Oman tours & holidays

When it comes to the country’s weather, Oman is often divided into two regions – north and south – to account for two very different climates.

Mid-October to mid-March, when the weather is pleasantly warm, the mountain scenery is clear and the rains are light, is the best time to holiday in the more crowd-drawing north.

Throughout the remainder of the year, the heat and humidity can be really quite oppressive – particularly along the coast. This being said, southern Oman receives some respite during the khareef (the monsoon that lasts from mid-May to mid-August) that transforms Dhofar (the local name for the south) into a stunning plot of greenery.

Early history

Oman’s colossal history (archaeological evidence suggests that parts of the country have been inhabited since the Stone Age) tracks from eras of remarkable prosperity and regional influence to self-imposed isolation, civil strife, foreign occupation and pretty much everything in between. 

From as far back as 5000 BC, the land amassed great wealth due to its trade in frankincense, myrrh and, later on, copper. With this wealth, however, came foreign interest, and between the 6th century BC and the 7th century AD the country fell under the control of three Persian dynasties – the Achaemenids, Parthians and Sassanids – before becoming totally enamoured with Islam. Introduced by Amr ibn al-As, a disciple of the Prophet Mohammed, the faith flourished under the Bani Nabhan dynasty for 500 years.

Recent history

At the beginning of the 16th century, keen to exploit the disunity that had spread through the country and expand their own trade routes, the Portuguese arrived. Largely content with commanding coastal sentry points and building forts (many of which still stand), they made few ventures into the interior and, as a result, were eventually ousted by conspiring inland tribes. Oman then challenged the Portuguese in East Africa and West Asia and gained numerous coastal forts and a foothold in the slave and spice trades. This allowed Oman to rebuild its wealth to great success. The Al Said dynasty assumed power in 1749 and, despite centuries of interfamilial squabbling, still holds it today.

In July 1970, having ousted his father from power in a bloodless coup, Qaboos bin Said al Said dismissed the conservative isolationist policies that had characterised his father’s rule and set the country on course for modernisation and economic reform. Oman’s society has since found a balance of having a deep respect for tradition, a practical regard for technological progress and enviable health care and education systems.

1. Dallah

Like the rest of the Arabian Gulf, coffee drinking is an integral part of everyday life in Oman. Notably thicker and spicier than the typical western blend, this refreshment is always offered to guests upon arrival and customarily served in graceful, long-bodied pots called dallahs.

Traditionally fashioned from silver in Nizwa, bronze models are more standard these days, though no less elegant. Some really old dallahs also contain small pebbles inside the lid, which both announce the boiling of water and alert company to anyone lifting the lid to add poison!

2. Majmar

Ever had dinner guests who have stayed on long after you want to go to bed? If so, you may also like to acquire yourself an Omani incense burner – or majmar. Ornately carved silver orbs used primarily for burning frankincense, a majmar is produced when the final round of coffee has been served and – rather unsubtly – wafted around a guest’s body to signal that their departure is desired. Think of it as the equivalent of yawning loudly and saying: ‘So, should I call you a cab then?’

3. Khanjars

In times past, when it was forbidden for Omani men to wear jewellery, the shrewd among them got around this by taking to having their weaponry decorated. The result is khanjar, the curved silver daggers that now stand as the nation’s most iconic emblem.

Featured on both the national flag and the one rial note, khanjars are mostly worn these days at symbolic occasions. Unsheathing it does still signify that you are seeking revenge or would like to assassinate somebody, however, so don’t just whip it out to spread the garlic sauce more evenly across your kebab.

4. Henna tattoo

Henna tattooing is common among Omani women and can make for some very beautiful – and temporary – bodily decoration. The designs generally fade after five days or so, though make sure you go to a reputable artist who uses a traditional henna recipe. Some modern henna has had chemicals and dyes added to hasten the drying process, which can result in stinging, scarring and even health risks. Be particularly wary of black henna.