OMAN OFF-ROAD : travel maps & tips
Our tips to organise your road-trip in Oman
In this article, you will find all our advice to organise your road-trip in Oman: itinerary, vehicle choice (4×4, motorbike, van, etc.), practical information about the country, budget, etc.
- If you are planning a trip to Oman, the book OMAN OFF-ROAD will be of great help to you.
- If you want to rent a 4×4 or a motorbike in Oman, you will find our recommendations in this article.
Why travel to Oman?
Oman is a country almost unknown to tourists, yet it is one of the most stable countries in the region. It has an incredible diversity of landscapes, from wadis lost in the mountains to white sand dunes flowing into the sea. Landscapes will take your breath away!
It is extremely easy (and recommended) to do wild camping throughout the country. Drinking water spots are available in all villages and it is very easy to find a good 4×4 to enjoy the journey!
The best itinerary for your road-trip in Oman
To plan your route, we recommend you to buy the Oman Off Road book and have a functional GPS. This book is a Bible! It suggests 38 beautiful tracks that will surely help you to plan your own itinerary. Warning: it is often out of stock in Europe, but you can find it in any bookstore in Muscat.
It will be essential, if you want to get out of the paved roads, to rent a powerful 4×4 (read what 4×4 to choose article). If you are planning to head off to the Wahiba desert or to the “Sugar Dunes”, we recommend you to have some basic knowledges of sand-driving (read the Sand-Driving article) and/or to split the group in two cars (which will allow you to quickly get out of the sand). To access the Sayq plateau, a 4×4 vehicle is mandatory and Police checks are made.
We advise you to plan your trip between October and May, otherwise temperatures can reach 50°C.
The itinerary indicated on the map below is the optimized one for a two-week trip, considering the different trips we made there. We were largely inspired by the trails of the OMAN OFF-ROAD book.
Download our GPS routes in Oman
Useful infos about Oman
Arabic
Some English
Tip: have a small lexicon with you
E-visa: €45, valid for 30 days
or €12, valid for 10 days.
€ 300 – 400 round trip (Paris)
Season: from October to May
– Food: €5 – 10 for a meal at the restaurant
– Airbnb Muscat: €20 – 30
– Wild camping allowed throughout the country
– Fuel: 0.5€/L
– Price: 70 to 130€/day
– Vehicle: Toyota Prado/Landcruiser
Our tips to rent a 4x4 with roof top tent in this article. You can also go through Rental Car Comparator.
The motorbike rental market in Oman is very limited. But for a few years, a small family rental agency has specialised in trail bikes adapted to off-road riding. Find out more in this article.
Budget for a road-trip to Oman
Our travel budget for a group of 3 people – 2 weeks – 12 days by 4×4 (May 2017)
| Price | Days | Group Total | Indiv Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4×4 Rental (Toyota Land Cruiser) | 75 € /day | 12 | 900 € | 300 € |
| Accomodation Mascate (AirBnB) | 20 € /day | 2 | 40 € | 13,33 € |
| Food | 6 € /day /pers | 14 | 252 € | 84 € |
| Fuel | 25 € /day | 12 | 300 € | 100 € |
| Vehicle repairs | 90 € | - | 90 € | 30 € |
| Flight tickets | 370 € | - | 1110 € | 370 € |
| Others (camping equipment, taxi) | 80 € | - | 80 € | 26,67 € |
| Ferry to Masirah | 45 € | - | 135 € | 45 € |
| Mileage costs | 60 € | - | 60 € | 20 € |
| Oman Off Road Book | 40 € | - | 40 € | 13,3 € |
| TOTAL | - | - | 3007,00 € | 1002,30 €/pers |
Our favorite places in Oman
Wahiba Sands
This desert which took the name of the Bedouins of the Wahibi tribe has a 10,000km² surface. You can either circumvent it, or cross it! The most practical part, and the one that we recommend you if you are a sand driving beginner, is the one starting Bidiyah and ending at “1001 nights” camp. In order to cross Wahiba sands all the way, leave early in the morning, with two powerful 4x4s. The very last part until Qihayd can be quite technical. Everything will depend on how experienced you are with sand driving! Anyway, you will have the feeling of getting lost and this adventure will stay in your memory forever… Always keep an eye on your GPS and check out our article on Sand Driving before heading off!
Sayq mountains
A winding road takes you to the famous Sayq plateau perched between 2,000 and 2,400 meters. This place is famous because of its amazing geological structures. Here we are far from southern desert landscapes, it is a real chance to cool off and discover the rural life of this part of the country. You will go through charming stone villages, palm groves, cereal fields and large herds of goats. Warning: getting there in 4×4 is mandatory (you’ll come across police checkpoints).
Sugar Dunes
White dunes flowing into the see… an idyllic landscape! And, of course, water is hot, and bathing is highly recommended! The track is right on the beach, between sugar dunes and the sea. Camping on the beach, spending a night under the stars and waking up with sunrise over the sea… We hope it’s enough to convince you!
The turquoise waters of Wadi Bani Khalid & Tiwi
“Wadi” is a term for riverbed. Mirage or reality? In the middle of the rocks, sumptuous pools of fresh water are formed. Bathing is safe out there. It’s refreshing and very beautiful! What more could you ask for? We were often alone to enjoy places. Around these wadis, irrigation systems make agriculture possible. There are varied and amazing landscapes here and there as a result.
If you have any questions (rental, itinerary, wild camping, etc.), don’t hesitate to join our facebook discussion group dedicated to exploring Oman and the UAE. You can share your experiences and discover the adventures of other travellers. And don’t forget to download our GPS routes and our sand driving guide before setting off!
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