Things to do in Salalah (and how far each one is by car)

Map and distance table from Salalah Airport (km · minutes · car type)

There is no public transport to any of the places below and taxis for a full day cost more than a car for four. The distances are from Salalah Airport, which sits just north of the city; from the Al Baleed hotel strip subtract about ten minutes, from Hawana Salalah add about fifteen for the western sites and subtract the same for the eastern ones.

Coast west: Mughsail, Marneef cave, Fazayah

The coast road west of the city runs past the port and the Hilton, then along a long empty beach to Mughsail, where the cliffs meet the sea. Marneef Cave is the rock shelter above the blowholes; in khareef the sea fires spray through them, in winter it is a quiet lookout. Beyond Mughsail the road climbs the cliff in a series of hairpins to the Fazayah turn-off. The coves below are the best sand in Dhofar and reached by a steep rough track: a 4x4 with low range, or park at the top and walk down.

Coast east: Taqah, Wadi Darbat, Mirbat, Sumhuram

East of town Route 49 passes Hawana Salalah, then Taqah with its small castle and fishing beach. The Wadi Darbat turn is just beyond Taqah; the valley has a lake all winter and waterfalls in khareef, and the road is paved to the car parks. Ten minutes further east, Sumhuram is the ruined frankincense port above the Khor Rori lagoon, with flamingos most winters. Mirbat, at the end of the day's drive, has a restored fort, a working harbour and boat trips for dolphins.

Mountains: Jebel Samhan, Ayn Khor, Ittin

Behind Salalah the plain ends in an escarpment that rises to about 1,800 m at Jebel Samhan. The viewpoint is reached on a paved road through Tawi Atair, where a signed path leads to one of the largest sinkholes in the world. Beyond the viewpoint the tracks across the plateau and down towards Wadi Darbat are 4x4 only, with low range and Adventurer cover. Closer to town, the Ittin road climbs to the springs at Ayn Khor and the site of the summer khareef festival; in July and August it is in cloud by mid-afternoon.

Desert: Empty Quarter, Shisr / Ubar

Route 31 north runs through Wadi Dawkah's frankincense trees and over the Thumrait escarpment onto the gravel plain. Shisr, the site often identified with Ubar, is about 2 hours 15 from the airport on tarmac; the dunes of the Rub al Khali begin beyond it. This is the one trip on the list that is 4x4 only, October to April only, and two cars only beyond the tarmac. The Empty Quarter page has the rules.

In town: Al Baleed, Haffa souq, Al Husn

Al Baleed is the excavated medieval port behind the Anantara, with lit paths for an evening walk and the Museum of the Frankincense Land at its gate. The Haffa souq, a few minutes west along the beach, sells frankincense by the grade and is at its best after sunset. Al Husn souq and the Sultan Qaboos Mosque are the heart of the old town. All three are a short drive from any hotel, and the only parking problem is on Eid.

3-day and 5-day itineraries by car

Three days, any car. Day one: Al Baleed in the morning, Ayn Razat at midday, Haffa souq after dark. Day two: east to Taqah, Wadi Darbat and Sumhuram, lunch in Mirbat. Day three: west to Mughsail and Marneef Cave, with the cliff road beyond for the view.

Five days, 4x4 with low range. Add a dawn run to the Jebel Samhan viewpoint and Tawi Atair with the plateau track back to Wadi Darbat, and a two-day Empty Quarter trip via Wadi Dawkah and Shisr with a night under the stars. Add Adventurer cover at OMR 15 per day for a zero excess on the sand and the tracks.

The minimum rental is 4 days, which fits either plan.