Descend into the subterranean passages of the world’s eighth-largest cave at Majlis Al-Jhinn, rock climb the Hajar Mountains, explore the barren fringes of the Rub'a Al-Khali (the Empty Quarter) in a four-wheel drive or experience desert life on a camel safari through the rolling sand dunes of the Wahiba or Sharqiya deserts. Hike the Jebel Akhdar plateau, Dhofar’s verdant green pastures and the terraced plantations at Wadi Shab where you may spot native kingfishers and can admire stunning waterfalls or cool off with a swim in aquamarine pools.

Explore unspoiled beaches on foot and rocky fjords by boat along the 1700km-long coastline that stretches from the Straits of Hormuz to the border of South Yemen – perfect for snorkelling, scuba diving and beachcombing. Spot herons and ospreys at Al-Ansab lagoons, surf the waves around Masirah Island or hook up a charter in the Gulf of Oman and catch black marlin, swordfish or tuna.

Don’t forget to visit some of the 2000 ancient crenellated castles – such as the impressive Jabrin Castle – that dominate many of Oman’s lush green oases and otherwise desolate landscape.

Highlights

Muscat -Explore Muscat's tree-lined main streets and jumble of narrow lanes that lead to 16th century Portuguese forts, exotic souks and the Grand Mosque, which features the world’s largest Persian carpet at 70m in length. Dating back to 2500 BC, Muscat nestles between mountain peaks and the Gulf of Oman. Browse the Mutrah and Nizwa souks for traditional silver, gold and copper handicrafts, khanjars (Omani daggers), coffee pots, frankincense, spices and hand-woven carpets. Admire the fortified watchtowers that line the rocky ridges above the bay, then cool off with a swim at one of the nearby beaches: choose from Qurum Beach, Bandar Al-Jissah or Yeti.

Sumail Gap -Follow in the footsteps of Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta along the old Silk Route to the towns of Bid Bid, Sumail and Al Khobar. Explore local castles and sample fresh fruit and vegetables at the roadside markets of Ad Dasir – taste pomegranates, pumpkin and sweet lemons.

Qalhat -Discover the picturesque but crumbling Tomb of Bibi Miriam in this 2nd century settlement, one of Oman’s most ancient sites and famous as a stopover of Marco Polo in the 13th century.

Musandam Peninsula -Take a four-wheel drive along narrow mountain-hugging roads through high mountain passes, past mountain villages, date farms and citrus groves, flanked by stunning beaches and the towering Hajar Mountains. Along the way, watch out for Bedouin herding their camels and goats. Explore the rocky inlets and sandy coves in a traditional Arabian dhow (boat). Snorkel the warm waters and look out for dolphins or dive the offshore coral reefs to see barracuda and turtles.

Ras al-Jinz -Join the warden for an evening tour around this important turtle nesting site for endangered green turtles. Every year in July 20,000 female turtles return to the beach to lay eggs, which may hatch any time between September and November.

Nizwa -Once the country’s capital during the 6th and 7th centuries, Nizwa is renowned for its bustling souk that sells copper and silver handicrafts, as well as its early morning livestock market and one of Oman’s oldest and largest castles, which features a huge circular tower. Climb to the roof of the castle for great views over the town, surrounded by a thick palm oasis and overlooked by mountains. Nizwa is also the gateway to the historic sites of Bahla and its traditional souk, Jabrin Castle and the Jebel Akhdar.

Hajar Mountain -Hike through a rugged network of wadi channels to meet local shuwawis (mountain people), examine 3000-year-old petroglyphs at Hasat bin Sult or explore the inner recesses of the Fallahi/Hoti Cave system. Walk along narrow ledges past cliff dwellings and the Jebel Shams – Oman’s tallest peak at 3010m – to Wadi Nakhr Gorge, Oman's Grand Canyon and one of the country’s natural wonders. Rock climb the stony crags of Jebel Misht, haggle with the local rug weavers, visit the remains of towns once occupied by Persian settlers or discover the mysterious necropolis at Bat.

Jebel Akhdar -Hike among juniper, wild olive and fig trees on the Saiq Plateau, 2000m above sea level, and enjoy scenic views overlooking the terraces below. Tour the upper plateau by four-wheel drive and enjoy a picnic at Wadi Muaydin. Visit the picturesque terraced villages of Misfah, Bani Habib and Sharijah; the fortress of Al Hazm, built in 1708; and the oasis town of Rostaq, containing the tombs of Oman’s early rulers. Comprising the central region of the Al Hajar Mountain range, Jebel Akhdar was once the centre of fierce fighting during the Jebel Akhdar War.

Bat -Explore the remains of a 3rd millennium BC settlement and necropolis, including circular towers and more than 200 beehive tombs. Bat is located about 20km from Ibri in the Al-Dhahira region. You can also examine archaeological finds from this World Heritage Site at the Omani Museum in Qurum.

Bahla -Stroll along the 12km-long ancient defensive wall that surrounds this fortified oasis and visit the oldest castle in Oman, dating to the third and first millennium BC. Later, browse for pottery in the souk at this World Heritage Site or explore the nearby 400-year-old village of Al Hamra and the mountainside village of Misfah Al Abreen.

Jabrin Castle -Discover Islamic architecture with exquisite wooden inscriptions, carvings and ceiling paintings inside this impressive three-storey castle near Bahla, built during the Al Ya'ruba dynasty of the 17th century. Enjoy spectacular views from the battlements across the desert to the distant Hajar Mountains.

Salalah -Head to the southernmost province of Oman during or just after the khareef (monsoon), when the annual rains bring tumbling waterfalls and meandering streams to green the surrounding countryside. Celebrate the annual Khareef Festival between July and August; visit the tomb of the Prophet Ayoub, better known as Job of the Old Testament, in the Jebel Qara; stroll the ruins of the palace reputed to be that of the Queen of Sheba, in Khawr Rhori; and examine the local Boswellia sacra tree, famous for the sap it produces: frankincense. Enjoy the unspoilt palm-fringed beaches of Salalah, which are ideal for scuba diving, canoeing, sailing, jet skiing and diving. Or spot migrating birds in the marshy khawrs along the coast.

Mirbat -Further east lies Mirbat, famous for Bin Ali's tomb (a sage and holy man) and site of the Battle of Mirbat, where nine SAS (Special Air Service) soldiers successfully defended the town against 250 communist guerrillas during the 1970s Dhofar Rebellion. Explore the fort, head to the beach for a swim or visit the nearby blowholes at Mughsail.

Shisr–Ubar -North of Salalah lies the remote village of Shisr where, in 1992, an American satellite discovered the remains of a city submerged beneath the sands. Explorers believe this to be the lost city of Ubar, once considered to be the trading centre for frankincense before it was buried in the rising dunes around 100 BC.

Things to do

Caving -Oman offers numerous caving adventures to suit all skill levels. Try the 178m rope descent into the vast chamber of the Majlis al-Jhinn – around 120m high and covering an area of around 60,000sqm – located 1600m above sea level on the remote Selma Plateau. Note: You need to climb back up the same rope to exit the cave!

For a less strenuous adventure, try the Al-Hota Caves, a 2.7km-long underground cavern linking several passageways beneath the Hajar Mountains near Al Hamra. Take a guided tour along pathways that hug cave walls crowded with stalactites, stalagmites and rimstones to the subterranean lake system – home to scores of blind transparent fish. Or explore the Tawi Attair, a 210m sinkhole surrounded by curtains of green foliage.

Hiking - With its dramatic scenery, friendly people and year-round sunshine, Oman offers the ideal setting in which to explore the countless trails crisscrossing the country’s mountains and meandering along the coastline.

Rock climbing - With rugged mountains, wadis (riverbeds), plunging canyons and towering cliffs, you’re never far from a great climbing adventure in Oman. The Hajar Mountains in particular offer a range of challenging climbs.

Horseback riding - Saddle up a pure bred Arabian horse for a riding adventure through the trails of the Al Kamil and Al Wafi region.

Scuba diving - Swim among a range of hard and soft corals, including table coral, black coral and teddy-bear coral. Look out for more than 900 species of fish and marine life that ranges from little cleaner wrasse to whale sharks, cuttlefish, barracuda, turtles and the rare frog fish. Choose from several dive sites including Bandar Jussa, Fahal Island, Ras Abu Daoud and the Quiryat wreck. Dive walls, swim-throughs and reefs festooned with colorful arrays of coral and tropical fish. The Oman Dive Centre offers all PADI scuba diving courses.

Bird watching - At the Al-Ansab lagoons, Qurum National Park and the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary from October to April, you can spot migrating species from Europe, Africa and Asia, including green parrots, herons, ospreys, laughing doves and Egyptian vultures.

Turtle watching - Sign up for a tour to the beaches of Ras Al Had, Ras Al Junayz and Masirah Island – just some of the areas where several species of marine turtles come to lay their eggs. Watch out for green turtles, loggerheads, hawksbill and leatherbacks that swim back and forth across the Indian Ocean only to return every year to the same sites to lay their eggs.

Game fishing -Hook up a charter for marlin and tuna. Best off the coasts off Sur and Masirah Island.

Best time to go

The climate is best in Muscat from October to April, when it is warm during the day, around 28˚C, and cool in the evening. May to October is hot; June averages 35°C. Dhofar averages 30°C year round. The Al Hajar Mountain range, including Jebel Akhdar, is a few degrees cooler throughout the year.

Shopping

Some of the best buys include khanjars (Omani daggers), coffee pots, saddles, frankincense, hand-woven textiles, carpets and traditional silver, gold and copper handicrafts.