Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Arabian Sands,
by Wilfred Thesiger - the final part of Thesiger's 1959 classic describes
Oman's interior.
Atlantis of the Sands,
by Ranulph Fiennes -
an account of the Dhofar insurgency in the 1960s, and also describes the search for the
lost city of Ubar. On the same subject,
The Road to Ubar,
by Nicholas Clapp, is worth a
read.
Off-Road in the Sultanate of Oman,
by Lonely Planet author Jenny Walker and Sam Owen
- a must for 4WD exploration in Oman. It covers the entire country, highlights special in-
terests and has a useful set of maps.
Adventure Trekking in Oman,
by Anne Dale and Jerry Hadwin - lists some great hikes.
Oman - a Comprehensive Guide
, published under the auspices of the Directorate General
of Tourism. Includes interesting anecdotal information.
CHILDREN
Oman is a friendly and welcoming place for children. For younger children, beachcomb-
ing, sandcastle building and paddling make Oman a dream destination. That said, there
are few specifically designed amenities for children, except for a park with swings in most
town centres.
CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
Non-Muslims travelling by air can bring in one bottle of alcohol.
It is illegal to cross by land from Oman into the UAE and vice versa carrying alcohol.
A 'reasonable quantity' of cigars, cigarettes and tobacco can be imported.
DANGERS & ANNOYANCES
Oman is a very safe country. Three dangers that may escape the attention of visitors,
however, are high volumes of traffic accidents due to tailgating and speed, flash floods
and the isolation of many off-road destinations.
EMBASSIES & CONSULATES
Unless indicated otherwise, all the embassies listed are on Jameat ad Duwal al-Arabiyah
St in the district of Shatti al-Qurm, Muscat. The British embassy looks after Irish nation-
als, processes visas and handles emergencies for Canadian citizens. Australians should
contact the Australian embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Consular sections of the embassy often close an hour or two earlier than the rest of the
embassy, so try to go as early in the day as possible or ring first to check. Embassies in-
clude:
24 605133; bahrain@omantel.net.om; Way No 3017, Shatti al-Qurm;
8am-2.30pm Sat-Wed)
