Oman: Top 3 Adventures

Oman is a beautiful country with lots to see and lots to do. From the hot sandy dunes, to the beautiful Grand Mosque and wadis, it’s truly breathtaking. We did a bit of everything, and each place was special in its own way.

My top 3 experiences in Oman


​1: Grand Mosque
 The Grand Mosque was a gift to the people of Oman from Sultan Qaboos and was created in 2001. It is the biggest mosque in Oman and has a stunning chandelier that weighs over 8 tons- mostly in Swarovski crystals. The Grand Mosque is easily the most impressive mosque I have ever seen. It has 5 minarets, which symbolize the five pillars of Islam. We were very fortunate to go inside the mosque because most mosques in Oman are only open to Muslim worshipers. We made sure to leave plenty of time to explore the mosque before the call to prayer indicated that all non-worshipping visitors had to leave. 

​2: Wadis
A wadi is a dry riverbed that fills up with water during the rainy season, mostly found in Oman. In the past, travelers and traders used wadis as a natural pathway through the mountains and desert. With the hot weather of Oman, it’s a perfect way to cool down while still exploring Oman. Some wadis even have tiny fish that nibble at your feet. It tickles a lot, but it’s super fun to get a “free pedicure”.  We swam in some of the wadis and on others just put our feet in. 

3: Desert Camp
We drove about 2 hours outside of Muscat to once again experience the desert! Before beginning our drive, we let the air out of our tires, preparing for our drive through the sand. The ride was rough and a little scary especially without a 4x4, but we made it safely. We made it just in time for sunset and started tracking up the high dunes. It was incredibly difficult walking up the dunes because your feet would sink in the sand and start sinking down. When we finally made it up, we found a few sleds and slid down the dunes. It was super fun, if only we didn’t have to climb back up again.

My favorite thing about the desert? Dune Bashing! The dune bashing wasn’t as intense as in Egypt, but the experience of staying at the desert camp made up for it. It was so much fun to climb, slide, and then we even watched a movie in the desert before dinner. After the exhausting day in the dunes, we headed off to bed, getting ready to drive back in the morning.

​Oman was such an awesome adventure! There was so much to see and do, and every place we visited felt completely different from the last. The Grand Mosque was huge and super fancy, the wadis were perfect for cooling off, and the desert was just pure fun—especially the sledding! I loved how every experience was exciting in its own way. I never thought I’d get a fish pedicure, climb giant sand dunes, and explore a massive mosque all in the same trip! Oman is definitely a place I’d love to visit again someday.