Salalah; The South Paradise of Oman
Salalah is the capital city of Omani Governorate of Dhofar in Southern Oman and is the birthplace of former Sultan, Qaboos bin Said. It is a famous tourist destination for people around the Arabian Gulf because of one of its kind "Khareef" season. Salalah is about 1040 km away from Muscat. To reach Salalah you can take a plane from Muscat International Airport , flights are available daily and are approximately 1.5 hrs long. If you are feeling adventurous you can drive a 4x4 from Muscat to Salalah for approximately 8 to 9hrs.
Salalah is an all year round destination, during summer it boasts beautiful pristine beaches that face the Arabian Sea. One of the most famous beaches in Salalah is Mughsail Beach, a stunning rugged beach with turquoise blue water in the summer. A picturesque beach with a beautiful rocky mountain backdrop. You can spot camels strolling and if you are lucky some pretty flamingos roam by the seaside.
Camels walking in the foggy mountains of Dhalkut, Dhofar Governorate
Just right next to Mughsail Beach are the blowholes, people call them Marneef Blowholes or Mughsail Blowholes. This is a fascinating sight especially during monsoon when the sea geyser can reach up to 28 meters in the air, depending on high waves. Every monsoon the sea waves become rough and the place becomes misty and grey, this gives you a feel of being in a foreign country.
Located about 50 minutes drive from Salalah is the infamous Wadi Darbat. The best time to visit Wadi Darbat is during " Khareef" season, it is when the valley turns into vast greenery and waterfalls are in full flow. This is the most visited place in Salalah, tourists from all over the Arabian Gulf come to Wadi Darbat to escape the Middle Eastern summer heat and to witness the transformation of nature. The journey alone going to Wadi Darbat is spectacular as you are bound to see crowds of camels running freely down the road.
One of the most interesting places in Salalah is the Al Husn Souq, this is not your ordinary souq. Here you can find an open-air market where locals sell all types of weapons, from antique rifles, daggers, and traditional Omani knives, this place is sometimes referred to asAl Husn Gun souq.
Coconut trees at Al Haffa Beach, Salalah
There is so much to do and so much to see in Salalah Oman. You can trek and camp on the cliff in Eftalquot overlooking the sea. Go back in time and visit Unesco Heritage Archeological sites like Al Balid Archeological Siteand Sumhuram Old City. Get on an early morning hike up to Jebel Samhanand meet the clouds or go horseback riding in the beautiful wadi with the sound of waterfall and birds in the background. If you are planning your next trip, make sure to put Salalah, Oman on your list.
