City & beachMuscat City & Beach
- 5★ beach hotel in Muscat
- Direct flights from London Heathrow
- Return airport transfers
From£899per person · 2 sharing
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Oman · Holidays from the UK
Oman holidays from the UK
Muscat’s corniche and Grand Mosque, mud-brick forts below the Hajar Mountains, desert camps in the Wahiba Sands and the beaches of Salalah. A UK consultant arranges your flights, hotels and transfers as one ATOL protected holiday.
Packages from £899 per person, with return flights, hotel and transfers
About 7 hours away
Direct flights from London Heathrow with Oman Air, or one stop from other UK airports.
Winter sun
Daytime highs of around 25–30°C in Muscat from November to March.
A Muslim country
Halal food as standard, mosques in every town and modest dress the norm.
ATOL protected
Holidays that include a flight are protected under ATOL 10416.
Oman holiday packages
Oman holiday packages
Flights, hotel and transfers in one price. Every package can be changed: more nights, a different hotel or another UK airport.
3 packages · guide prices per person
City & beach
TourMuscat, Nizwa & Wahiba Sands
- 5★ hotels and a desert camp
- Direct flights from London Heathrow
- Private driver with a 4x4
From£1,449per person · 2 sharing
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Twin-centreMuscat & Salalah
- 5★ hotels in both places
- UK flights plus a domestic flight
- Transfers in both places
From£1,199per person · 2 sharing
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Overview
Oman holiday guide for UK travellers
Oman holidays from the UK pair a direct flight of around seven hours with winter sunshine, old forts, mountains, desert and beach. Most UK travellers fly to Muscat, the capital, from London Heathrow, and many add Nizwa and the Wahiba Sands, or a domestic flight to Salalah in the south. October to April is the most comfortable time to visit.
Muscat runs along the coast between rocky mountains and the Gulf of Oman. At Mutrah the corniche curves past the souq and the fish market, and Old Muscat keeps Al Alam Palace and the Al Jalali and Al Mirani forts. Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque stands between the airport and the city centre, and beach hotels line Shatti Al Qurum and the coves to the south-east.
Inland, Nizwa sits below the Hajar Mountains, approx. 2 hours from Muscat by road, with its 17th-century fort and souq. From there you can drive up Jebel Shams or Jebel Akhdar, then cross to the dunes of the Wahiba Sands. Salalah, approx. 1 hour 35 minutes south by air, has long beaches, frankincense sites and, from late June to September, the green khareef season.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Oman
Six bases, from the capital and its beaches to the mountains, the desert, the east coast and the south. Transfer times are approximate and depend on your hotel.
Mutrah & Old Muscat
Heritage · Souq · Corniche
The corniche, the Mutrah Souq and the fish market, with Al Alam Palace and the old forts approx. 10 minutes away in Old Muscat. Hotels here are city hotels rather than beach hotels.
Nearest airport: Muscat International (MCT), approx. 35 mins
Packages from £1,199 pp
Muscat’s beaches
Beach · Families · Couples
Beach hotels along Shatti Al Qurum, close to the city, and resort hotels in the rocky coves south-east of Old Muscat, with pools, gardens and sunbeds on the sand.
Nearest airport: Muscat International (MCT), approx. 20–45 mins
Packages from £899 pp
Nizwa
Forts · Souq · Touring
The old capital of the interior, with its 17th-century fort, souq and palm groves. A base for Bahla Fort, Jabrin Castle, Misfat al Abriyeen and the drive up Jebel Shams.
Nearest airport: Muscat International (MCT), approx. 1 hr 45 mins
Packages from £1,449 pp
Wahiba Sands
Desert · Camps · One or two nights
Desert camps among the dunes of the Wahiba (Sharqiya) Sands, reached by 4x4 from the edge of the desert. Most visitors stay one night, with time for a dune drive, a camel ride and the sunset.
Nearest airport: Muscat International (MCT), approx. 3 hrs
Packages from £1,449 pp
Sur
Coast · Dhows · Touring
A fishing and dhow-building town on the east coast, with the lighthouse at Ayjah and the turtle reserve at Ras al Jinz approx. 1 hour away. Usually one night on a touring holiday.
Nearest airport: Muscat International (MCT), approx. 2 hrs 30 mins
Packages from £1,449 pp
Salalah
Beach · Frankincense · Khareef
Oman’s southern city, approx. 1 hour 35 minutes from Muscat by air, with long sandy beaches, coconut and banana groves, frankincense sites and green hills in the khareef season.
Nearest airport: Salalah Airport (SLL), approx. 15–30 mins
Packages from £1,199 pp
Things to see
Places to see in Oman
A few of the sights to plan your trip around. We can suggest hotels close to the ones you most want to see.
Weather
Oman weather by month
Average daytime highs in Muscat and Salalah, with the sea temperature at Muscat. The chart runs from July to June. Hover over or tap a month for the figures.
View as a table
| Month | Muscat | Sea at Muscat | Salalah |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul | 38°C | 31°C | 30°C |
| Aug | 36°C | 30°C | 29°C |
| Sep | 36°C | 30°C | 30°C |
| Oct | 34°C | 29°C | 31°C |
| Nov | 30°C | 28°C | 30°C |
| Dec | 26°C | 25°C | 28°C |
| Jan | 25°C | 24°C | 27°C |
| Feb | 26°C | 23°C | 27°C |
| Mar | 29°C | 24°C | 30°C |
| Apr | 34°C | 27°C | 32°C |
| May | 39°C | 30°C | 33°C |
| Jun | 40°C | 31°C | 33°C |
Long-term averages from weather2travel.com. Actual weather varies year to year.
October to April
Muscat averages 25–34°C, with the sea at 23–29°C. December to February is the coolest time, at around 25–26°C. Salalah stays at around 27–32°C.
May to September in Muscat
Very hot, averaging 36–40°C, with the sea at 30–31°C. Sightseeing moves to the early morning and evening, and hotel prices are usually lower.
The khareef in Salalah
From late June to September the monsoon brings mist, drizzle and green hills to Salalah, at around 29–33°C. The sea is often too rough for swimming.
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Muscat
Halal holidays
Halal holidays in Oman
Oman is a Muslim country, so halal food, mosques and the call to prayer are part of everyday life, from Muscat to the smallest village. Alcohol is served only in licensed hotels and restaurants. If you’d like an alcohol-free hotel, tell your consultant and we’ll check before you book.
- Halal food as standardHalal meat is the norm in restaurants, hotels and supermarkets
- Mosques everywhereA mosque in every town and neighbourhood, with the call to prayer five times a day
- Prayer roomsPrayer rooms at Muscat airport and in malls, and the qibla marked in many hotel rooms
- Alcohol-free hotelsSome hotels serve no alcohol; we check this for you before you book
- Modest swimwearBurkinis are common on public beaches; we check your hotel’s pool rules
- Grand Mosque visitsLong, loose clothes for everyone and a headscarf for women
Oman holiday FAQs
Questions about Oman holidays
Quick answers for UK travellers. For anything else, our UK team is happy to help.
020 7871 4545How long is the flight to Oman from the UK?
Direct flights from London Heathrow to Muscat take approx. 7 hours with Oman Air, and the flight home takes approx. 8 hours. From other UK airports you fly with one stop, usually via Doha, Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Oman is 4 hours ahead of the UK in winter and 3 hours ahead in summer.
When is the best time to visit Oman?
October to April, when Muscat averages 25–34°C and the sea is 23–29°C. From May to September Muscat averages 36–40°C. Salalah is different: from late June to September the khareef brings mist, drizzle and green hills, at around 29–33°C.
Is Oman a good destination for Muslim travellers?
Yes. Oman is a Muslim country, so halal food is the norm, there are mosques in every town and modest dress is expected in public. Alcohol is served only in licensed hotels and restaurants, and some hotels serve none. Tell us what matters to you and we’ll check before you book.
Can I visit Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque?
Yes. It opens to non-Muslim visitors on Saturday to Thursday mornings and is closed to visitors on Fridays. Everyone should cover their arms and legs, and women should also cover their hair. Opening times can change, so check before you go.
Can I combine Muscat with Salalah or the desert?
Yes. Domestic flights from Muscat to Salalah take approx. 1 hour 35 minutes with Oman Air or SalamAir, and we can include them in a twin-centre holiday. Nizwa is approx. 2 hours from Muscat by road and the Wahiba Sands approx. 3 hours, so a tour with a private driver works well.
Are Oman holiday packages ATOL protected?
Yes. Holidays that include a flight are protected under ATOL 10416, and you’ll receive an ATOL Certificate when you pay.
More holiday destinations
You might also like
Other destinations with winter sun, desert scenery and Muslim-friendly options.
Middle EastDubai
Dubai · Abu Dhabi
City sights, desert trips and beach hotels, and a popular stop to add after Umrah.
North AfricaMorocco
Marrakech · Agadir · Fes · Chefchaouen
Riads and souks in Marrakech and Fes, Agadir’s long sandy beach and the blue streets of Chefchaouen.
North AfricaEgypt
Hurghada · Sharm El Sheikh · Marsa Alam · Cairo
Red Sea sunshine and reefs through the winter, or Islamic Cairo and a Nile cruise in one trip.
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