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!
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Have you explored other places in the Mideast with these greenery? Tell me about your experience...
Mabuhay!
 |
| 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". |
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| Big smiles after there was break in the herd as they got chance to fully stick their heads out in the car. |
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| 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!
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