Barka Castle dates back to the late 17th century (🎟️3 OMR). The first castle, Ya’arubi, was built to defend against Persian and Portuguese invaders. In 1748, the governor of Sohar, Ahmad Al Bu Said, a promoted merchant, enlarged and strengthened the castle. The newer and bigger...
We spent a few nights in the capital of Oman, scenically wedged between mountains and ocean, with old forts, excellent museums, an opera house, and flower-filled parks. The gentle city of Muscat is a delight to visit. Its name means ‘safe anchorage,’ and the sea plays a vital role in city...
In Northern Oman, just off the road between Dibab and Bimmah, a limestone hole (known as Bimmah Sinkhole) is formed six hundred meters from the sea in an otherwise flat area, resulting in a turquoise mix of fresh and salt water. Geologists have confirmed the 20-meter deep pool is, in...
We arrived in the city of Sur in the Gulf of Oman. Once famous for dhow-building, Sur’s boatyards are still functioning and open to visitors (🎟️1 OMR). By the sixth century, Sur had become an essential center for trade with East Africa. Later, its reach expanded all across the...
We made a short stop at Al Kamil Wal Wafi. It has two main towns, which are Al Kamil and Al Wafi. Al Kamil is home to an extraordinary museum, which was unfortunately closed. This private castle houses the personal collection of Sheikh Khalfan Al Hashmi. His great-grandfather owned the...
We arrived at the coastal village of Al Ashkharah just before sunset. It is known for its mild climate and beaches with brutal tides inhabited by birds and turtles. Al Ashkharah is also an essential source of Omani fish, such as Al-Sharkha, shrimp, Al-Sahwa, Al-Shaari, and Al-Safi. It is...
The oasis of Al Mintarib, or Mintrib, lies on the edge of the spectacular sand sea of the Ramlat al Wahiba desert and is considered one of the entry gates to the desert. In the days before the housing of Al Mintirib encroached on its space, this solid-walled fort with its sunken door must...
Our next stop was one of the many forts built by the Hajiri tribe after they arrived in the area in 1008. It is a large fort with a mighty round tower and a unique, separate arched external staircase. Its massive walls dominate the city center, and the fort also serves as a good...
Ibra is one of the oldest cities in Oman, and it was a center of Al Harthy, Al Maskari, Al Mughairi, and Al Riyami tribes. The old part of town is a honeycomb of crumbling mud-built houses of two or three stories. We entered by a double archway and walked through some of the best parts of...
From Jebel Samhan Plateau, we drove around Baobab Grove to Mirbat. After a short visit, we drove east along Highway 49, passing rugged mountains on our left and the coastline of sandy beaches on our right. We slowly drove around fishing towns and windswept cliffs fringed by the cerulean...