Oman - land of the 1001 nights

Muscat is the capital of Oman, a sultanate in the eastern part of the Arabian peninsula.

Muscat, in Arabic means "Place of Falling" which can be attributed to the steep mountains in and outside the city. The signature landmark of the city is a large white incense cup on a mountaintop. With its many winding alleys and stalls the city resembles a town from the movie 1001 Nights. Located inside its walls is also one of the largest mosques: the Grand Sultan Quabus Mosque which is the main mosque in Oman.

The ruler of the state, Sultan Quabus, decided to build this mosque in 1992 for his people and it was opened in 2001. It is built from 300,000 tons of Indian sandstone and it covers an area of 4 hectares. Close by and also unforgettable is the local market or 'souk'.

A special feature of Oman are the wadis. These are riverbeds in the barren mountains and they form spectacular gorges. Sometimes they are completely dried out and sometimes they have, between rocks and palm trees, meter deep natural water pools. One example is Wadi Bani Khalid. There you find crystal clear turquoise green water that is surprisingly warm. You will also find caves, but you should only enter with a flashlight - and there is even warmer water!

For divers Muscat has something special to offer: the Al Munassir. This is the name of a former landing ship and troop carrier of the Royal Omani Navy. It was sunk in 2003 and acts as an artificial reef in the south east of Muscat in the Gulf of Oman. It's now a very popular destination for wreck divers.

Check all the exciting tour and activity options awaiting you in this exotic and fascinating land https://www.travelcoup.com/en/tours/muscat-0fb8aaf9-b8b8-4e03-9a21-114a6aeee540?affiliate=b1a61d9a-ad8a-4b8b-b63f-cb82780d5d7e