Salalah: Oman’s green south
Salalah, in the southern region of Dhofar, is unlike anywhere else in Arabia. Every summer, the khareef (monsoon) brings mist and light rain from the Indian Ocean. It turns the mountains bright green, fills the wadis with waterfalls and drops temperatures to a pleasant 25°C. The rest of the year, Salalah offers long white beaches, coconut palms and banana plantations.
Dhofar is also the historic land of frankincense, once more valuable than gold.
Top things to see and do
- Wadi Darbat: A green valley with a lake, small waterfalls and grazing camels. It is especially beautiful during and just after the khareef.
- Al Mughsail Beach: A wide, beautiful beach with blowholes that shoot seawater into the air when the waves are strong.
- The Land of Frankincense: Visit the UNESCO-listed Al Baleed Archaeological Park and its museum, and see frankincense trees at Wadi Dawkah.
- Salalah souqs: Buy frankincense, oils and incense burners in Al Haffa Souq.
- Ancient Sumhuram: Explore the ruins of this old trading port overlooking Khor Rori.
Best time to visit
Come during the khareef (July to mid-September) for green landscapes and cool weather, or from October to April for sunshine and beach weather. The sea can be rough during the monsoon, so swimming is not recommended then.
Getting there
Salalah is about 1.5 hours by plane from Muscat, with several flights a day. Driving takes around 10 to 12 hours across the desert.
Travel tips
- Book flights and hotels early for the khareef season, as it is very busy with visitors from across the Gulf.
- Mountain roads can be foggy during the khareef. Drive slowly or travel with a local guide.
- Bring a light rain jacket in summer.
-
- Photo: Francesco Bini / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
-
- Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/130649623@N05/ / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
-
- Photo: MURSHID THALI PARAMBAN / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Explore Salalah with Gotour
Join a private tour with a local guide, or combine Salalah with other highlights of Oman on a multi-day trip. See our tours or contact us to plan your trip.
Photos: Poojaryroshan, Francesco Bini and Murshid Thali Paramban (CC BY-SA 4.0), Flickr user 130649623@N05 (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
