The coast of Oman is over 2,000 kilometres long and consists mostly of deserted bays and lonely sandy beaches - ideal conditions for a paradisiacal beach holiday in Oman!
The lively capital Muscat with its old town worth seeing, the impressive Ramlat al Wahiba and Rub al Khali deserts, the mighty Hajar Mountains and the time-honoured sites on the Incense Route make Oman a worthwhile holiday destination.
The ideal end to hikes through wadis and excursions to towns and fortresses worth seeing is a bathing holiday on one of the most beautiful beaches in Oman! Beaches are literally a dime a dozen in Oman. The entire coastline consists of wonderful sandy beaches, from easy to difficult to access.
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Beaches Muscat and surroundings
In Muscat and the capital area around the capital of Oman, there are countless dream beaches, most of which are reserved for hotel guests. Due to the central location and the scenic beauty of the Omani coast, most bathing holidaymakers can be found here. The most beautiful beaches in the north of Oman are at the luxury temple Al Bustan (Ritz Carlton), the Hyatt and the three Shangri La hotels.
Salalah Beaches
The sheer endless sandy beach of Salalah in the south of Oman conveys a paradisiacal holiday flair. Ending an Oman holiday with a few days of swimming in Salalah is a travel classic. Nevertheless, the public beaches are often lonely, most tourists stay on the hotel beaches.
Divers will find colourful coral reefs and fascinating shipwrecks off the coast, and now and then even dolphins drop by. In July and August, the monsoon transforms the area around Salalah into a green oasis.
Tip: Attention! During monsoon season, swimming in the sea in southern Oman is life-threatening due to strong currents!
Masirah Island
Masirah is the largest island in the country and yet hardly inhabited. Here you will find kite surfers taking advantage of the steady wind and turtles burying their eggs in the warm sand. In the east and south, kilometres of sandy beaches invite you to swim and stroll in absolute solitude.
Beaches in Sur and surroundings
The magnificent lagoon of the port city of Sur is one of the most beautiful in Oman. After a swim in the warm sea, we recommend a walk along Sur's long, curved harbour promenade, which stretches along the entire town centre to a snow-white lighthouse. In the morning, the fishermen drive in here with the traditional dhows and unload their catch.
The beaches around Sur, especially along the coast to Salalah, are also absolutely gorgeous, but most of them lack infrastructure.
A visit to the gigantic 100km long sandy beach between Sur and Dibab is a must. In addition to the beautiful White Beach 5km south of Fins, you will also find the fascinating ruins of Qalhat.
Yiti Beach
Yiti Beach is located in the village of the same name in the north of Oman and invites you to camp, stroll and swim. The bay extends far inland and exudes pure holiday idyll with its small Omani houses. Due to its proximity to the capital Muscat, the picturesque sandy beach is often busy, especially on Omani weekends (Friday and Saturday).
Beach near Shuwaymiyah
The gorgeous beach can be reached via a turn-off on Oman's coastal road (NA41 and NA42 coming from the north, NA49 and NA42 coming from the south). The Omani coast is mostly deserted here and the panorama is overwhelming! From here you can make an excursion to Wadi Shuwaymiyah, which is one of the most beautiful wadis in Oman. Due to its secluded location, it is hardly mentioned in any travel guide.
Ras al Jinz Beach
The beach of Ras al Jinz is lined by cliffs up to 20 metres high and is mainly known as a turtle beach with the Ras al Jinz Turtle Reserve and a large visitor centre. During the day, the paradisiacal and rarely visited sandy beach is open for a fee; from 17:00 onwards, it is night-time for the turtles. During guided tours, the females can be observed laying their eggs, especially from August to October.
Beach at Mughsayl and Rakhyut
The tranquil fishing village of Mughsayl is located about 50km south of Salalah and has one of the most beautiful sandy beaches in Oman. In the paradisiacal lagoon, white sand and dark rocks meet turquoise blue sea. However, during the monsoon from May to October, swimming in the sea can be life-threatening due to treacherous currents!
Most holidaymakers don't come for a swim, but for the blowholes on the coast near Mughsayl, which shoot fountains up to 10m high into the sky. The famous Zigzag Road is also not far away for a trip from Salalah.
The white sandy beach of the fishing village of Rakhyut is located at the end of a wadi in southern Oman and is perfect for a day trip from Salalah. Framed by the dark mountains, the beach (without infrastructure) is not only ideal for swimming, but also provides a wonderful backdrop for a picnic or a walk along the beach.
Tip: Rakhyut is already close to the border with Yemen. You may not be let through at the military checkpoint.
Mirbat beach
Due to its secluded location about an hour's drive east of Salalah, the breathtaking bays around Mirbat are almost deserted. The picturesque beaches are also fantastic diving spots with shipwrecks and huge schools of fish, some of which are still completely unexplored.
Zighy Bay, Musandam
On the edge of the spectacular mountains of Musandam, the Omani exclave north of the UAE, lies the secluded Zighy Bay. There, the luxury hotel Six Senses Hideaway with a 2km long private beach offers wellness and holiday pleasure at its best. Arrival is by boat, by four-wheel drive vehicle within two hours from Khasab, or completely off the ground - by paraglider.
Also worth mentioning: The most beautiful hotel beaches in Oman
Especially in Muscat and the Capital Area in the north and Salalah in the south, the big hotels also spoil bathers with fine sandy beaches. In the north, the luxury temple Al Bustan, the three Shangri La hotels (from 3 to 6 stars), the designer hotel The Chedi and the Hyatt near Muscat are particularly worth mentioning. In southern Oman, the Hilton, the Crowne Plaza, the Rotana Resort near Taqah and the Marriott near Mirbat offer the most beautiful hotel beaches.
The diving centres of the Extra Divers hotel chain are not only interesting for bathing holidaymakers, but also for divers. They are located in Zighy Bay in Musandam, in Sifah and Qantab near Muscat and in Mirbat near Salalah and also have fantastic sandy beaches.
PICTURES: The 10 most beautiful beaches in Oman
Photo gallery: The 10 most beautiful beaches in Oman
Beach Holidays in Oman - Wadis, Beaches and Sea
The Arabian Peninsula is most associated with heat, camels and Bedouins. Or city holidays in hypermodern skyscrapers like in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, where you commute between air-conditioned hotel rooms, museums and shopping malls. Oman is also considered more of a desert state. Nevertheless, unforgettable bathing holidays are possible on its beaches and wadis!
Best time to go on a beach holiday in Oman
If you want to go swimming in Oman, it is best to plan your holiday in autumn and winter. The best time to go swimming in Oman is from October to March. At this time, temperatures are around 30°C, otherwise the heat on Oman's coast can become almost unbearable (well over 40°C). The sand is far too hot to walk on and even the sea, with a water temperature of around 30°C, does not cool down.
Tip: Especially in October, turtles can be seen laying their eggs on the turtle beaches of Oman (for example at Mughsayl and Ras al Jinz).
Climate table: Muscat
All details about the climate and weather in Oman
Where is the best place to swim in the sea in Oman?
Oman has a coastline of over 2,000 kilometres, most of which consists of secluded bays and dreamy beaches - the best prerequisites for a bathing holiday like in paradise!
Hotel Beaches in the North of Oman
Numerous large hotel chains have settled around the capital Muscat in the north, spoiling their holiday guests with a fine sandy beach. The most beautiful hotel beaches include those of the luxury temple Al Bustan (Ritz Carlton), the three hotels Shangri La (from 3 to 6 stars), the designer hotel The Chedi and the Hyatt.
Hotel Beaches in the South of Oman
In the south, near Salalah, there are also numerous hotels with paradisiacal beaches that are perfect for a beach holiday in Oman. The most beautiful hotels include the Hilton, the Crowne Plaza, the Anantara Al Baleed Resort right next to the Al Baleed archaeological site, the Rotana Resort near Taqah and the Marriott near Mirbat. If you don't necessarily need 5-star luxury, the simpler Arabian Sea Villas, which are located directly on the beach, are the right choice.
Oman's beaches away from the crowds
Apart from the hotel's own beaches, Masirah Island, the beaches from Sur to Salalah in the south, Mirbat, Rakhyut and Mughsayl bays and the picturesque Yiti Beach are best for swimming.
The beaches around Sur, Mughsayl and Ras Al Jinz are so lonely that even turtles come ashore to lay their eggs (most between August and October). However, certain stretches of beach are protected.
The sandy beach at the end of the Wadi Shuwaymiyah is also still considered an insider tip. Speaking of Wadis....
Swimming and bathing in Oman's wadis
An idyllic bathing holiday in Oman does not always have to be associated with beach and sea. In the picturesque wadis, turquoise lagoons, babbling brooks and small lakes with fresh water offer the best bathing conditions!
The most beautiful bathing spots include the palm-lined shores of the Wadi bani Khalid oasis, the Wadi Dhayqah with the Devil's Gorge and the largest dam in the Gulf States, and the Shab and Tiwi wadis near Sur. The latter are also popular with cliff jumpers with their vertically rising cliff faces, emerald green palm trees and turquoise blue pools.
PICTURES: The 10 most beautiful wadis in Oman
Photo gallery: The 10 most beautiful wadis in Oman
Diving in Oman
Along paradisiacal sandy beaches in Oman are impressive coral reefs formed by up to 100 different coral species. Many of them are endemic, i.e. grow only in the coastal waters of Oman. To preserve this breathtaking diversity, the Omani coast is completely protected. As a result, hardly any beaches are spoiled by ugly hotel complexes.
The best diving spots in Oman are on the offshore rocky islands near Muscat and Barka, including the Daymaniyat Islands and the two bays of Bandar Jissah and Bandar Khayran. Also Musandam Peninsulaan exclave of Oman north of the UAE, with underwater grottoes, abysses up to 30m deep, an abundance of fish and ancient wrecks, will make the wildest diver's dreams come true.
Dress code on Omani beaches
Oman is a Muslim country, so too much permissiveness is not appropriate here. Omanis rarely bathe on the beach, except in hotels, and if they do, it is the ladies in long robes.
As a tourist, one should absolutely adhere to these dress codes out of respect. When bathing on public beaches, ladies must at least wear a swimming costume, the bikini may only be unpacked on private hotel beaches. Lonely beaches are the exception, best to have a large beach towel ready to wrap up in case you get company. Gentlemen are allowed in the water everywhere with swimming shorts. Naturally, nudism is not allowed!
