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Tours and Tailor Made Holidays to

Muscat

OMAN
  • CURRENCY Omani Riyal
  • LANGUAGE Arabic & English
  • WEATHER
  • FLYING TIME 7hrs 40 mins
  • TIME ZONE GMT + 4
  • AIRLINE British Airways

Muscat offers all the splendour of Islamic architecture and tradition, casually flung against coastal biomes and five star resorts.

Holiday Offers

Below is a selection of our most popular Muscat Holiday Offers. At Inspiration Holidays we take pride in not only offering an exceptionally high standard of service, but also the best value for money on Muscat holidays. You will be able to view more Muscat holiday deals on the offers page. If you can't find the Muscat deal you are looking for, please call one of our Muscat reservations consultants on

Destination Overview

In 2012, Lonely Planet named Muscat one of its top ten cities in the world. It ranked alongside a diverse group of stellar destinations including Bagalore, London and Stockholm.   

After Oman's oil centred economy began to dry up, the city had to find a new way to attract international travellers. Like many Muslim countries that have gone before it, Muscat chose to focus on tourism by packing extra oomph into its cultural events, museums and resorts.The wealth of the capital has necessitated a world class shopping Mecca, whilst in Qurum, the heights of couture are reached through a cluster of designer boutiques packed against a coast line. Seaside regions are alive with water sports and dotted with cultural destinations. As a result of its massive economic goals, holidays in Muscat have been revolutionised to include all the splendour of Islamic architecture and tradition, which is casually flung against coastal biomes and five star resorts. The facet that Muscat excels at is creating a character that is utterly unlike any of the cities surrounding it. High rises, arabesque domes and historic ports make up its squeaky clean skyline, earning it its rank as the Arab Cultural Capital. 

The Heritage Walk knits all of Muscat's most important stories together using a single trail. The rocks tell their own tales, which can be absorbed by exploring the city's outskirts, where towering limestone structures pave the way into the past. Wadi Mayh and Al Khayran are fascinating destinations for amateur geology fans. The coastal region comes crammed with opportunities to enjoy the coastline from above and below the sea. Snorkelling is a revelatory experience for those who have never dived before. Oman is the perfect spot for seafaring folk seeking an alternative way to confront the ocean: Traditional dhows carry you around the Gulf, where you can dive and fish to your heart's content. Novices find the best expeditions in the shallower waters surrounding the small Damaniyat islands. Sharks, sea horses and coral gardens are all on display for novices and experts alike. Those who want to venture beneath the sea without getting wet have the option of the Aquarium and Marine Science & Fisheries Centre. The country was founded on its maritime heritage, so its soul can only be experienced through its fishing villages, which are perfectly represented in Yeti and Sifah. 

Safari enthusiasts are tempted to view The Wahiba Sands Desert solely in terms of the activities its dunes and endless terrain presents to adventurers who navigate in four wheel drives. A nomadic desert camp is hidden south of Al Wasil, far enough from the borders to allow for a lengthy jeep drive over the dunes. At the camp, visitors experience the original cuisine of the Bedouin. When the morning sun begins to rise, a full day of camel riding begins, but no 4x4 fans will be entirely satisfied until they've risen above the desert in a hot air balloon. Adventurers will also be attracted to the vast expanse of Wadi Nakhr Canyon, which offers yet another opportunity for off road driving. Hikers prefer the balcony walk, which meanders around cliffs, through villages and across a titanic amphitheatre. 

In the capital's centre, Muscat tosses the ancient together with the modern through sprawling coastlines and cleanly designed urban suburbs. The commercial core offers all the first world comforts of a luxurious Muscat Holiday. Rowdy live music bars are set besides traditional Arabian shows. The allure of top notch cocktail bars and clubs are most easily found in hotels in Muscat.   After dark, the sole clubs with dancing permits are the Copacabana and Rock Bottom Café. Muscat hotels are often used as temporary concert arenas housing musical acts from the world's most talented performers. Muttrah is the liveliest spot for weekend entertainment. The Royal Opera House supplies more refined presentations, and has acted as the stage for several legendary classical musicians. Its spectacular architecture vies for much of the audience's attention, and is often viewed as the magical element that brings performances to life. 

Our Recommended Hotels in
MUSCAT

Kempinski Hotel Muscat

VIEW ALL MUSCAT HOTELS

When to visit Muscat

Muscat

Do you need inspiration for when to go on holiday to Muscat? Give the team of experts at Inspiration Holidays a call and we will help you plan your Muscat holiday at the best time of year for your requirements. Although our Muscat holiday search tool will allow you to search for Muscat holiday prices upto 11 months in advance, we can also price holidays to Muscat for 2025 and 2026. We can advise on the best time to travel on your Muscat holiday based on Muscat weather, special events in Muscat or even when the crowds in Muscat are at their lowest.

Muscat

Holidays to Muscat are often accompanied by challenging weather conditions. Temperatures soar to a maximum of 49 degrees Celsius. Between May and July, the sun shines at its hottest, with temperatures that can be exhausting.

For this reason, most visitors choose to take Muscat holidays between December and March when winter temperatures are more moderate. Showers are a rare luxury, and happen during the winter months. Summer mornings typically come with dusty winds or sandstorms. Southwest Monsoons are isolated to Oman's Dhofar region, leaving the rest of the capital in drought. Cyclones spin the city into chaos every few years, bringing tropical storms in from the Arabian Sea. 

When on a spring holiday to Muscat, the noon temperature spikes are only avoidable by taking to the sea or indoors. This is the ideal season to take in some of the most intimidating and spectacular buildings in the capital. Muscat is covered with palaces, Souqs and forts that tell of its historical Portuguese colonialism, religious heritage and royalty.     The Sultan's Palace can be found in Old Muscat, surrounded by a series of forts and temples. The palace complex houses both a mosque and an Anglican Church steeple. The grounds can be explored in solitude, since the area is free of commerce and tourists. Near to the grounds stands a museum with a collection of weaponry and shipping exhibits representative of French colonial life. The National Museum displays treasures of Islamic heritage, whilst families will find that the Children's museum offers a more entertaining way to while away sunny days. Interactive exhibits give children the opportunity to experiment with chemistry and science. 

When the summer temperature spikes strike, the only relief to be found comes from the ocean. PADI courses are offered to novices wishing to take on scuba diving at the coastal sites of Bandar, Jussah and Fahal island. Lengthier boat trips allow for dolphin viewing, particularly when approaching the Daminayat Islands.   The waters surrounding this island are crammed with nutrients that attract the diver's holy grail: the whale shark. By travelling farther to sea, divers have more opportunities to observe larger marine species such as reef sharks, rays and turtles. The islands in the region sprawl across 20 km of ocean, offering a natural beauty that has made it a mainstay attraction for those on holiday in Muscat

In autumn, Muscat becomes animated with an array of exotic products that unveil a little of the region's heritage. Wares from across the globe are displayed at the International exhibition centre. Those visiting for Muscat's primary trade event can stay at the Muscat hotel nearby. The fair offers the opportunity to sample fashion, cuisine and crafts from Saudi Arabia, but also from cities farther afield such as Singapore and Hong Kong.   The cool evenings and warm days of the lengthy dry season create the ideal environment for a gastronomic extravaganza: From your hotel in Muscat, you can easily reach many of the capital's award winning restaurants. Omani's traditional cuisine is spiced with cardamom, garlic and saffron. Zesty meat and fish dishes are nurtured over low heats for as many as two days. Omani's coffee is a must for connoisseurs. The potent, bitter drink is spiced up with brown sugar, cardamom and halwa. 

As winter approaches, hordes of tourists begin to make their way to the capital while the weather is temperate. The Batinah coastline boasts several rugged beaches, fishing villages and springs. The area is famous for its bull fighting, which pits prize bulls against one another without any blood shedding. The scarce green turtle is found at The Turtle Reserve on Masirah Island, where breeding happens throughout the year.   Overnight trips give you front row seats to this spectacular event. Females can be seen laying their eggs in the sand, and the truly fortunate will spy hatchlings emerging from their sandy holes, from which they instantly embark on a marine quest by night. 

Excursions

Why not enhance your Muscat holiday experience by adding on an excursion. Our Muscat excursions have been carefully selected by the product team at Inspiration Holidays. Booking a Muscat excursion in advance can offer much better value for money than booking the excursions whilst you are on holiday in Muscat.

Top Attractions

You haven't been to a destination until you have seen its most famous attractions! The team at Inspiration Holidays have put together our recommendations of some of the top attractions in Muscat. If you are looking for advice about the attactions you should visit during your holiday in Muscat, give one of our tailor made holiday experts a call on