Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SOHAR & BATINAH PLAIN
This flat and fertile strip of land between the Hajar Mountains and the Gulf of Oman is the
country's breadbasket and most populous area. Interesting sites include the old castle towns
of Nakhal and Rustaq, exhilarating off-road destinations such as Wadi Bani Awf and Wadi
Hoqain, the fishing towns of Barka and Sohar, and an attractive resort at Sawadi.
Many of the sights can be managed on day trips from Muscat, with a tour company or
even by public transport. A more enjoyable way of visiting, however, is to hire a car and
visit Nakhal and Rustaq en route to Sohar, returning via Sawadi and Barka on a two- or
three-day trip. This is difficult to accomplish if relying only on public transport, particu-
larly as there is limited accommodation. With a 4WD (even better with camping equip-
ment), side trips into Wadi Bani Awf or Wadi Hoqain open the door to some of the most
dramatic landscapes in the country.
It's also possible to combine the above route with a visit to (or preferably
from
) the
Western Hajar Mountain region by using the 4WD mountain road via Hatt and Wadi Bani
Awf. In addition, there are many other spectacular wadis with remote villages and superb
desert mountain scenery, accessible to those with a 4WD, an off-road guide and a sense of
adventure.
On the Muscat-Sohar Hwy, elaborately decorated mosques reflect the Persian influence
of the Farsi people who have settled in the region. Also look out for forts guarding the
coastal strip at As-Suwayq, Al-Khabura and Saham. None particularly warrant getting off a
bus for, but they may be worth a leg stretch from your own vehicle. Note that large portions
of the highway are being widened and flyovers constructed over the main intersections in
place of round-abouts. This means that until 2014 there are likely to be considerable delays
eastbound around the construction sites between 6am and 8am and from about 4pm to 6pm
westbound.
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Sohar
26 / POP 140,000
The rumoured home of two famous sailors, the historical Ahmed bin Majid and the semi-
fictional Sinbad, Sohar is one of those places where history casts a shadow over modern
reality. A thousand years ago it was the largest town in the country: it was even referred to
as Omana, though its ancient name was Majan (seafaring). As early as the 3rd century BC,
