The Exciting Edge of Oman

Cruise to Salalah, Oman

On a cruise to Salalah, Oman, you can immerse yourself in beauty and culture, even if you never leave the heart of the city. The city center is only a 15-minute drive from the port, and from there you can walk to timeless architectural and cultural sites. There, in the center of the city, you'll quickly gain an appreciation for local religion, daily life and customs, and even some of the agricultural crops, such as bananas and coconuts, that have anchored Salalah's economy for hundreds of years. Salalah's location where the desert meets the sea adds to opportunities for adventure, whether you visit one of the tranquil beaches not far from town or make the journey down the coast to untouched stretches of shoreline. The surrounding Dhofar region is home to the most productive khareef (monsoon) on the entire Arabian Peninsula. The rain turns the desert into a lush oasis, complete with springs and waterfalls in the mountains, from late June to early September. Even in the drier months, you'll discover on a trip to Salalah something magical about the city and its surrounds that trascends the seasons, the sand dunes and even the ship you arrived on.

National Language Arabic

Currency Accepted Omani Rial (OMR)

Things To Do In Salalah

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. Grand mosque In Muscat.

Embrace Dhofar Culture

Consider your cruise to Salalah an introduction to Dhofar, a region of southwestern Oman. Appreciate the ornate architecture of Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, or watch locals haggle for meat, produce and other goods amid the stalls of the Central Market. Head to the Museum of Frankincense Land to learn about the treasured fragrance that's been farmed in the deserts outside of Salalah for centuries.

Salalah coast, Oman, Asia, Arabian Peninsula

Chill Out Under Palms

Take a break from city life in Salalah with an excursion to Coconut Beach, which is less than a 10-minute drive from the port but feels a world away. Relax on the sugary sand under the shade of its namesake coconut palms, or get your feet wet in its gentle waters. You can sometimes to see dolphins in the distance.

Camels roaming in Wadi Darbat in the Dhofar region of Oman near Salalah

See Camels in Wadi Darbat

Bragging rights of your travel to Salalah can include camels in the wild. Consider visiting Wadi Darbat, where herds of wild camels drink from a gorgeous river amid vegetation that seems too lush for the Arabian Peninsula.

Homemade Arabic spiced rice and chicken topped with nuts, raisins closeup in the plate on the table.

LOCAL CUISINE

Lean into the cuisine, be that crisp-on-the-outside, moist-on-the-inside chicken muthbe served with fragrant rice; fresh caught and grilled Indian Ocean kingfish; or crunchy and sweet kak bread seasoned with cardamom. Find lively sit-down restaurants near the Central Market or seek the open-air tables on Coconut Beach.

Frankincense is an aromatic resin, used for religious rites, incense and perfumes

SHOPPING

Among the popular things to do in Salalah is to go to the traditional market, the Al Husn Souk (also known as the Al Haffa Souk). At the market, visit stalls selling incense and perfume oils made from locally farmed frankincense, as well as silver crafts and handmade pottery.