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Oman's mountainous coast

© www.123rf.com / Haider Yousuf

Getting around in Oman

Air: 

Oman Air (WY) (www.omanair.com) operates domestic flights to Salalah and Khasab from Muscat International Airport. Oman is a large country so internal flights are an excellent way of visiting the far south (Salalah) and remote Musandam Peninsula in the north.

Air passes: 

Visit Oman Arabian Pass: valid on Oman Air’s domestic flights between Muscat, Salalah and Khasab. It is available to travellers buying an international flight through Oman Air. You must buy at least two sectors (US$100 per sector). Visit www.omanair.com for further details.

Departure tax: 

None.

Road: 

Oman has a fast and modern network of roads and motorways with good connections between Muscat and major towns. Principal routes run from east to west, connecting Muscat to Sohar, and from north to south. Sudden rainfall can cause flash flooding in dry riverbeds and roads that cross them.

Side of road: 
Right
Road quality: 

There are excellent roads in Muscat and between Muscat and other major towns in Oman. Unpaved roads open up less-visited parts of Oman for those with 4-wheel drive vehicles.

Road classification: 

Oman has two four-lane highways, one between Muscat and Sur and another between Muscat and Nizwa, plus two-lane A roads and B roads.

Car hire: 

Many international firms have offices at the airport and at hotels in Muscat and Salalah. Most visitors can use their own national driving licence or International Driving Licence. The minimum age to hire a car ranges from 21 to 25 depending on the company. As distances are long, check if there is a daily mileage limit. There is excellent off-road driving so you may want to hire a 4-wheel drive vehicle.

Taxi: 

Few of the orange and white taxis are metered so you should agree fares in advance. Shared taxis and minibuses (baisa buses) are popular, especially with Omani women who will generally sit next to other women.

Bike: 

The north is very sharply mountainous, with few paved roads, so would only suit the adventurous off-road cyclist. The south of the country can get quite severe weather, with towns and cities huge distances apart, making finding food and lodging difficult and cycling a less attractive proposition.

Coach: 

Apart from taxis, the only way of getting around Oman is by coach or shared minibus operated by the Oman National Transport Company (www.ontcoman.com). There are regular daily services between the major cities.

Regulations: 

Traffic laws are strictly imposed. Heavy penalties are imposed for drinking and driving; 48-hour prison sentences are imposed if traffic offences are caused by driving under the influence of alcohol. Seat belts should be worn at all times. On-the-spot fines are imposed if caught using a mobile phone whilst driving. It is also forbidden to drive on the beaches. If you are involved in a major road traffic accident remain with your car and call the Royal Oman Police on 2456 0099. Further details are available at www.rop.gov.om.

Breakdown service: 

The AAA (Arabian Automobile Alliance) (tel: 2460 5555) provides 24-hour roadside assistance. There are large parts of the Sur to Muscat road that have no mobile phone signal, so if you break down, you’ll need to wait for help or hitch a ride to the nearest town.

Documentation: 

Long-term residents need a local licence, obtainable from the police by presenting a national driving licence or International Driving Permit. Police passes are required for residents travelling to the United Arab Emirates.

Getting around towns and cities: 

Taxi or hire car are the easiest modes of transport. It is perfectly safe for women to drive around, although some may prefer to wear a headscarf to avoid attracting unwanted attention.

Rail: 

There is no service currently but a national rail project is in the pipeline which will link Oman’s network to neighbouring countries by 2017.

By water: 

National Ferries Company (tel: 2449 5453; www.nfc.om) operates vessels from Muscat to Musandam, Khasab to Lima and Salalah to the Halaniyat islands. There are plans to operate two further routes in the future, from Shinna to Maseira and Shuwaymiyah to Hallaniyat and Hasik.

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