Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Activities, Courses & Tours
2
Zahara Tours
B2
Sleeping
3
Al-Hanaa Hotel
D2
4
Haffa House
D1
5
Salalah Hotel
B2
Eating
6
Bin Ateeq
C2
7
The Cascade
B2
Shopping
8
Handycrafts Bazaar
C1
Sights & Activities
Museum of the
Frankincense Land
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE
(admission OR2; 8am-2pm & 4-8pm Sat-Wed, 4-8pm Thu & Fri)
The main point of interest in Salalah
is the ancient site of
Al-Baleed
. The comprehensive set of ruins, which are well labelled and
atmospherically lit at night, belong to the 12th-century trading port of Zafar. From here,
frankincense was shipped across the sea to India in exchange for spices. The surrounding
plantations of coconut, papaya, sugar cane and banana illustrate the fecundity of the re-
gion and it is little wonder that the port was a prosperous one. Little is known about the
port's demise but the excellent on-site
museum
charts the area's settlement since 2000 BC
and illustrates the maritime strength of the nation, including its recent renaissance through
the port projects at Salalah, Duqm (tipped to be the largest port in the Arab world) and So-
har. The site includes at least 3km of beautifully landscaped walking paths (open until
8pm each evening) alongside the
khor
and into the adjoining reed beds where an observa-
tion tower makes for good birdwatching.
Plantations
GARDENS