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Salalah is the capital of Oman's southernmost Dhofar region. It is often considered to be the "second city" of the Sultanate, although some of this designation is probably due to its distinction as Sultan Qaboos' birthplace.

The Dhofar region is famous for its khareef (monsoon), and the Khareef Festival is an annual event here. Many locals will in fact be quite surprised to see non-Arab visitors at other times of year.

[edit] Understand

Salalah and Dhofar are historically famous for the frankincense trade. The region has tended to be rather independent over history, although this has changed since Qaboos' ascention to the throne. The Jibbali (Arabic: those of the mountains) tribes maintain a slightly distrustful stance to the government in Muscat, although this is more a stance of custom than anything else. Interestingly, the tribes speak a different language to the Arabic spoken throughout the Peninsula, although visitors are unlikely to encounter it.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Oman Air flies from Muscat to Salalah at least three times a day. The flight takes roughly 90 minutes. The same carrier flies from Dubai to Salalah, with the flight taking some 2 hours scheduled on Sundays and Tuesdays.There are direct flights to indian cities of Kozhikode, Kochi, and Thiruvananthapuram.

[edit] By car

It is possible to drive from Muscat to Salalah. The trip takes roughly 12 hours (although there are numerous places worth a detour en route). From the starting point sure its a cheerful trip where you can enjoy the wild beauty. Rusayl, nizwa, haima, thumrait and next is the most beautiful salalah.

Watch out for renegade dunes on the way! When you get hungry, thirsty or tired, you should take the next opportunity to stop - there might not be another one for dozens of miles.

Driving to Salalah from Muscat can either be an amazing and memorable experience, or a very uncomfortable one depending on what kind of traveler you are. The first 5 hours will be very scenic, as you pass Nizwa and other towns. However, its barren desert and oil fields for most of the remainder of the trip. Travelling at night is usually better than driving in the heat of midday or the afternoon (arriving in Salalah at night is a must - the city lights from the high-altitude entry point is gorgeous). There are several stops along the way for food, drinks, a cigarette break, or nature calls.

[edit] By bus

There are daily buses between all Omani cities, very cheap compared to the cost of taxis, airfare, etc. In February 2006 Muscat-Salalah was about $12 US--it's a 12 hour trip.

[edit] By boat

[edit] Get around

Salalah is quite a small city in tourist terms, as most places of interest are close to each other. During warmer times of year, though, walking may not be the best idea. The usual unmetered Omani taxis operate here.

The average taxi fare to travel within the city is 500 baiza.

[edit] Tours

One of the finest operators in Oman and the UAE is SNTTA [1] which was founded in 1972. SNTTA offers the complete range of excursions and holiday packages in Oman.

• Tailor made Oman Holidays [2] approved by the Oman Ministry of Tourism specializes in tailor made holidays and tours in Oman.

• Muscat Travel [3] specializes in holidays and tours in Oman.

• Oman Holidays [4] is a specialised tour operator in Muscat approved by the Oman Ministry of Tourism. The company, whose management have experience of tourism in Oman since 1993, specialize in interpretive guided cultural tours throughout Muscat.

• Also Net Tours Oman [5] is a specialised tour operator in Muscat as well approved by the Oman Ministry of Tourism, offering facinating tailor-made/package tours for individuals/groups with Omani hospitality.

• Salalah Holidays [6] specializes in holidays and tours in Salalah, the sub-tropical town in southern Oman

• Holidays in Oman with Arabesque [7] specializes in tailor made holidays and tours in Oman.

[edit][add listing] See

• Sultan Qaboos' Palace
• al-Hisn Souq

The old city is confined to the area called Haffa. The Haffa souq(market place) has wide range of collectables to offer: frankinsence, dates, handicrafts, souvenirs etc.You'll need to practice your bargaining skills before you go shopping there. Better would be to have a local resident accompany you while you shop, so you know you are paying for the real thing.

[edit][add listing] Do

• Remember to collect your road map from the airport, or any agent promoting Salalah as a tourist destination. It might help if you get lost someplace and need directions to your hotel.

• SUVs do the best job carrying you in and around Salalah, since most places of tourist interest lie off the road. Salalah experiences annual rainfall during the months of July-September, so offroading on slopes and slippery terrain is not advisable for salon cars. Rememeber to book your SUV from car rentals (Budget/Avis/Europcar/Thrifty) well in advance if you intend to do some serious offroading.

• Remember to carry your passport/visa papers with you wherever you go, atleast photocopies; as you can expect local police/military patrols to check on you when you least expect them to show up-even if you are within city limits.(its just a routine procedure to check for illegal workers/immigrants).

• Don't go swimming in the sea or permit toddlers/children to wander off at beaches. The sea shore in Salalah can experience very strong ocean currents and steeps drastically--very unsafe for swimmers, experienced or beginners.

• Always drive cautiously outside the city as visibility can be bad due to fog/mist. You could be lucky to have an encounter with camels/cows/goats at the most unexpected times, so stay within speed limits even if the road is not monitored by radar.

[edit] Learn

We have to learn more while driving

[edit] Work

[edit][add listing] Buy

Frankincense is the souvenir purchase in Salalah, and only visitors who avoid shopping will not be offered some. Myrrh is relatively easy to find as well, as are the myriad Omani perfumes on offer throughout the country.

[edit][add listing] Eat

If your decide to visit places outside Salalah city, remember to carry some food packed for emergencies (fruits, fruit juices, sandwiches recommended) as there are no restaurants outside the city. Always carry a bottle of drinking water since you may not find any coldstore on the highways.

[edit] Budget

• Hassan Bin Thabit Restaurant serves Arabic, Chinese, Continental and Indian Cuisines at very affordable rates. They have two branches in Salalah. Location 23rd July Street in Salalah and at Al Awqadayn Roundabout, Awqad. Click on the link for Menu [[8]]
• Al Khutaini offers a wide range of continental dishes but specialize in Pakistani cuisine. It is situated on 23rd July Street.
• Chinese cascade and Chopsticks are chinese restaurants offering decent food.-no buffets.
• Al Fareed restaurant offers indian,chinese,arabic food.Buffet at R.O.3.5 per head on Thursday nights.
• Ittin Cafe - On the road to Ittin Garziz. About 10 min drive from Salalah
• Ba'albek-absolutely wonderful Lebanese food. Best hummus I've ever had. They bring a plate of fresh vegetables and pickled vegetables before your meal, and watermelon and tea after your meal.

[edit] Mid-range

Hazza Al hoqani, Pizza Hut and KFC are always options for anybody wanting a taste of home. Baalbeck, a Lebanese restaurant near the main market, serves very good food. It's a small family restaurant but serves excellent hummus, tum and shwarmas. Oasis Club in Raysut offer a wide selecion of international cuisine at a very reasonable price (a fraction of the cost of the Hotel restaurants and better quality). This restaurant is also fully lisenced

• Lebanese House - This restaurant offers good Lebanese food at a reasonable price ( 10 Rial for 3 people (starter & main incl. 1 drink each)
• Browniz - This cafe/ restaurant close to Pizza Hut offers a good range of European food.
• Woodlands-airport hotel

[edit] Splurge

The restaurant outlets at the Hilton Salalah and Crowne Plaza offer high-end dining services. Both Restaurants do a la carte as well as buffets.

• Hilton - for the ultimate romantic (maybe the only) dining experience in Salalah, reserve one of the small "pavillions" on the beach and enjoy top quality food while you listen to the sound of the sea.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Alcohol is available at high end hotels, Woodlands Restaurant (in the airport) and Oasis Club (near the port). Liquor permits are only available to non muslim expatriates.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

[edit] Mid-range

• Haffah House- good rooms and service, very close to the airport and in the centre of the city so it's easy to reach any place you want to get to, reasonable swimming pool, gym and tennis courts. Banking and rent a car services are available in the same building.

16/03/09 from personal experiance few days ago, very bad maintained hotel, bathroom dirty, kitchen smelly and bed mattress had wooden bits raising out of it. Management very ignorant to your needs. didn't stay more than the night to try the rest of the facilities.

• Dhofar Hotel

The hotel offers basic accomodation at very affordable prices. Located in the city centre it is a convenient option for those who are not looking for luxuries or a beach-facing hotel. Service is very friendly and hotel is reasonably clean.

• Hamilton Plaza now called Hamdan Plaza Hotel ( DEC 2008 )

[edit] Splurge

• The Hilton Salalah resort is a popular choice for European visitors. It is located roughly 12km outside town and runs a shuttle service to and from the Gold Souq daily.
• The Crowne Plaza offers a better alternative for luxury accommodation as the property is much larger than the hilton and more importantly it is close to the city center.

30/5 2008: What is written about Hilton Resort is simply not true! The service is excellent and the staff is very polite and forthcoming, trying to do the best for you. My husband and I have just spent 5 days at the resort.

27/8 2008: Having spent nearly 60 nights here over the last 2 years i must confirm that both Hotels try to help with every need however people are ignorant to the fact that their countries do not have our customs and products...

8/5/2008 I agree that what is written about the Hilton is not true. The Hilton is smaller than the Crowne Plaza but the staff is much friendlier and the food at the restaurants is of a higher quality. Also the pool is not that crowded and is much cleaner than that at the Crowne Plaza.

[edit] Contact

Mobile coverage using Oman's providers is close to flawless, but roaming can sometimes be slow. There are several Internet cafes around town, but speeds are incosistent. Be sure to look for a place that's got broadband if Internet access is vital at the point in time. Prices vary, but are usually cheap.

[edit] Stay safe

Never offer a ride to hitch-hikers on highways; expat or omani national. If possible, do not slow down if you see anyone approaching your car if you are outside the city.

There is safety in numbers. Conversation with a hitch-hiker can keep you awake along the boring drive and if you break down or are in an accident, the hitch hiker's presence may save your life. The probability that you are picking up a person who will endanger you is close to zero.

Salalah is a very safe place. However, the Salalah (arabic) way of driving might need some getting used to for non-Arabs.

[edit] Cope

• It's advisable for females to bring conservative clothing, especially if travelling outside the city. Nothing too major- a longish top with sleeves is adequate. When on the beach, keep a sarong handy.
• Plenty of water if travelling outside the city. And sunblock.

[edit] Get out

• Job's Tomb (an-Nabi Ayyub) makes a very popular excursion from Salalah.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!

• Taqa (35 KM) - Visit the fort & Taqa (castle?)
• Wadi Darbat - close to Taqa. This is a beautiful green wadi with a river running through it. Even during the hottest months (May/ June). To reach the Wadi you drive into the mountains and then take a turn off for Wadi Darbat. The winding road leads you to the "oasis". There is a pic-nick spot that is shaded by large trees.

The most amazing thing about Wadi Darbat is that during the Khareef, the water creates waterfalls that flow over the edge of the wadi and plunged meters down.

• Mirbat (70 KM from Salalah) - Visit Mirbat Castle and the harbor. It seems a bit run down when you first look at it but the houses are quite old and have interesting architectural details.
• Hasik/ Hadbin- 3 hours drive from Salalah [9] The last hour and a half of the road to Hasik is simply amazing. This must be one of the most beautiful costal roads in the world! The road snakes along cliffs, desert beaches and the blue sea.
• Mugsail beach (30 km from Salalah).
• Khor Rori - close ot Taqa. This is an inlet where fresh water and water from the sea comes together. It is a protected area where migratory birds can be found. There is also a UNESCO site that overlooks the Khor.
• The road to Dalkut (near the Yemeni border) - The road leads past Mugsail and up in to the Dhofar mountains. After about 30 minutes you reach an army checkpoint. You need to bring your passport in order to go through. The road continues onto a plateau at about 1000 m above sea level. After about another hour you pass the 2nd army check point. Now the most fascinating part of the road begins. It winds along drop offs through the mountains and valleys. The lime stone formations are impressive. This is a very beautiful mountain road. When you read Dalkul there are a number of restaurants where you can enjoy a simple lunch. At the beach you can see a wreck of a helicopter half buried in the sand.