Before You Book

PREPARING TO GO TO OMAN

 

PASSPORT & VISA

A valid passport is required by all nationals. All Passengers are responsible for securing proper documentation prior to joining the tour. Please ensure that passport/s are valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the intended date of return and contain between 2-6 blank “Visa” pages. You should have at least two free pages in your passport. Please access our link to the Travel & Visa Requirements Section in our Before You Go page available in each itinerary web page for the latest visa entry requirements for the country/ies you are visiting.
Passports are required; in addition, travelers are also advised to check with local consulates for full details regarding visa requirements. Please note securing a valid visa for entry is the sole responsibility of the traveler.

LOCAL TIME

Oman Standard Time (IST) is 4 hours ahead of GMT.

ELECTRICITY

220 and 240 volts, 50Hz. The most frequently used plugs are the square three-pin type.

LANGUAGE

Official language is Arabic. Other languages spoken include Swahili and Baluchi. English is also widely spoken and along with Arabic, the common business language.

MONEY EXCHANGE, CREDIT CARD & ATM

Omani Rial (OMR) = 1,000 baiza. Notes are in denominations of OMR50, 20, 10, 5 and 1, and 500, 250, 200 and 100 baiza. Coins are in denominations of 50, 25, 10 and 5 baiza.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

All major credit cards are accepted here, including to a lesser extent American Express. ATMs are widely available throughout the county.

Banking Hours

Sat-Wed 0800-1200, Thurs 0800-1130. 

CURRENCY & EXCHANGE RATE

Omani Rial (OMR) = 1,000 baiza. Notes are in denominations of OMR50, 20, 10, 5 and 1, and 500, 250, 200 and 100 baiza. Coins are in denominations of 50, 25, 10 and 5 baiza.

HYPERLINK "http://www.xe.com/ucc/full.shtml" o "http://www.xe.com/ucc/full.shtml" t "_blank" XE.com is a useful site for currency conversion.

CLOTHING

Lightweight cottons are advisable throughout the year, with a warm wrap for cooler winter evenings, mountain excursions and overworked air-conditioning in shops and restaurants.

COMMUNICATION & EMAILS

Country code: 968.

Mobile Telephone: Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies. Coverage is variable.

Internet: There are Internet cafes throughout Oman.

Post: Airmail to Western Europe takes three to four days.

WEATHER & CLIMATE

The best time to visit Oman is between November and mid-March, when the cooler air brings the mountain scenery sharply into focus and daytime temperatures average 25°C. For the rest of the year, much of Oman is oppressively hot and hazy, particularly between May and August.

The redeeming summertime feature is the khareef, the mid-June to late-August rainy season in southern Oman. Many Gulf visitors flock to this area to picnic under the drizzle on Dhofar’s grassy hills. The rain (and the green) vanishes by mid-September.

The peak tourist season in the north is from November to mid-March.

MEALS

Approximate costs for meals and snacks not included are shown below:

Simple snack: US$5

Light meal: US$10-18

Fancy restaurant: US$25-40

DRINKS

Approximate costs for drinks bought in a shop in the street are shown below:

Note: Prices in restaurants, hotels, and cruise boats can be as much as double those specified.

1l of water: US$2

30cl bottle of soft drink: US$2

50cl bottle of beer: US$7

**Alcohol is tolerated, with non-Muslims allowed to drink alcohol in the city's bars, restaurants, clubs and hotels. Smoking is banned in public places. Under 20s are not allowed to buy cigarettes and are barred from designated smoking areas. It is illegal to eat, drink or smoke in public during Ramadan.

HEALTH

No vaccinations are required for entry to Oman; however, a certificate is required for cholera and yellow fever if arriving from an affected area.

All water outside the capital area should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilized. Bottled water is available and is advised throughout Oman. Food bought in the main supermarkets can be regarded as safe. Outside the capital area, milk may be unpasteurized and if so, should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled

SUGGESTED TIPPING SCALE:

Tipping is a way of showing your appreciation and will be welcomed by the recipient, although if you decide not to tip in a particular circumstance, this doesn’t mean you’ll receive a lower level of service. Ultimately, tipping is discretionary and should be done at a level that feels comfortable.

Here are some guidelines that you may find helpful:
 

LOCAL VALUES AND TRADITIONS

The Sultanate of Oman is a Muslim country; therefore, alcohol is not served except in hotels. It is an offence to drink or be drunk in public and penalties are severe.

Dress and behavior should be modest, particularly during the month of Ramadan when it is disrespectful to smoke, drink or eat in public between sunrise and sunset.

Shaking hands is the usual form of greeting. A small gift, either promoting your company or country, is well received. As far as dress is concerned, it is important that women dress modestly beyond the hotel grounds, ie long skirts or dresses (below the knee) with covered shoulders; men should wear trousers and shirts with sleeves. Tight-fitting clothes should be restricted to hotel restaurants to avoid giving offence although this is not strictly followed by some Westerners. Shorts should not be worn in public and beachwear is prohibited anywhere except the beach. Collecting seashells, abalone, corals, and crayfish and turtle eggs is also prohibited. Dumping litter is forbidden.

It is polite not to smoke in public, but generally no-smoking signs are posted where appropriate. It is an offence to swear or make rude gestures or show any public displays of affection. In general, the country has a tolerant approach to Western visitors, but local laws and sensitivities should be respected.

Photography:

Visitors should ask permission before attempting to photograph people or their property. ‘No Photography' signs exist in certain places and must be observed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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