Thursday 16 / January / 2025
Muscat: A nine-day Eid holiday begins this Friday, which means tickets have been booked, hotels have been reserved and your plans until Saturday, 7 May have been made.
If, however, you are looking for something more affordable and low-key and all you want to do is explore the ever-changing landscape of Oman, then we’ve got you covered.
Explore the rich heritage of Nizwa with Mwasalat
For OMR25, you can hop on a Mwasalat bus and spend the day at Nizwa, an historic centre of culture and learning in Oman. Children between three and twelve years have their tickets priced at OMR20, while the little ones under three can enjoy the experience for free.
Buses depart from Azaiba bus station in Muscat at 7am and arrive in the capital at five the same evening.
While in Nizwa, day-trippers riding with Mwasalat can check out Nizwa Fort, one of the oldest bastions in Oman and shop for handicrafts, souvenirs and so much more at Nizwa Souq.
Explore the older neighbourhoods of the city in electric cars, before stopping for a traditional lunch and then heading to Falaj Daris, an ancient irrigation channel that still crucially supplies water to the vast fields that lie beyond the city. The costs of all these activities are included in the price of the ticket.
Enjoy 30 percent discount on an Eid staycation
If you’re looking to chill at a hotel in Oman during the holidays, Omran has you covered: The Double your Delight promotion offers guests an array of staycation options with 30 percent discount at 16 different hotels spread across the Sultanate’s governorates.
Participating hotels include Alila Hinu Bay, Atana Stay Salalah, City Hotel Duqm, Crown Plaza Duqm, Crowne Plaza Muscat OCEC, Crowne Plaza Resort Salalah, Intercontinental Muscat, Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz - Carlton Hotel, Atana Khasab Hotel, Atana Musandam Resort, Atana Stay Al Ashkara, Barcelo Mussanah Resort, dusitD2 Naseem Jabal Akhdar Resort, Masirah Island Resort, Ras Al Jinz and W Muscat.
Guests are invited to book at their preferred hotel destination directly through the dedicated Double Your Delight online platform via the hotel websites.
A trip through Oman’s longest road tunnels
There’s nothing quite like a road trip with friends and family to explore a country…and then there’s the memories along the way. Life is, after all, a journey, isn’t it?
If you’re looking to head to Sur for cooler climes this Eid, you might do well to explore the Bidbid – Sur road that features some of the longest tunnels on Oman’s road networks.
Once you leave Muscat, head in the direction of Nizwa – you will reach the town of Bidbid shortly after leaving the capital. Once there, look for road signs directing you towards Sur and then follow the directions of the open road. You’re sure to enjoy the ride and fondly recall the memories made along the way later.
Be at one with the water
There are few better places in Oman to cool off than the sea. Whether you live in Muscat or other parts of the country that hug the coastline, there’s always plenty of opportunities for water sports and explore the big blue beyond.
Head to Marina Bandar Khayran, charter a boat and be amazed with friends and family as you watch these graceful creatures leaping through the air, for just OMR15 for an adult and OMR8 for children. You can also hire a private boat for OMR140.
There’s plenty of affordable stuff you can do: Take a coastal sunset cruise, go fishing or breach the surface of the sea and explore the underwater world while snorkelling.
Explore Muscat’s hidden islands
While modern technologies such as GPS and social media mean we can see parts of the world without ever setting foot there, some areas of our planet still remain unexplored by many.
The little islands off the coasts of Muscat are hidden gems that everyone should visit while they are here, to experience a wondrous sense of tranquillity and serenity that is hard to come by elsewhere. All you need is a guide who is a steady hand at manning a boat.
Go camping up in the mountains
If you want to alternate between the highs and lows of exploring Oman, or the sea isn’t to your liking, then pack your gear, jump into a 4x4 and head to the mountains to set up camp for a few days.
Jabal Shams and Jabal Akhdar are two of the most popular camping spots in the country, and it’s easy to see why: With every metre you ascend the mountains through the winding roads, it’s like you’re leaving your troubles further and further behind.
Enjoy stunning views of sharp peaks and deep canyons and revel in temperatures that are on average 15 degrees cooler than the plains below. Return rested and refreshed and ready to take on the week that follows once the holidays end.
