Essential Things to Know Before You Visit Oman – A land like no other

When planning your trip, you need to make sure you don't visit at a time when it can get too warm. October is a great time to visit Oman, as this is when the temperatures start to cool off. If you aren't necessarily a fan of very hot destinations, it's best you avoid the summer months of June to August when the temperatures are known to go up to 50 degrees Celcius! October to April is the months when the heat becomes slightly more bearable, even gifting you with short rain showers once in a while. June to September is the time of the monsoon, fogging the south coast. No matter when you decide to visit Oman, know that the hottest time of the day is in between 12 noon to 3 pm, so use this time for indoor activities as much as possible, such as museums or lunch.

With the perfect proportions of out-of-this-world flavour and uncommon spices, Omani cuisine will leave a lasting impression. The best part, the food choices in Oman serves all types of budgets and remain consistently tasty any place you go! A while ago, finding authentic Omani cuisine would have been an extremely difficult task, however, things have been changing in that sphere, especially in Muscat. Hotels in Muscat, the likes of Avani Muscat Hotel, don't disappoint on the food front of things. You're going to walk into rooms that smell like mint, turmeric, cardamom, citrus and cloves, all a part of experiencing and tasting genuine Omani cuisine.

It's not news that Oman is largely a Muslim country. However, what is not known is that it's an extremely modern and progressive country. Nevertheless, anyone visiting must practice cultural sensitivity wherever they go. As long as your attire is modest and covers your knees and shoulders, you'll be fine. When visiting religious and cultural attractions, it's best to cover up a little more as a sign of respect, in some cases, these locations also require women to cover their hair with a scarf or shawl.

The best way to experience Oman and travel around is by renting a private vehicle. The reason for this is because the public transport system in Oman is quite limited, therefore, in order to get about conveniently, one is hiring a vehicle. You can also opt to drive the vehicle yourself without a driver, which gives you the ultimate freedom. The best part about Oman is that the roads are great to drive on, which makes travelling about quite the joy!

Arabic is the official language in Oman; however, people also converse in English. Due to the country's status as a melting pot of cultures combining Pakistanis, Arabs, Indians, and others, a variety of other languages are also widely spoken here as well; these include Swahili, Baluchi, and Hindi.