General Information » Places To Stay » Campsites

Good weather and beautiful landscapes make camping a good option for accommodation in Oman. In the mountains or desert you can set up camp wherever you find a suitable spot, as long as it isn’t on private or cultivated land and not too close to habitation.

If you are not too sure about camping ‘in the rough’, there are also official camping grounds with full amenities.

It is possible to camp at many of the various beaches around Muscat, the most private and sheltered being the beaches that can only be reached by boat. Just look for the tide line before you set up camp! You can also try camping along Azaiba beach, but be prepared to share your space with quad bikes, speeding 4WDs, fishermen and, if you’re lucky, a glimpse of the Sultan’s horses being taken for their morning exercise. Please respect the environment and take any rubbish away with you.

The Oman Dive Centre is close to Muscat and for a cost of RO 3 per person (including breakfast) and RO 4 per tent you can camp on their site, which has a swimming pool and watersports facilities (www.diveoman.com). If you want to watch the nesting turtles at Ras Al Hadd you can camp inside the Turtle Beach Resort (25 540 068) which provides meals, bathroom facilities and guides. The fees are RO 3 per adult and RO 1 per child. You can also camp outside the grounds, but if you do you are not allowed to cook and toilet facilities are nothing more than a torch and a shovel!

You can camp in the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary in Jaaluni, which is more than six hours from Muscat by car. There are no facilities. It is very important that you contact them in advance, as they are very strict on poachers and you wouldn’t want to be mistaken for one. Check their website (www.oryxoman.com) for requirements.

There is also The Desert Camp, situated in the Wahiba Sands, 220km from Muscat. This is definitely a luxurious version of camping however, with excellent facilities and a number of leisure activities. For more information, visit www.desert-camp.com.

Listings

Arabian Oryx Sanctuary

Oman Dive Centre

The Desert Camp

Turtle Beach Resort