OMAN OFF-ROAD: 4×4 itinerary, gps tracks & must-sees
All the information you need to organize your road-trip to Oman
In this article, you’ll find all our advice for organizing your road-trip to Oman: itinerary, choice of vehicle, practical information, budget, etc.
- If you’re planning a trip to Oman, the book OMAN OFF-ROAD will be a great help (available in Muscat).
- You’ll also find our recommendations for renting a 4×4 in Oman (with roof tent)
- Don’t hesitate to join our facebook group on Oman to chat with other travellers!
Hello! We're Olivia & Victor, authors of the OunTravela guides.
Over the years, our passion for adventure has led us to create original travel guides sold in over 70 countries worldwide. Our mission is to spread a travel philosophy based on adventure, freedom, improvisation and exploration. Our guides inspire travellers to explore the world's forgotten paths, encountering wilderness and civilization.
We hope you find this article, based on our own experience, useful.
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Why travel by 4×4 in Oman?
Oman is a country little known to tourists, yet it is one of the most stable countries in the region. It boasts an incredible diversity of landscapes, from wadis lost in the mountains to white sand dunes jutting out into the sea. The scenery is breathtaking!
Wild camping is extremely easy (and recommended) throughout the country. Drinking water is available in every village, and it’s easy to hire a 4×4 to enjoy the adventure!
The best itinerary for a road-trip in Oman
To plan your itinerary, we recommend you buy the book OMAN OFF-ROAD. This book is a bible! It offers 38 superb trails with which you can put together your own itinerary. Beware, it’s often out of stock in Europe, but you’ll easily find it in bookshops in Muscat.
If you want to get off the beaten track, a powerful 4×4 is a must (see our selection of the best 4×4 rental agencies in Oman). If you’re planning a trip to the Wahiba Desert or the Sugar Dunes, we recommend that youhave some knowledge of sand-driving (see article on driving on sand ) and/or that you set off with two cars (which will enable you to get out of the sand quickly). To access the Sayq plateau, 4×4 vehicles are required and police checks are carried out.
Given the desert climate, we recommend you plan your trip between October and May, as outside these months temperatures can reach 50ยฐC.
The itinerary shown on the map below is the optimized itinerary for two weeks, taking into account the various trips we’ve made there. It was largely inspired by the tracks in the book OMAN OFF-ROAD.
Our GPS tracks in Oman
Practical information about Oman
Spoken languages
– Arabic
– English spoken in town
Tip: carry a small glossary with you.
Visa
Free e-visa for 10 days or e-visa for 20 OMR for 30 days. You can apply for a visa on the official government website.
Airline tickets
300-400โฌ Return (from Paris)
Best season: October to May. Outside this period it’s too hot to travel, except in the Dhofar region.
Cost of living
– Food: โฌ5-10 for a restaurant meal
– Airbnb Muscat: โฌ20-30
– Wilderness camping permitted throughout the country
– Petrol: โฌ0.5/L
4x4 rental
– Price: โฌ70 to โฌ130/day
– Car: Toyota Prado / Landcruiser
You’ll find our selection of the best 4ร4 rental agencies in Muscat here (with roof tent and camping equipment). You can also use the Rental Car comparator.
Motorcycle rental
The motorcycle rental market in Oman is virtually non-existent. It’s difficult to rent a motorcycle without a guide or organized tour.
Budget for a 2-week road trip in Oman
For a 15-day road trip to Oman in 2025 for 2 peopleyou need to budget approximate budget of โฌ1,777 per person. This road-trip consists of 12 days in a rental 4ร4 with roof tent (Toyota Land Cruiser) and a few nights in a guesthouse. The budget calculation is based on our personal experience!
Our favorites in Oman
The Wahiba Sands desert
This desert, named after the Bedouin Wahibi tribe, covers 10,000 kmยฒ, and you can choose to drive around it or across it! The most practicable section, and the one we recommend if you’re new to sand driving, is the one that starts at Bidiyah and ends at the “1001 nights” camp. For the complete crossing, set off early in the morning with two 4x4s, preferably powerful ones, to avoid taking any risks. The final stretch to Qihayd can be quite technical. It all depends on your experience in the sand! In any case, you’ll have the feeling of getting lost, and this adventure will remain engraved in your memory… Keep an eye on your GPS and read our article on Sand Driving before you set off!
The Sayq plateau
A winding road takes you to the famous Sayq plateau, perched between 2,000 and 2,400 meters above sea level. This area is distinguished by its astonishing geological structures. A far cry from the desert landscapes of the south, it’s an opportunity to refresh yourself and discover the rural life of this part of the country. You’ll pass through charming stone villages, palm groves, cereal fields and large herds of goats. Please note that 4×4 vehicles are compulsory (systematic checks).
Sugar Dunes
White dunes flowing into the sea… an idyllic landscape! And of course, the water is warm and swimming is highly recommended! The trail lies right on the beach, between the sugar dunes and the sea. Camping on the beach, spending a night under the stars and waking up to a sunrise over the sea… I hope that’s enough to convince you!
The turquoise waters of Wadi Bani Khalid and Tiwi
“Wadi” is a term referring to the riverbed. Mirage or reality? Among the rocks are sumptuous freshwater pools. Bathing here is completely risk-free. It’s refreshing and beautiful! What more could you ask for? We were often alone to enjoy the place. Around these wadis, irrigation systems make agriculture possible. The result is an amazing variety of landscapes.
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Thanks a lot William for your feedback. Have a look to our guide Explore Kyrgyzstan. If you liked Oman, then you will love Kyrgyzstan!
Hello
We go to Oman in February 2024
We have hired a Toyota prado
We do the classical tour
Muscat Sur jebel akhdar nizwa
We go from hotel to hotel
Can you easily get lost
Are the roads good
Is it well post signed
Thanks Ludo and Christine
Hello Ludo, as explained in our blog post, there are some good roads and some off-road tracks that can be more difficult (sandy section, etc.). But with a prado you should be fine!
Getting lost? With a mobile photo or a GPS device you can’t be lost in 2024 ๐