I am not a traveler here, I have called this country home since 2012 and I have experienced life here up close and personal. Oman is one of the safest countries in the world for solo female travelers. I am not going to give you a guide based on what I found online or what I experienced on my visit here in a week. I am going to share the insights I have amassed in my 12 years of stay here. More so, I’ll try to write information that you won’t really find on travel blogs. Let’s get started.

Matters of friendliness
Omanis are super friendly and hospitable people. They will offer you inside their homes even if you are passing by. If you are a woman, you will be invited inside the house in the family area (as opposed to men who sit in a guest room situated inside the boundary of a house but usually detached from the main house). If you book a trip with a tour company, you will find the tour guide/drivers are friendly. Don’t be alarmed but don’t be naive either. I have heard firsthand accounts of people whose drivers called/messaged them later and asked them out for dinner or invited them to their houses.
If I were you, and I were in a suburb and I were invited to someone’s home — I’d accept the invitation. In suburbs, everybody knows everybody. If you are entering someone’s home, trust me; the whole neighborhood will know. This makes a visit super safe. Once you are in a local’s house, they go above and beyond to make you feel comfortable and welcomed. Enjoy the Omani hospitality.
In my opinion, accepting a friendly invitation to a meal in a restaurant might be considered as you being “available”. Rest assured, I have never heard/read an instance of a tourist being assaulted.
Good judgement, that’s the key!

What to wear in Oman?

One thing you will find common in most travel guides to Oman is “Oman is a conservative country. Dress modestly”. IMO, modesty is subjective. Also, it might sound too pedantic but here’s the deal, every decent human being respects the culture and tradition of a country they are visiting. So, here’s the playbook of your Oman wardrobe:

• Loose fitting clothes are your safest bet.
• You don’t have to wear full sleeves. T shirts are fine. Cover your shoulders if you are wearing sleeveless clothes.
• Knee length shorts/skirts/dresses are fine. The longer, the better.
• You are not expected to cover your head.
• If you are visiting a mosque, it is better to cover your head, wear long pants and full sleeves shirt to show respect to the Islamic culture.
• You can’t wear swimwear on public beaches but if you are staying in one of the five stars, you can enjoy the pool or the sea facing property in your bikini.
• Pack a scarf or two, some nice skirts, a hoodie/cardigans, denims, loose trousers or two, a sunhat, good quality and high UV sunshades.

Travelling Around Oman

Oman does not have a well-established system of public transport. You can download apps like OTaxi and Tasneem to travel within Muscat. They are affordable and safe. Oman does have a bus service called “Mwasalat” which can take you around Muscat and from Muscat to other cities. You can check their schedule on the official website here https://mwasalat.om/home .

If you have an international driver’s license. Driving is your best bet for driving in and around Muscat. You can rent a car from international places such as Thrifty or even local services. A quick Google search will direct you to good options. You can book you car rental in advance and pick it up from the airport when you arrive. Road in Oman are quite safe and modern. Driving around Oman is defensive– a lot of times. Hire a car only if you are a confident driver.

If your car runs into trouble on the road, you never have to worry about it while in Oman. Locals will stop by, ask how they can help and will not abandon you without making sure you are alright – no matter whether you are traveling solo or in a group.

Travelers usually make a day trip to Nizwa from Muscat to see the Nizwa Fort, Bahla Fort and the traditional souq in Nizwa. Here is my post on Nizwa Fort: https://lifeonthemenu.com/nizwa-fort/

When to travel to Oman

Oman has the best weather from November to March ranging between 15 and 30 C (59 F to 86 F). Summer time is super hot and the temperature goes up to 48 C (118.6 F).

Have you traveled to Oman or plan to come here? Have any questions, comments, queries or just liked this article? Please leave a comment. I love hearing from you all.

xoxo

Fazilat