Desert horizons, mountain air, and hidden wadis. Moments of rest, coffee and dates, and easy conversations. Snorkeling in clear water, marine life just below the surface, and beaches with soft, tropical tones.
A country experienced through openness, contrast, and steady movement.
Only eight highlights in this section, yet there were countless others throughout the trip. All the stops and their moments are detailed below after our route.
White sands, turquoise waters, turtles, kite surfing, untouched nature, incredibly kind locals.
Golden dunes, desert silence, Bedouin hospitality, stargazing nights, unforgettable sunrises.
Turquoise cave pool hidden deep in Wadi Nakhr — wild, refreshing, and off the beaten path.
Organic farm retreat with two pools, yoga, garden-fresh food, dates, and free farm tours.
Quiet wadi with a waterfall, hiking trails, and serene pools — a hidden paradise.
Blue waters, soft sand, and plenty of turtles and dolphins; perfect for a peaceful beach day.
Home to the Balcony Hike — don’t miss the natural pool at the end!
Historic castles, charming old village streets, and a lively souq to explore.
Oman is best explored with a 4×4 and a rooftop tent, giving you the freedom to camp almost anywhere and decide day by day how far you want to go before setting up camp. Don’t be surprised if locals drive by wherever you stay — people are consistently friendly and curious, often stopping for a chat or inviting you for coffee and dates.
If you have less than 14 days, we recommend focusing mainly on northern Oman, with Bar Al Hikman or the Sugar Dunes as a southeastern highlight if time allows. The more time you have, the better — Oman truly rewards slow travel. For us, 22 days felt ideal, allowing space for both adventure and rest. If you prefer an even slower pace, up to four weeks is a great option to see the whole country without rushing.
100 – 150€ per Day per Person
Wild Camping, Hotels, Farm-Stay
Dezember / January (Oct – April)
10 – 25 Days
If you stick to the main attractions in northern Oman, a smaller rental car can get you to popular sites like the Balcony Hike or Wadi Shab, though some ground clearance helps. For the most memorable places — desert tracks, remote wadis, and Bar Al Hikman — a 4×4 is highly recommended. Having your own 4×4 gives you the freedom to explore offroad tracks and hidden gems on your schedule. Locals sometimes offer rides for a fee to the last sections of hikes, into the desert, or to remote spots, but it’s usually not cheap.
For our trip, we rented a brand-new Toyota LandCruiser Prado from iDrive4x4 including all equipment you need— trust me: definitely the best option in Oman! Use my promo code MARIOH50 at their checkout to get 50€ off your booking.
For short trips around Muscat, a smaller rental car is fine, but for a full road trip adventure, a 4×4 is the way to go. If camping ever feels like too much, there are almost always hotels or guesthouses nearby, and the same route can be done entirely with accommodations. Tourism infrastructure is expanding quickly, with many new hotels being built across the country.
Oman is a vegan food treasure with full meals starting from 2 – 3€. Most villages have Indian, Pakistani, or Lebanese restaurants, where lentil, chickpea, and vegetable curry dishes are usually vegan, and staff often know how to adjust dishes if you ask them. Yemeni restaurants also offer many vegan-friendly options, and wherever you go, locals will happily offer fresh dates.
Coffee shops are surprisingly good for plant-based options, often offering 3–4 choices with oat or coconut milk — an iced latte with coconut milk is a must-try! When options weren’t available, we often had an iced americano, or sometimes asked to use our own milk from camping — it was never an issue, just ask. Further down, we share specific cafe and food tips by region to make finding vegan options even easier.
Some east coast beaches in Oman have significant plastic waste. We did small beach clean-ups along the way — about half the trash was discarded fishing gear, which reminded us that leaving fish undisturbed also helps local ecosystems.
We also tried to travel responsibly: camping on top of desert dunes instead of riding camels, spotting turtles on quieter beaches like Bar Al Hikman, Yiti, or Al Afoul instead of crowded Ras Al Jinz, buying organic produce to support local farmers, and staying on marked tracks. A highlight was staying at Lizq Oasis Farm, a regenerative permaculture farm with a pool, yoga deck, and fresh garden produce — guests also get a free farm tour!
For our Oman road trip, we rented a 4×4 with a rooftop tent from iDrive4x4 for 19 days and traveled clockwise from Muscat down to Salalah, spending just one night in Muscat at the start and saving the city — and nearby beaches like Yiti — for the end. After returning the camping vehicle, we switched to a smaller rental car for the last three days, slowing down at Lizq Oasis Farm — a perfect spot to unwind after weeks of road travel and wild camping.
Traveling clockwise worked well, easing into the northern coastal highlights before heading south along the coast. Nineteen days were enough for the full loop, though adding a day or two makes for a more relaxed pace. We skipped Masirah Island due to ferry timings, but it’s reportedly a real highlight if you can stay overnight.
After the map, you’ll find a regional breakdown with highlights, camping spots, and practical tips to plan your own itinerary.
Instead of a strict day-by-day plan, I’ve organised the blog by areas. This makes it easier for you to adapt the itinerary to your own pace. For each area, I share the things we loved most, plus ideas on where to stay, camp and eat along the way.
Muscat is quite a long stretch along the ocean. I would spend around 2-3 days in the Muscat city area, as most highlights can be seen in a short time. For me, the Mutrah Souq was a standout — the nicest market in the country, full of colorful stalls and local charm. Don’t miss Ali’s shop, which has been in his family for generations and is packed with silver and traditional crafts. A trip to the Daymaniyat Islands is also worth it, even though it’s very popular, because the coral reefs and sea turtles are truly amazing. If you want to camp close to muscat, there is a soccer field in Old Muscat with some space behind it that works, but be prepared for very loud foxes at night — they sound eerily like children or women crying, and we woke up at 2 AM completely terrified before realizing what it was! Food in Muscat is excellent: for us, Amma Restaurant was a definite highlight, with an incredible Thali for just 1.2 OMR per person and plenty of vegan options — absolutely a must-visit. Coffee lovers will also find plenty of speciallity cafés scattered across the city.
This coastal road northeast of Muscat is a beautiful stretch, with soft rocky shorelines, excellent snorkeling spots, short coastal walks, and plenty of small sandy beaches along the way. The beach north of Al Sifah stood out as a particularly lovely place for camping, swimming, and simply relaxing, with locals enjoying evening walks or playing soccer by the water.
Surprisingly, the area is changing very quickly. Many spots already look very different from what older blogs describe or are not even accessible anymore, as large-scale resort developments continue to spread along the coast — including another Trump-branded resort, because apparently even remote coastlines aren’t safe from this guy. That said, there are also a few new beach clubs that actually looked quite nice.
Despite all the construction, some genuinely beautiful places remain if you’re willing to explore a little. We spotted several turtles in the water, which felt really special, and did a short hike along the cliffs around Bandar Al Khairan Viewpoint — a stunning area with best views over turquoise bays.
More coming soon…
More coming soon..
More coming soon…
