Oman
Asia · Country #25
Did you know?
Oman is one of the few places on Earth where frankincense trees still grow naturally, and this prized resin once fueled a trade route as valuable as gold.
My Experience
While I was in Dubai, I realized that part of Oman, the Musandam Peninsula, is separated from the rest of the country by the United Arab Emirates. Curious, I decided to make the journey to Khasab, a quiet coastal town known for its dramatic fjord-like coastline. A boat tour carried us between towering limestone cliffs that rose straight from the turquoise waters of the Strait of Hormuz, offering a side of the Arabian Peninsula I never knew existed. It was a memorable introduction to Oman.
Five years later, I returned to explore the capital, Muscat, this time in the middle of summer. The heat and humidity were absolutely brutal, making even short walks outside exhausting. A couple of hours from the capital, I hiked through Wadi Shab, following a winding trail past date palms, emerald pools, and towering canyon walls. At the end of the hike, I swam through crystal-clear water to reach a hidden cave with a waterfall tucked inside. That hidden oasis in the middle of the desert is what I’ll remember most about Oman.
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