5 Great reasons to visit Salalah

SALALAH: Have you heard from a friend, read from magazines or stumble upon websites describing how magical Salalah is? Believe me they are half-telling truth, because it is more than magical it is enchanting!

Salalah simply qualified to be covered photo's in a number of printed articles and websites.

Get your bearings

Salalah is the second largest city in the Sultanate of Oman, and the largest city in the Dhofar Province. It is the southern most region in Oman bordering to Yemen. Travelling by road from Muscat will take 10-12 hours and it almost traversing Oman territory in an about 1000 km journey. We took the plane as it is the most convenient mode of transportation and that we can enjoy the place as soon as we arrived.

A handful of colleagues hail from this place and they handed me a list of places of interest including those that are not in the tourism information. Exploring Salalah is easy going so we decided to divide the city to in 3 areas proportionate to spending a full day in each destination. Here are my 5 great reasons why you have to pack you bag and go.

1. Green Green Grass of Home

Despite the vast desert lands of Oman, this city turns into lushes of green sighting that reminds me back home. When the monsoon rain kisses this barren land, the leaves sprouts and eventually dressed this vast expanse of land. This season are famously celebrated as the Khareef festival. During this time the mountains around Salalah are rainsoaked and shrouded in fog and so flocks of tourist come especially on the hot summer months in the arabian peninsula.

The rains bring life to waterfalls, rivers, streams and wadis. Some referred this place as the Scotland of the Mideast, it called it home. Salalah is famous for its plantations of coconuts, papayas and small bananas native to this region. As you stroll around the streets of Salalah you will see plantations of coconuts, papayas and banana. To tastes the freshness of this fruit, we stopped at one of the may colorful stands. The sad thing though is that we rarely see an Omani selling their hard earned harvests, I just felt there is disconnect.

We were lucky to have rented a sun-roofed vehicle as it offers us the luxury of a safari experience.

2. Camels everywhere

Contrary to big cities like Muscat and Dubai, the camels in Salalah are herded not domesticated. Khareef season offers the camels bountiful of food and so are the camels are roaming everywhere from hills to the beach. We are lucky to see the sighting on our way to Wadi Darbat. A herd of camels were descending from the hills into their next field of grass. It was a rare sighting of a towering heads higher than the roof of our SUV.

Yes, camels are also fond of the beach.

3. Historical Tour

Yes, and frankly Salalah is second in my list of the most historical place in Oman. The main point of interests that we visited are Dawkah Frankincense Reserve, ancient site of Al-Baleed, and the archeological site of Queen of Sheba.

Even our daughter helped herself enjoying the cold and windy weather.

4. It is the Countryside

When we visit a country, we love to explore the country side for the prime reason that it reflects the tradition. Salalah is a sleeping city at night but an early riser, from fisherman to farmers. We have avoided overly courteous to locals are not as open as Omanis in Muscat 

Salalah also is along the path of the migratory path and they spend longer time during Khareef Festival. There are atleast 3 places where one can join dozens of bird enthusiasts

5. Travel while you can

Chartered flights from Europe are increasing year on a year and so are commercial airlines started to offer direct flights which on normal routes are transiting Muscat International Airport. Hurry while this place is not exploited yet and enjoy the virgin beauty of this enchanted territory.

This is Wadi Darbat during Khareef season. Isn't amazing to see green during hot summer months with temperatue averaging at 42 degree Celsius? oppps, there is an extra "s".

Big smiles after there was break in the herd as they got chance to fully stick their heads out in the car.

This place is not included in the tourism information but if you got chance, travel to Iftlqoot!

Have you explored other places in the Mideast with these greenery? Tell me about your experience...

Mabuhay!

Where to experience hiking in Muscat?

MUSCAT: Despite the rough terrain, hiking remains the best way to enjoy the Sultanate’s wonderful mountainous nature. One can make different excursions of varying degrees of difficulty. 

This weekend we tried the easiest of all, classified as Grade1. What that means is that we don't have to be an experienced hiker to complete the route. This path will take on average 2 hours But with a 3-year old preschooler that can extend up to 3 hours including the photos and breaks in between.

It just rained 3 days before our trek so this added color to our experience. Next time, I will definitely take a deep in this crystal clear waters.

It is obvious from the start that we are not experience trekkers and that includes myself! It is only halfway through that I realized that these painted striped of yellow, red and white are trek markings that will guide us through the trail, see the photo below. I thought in the beginning that these are one of the nationalities that has been here and thought that I might just make one for our beloved country, the Philippines.

Dangerously as it looks but it is more fun than it appears.

One can either start the route from Riyam Park or Muttrah. I recommend to start at Riyam park as you will be rewarded within 10 minutes of ascend. Follow the coloured markers from the parking area at Riyam. In the old days the only way to get to Muscat was by sea or over this path. Once you have reached the higher parts of the route, turn around to enjoy the amazing view over the coast and sea.

Breathtaking scenery of Riyam Park. The first step of the trail is just behind that beautiful yellow house.

These well-placed stone slabs leading up the hill have been used by countless generations of visitors from Mutrah and the interior, to help them climb the last hills before they entered the gates of Muscat. 

Few ascends and the magnificent view of the Muttrah corniche will unveil like a kingdom in bedtime stories. Upon reaching this point, take more photos as much as you can because the next course to follow is an unforgettable experience for the "acrophobics".

If not the best, it is the recommended spot that one have to spend most of the scenic reminiscing.

You might just be lucky to befriend some of the trekkers both young and old.

When you are hiking with your kids, I would advise that you do all the pep talk that can enable the children to cooperate. As for my case, I told my daughter that a pool of water was waiting for her to play.

Pep talk with my daughter just before we hit the wadis.

And just as you promised, give them the reward. Well, at least we were ahead of her mom otherwise, she would be the first one to object.

Une asking if I had brought with me her pair of swimwear.

Trekking along the wadi is the easiest part but most enjoyable as you have to navigate your way through the boulders. Ladies, let the gents head the pack as we are best at it :)

My born-ready wife in action.

Afternoon walk offers shady parts in this part of the trek

Enjoy the scramble that is sometimes necessary to pass the wadi leading to Mutrah. Take care to turn left when arriving at the graveyard just before Mutrah, otherwise you might walk through.

This is us and our 3-year old daughter overlooking Riyam Park.

If you are going to do just one walk in the capital area, this should be the one.

Oh look at that smile! How happy she was to be allowed to play in these waters.

These ladies are the toughest... at least in our pack. Well done girls! From left: Anen, Honey, Jan and Aching.

Would you consider bringing your kids on this type of trekking?


Mabuhay!