Wakacje Salalah - holidays and trips

Located in the south of Oman Salalah it is the second largest city of the country. The city is famous for its beautiful beaches and high-class hotels.  Being in Salalah you can feel like you are in the Caribbean - the warm, blue sea, wide white beaches with fine sand, and towering coconut palm trees form a landscape like from a postcard! The developed coastline creates excellent conditions for watersports - diving, sailing or canoeing. Walking by the sea you can see the dolphins emerging from the surface of the water!

During the monsoon, the desert landscapes of Salalah turn into lush gardens full of waterfalls and streams. Wadi, i.e. valleys carved in the desert-like, mountainous landscape, are full of oases and surprisingly intense green. Among the scenic hills, the banana, coconut, pomegranate, papaya and walnut plantations are impressive.

Salalah, the capital of Dhofar province, is famous for its incense which in ancient times was worth more than gold! Selling incense was at that time one of the most profitable businesses. It were burned during prayer, religious ceremonies, and used to treat diseases. Nuggets of incense is nothing but incense tree resin which is found in only a few places in the world. Apparently, the best quality resin comes from Oman. Not surprisingly, the Dhofar region was one of the most prosperous regions in the Arabian Peninsula, and for ancient Oman incense was that which crude oil is now.

Eastern and Western Salalah — the main attractions of Eastern and Western Salalah during a day trip! A trip to the east. Visiting the fishing village of Taqah - a place with a fascinating castle, surrounded by watchtowers and stone houses. Drive to Khor Rori Lake, where you will find the ruins of the city of Sumhuram - the ancient capital of the Arab frankincense trade, sightseeing. Then a visit to the Wadi Darbat nature reserve, where you can admire majestic views of waterfalls, lakes, hills, caves and lush green vegetation. Drive to Mirbat, a former fishing village with a rich history and a walk through the city streets. Mirbat is also a port with frankincense trade and an ancient Arabian horse breeding center. Then a drive to Al-Mughsail beach, where sea water is thrown out through openings in the limestone rock. To the west of Salalah there are many beautiful beaches and Al-Mughsail is one of the most popular. Along the entire route there are numerous raw, leafless frankincense trees - incense from the province of Zufar is considered to be the best in the world. Day trip. Price - approx. 98 USD (includes: non-alcoholic beverages; meal not included - approx. 20 USD).

Mountain Safari 4x4 — departure early in the morning to the east (by 4x4 cars). Visiting the fishing village of Taqah - an old village with a fascinating castle, surrounded by watchtowers and stone houses. Then a drive to Wadi Darbat - one of the most interesting places in the province of Zufar, a reserve hidden among the hills, from where you can enjoy a fantastic view of Khor Rori and Taqah on the coast. During the Khareef - the monsoon season - the water level rises and a portion of it remains in the park all year round, making it an attraction for visitors. The next point on the route is Tawi Atayr (Well of the Birds), one of the most beautiful sinkhole, which is crossed by the limestone rocks of the Salalah hills. The depth of the sinkhole is more than 100 meters (330 feet), and with the help of a local guide you can go down the path to the bottom. Continuation of the journey along the Jebel Samhan Upland to the breathtaking plateau at an altitude of almost 1700 metres above the sea level. Then a drive to the Salalah antigravity point to see how cars in neutral gear automatically go uphill. It's a really amazing experience - a car can travel at speeds ranging from 40 to 60 kilometres per hour! Then a drive to Khor Rori Lake, where you will find the ruins of the city of Sumhuram - the ancient capital of the Arab frankincense trade, sightseeing. Day trip. Price - approx. 160 USD (includes: non-alcoholic beverages; meal not included - approx. 20 USD).

Camel farm — a visit to the Salalah Farm, located near the Qara Mountains. The tour will start with a presentation of the cultivated fruit and vegetables, prepared by a guide. Then, a walk around the farm and time for taking photos. A short walk through a coconut plantation and tasting a cool coconut drink with fresh bananas straight from a farm. Walk to the farm of camels, which are the main means of transport for the inhabitants of the desert, as well as a source of milk, meat and wool. The guide will show you how to communicate with camels and will tell you about their history, and a farm worker will show you how to milk camels and how to climb the coconut tree to get fruit. A possibility to take a short ride on a camel for volunteers. At the end, traditional dinner on the farm. Half-day trip. Price - approx. 65 USD (includes: non-alcoholic beverages; dinner not included - approx. 20 USD).

Salalah City Tour — a trip to Salalah, the southern city of gardens, a tropical paradise. The tour starts at the archaeological site of Al-Baleed, where archaeological exhibits from the region are presented (open: from Sunday to Thursday: 8.30-20.00, Friday to Saturday: 15.00-20.00). Then you will visit the gardens with lush groves, where coconuts, bananas, papayas and numerous vegetables grow. Time for taking pictures at the Sultan Qaboos Mosque, where you can find beautiful works of art and painted tiles. Finally, a visit to Al-Husn Souq, where incense and traditional burners are sold. Half-day trip. Price - approx. 55 USD.

Lost City of Ubar and Rub Al-Khali — visiting the lost city of Ubar, where the remains of ancient buildings were discovered in 1992. It is believed that Ubar was inhabited from approx. 2800 BC to approx. 300 AD and was an important centre of frankincense trade before it was absorbed by the rising dunes. There is a small museum presenting archaeological findings. The Rub Al-Khali Desert stretches from the foot of the mountains, creating a huge sandy plain. The region is known for its archaeological sites. The program also includes Wadi Dawkah, where you can see incense trees, then free time in Thumrait. Day trip. Price - approx. 170 USD (includes: non-alcoholic beverages; meal not included - approx. 20 USD).

A night in the Rub Al-Khali desert — an unforgettable night in the Rub Al-Khali - the world's largest sandy desert. In the afternoon, depart in Jeeps towards the desert. On the way, a short stop at a camel farm, time for taking photos. Then entering the biggest dunes in the area of Al-Hashman, from where you can admire the beautiful sunset. Setting up the camp, lighting a bonfire, dinner. Admiring the beautiful sky full of stars. Overnight stay. Breakfast. On the way back, a stop in Wadi Dawkah valley, where you can see frankincense trees. Price - approx. 200 USD, children up to 12 y.o. - approx. 100 USD (the price includes the care of a English-speaking guide, breakfast, dinner and soft drinks).

Local excursions are organized by local travel agencies under the conditions fixed by them. It's possible to disorganize trips due to low number of applicants.