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Undiscovered Oman

by Neil Woodburn (RSS feed) on May 7th 2006 at 5:45PM

It is a wonderful moment in time when undiscovered locales register their first blip on your travel radar.

This happened to me this morning when opening the LA Times and running across this sentence; "Oman is a peaceful wonderland of dramatic gorges, sweeping deserts and hidden villages, dotted with fairy-tale forts and castles." Many thanks to Tony Wheeler, of Lonely Planet fame, who has penned this short article introducing us to the little-known nation of Oman.

Pinched between Saudi Arabia and Yemen--two places most tourists aren't too interested in these days--Oman is a rare gem in an otherwise troubled area. Travelers who venture here can enjoy the country's fine coastline, and with the help of a 4-wheel drive vehicle, tool around a slew of impressive mountain ranges and vast gorges that include Wadi Ghul, Oman's very own Grand Canyon.

One of the more interesting sites Wheeler points out is the shipyard in Sur where traditional sailing dhows are still being built. This ancient practice, coupled with many villages untouched by modern times, makes Oman yet another place to rush off and visit before its all swept quickly into the 21st century.

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Moody75 May 7th 2006 10:23PM

Thanks Niel for bringing this to our attention. Oman does seem like an intriguing place and it just got added to my "to-do" list.
However I am confused as to why Oman is called an "African nation". Are you using the super-continent model at Gadling?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa-Eurasia

Neil May 7th 2006 10:57PM

Thanks for catching the oversight; I've corrected it!

Thomas Green Jul 29th 2006 9:49PM

One of the greatest pleasures I derived from living in Oman was the Indian Ocean. Twice during the year monsoon winds causes changes in the sea water and, for about two weeks each time it is like bathing in liquid chilled silver. I traveled around the world twice, born in San Francisco, lived in Italy, Lebanon and Florida and never experienced that magical water.
By the way, the ship-building city of Sur is reputed to be home of the "Thousand and One Nights", Sinbad, The Sailor.
Flying to the top, and taking off from the Jabal Akhdar will make a believer out of you, almost transporting you to another world.
There's great fishing there; I've looked down in crystal clear sea and seen great white sharks in what may have been a mating season. Also, walking along a beach a large sailfish came up to the shore to feed.
Also, besides dolphins in abundance I've see clouds of 3' to 4' king mackeral crash out of the sea in flight from some predator below.
One further note, in travelling around the Middle East and Africa, I've not found a more gental or congenial people than the Omanis. But, if you're buying any thing from the Suk take care, there is a touch of Sinbad the Sailor in many a merchant.
The Sultanate of Oman is a wonderful place to visit and, having done so, a place you will want to return to.