In which country is the city of Salalah located? What to see in the vicinity of Salalah in the company of a Swiss. Best time to visit

To get here from the north of Oman, you will have to travel more than 1000 km along an extremely dull, monotonous road, and we cannot recommend such a trip. Most tourists arrive here by plane. As they approach, they are treated to a magnificent panorama of the Qara mountains and the fertile Salalah plain. The tiny airport is located just 2 km from the city center. There is only one plane operating the flights, so you will be in a taxi literally minutes after landing. The road to the beach hotels passes through green plantations of coconuts, papaya, bananas, and mangoes. Here you can feel like you are in Africa. There is no high-rise construction in this region; all houses are one- and two-story. Industrial construction is taking place in a special zone to the west of the city, in the port area.

The best time to travel is from October to February. You can escape the northern winter in a tropical sunny paradise. Average temperatures during this period are 25-30°C. The greenery is greatest in September, and by the end of October the grass again takes on a brown, faded appearance.

Archaeological site at Al-Balid

Al-Balid is located in Khor Salalah. Excavation area at the site of ancient Salalah (in those days the city was called Zufar), is 2 km long and 600 m wide. Ancient Zufar flourished from the 10th to the 15th centuries. They traded incense and Arabian horses here. By the 16th century the city fell into decline as control of trade with India passed into the hands of the Portuguese.

Among the ruins you can see the powerful walls of the ruler's palace, a large mosque, a Koranic school and a cemetery. The remains of a mighty fortress wall with watchtowers have also been preserved.

Excavations in this place were carried out by German archaeologists. Radiocarbon dating has shown that under the medieval city there is an ancient settlement that dates back to the Roman Empire. Scientists are sure that Zufar was a major port from where incense was exported.

Markets

Exploring Salalah will take you half a day. In the city center there is an old market where you can still buy incense, gold and silver jewelry. Al-Khafa Market is located next to the Sultan's Palace and Al-Husn Fortress.

The market is a real labyrinth of narrow streets where you can see ancient houses, now inhabited by natives of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Omanis today prefer modern suburbs.

In some shops you can find antique silver jewelry, Omani curved daggers, women's anklets and headdresses. But every year there are fewer and fewer antiques.

You can often see brightly dressed Dhofar women in the markets. They bargain like men and never cover their faces.

It is best to come to the market from 8.00 to 11.00 or from 16.00 to 19.00. Markets are closed on Fridays.

July 18th, 2010

As promised, I am posting a report on my trip to the south of Oman, to the border with Yemen, to the city of Salalah.
The second most populous city in Oman. There is an airport connecting other countries and flights to Muscat-northern Oman.
In 2006, I was constantly in the UAE, working and thought that I could hold out without a vacation, “survive” the Arab summer... But I was wrong:-(

Apparently, at the genetic level, it was laid down that my body and my emotional background required a change in climate: autumn, wind and cold!

We found a way out, at the end of August, when in Dubai the daytime air temperature reached 50 degrees, and the water in the sea was like porno milk, and people were running around hiding in air-conditioned rooms and cars, we started to the southern part of Oman, where the air temperature almost always does not exceed 25 -28 degrees.
According to experienced people, in August in the city of Salalah (which is on the border with Yemen) the rainy season comes, everything is in the grass, huge beetles, butterflies are flying and just some kind of paradise on the Arab peninsula.

Our route from Dubai ran past Al Ain, down the map to Oman, 1200 km to Salalah. I raised my photos, sorry that the map was photographed in pieces :-(

We set out after work at 8 pm, and it was already dark. The speed at times on the highway is 130-140 allowed, and 160-180 km/h at your own peril and risk of “catch” the radar and the camel. We had to travel for 12-14 hours.
By the way, camels often come out onto the road and you might not notice, it’s a scary thing :-((
It’s difficult to drive at night, at the beginning the road is illuminated, everything is great, but then it’s sparsely populated and it’s dark all around, it’s not clear where we are, like Martians, desert and dark :-(

It was dawning early, and we were all rushing, the sand changing color, from snow-white to dark red-brown.
I remember how we stopped in the morning and the picture was like snow-white sand all around, like snow and not a single soul, and the haze from the still early morning, a Martian picture for sure!
Further, the sand began to turn yellow, redden and darken, and then blackness began to appear and the bushes, oh-oh-oh-oh, EARTH AND TREES, wild, grow on their own!!!
And more and more! The mountains are all green, I can’t even believe that we were standing on Arab soil :-)
I remember I fell down to the real earth and let’s smell the grass, the earth, and the air was filled with real smell and freshness, it was something!

My delight knew no bounds, as if I had come to my homeland, everything was real and everything was alive! Everything crawls and flies!

The town is small, I would even say a village (due to the low old houses, undeveloped infrastructure), there is not much to see. But there are 3 large hotels of a well-known chain.
Wikipedia says, “from all the countries of the Persian Gulf, guests flock to Salalah to take a break from the intense heat that prevails in the rest of the region at this time, and to look at the lush vegetation and even waterfalls. At this time, the city’s population almost doubles, and various festivals are held.” .

We found our hotel and checked into a bungalow.

These are the trees that grow in the UAE, the roots grow on the surface like huge sharp stakes and stick into the ground.

We also saw a river, but decided to go down to it the next morning.

The next morning, breakfast at the hotel and a new route.

As it turned out, Salalah is an ancient city. It used to be a wealthy port city, exporting tree resin, the so-called Frankensis incense (correct me if I named it wrong) to China, India, Yemen and even Africa. All trade sea routes from China to Africa passed through Salalah.

In general, it must be said that Omanis are very friendly, friendly people, not spoiled by the civilization of the UAE. They are tall, stately and handsome, I'm talking about men. When they see us - Europeans, and therefore tourists - they wave and greet us :-)
The local population lives in small houses, these are not villas in the Emirates. Children are playing football on the shore.

It turned out it was a fresh river, I tried it :-)

Oh, how we shopped...

Oman is located in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula, bordering the UAE, Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Its territory is almost the same as Italy, but it is home to only 2.7 million people. Until recently, the main income of the country's economy was oil production. But oil reserves are limited and have almost run out; therefore, Oman is currently investing massively in tourism and in the future it is planned to make this industry the main income of the economy. Fortunately, the climate allows us to count on European tourists from October to April and Arab tourists in the summer. In winter, the climate is tropical: 27-29 degrees during the day and about 20 at night. In summer, the main territory of the sultanate is very hot, but in the mountains the temperature is about 25 degrees, so tourists from the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia come there for the summer months.
Oman is considered the Arab Switzerland: very low crime, good infrastructure, cleanliness and
calm political situation.

We were in the south of the country in the city of Salalah. We spent most of our time at sea. Huge beaches with white sand and clear turquoise water. There is practically no rain in this area in winter, which is important for a week-long trip, unlike the Caribbean or Maldives. By the way, the small time difference is a big plus: 3 hours with Europe (winter) and 1 hour with Moscow.

Local residents do not swim in the sea, so, as you can see, the beaches are deserted.

In addition to the sea, the vast desert in Oman deserves a visit. Golden sand, soft as flour, dunes and rare plants.

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It is not recommended to go to the desert without a professional escort, which is what we did. But I personally didn’t expect that the trip included dune rallies, which I wouldn’t call safe. And, as was to be expected, 2 of the 7 jeeps got stuck in the sand.

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On the way we stopped to look at the camels in the pasture:

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And at Frankincense Tree Plantation.

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These trees grow only in the south of the Arabian Peninsula, in Oman and Yemen. In ancient times, incense was sold for its weight in gold and its sale brought huge profits to the sultanate.

It’s a pity that we couldn’t visit the capital of the Sultanate, Muscat; it would have been ideal to first stop for 2-3 days in the north of the country and tour the sights, but this time the time didn’t work out. I hope to add a visit to Muscat to one of our next trips, since Oman air offers tickets to many interesting destinations at very competitive prices.

Salalah is the capital of the southern province of Dhofar, one of the oldest settlements in Oman. The city, surrounded on three sides by the Arabian Desert, is comfortably located on the coast of the Arabian Sea. The ancient history, cultural traditions and natural resources of Salalah provide unquenchable tourist interest in this place.

They say that the name Salalah is translated from one of the local dialects as “shimmering”: something like this, thanks to the dazzling whiteness of the buildings, people from neighboring mountain tribes called the city - their homes were dull gray! The past of the city is also dazzling, so to speak: on the site of today’s Salalah, in ancient times there were the possessions of the Queen of Sheba, here is the tomb of the prophet Job, the city for some time was the capital of Oman, and it was in Salalah that the current Sultan Qaboos bin Said was born.

Unlike most cities in Oman, Salalah is home to many expats from China, India, Pakistan and other Asian countries. Despite the demographic diversity, local laws and established procedures are observed by everyone without exception.

Salalah attracts travelers from all over the world with its beaches and excellent organization of water sports. And the variety of excursion programs and high level of service in hotels have long become the hallmark of Salalah. The time spent here will be filled with wonderful emotions and impressions.

Region	Dhofar Province
Population	197169 people (2009)
	first settlement - 3000 BC

Population density	928 people/km²
	Omani rial
Timezone
Postal code
International dialing code

Climate and weather

The best season to travel to Salalah is considered to be from September to April. At this time, the city is transformed: gardens bloom, waterfalls, streams and geysers roar in the mountains. The fact is that Salalah lies on the path of seasonal winds - the monsoons, which begin in June and last until the end of September. They bring in cumulus clouds, which in turn bring heavy drizzle and rain. The long-awaited moisture revives gardens and generates streams of water in the mountains. It seems that the entire Arabian Peninsula flocks to Salalah in hopes of escaping the summer heat. Indeed, daytime temperatures in Salalah can exceed +30 °C only in April-May. The rest of the time it is much more comfortable here: +27…+29 °C.

Nature

Almost all year round, Salalah appears as a luxurious oasis among endless sands. Cacti and coconut palms, mangroves and arid plateaus, salt lakes and dunes coexist peacefully on the coast Rub al-Khali desert. Papayas, mangoes, mimosa, aloe and tamarisk also grow in the vicinity of Salalah. In the east of the province Dhofar There is such a unique phenomenon for the Middle East as a tropical forest, which plays an important role in the ecosystem of the region.

The azure waters of the Arabian Sea wash the white beaches, and in the most beautiful lagoons you can find ibises and flamingos. Beach Mugsale is a haven for many exotic birds and is famous for its “sea fountains”, gushing powerful jets from holes in the rocks.

Attractions

Salalah and its surroundings delight lovers of ancient artifacts. Some ancient settlements worth visiting include Taka, which has several watchtowers and two forts from time immemorial, Mirbat, once famous for its purebred Arabian horses, and Samharam, whose ruins include the remains of the Queen of Sheba's palace.

One of the most striking attractions of Salalah is tomb of Nabi Ayyub(the grave of the prophet Job). It is located in the northern part of the city and is a three-meter sarcophagus inside a mausoleum. According to legend, Ayyub was a righteous man who lost everything he had, but never expressed his discontent before people or God. Today, the tomb of Nabi Ayyub is a sacred place for Christians, Jews and Muslims.

What you really can’t refuse while relaxing in Salalah is visiting the famous Incense path, which glorified this city throughout the world. The incense tree is deservedly considered one of the main treasures of Oman. About one and a half thousand tons of incense juice are extracted annually. In the old days, its frozen lumps were worth their weight in gold. Today, frankincense mining sites (for example, the ancient settlement of Ubar) are included in the UNESCO list of world heritage sites.

Of the natural attractions, the mountains are especially fascinating Jebel Akhdar- the highest in Oman. On their slopes grow wonderful orchards and many flowers, which are looked after by the residents of another ancient settlement, Saik. By the way, it was here that once upon a time they began to produce rose water, which conquered the whole world. Nobles consider it their duty to visit the Jebel Akhdar Mountains. Princess Diana herself was here. In her honor, one of the mountain peaks was named Diana Peak.

Nutrition

Salalah's restaurants impress even the most demanding gourmets. Here you can enjoy both local cuisine and European, Indian, Asian dishes. Here tourists are advised to be sure to drink camel milk - the source of strength of the Bedouins, and also not to ignore the huge variety of seafood and meat dishes.

Typically, a great meal won't break the bank if you visit places like Siam Kitchen, Hassan Bin Thabit Restaurant and Baalbeck Restaurant. Siam Kitchen is the only Thai restaurant in Salalah. Here all dishes are complemented with jasmine rice and cost in the range from $3.5 to $9. Hassan Bin Thabit Restaurant serves Arabic, Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisines. Baalbeck Restaurant offers amazingly delicious Lebanese food. Before the main course, they will definitely offer you a plate of fresh vegetables, and after that, sweet watermelon and aromatic tea. The establishments are open on all days except Friday.

Expensive restaurants are located mainly in hotel complexes - for example, the Hilton Salalah and Crowne Plaza hotels boast excellent establishments. In the first, Sheba's Steakhouse restaurant is famous for its delicious steaks. The restaurant at the Crowne Plaza hotel has a reputation as an upscale establishment with a full range of modern gastronomic delights. The cost of dinner here will be approximately $30, not including alcohol.

Accommodation

Salalah receives so many tourists (both foreigners and Omanis) every year that the city's population doubles during high season. Therefore, there are many opportunities for living here.

As for budget options, there are many 1-2-3-room apartments in Salalah for a day at affordable prices.

The following options are recommended for mid-price hotels. First up, Haffah House. The hotel is located in the city center, close to the airport. According to reviews, it has excellent rooms and good service for its level. The hotel has a fairly large swimming pool, a gym, a tennis court, an exchange office and car rental. A standard room for two will cost about $80 per night. If you want to live on the coast, don't go past the Arabian Sea Villas. It is located on the southern beach of Dahariz, surrounded by coconut trees. The price for accommodation includes breakfast, the cost of a double room is approximately $100.

Popular 5* hotels in Salalah are the Hilton Salalah resort and Crowne Plaza. At the same time, Crowne Plaza is considered a more preferable option in terms of price/quality ratio. Room rates in both are approximately the same and start at $170 for a double room.

Entertainment and relaxation

The main thing that makes Salalah so attractive to travelers, in addition to its historical attractions, is, of course, its beaches. The sand on them is simply snow-white, and the sea is crystal clear. The most popular beach is Mugsale- located in the western part of the city. There are many birds here, and in the early morning you can also see camels. All beaches are equipped with umbrellas and sun loungers, which can be used free of charge.

Here, vacationers can not only swim and sunbathe - they are offered a variety of active water activities: banana boat rides, water skiing and motorcycles, yachting, diving and snorkeling. However, even if you have extensive diving experience, remember that diving can only be done in an organized manner, under the guidance of a specialist from a diving center: diving into the water yourself is dangerous due to unpredictable sea currents.

If you are already tired of a beach holiday, you can go on a jeep or camel safari with a stop at a Bedouin camp.

Purchases

There are several markets in Salalah. The most colorful of them is the market Souk Al Hasn. Here you can buy aromatic oils, incense, incense, national clothes and shoes, including those handmade by local craftsmen. There is also a huge selection of gold and silver jewelry, and if you try, you can even find antique items. And, according to the sellers, it is in this market that you can buy the most fragrant spices in the world. Walking past stalls with powders and crystals of unknown purposes, it’s hard to resist buying at least a couple of seasonings! It is especially interesting to visit the Al-Hasn market in the evening, when fragrant incense is lit, lanterns are lit and a unique atmosphere of an oriental fairy tale is created.

You can only pay in the market in cash. Please remember that 13:00 to 16:30 is a lunch break and Friday is a national public holiday. Don't forget that you can and should bargain in the market.

Transport

City transport in Salalah is represented by buses. And although they run regularly, it is still more convenient for tourists to travel by taxi. Taxi cars can be any color, but are usually orange or white. One thing to keep in mind is that, as is always the case in tourist destinations, taxi fares near hotels and popular attractions will be higher than elsewhere. If you don’t want to overpay, just move 50 meters away from the hotel. You can bargain with the driver, but the price must be agreed upon before the trip. Please note that taxis have passenger seats behind the driver for women; only men can sit to the right of the driver.

It's easy to rent a car in Salalah. This can most likely be done even at a hotel. Your age must be over 21 years old, and your driver's license must correspond to an international standard. If you get behind the wheel in Salalah, do not break traffic rules. They are especially strict about speeding, not wearing seat belts, and using a mobile phone while driving. These violations are punishable by large fines, and arguing with the inspector is not only useless, but may be fraught with prosecution.

Connection

Mobile communications provided by local operators are almost flawless - there are more problems with roaming. Therefore, the easiest way is to purchase a SIM card from a local operator (Omantel is the most common) and a prepaid card to top up your account.

Internet and Wi-Fi are available in almost all hotels and many cafes. There are also several internet cafes in the city. Their prices vary, but, as a rule, do not exceed $2 per hour of work. True, the connection speed, depending on the location, may be unstable. If access to the Internet is important, we recommend checking with the hotel before checking in about its availability and speed.

Local calls can be made from telephone booths. For this, telephone cards are used, which are available everywhere in stores, kiosks or gas stations.

Safety

Salalah, like everywhere else in Oman, has a very low crime rate. But, as they say, God protects the best, so don’t tempt fate. There is no need to walk alone along deserted streets at night. Forget the saying “I carry everything with me” and store valuables in a hotel safe rather than in your pockets. It is also unwise to leave documents and valuables in the room - hotels often employ emigrants with unsteady moral principles, and thefts from rooms in Salalah, although rare, have occurred.

When diving or swimming in the sea, make sure that you don’t come across conical shells, stingrays and sharp corals on your way - this is the “top list” of marine life that can injure you. When diving, do not forget that at least two days must pass between the last dive and the flight so that the body can easily bear the load.

If you are going to ride around the area, be sure to take a sufficient supply of water: there are very few shops, cafes and restaurants outside the city.

While in Salalah, as in other Omani cities, you need to remember that Muslim traditions here largely determine the rules of behavior in society. To avoid unpleasant situations, we advise you not to violate accepted norms. When addressing local residents, be polite and tactful, avoid irony and familiarity (what seems humor to you may be regarded as an insult). Be sure to thank them for the services provided.

If you want to film or photograph local residents, be sure to ask their permission. Please note that filming of clerics, mosque interiors, military installations and people in uniform, and police stations is prohibited.

When walking around the city, it is better to avoid overly bright and flashy clothes. Women should ensure that their shoulders and knees are covered. Men should wear trousers and a shirt when visiting public places. By the way, you should not dress “like an Arab” and wear Omani national clothes everywhere: the locals will not be delighted with this.

Remember the reverent attitude of Omanis towards water. Although for Salalah the problem of water shortage is not as critical as for other regions, respect the local rules: do not pour water on the ground, do not swim in open water and do not leave taps open.

Salalah is a city that was previously the ancient capital of the southern region of Oman. Salalah is located in Dhofar. It is the second largest city in Oman, a state on the Arabian Peninsula. Salalah is located 1000 km from the capital Muscat, on the shores of the Indian Ocean, and its delightful beaches, nestled among coconut and banana plantations, captivate travelers at first sight. Just imagine a wonderful emerald plain surrounded by majestic mountains and forests, and your heart will forever be given to the beautiful Salalah.

Translated from one of the local dialects, the name of the city means “shimmering”. It is believed that in ancient times the city was named this way by representatives of mountain tribes, struck by the whiteness of its buildings in comparison with their gray dwellings. The date of the city's founding is unknown, but the earliest evidence of human activity found in the area dates back to 3000 BC.

It is interesting to observe the traditions of the Bedouins and tribes who have lived here from time immemorial. The history of the province dates back to pre-Islamic times - on the territory of present-day Salalah were the possessions of the Sabaean Kingdom (who has not heard of the Queen of Sheba?).
Salalah served as the capital of all of Oman for some time, since in 1958 Sultan Said bin Taimur (father of the current Sultan Qaboos) moved from Muscat to Salalah, which he has rarely left since then.

Currently, Salalah is a port city through which tropical fruits grown in the region and cement are exported. This constitutes the main income of the local treasury. The city is home to a large number of migrants, mainly from India, and there is even an Indian school.

At the dawn of Christianity, Salalah became known as one of the main suppliers of incense, due to which it prospered in the future. Thanks to this, Salalah was nicknamed the “Arabian capital of fragrances.” In addition, incense was traded in the Middle Ages with Arabian horses and gold with merchants from Africa, India and China.

In addition, Salalah is a resort town, and due to its climate, it experiences a tourism boom for four months a year, mostly due to vacationers from Oman and neighboring countries.

In summer, the air temperature in Salalah does not exceed 34°C. July – August is the time of monsoon rains, September is the velvet season. To come on holiday to Salalah, it is better in September to April.

The pattern of seasons in the Salalah region differs not only from the rest of the country, but also from most areas of the world. The fact is that these places lie on the path of the monsoons - seasonal winds blowing from June to the end of September. Therefore, the local residents’ enumeration of the order of the seasons causes amazement to the visitor.
The monsoon period is called “autumn” - at this time the temperature rarely exceeds 30 degrees. The rains bring abundant moisture, which not only makes the gardens of Salalah and its environs green, but also gives rise to streams of water in the mountains, forming cascades and waterfalls. Residents from other provinces of Oman and other countries of the Arabian Peninsula flock here during this period to escape the summer heat.

The Salallah area is the only place in the region where coconuts are harvested. There is also a lot of papaya and mango here. Mimosa, tamarisk, cacti and aloe are found everywhere. To the north of Salalah on the coast there are many lagoons with mango thickets, which provide shelter for many birds, including very exotic ones: flamingos, ibises, etc. The fauna is represented by rare species of birds (for example, flamingos), monkeys, etc.

Modern Salalah is home to many unique historical and natural attractions. Here you will find magnificent Sultan's palaces and ancient ruins. By visiting Salalah, travelers get an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with the history and culture of Oman, visit archaeological excavations in the southern region of the country, and also get to know better the life of the local residents.

In Salalah, you can visit the ruins of the palace of the legendary Queen of Sheba, the famous graves of Job and Al-Amran, the father of the Virgin Mary, and also visit the noisy, colorful bazaars where you can buy incense, national clothing, souvenirs and ancient gold and silver items.

In the city you can visit the Al-Baleed archaeological park - the ruins of the ancient city (fortress wall, citadel and mosque). In addition, ancient coins, scriptures, and pottery are exhibited here. Another attraction is the Al Husn Sultan's Palace, built in the 19th century.

Swimming near the city is very dangerous due to the turbulent ocean currents. The beaches are located to the west of the city. The most popular beach, Mughsail, is 40 km away and offers plenty of water sports facilities. In addition to its convenient beach, Mughsail is notable for its unusual holes in the rock from which streams of water cascade.

You can walk around small Salalah; in hot weather it is better to take a taxi. Other cities in Oman can be visited by intercity buses.

5.5 km from the center is the airport (Salalah Airport), from where mainly local flights operate. However, during the holiday season, flights are added to Dubai, Doha and Kuwait, as well as to some European countries.

The lush green vegetation gives Salalah the appearance of an oasis, while the beautiful white sand beaches and modern hotels attract many tourists.

Salalah is a real tropical paradise. While traveling around the city and its surroundings, be sure to enjoy the enchanting nature, snow-white beaches and deep, enchanting waters of the ocean.

Salalah, with its rich underwater world, is considered a paradise for divers. But even on the beaches of Salalah there will be something to do. While vacationing in Salalah, you will be offered diving or rock climbing. Enjoy camel racing and visit colorful oriental bazaars. Visit the red sands area of Vahiba, famous for its impressive 200-meter dunes. Go on a mountain safari.