Oman Land & Culture

Sun and Sand Tours wants to share their Oman with you and are happy to provide the following holiday information for you to have an enjoyable vacation.
 

Oman’s coastal capital city is Muscat. Oman’s area is 309,500 square kilometers with more than 1,700 Kilometers of coast. It is a diverse country offering you a unique opportunity.  We invite you to experience our ancient Arabian history lying deep within the country.
 

Oman occupies the southeastern coast of the Arabian peninsular. It has coastlines on the Gulf of Oman to the north and the Arabian Sea to the south. Inland it is bordered by the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.
 

The magnificent, rugged, rocky, mountains, Dhofar Mountains in the south and the Hajar Mountains which stretch for 700km from Musandam on the north coast to Ras al Hadd on the east coast.   These mountains offer spectacular wadis (river beds), caves and cliffs. The landscape is simply breathtaking.
 

The golden brown vista of the dramatic desert including the Empty Quarter and Wahiba Sands which runs for 200 km from Eastern Hajar to the Arabian Sea.  These inland sand seas, offer massive dune waves rising to 200 – 300 meters.
 

Spectacular landscape is at the heart of Oman.  The contrast is one of rugged mountains, dramatic desert dunes, green oasis and sandy beaches.  You can experience all of this.
 

Omani people express an abundance of warmth and heartfelt welcoming which will make your visit to Oman an experience that will stay with you forever.
 

The Omani people bring to life the rich Arabian culture, lively traditions and as always these are accompanied with their ready smiles.
 

Sun and Sand Tours takes pleasure in inviting you to join with them in experiencing the absolute, simple magnificence of the real Oman.

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Oman Climate

The mountain areas it will be cool during the day and cold at night in winter and pleasant during Summer – usually 10 degrees cooler than other areas of Oman.
 

The desert region is hot from May to Mid-September, during the day usually around 40 degrees.

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Oman Information

Customs & Visas:

There is no customs duty on personal effects brought into Oman.

All visitors (except those with Gulf Co-Operation Council passports) require a visa to enter Oman. Visas can be obtained on arrival for many countries, including those from EU, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Japan can get a 1-month visa at Muscat airport or border crossings.
 

Passport and visa requirements may change. All visitors are advised to check their entry requirements with their embassy, consulate or travel agent.
 

Oman Health Overview
No vaccinations are required for entry to Oman. Visitors should ensure they are up to date on all routine vaccinations. Health and medical services in the country, particularly Muscat, are of a high standard. Food and water in Muscat is considered safe, but bottled water is advised outside of the cities.
 

Clothing

There are many great locations for camping throughout Oman. Campers Outdoor tourists should bring with them long sleeved T-shirt and long pants for the night. Also, you will need short sleeved T-shirt, shorts & swimwear. Clothing needs to be comfortable and loose. You will need sun protection, hat and sunglasses. If walking in the desert it is best to wear footwear, which covers your ankles. When walking & swimming in the wadis best to wear footwear that can be used for both the walk and in the water.

Men and women need to be aware that they are in a Muslim country and therefore need to wear appropriate clothing in villages and when socializing with the local people. Additionally, changing clothes for swimming in wadis or at the coast needs to be done discreetly.

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Bites & Stings Information

Scorpions feed on insects and other small creatures including other scorpions. They abound in the desert and rocky countryside all over Oman, but since they are nocturnal, are rarely seen unless people move rocks or logs, under which they hide.
 

There are many species of scorpions in Oman, some living in sandy deserts, others preferring the mountains. They may be black, pale, or various shades and colours, with slim or squat pincers.
 

Regional Oman arachnid species have impressive names —Androctonus crassicauda, Leirus qunquestriatus, and Nebo hieri-chonticus.
 

In Oman, scorpion stings are relatively innocuous. The vast majority of stings, even if intensely painful, result in no significant complications. A single bite will result in no systemic effects. Reassurance, and a period of observation for an hour or two, are all that is necessary.
 

Rarely, serious effects are experience that would require medical attention.
 

All spiders are venomous, but few pose a threat to man. There are a number of potentially dangerous species in Oman, but serious incidents are rare. The commonest of these spiders is the red-back spider, or Latrodectus and the recluse or violin spider, present all over Oman.
 

The female red back is a beautiful, glistening-black creature with a brilliant orange or red spot on her abdomen. She can cause an intensely painful bite, followed by nausea, vomiting, and generalized muscle cramps for an hour or two. Thereafter, all signs resolve spontaneously, without treatment. These spiders build an amateurish-looking, untidy web under boxes or in dark corners of out-houses.
 

The recluse spider is relatively large (body 0.9cm, leg span 5cm), with a distinctive violin-shaped mark on its carapace, and lives in caves, sheds, and sometimes dark cupboards where it hunts insects and small creatures. It does not build a web.
 

The Latrodectus and recluse or violin spider rarely cause any problems in Oman.
 

This information will help you to avoid Oman dangerous snakes (indicted by red or orange), while you still can carefully enjoy watching the harmless ones (indicated by yellow or green).
 

Many snakes commonly seen in Oman are not dangerous to people. Most snakes try to avoid people and never strike or bite people unless frightened. It is possible to be bitten and not to have any venom injected. It is also rare that the snake injects sufficient venom to cause serious injury to people. Very rarely is a bite fatal.
 

The most common and harmless snakes in Oman are; Racer Snakes, they look intimidating with their long slim bodies, which are seen in Oman wadis. Blind Snake, a small reptile that burrows in soft soil and compost, known as a gardener's friend as it aerates soil and eats pests.
 

The danger in the region comes from all sea snakes and 9 out of 22 species of land snakes. Among the dangerous snakes in Oman are the; Mole Viper, Puff Adder, Burrowing Asp, Horned Vipers, Carpet Vipers and the Arabian Cobra, may live in southern Oman. The Black Desert Cobra and the Horned Viper may live in sandy places; False Horned Viper keeps in mountains.
 

The best way to avoid all snakebites is to wear proper clothing especially legs and feet. Footwear should be high, covering the ankle and trousers are best if can be closed at the ankle. Look and take care where you put your hands and feet, particularly in wadis, gardens, woodlands and near rubbish and water. Remove litter, creeping plants and rodents from around your house and seal holes. Avoid walking outside at night without light.
 

In case of snakebite, wash the injury, and keep the bitten area still and below the heart level, do not run or engage in any physical activity. Do not cut or apply a constrictive tourniquet or apply extreme cold to the bite. It is important to stay calm and remove any rings, watches or tight clothing. If you can, try to identify the offending snake, get to the nearest hospital immediately.