the sap that was so sought after in
the ancient world. OMAN Holiday can make
certain that you see Frankincense trees on most
tours through the region around Salalah.
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The best place in Oman to buy
Frankincense is Haffa
(Al Husn) Souq where you can chat with traders who
can speak one of the ancient languages that are
spoken domestically here instead of Arabic. |
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| The
culture in the mountains around Salalah is animal
husbandry much the same as when the Bible
describes Job with his renowned animal wealth and
patience. The tomb reputed to be his is set
overlooking the town of Salalah. |
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| During
the winter months Oman hosts a remarkable variety of
migratory birds creating vast flocks of tern and
gulls on the coasts and fewer but still numerous
raptors, especially around Muscat and Salalah. Over
460 species of bird have been recorded in Oman. We
can provide a variety of Bird Watching
opportunities. |
| Out of
town there are the UNESCO World Heritage sites
associated with the Frankincense trade.
Perhaps the most attractive is that of Sumharam set
in the picturesque Khor Rori a creek opening
out into the sea. We provide tours that take
in both the frankincense areas and Khor Rori. |
|
OMANS NORTHERN
MOUNTAINS |
OMAN
Holiday can help you enjoy Nizwa and other areas of
Omans
Northern Mountains which are dramatic, reaching over
3000meters above sea level. They form the ancient
heartland of northern Oman geographically,
physically and socially. The slopes can be
intimidating in their steepness but here and there
access routes allow OMAN Holiday to provide you with
a chance to stroll through a souq or walk in a Wadi
in this region. |
| Set
around the base of these mountains are some of the
most historically important locations in the
country. |
|
UNESCO World
Heritage |
| The UNESCO World
Heritage site of
Bat, with its graves and buildings
dating back almost 5,000 years, was flourishing at a
time when Oman was a key player in the ancient
world’s trade. |
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OMANS
MAGNIFICENT FORTS |
| The
ancient towns of Bahla, Nizwa, Rustaq and
Nakhl
overlooked by both mountain and forts have
attractions like bustling goat auctions; traditional
potteries and popular hot water springs. Tours to
many of these towns can be provided by OMAN Holiday
as a single day excursion or included in a more
in-depth several day tour. |
| Perhaps
the most delightful places in these mountains can be
found in the small villages of the plateau and
slopes. These are places where the skilled use of
water has enabled the villagers to create small
oasis with fruits and crops often set in dramatic
surroundings. Visit these places with OMAN Holiday
and enjoy the scenery while taking a sometimes
energetic walk. |
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BUSTLING SOUQS |
| On the edge of this
mountainous region small towns are active hubs for
the Bedouin of the
desert. Sinaw and Ibra (both set
between the desert and mountains) have a once a week
souq (market) that is as attractive to a visitor as
to a resident. Bustling with activity as traders
sell their products and villagers engage in gossip
with friends these interesting towns can be
included by OMAN Holiday as part of a several day
tour. |
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MUSANDAM |
| Oman’s
coast runs down its eastern side. Creating both
dramatic Fjord like areas and kilometre after
kilometre of deserted sand beach. |
| In
the far north of Oman the mountains of Musandam
plunge down to the sea creating a sheer wall of
mountain backdrop to mirror like inlets from the
sea. Here and there small villages have found space
between rock and water to develop and grow.
Musandam is a great area for scuba diving and sea
based activities. Ask us for an overnight cruise
package in this region. |
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South of Muscat in the
central region the Wahaiba Sand Desert cascades into
to the sea while stretched along Omans length are
kilometres after kilometre of empty sandy beach. |
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WAHAIBA DESERT |
|
The Sharquia region with
the famed Dhow (wooden boat)yards of Sur and
scenic mountain valleys fringed with
date
plantations is perhaps the most compelling area in
the north of Oman. Include the wonderful
Wahaiba
Sand desert their inhabitants and this is a
must see region. |
|
Some of the coastal
areas can be reached in a days turn-around from
Muscat ; to make the most of their charms most
demand that you take a more leisurely journey. |
