Explore Oman: Best Road Trips with iBestTravel

There’s no better way to explore Oman’s pristine, wildly beautiful, and surprisingly diverse landscapes than on a road trip. A network of excellent coastal highways and interior routes offers access to fishing villages, white-sand beaches, stunning gorges, mountain towns, and lush nature reserves.

Whether you’re spending one week or two in Oman, renting a car gives you maximum flexibility. This flexibility allows you to enjoy additional time soaking in a turquoise spring instead of rushing to the next location on a guided tour.

Moreover, road tripping provides opportunities for spontaneous adventures, enabling you to camp in breathtaking locations and experience the warmth and kindness of the Omani people, who often invite visitors for meals or offer assistance if you encounter car troubles.

Muscat to Ras Al Hadd

Best road trip if you’re short on time

Muscat – Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve; 379km (235 miles)

The coastal drive along Highway 17 from Muscat to Sur and farther to Ras Al Hadd, where the Gulf of Oman meets the Arabian Sea, is one of the most popular road trips in Oman for good reason. The stops along this route create an enjoyable three-day Oman road trip itinerary, rewarding you with spectacular scenery, especially if you don’t mind detours to explore the wadis (valleys) in the interior.

On your left, an azure sea hugs white-sand beaches and windswept cliffs, while on your right, the eastern Hajar Mountains beckon with the promise of valley trails, mountain villages, and jaw-dropping canyon views.

Stop for coffee and a quick wander around Quriyat, a fishing village with a busy souq (market) and a 19th-century fort and round watchtower. Swim in the turquoise brackish water at Bimmah Sinkhole, a natural 20m (65ft) deep limestone sinkhole famous for its vibrant water. Fins Beach, known for its white sand and interesting rock formations, is one of the coast’s most beautiful beaches and a perfect spot for camping overnight.

At Wadi Shab, hike along canyon walls to swim in turquoise pools and discover a waterfall hidden inside a cave. Visit agricultural villages nearby and hike past traditional falaj irrigation channels leading to pristine pools surrounded by palms. In Sur, two castles, an open-air museum, and a boat-building yard reveal the town’s rich maritime heritage. Don’t miss Ras Al Hadd and the Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve, where you can witness nesting green turtles or hatchlings making their way to the sea.

Sur to Sharqiya Sands

Best road trip for desert landscapes

Sur – Al Wasil; 203km (126 miles)

For many visitors, a trip to Oman is incomplete without experiencing the country’s vast desert landscape. If desert adventures pique your interest more than beach escapades, take Highway 23 from Sur into the heart of Sharqiya Sands. The journey inland showcases beautiful views of rugged Hajar Mountains and offers interesting stops along the way.

Stop at Al Saleel National Park, a nature reserve where you may spot Arabian gazelles, red foxes, and wolves among acacia forests and rocky wadis. Next, venture to Wadi Bani Khalid, where freshwater springs nourish palm plantations surrounding picturesque villages. Join picnicking families, explore caves, swim in blue-green pools, or hike along the canyon.

Finally, head to Sharqiya Sands, where rippled orange-red dunes, some reaching heights of 100m (328ft), serve as an astonishing introduction to Rub Al Khali. To truly savor the serenity of the desert, spend a night at one of the many desert camps, participate in local traditions, taste native cuisine, and sleep under the stars.

Driving into the desert at Sharqiya Sands requires a 4WD vehicle (remember to deflate your tires at one of the gas stations just before entering the desert). If you’re in a 2WD or prefer not to drive through sandy terrain, consider arranging transport with your desert camp operator from nearby towns.

Nizwa to Jebel Akhdar

Best road trip for mountain villages and farms

Nizwa – Wadi Bani Habib; 67km (42 miles)

From Nizwa, Oman’s second city, you can easily reach the mountains for a day trip. While Jebel Shams offers spectacular views, the charming villages of Jebel Akhdar will appeal to visitors wanting a glimpse of mountain life. Trails winding past farms and through orchards present an exploration opportunity well worth the trip.

Ascend the steep, winding road to Jebel Akhdar (Green Mountain) at a height of 2980m (9777ft) in the Hajar Mountains. The weather here remains pleasant year-round, with cooler temperatures than Muscat by about 15°C (59°F). Lush agricultural farms and fruit orchards cascade down the mountain, showcasing traditional mud-brick houses that offer sublime valley views. The Saiq Plateau provides some of the best vantage points, especially at Diana’s Point, named after Princess Diana, who was captivated by the stunning vistas during her visit in 1986.

Trails define the journey between Al Aqur and Al Ayn, leading along falaj irrigation channels past farms producing lemons, olives, peaches, and apples. The abandoned village of Wadi Bani Habib presents crumbling mud houses surrounded by beautiful pomegranate and walnut orchards.

If you’re fortunate enough to visit from March to May, experience a distillery to witness traditional methods of making rosewater from the pink Damask roses that bloom in this mountainous area. Though the roads are in excellent condition, a 4WD is essential for accessing the Jebel Akhdar region, with a checkpoint after Birkat Al Mouz enforcing this requirement.

Salalah Coast

Best road trip for the highlights of Dhofar

Salalah – Ash Shuwaymiyah; 396km (246 miles)

As you drive east from Salalah along Highway 49, the coastline unveils sandy beaches, fishing towns, and windswept cliffs framed by the cerulean Arabian Sea. Rugged mountains, wadis with freshwater springs, and ancient ruins echo the region’s frankincense legacy, inviting you to camp overnight at scenic spots or rest in charming towns along the way.

During the khareef (monsoon) season, don’t miss the chance to visit Ayn Athum Waterfall, where rain-fueled cascades glide down limestone cliffs into bright blue pools encircled by lush vegetation. In the fishing town of Taqah, wander through Taqah Castle, a historic fort-turned-museum, and take a moment to relax on the white-sand beach nearby.

Rich in biodiversity, Khawr Ruri, the largest of a series of lagoons along this coast, warrants a stop. The archeological site of Sumharam, an ancient fortified port city, played a key role on the frankincense trade route. Head inland to Wadi Darbat to picnic lakeside and marvel as waterfalls trickle down limestone pools, eventually flowing into the lagoon at Khawr Ruri.

Ascend to the highest mountain in the Dhofar Governorate to relish views of deep canyons, limestone cliffs, and acacia forests at the Jabal Samhan Viewpoint. With luck, you may spot the rare Arabian leopard in its natural habitat at the Jabal Samhan Nature Reserve.

Take a stroll in the fishing town of Mirbat, meandering around its harbor while admiring beautiful wooden dhows. The coast’s picturesque white-sand beaches accompany your drive towards Ash Shuwaymiyah, where fishing boats can transport you to Jazirat Al Hallaniyyah, renowned for frequent humpback whale sightings between January and April.

Rustaq Loop

Best road trip for historic forts

Muscat – Muscat; 317km (197 miles)

If you’re passionate about traditional architecture and forts, the Rustaq Loop presents a picturesque one-day journey beginning in Muscat. This route includes detours to a beautiful beach and scenic wadis along the way.

Starting west on Highway 1, you’ll navigate along the northern coast of Oman, passing through Seeb, boasting a vibrant souq, sandy beaches, and a palm-fringed corniche. After reaching Barka, a road leads towards Al Sawadi Beach, popular with families for its abundance of pretty shells on the sand. During low tide, you can wade through shallow waters to reach a watchtower located on an islet just off the beach.

A combination of Routes 11 and 13 takes you to three impressive, well-preserved fortified castles in the area—Al Hazm, Rustaq, and Nakhal forts. Each site features sprawling courtyards, secret passageways, steep staircases, and watchtowers that provide insights into historical life. Before you complete the loop and return to Muscat, unwind at the hot springs at Al Kasfah, believed to have healing properties.

Check for possible restoration work that may temporarily close some forts for preservation efforts before planning your visit.