This is our Oman itinerary, a 14 day itinerary around Oman (it is a perfect Oman itinerary with kids or without). This detailed Oman itinerary is ideal for anyone planning a family holiday to Oman, a self-drive Oman road trip, or looking for the best things to do in Oman over two weeks. This itinerary would easily work as an Oman itinerary for 10 days by reducing the number of days spent in Muscat, making it flexible for shorter trips. This Oman road trip itinerary contains further reviews you can click into so you can read more about the specifics like hotels, attractions and practical travel tips for visiting Oman. We love this route as it features so many of the best things to see from the heart of the city with Muscat to the beaches and desert beyond. We used Muscat as a central hub to travel from and to, which worked really well for our family road trip around Oman.
👩💻 About the author – Nichola is a family travel expert and has written for The Guardian, The Telegraph, Lonely Planet Magazine and Wanderlust, amongst many others. She’s spent over a decade travelling the world with her children, finding the best places for you to explore too.
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Table of Contents
Oman Itinerary – 14 day itinerary around Oman – map
Schedule
DAY 1 – Oman Itinerary for 14 day itinerary around Oman – Arrive in Muscat
Pick up a car at the airport and head into the city. (An alternative that we did was to fly into Dubai and then drive from Dubai to Muscat and this worked very well),
Muscat is a great place to spend time in as it has the hustle and bustle of the city but also plenty of areas to relax and hang out by the sea. We always spend the first day acclimatising so head to the outskirts of the city for some time to grow accustomed to the heat and relax by the sea or pool.
Read more:
A review of the Al Bustan Palace Hotel, Muscat
DAY 2 – Muscat
Start your first full day in Oman soaking up some of the sights of this beautiful capital city.
Take a trip to gaze through the gates of Al Alam Palace. Then visit the lovely museum at Bait Al Zubair to learn more about this fascinating country. This is a great place to grab some lunch and coffee and sit in the shade in the heat of the day too.
After lunch take a trip to Muscat’s souq to barter hard for frankincense and handicrafts.
Read more:
Top things to do in Muscat with kids
Buying frankincense in Muttrah Souq
DAY 3 – Muscat (mosque / dolphins)
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is one of the few mosques in Oman (stop A) that allows non-Muslims to visit. It is a beautiful and peaceful place to spend the morning.
Always look at the visiting hours before any visit as there are specific times it is open for visitors. But the volunteers are fascinating and the photo opportunities wonderful. We loved our time here, learning more about the country and its people and would highly recommend a trip here.
In the afternoon head to the Marina Bandar Al Rowdha harbour where you can take a boat trip out to watch dolphins. We absolutely loved seeing the dolphins in the wild, so many of them jumping alongside the boat. It really was spectacular.
Get your dolphin watching tickets in advance here.
DAY 4 – Drive to the desert
Once you’re accustomed to the heat, head out to the desert for a night with a Bedouin nomadic tribe (stop B).
Drive out across the sand dunes, ride camels through the desert, feast on great food, watch the sun set over the sand. And experience a truly unique environment. We absolutely loved our time in the desert, although felt one night was enough to experience it as it was very hot. But one not to be missed.
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Staying overnight in a traditional Bedouin desert camp
DAY 5 – See endangered turtles
After a camel ride with the nomads head into the air-conditioned car and towards the sea. It’s a wonderful drive, watching the landscape change as you drive.
The town of Sur (stop C) is a good place to stop off for cold drinks and to watch the fishermen at work. Then carry on to the beautiful glamping safari tents at Ras al Jinz (stop D) which have all the mod-cons including air conditioning, en suite bathrooms and very comfortable beds.
The highlight of a trip here though is of course to see the endangered turtles which is an absolutely breathtaking, magical experience and was a highlight of our trip to Oman.
Read more:
Staying at Ras al Jinz and seeing endangered turtles
DAY 6 – More Muscat (children’s museum / playground / meal out)
As you head away from Ras al Jinz, towards Muscat, stop off for lunch en route at City Walk (stop E). Just outside of Sur there’s a play area here for kids (or a free indoor play area at the Mcdonald’s here) and a small food court. It’s a great place to break the journey.
If there’s still time in your day when you’re back in Muscat then head to the Children’s Museum. A small but fun, interactive space that the kids will love (and it’s very well priced to get in too).
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DAY 7 – Muscat (Saturday brunch / time in the pools)
After a few days driving through Oman take it easy at this halfway point with one of the leisurely brunches on offer at some of Oman’s top hotels.
For example the Al Bustan Palace (stop F) has a huge brunch every Saturday. They also set up lots of play equipment across the beach, including a bouncy castle for the kids to enjoy. It’s the perfect way to indulge in some down time.
In the afternoon head to Qurum Natural Park for a playground that is designed to look like a fort and shady walks.
DAY 8 – Drive to Sohar – Oman Itinerary
Once again head out of Muscat, along the beach roads to Sohar. We loved the drive through the small towns here, which were filled with little shops and restaurants and just so welcoming.
Stop off at Al Sawadi Beach (Map pin) on the way which is filled with the most beautiful coloured shells. You can hire a boat (along with the owner to steer it) to take to the water here or just spend time on the beach.
There’s also a wonderful, large playground here just back from the seafront.
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A family stay by the sea in Sohar
DAY 9 – Sohar
Spend the day relaxing in Sohar (stop G).
This is a very sweet little seaside town and there are a few hotels along the beach here with pools and ocean views that make it the perfect break away from the city.
There is a lovely souk in the middle of Sohar and they are renovating the fort.
I think this whole area really shows a different side of Oman and will only be growing in popularity. We loved it.
DAY 10 – Oman Itinerary – 14 day itinerary around Oman – Drive to the mountains
After time to relax in Sohar the mountains call and a chance to see the interior of Oman.
This is an interesting drive through changing landscapes and there are some wonderful hotels to stay in near Nizwa. This is the perfect base for this part of the trip.
DAY 11 – Visit some Omani forts
Head out to discover more about one of those key components Oman is known for, its forts and strongholds.
Two of the best are Bahla Fort (stop H) and nearby Jabreen Castle.
These are great for running around and exploring and kids will love the space of Bahla Fort and the intrigue of Jabreen Castle. For example seeing the grates through which those defending would pour boiling date oil on to the attackers below.
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DAY 12 – Nizwa – Oman Itinerary
Spend time in historic Nizwa (stop I).
The old town here is beautiful with its own castle to explore and one of the best souks in the country. This is the perfect place to buy some pots and wedding chests, more crafts that Oman is famous for, along with some frankincense.
When the heat beats you back Nizwa Grand Mall is a great place to stop off for some food (there’s a good food court here as well as an amazing huge Carrefour) and a play space. There’s an ice rink, bumper cars and lots of games for children to play and burn off some energy out of the sun.
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DAY 13 – Muscat (last day in Muscat for anything you didn’t visit – malls Oman Avenues Mall, playgrounds, meal out
Head back to Muscat (stop J) for a final day doing everything you missed. If your kids have got a taste for the Malls the Oman Avenues Mall is great fun with an amazing, huge food court and lots of fun including a roller coaster in the play area.
There are more playgrounds which are the perfect places to meet local, friendly Omani people and a walk along the harbour side is always lovely.
Finish off with a meal in one of Oman’s growing number of authentic, imaginative restaurants.
Read more:
The best things to do in Muscat with kids
DAY 14 – Oman Itinerary – 14 day itinerary around Oman – Fly home
Spend the last day having a swim, eating more dates and drinking coffee (placed everywhere for traditional Omani hospitality). And soaking up the beautiful atmosphere of this wonderful country.
Please let me know if our ‘Oman Itinerary – 14 day road trip around Oman helps you with your journey…we’d love to know anything you did differently or something that worked particularly well. Check out our guide to Oman with kids feature where we travel around and there’s a video of our time in Oman too.
Top tips for planning your Oman itinerary
– The best time to visit Oman is between October and April when temperatures are more comfortable, especially for families with children.
– Renting a car is highly recommended for this itinerary as public transport is limited. We found the roads to be really well maintained.
– Always carry water, sunscreen and snacks when travelling between destinations.
– Dress modestly, particularly in mosques and rural areas.
– Book desert camps and turtle experiences in advance as they can fill up quickly.
Frequently asked questions about our Oman itinerary
Yes, Oman is one of the safest and most welcoming countries in the Middle East. It is incredibly family-friendly with lots of outdoor adventures, beaches and cultural experiences.
A 10–14 day Oman itinerary is ideal to see the highlights including Muscat, the desert, mountains and coastline without rushing.
Yes, driving in Oman is very straightforward with excellent roads and clear signage. A 4×4 is recommended for desert and mountains.
Oman can be mid-range depending on accommodation choices, but self-driving and local restaurants help keep costs down.
Muscat is the best base for first-time visitors, with easy access to many day trips and excellent facilities for families.
Final thoughts on this Oman itinerary
This 14 day Oman itinerary is the perfect blend of culture, adventure and relaxation. From watching dolphins in Muscat to sleeping under the stars in the desert and exploring ancient forts, Oman offers a truly unforgettable travel experience.
Whether you are travelling Oman with kids or planning a couples’ adventure, this route provides a fantastic introduction to one of the most underrated destinations in the world.
More features on Oman –
Read all about our family road trip in Oman and our post on the best things to do in Oman with kids.
