Oman – A country you should definitely avoid!

Attention, attention! If you’re planning to escape everyday life and are looking for the perfect vacation destination, then you’d better stay away from Oman. This country on the Arabian Sea could spoil your travel fun – it simply has too much to offer!

Imagine being greeted by friendly people, having constant good weather, and being surrounded by breathtaking nature everywhere. Worse still: You might end up feeling good and never wanting to go home!

To make sure that doesn’t happen to you, we’ve put together 8 reasons why you should cross Oman off your travel wish list right away.

1. The weather is unbearably beautiful
2. The landscape is far too diverse
3. There are no skyscrapers and endless shopping malls
4. The culture is too rich and fascinating
5. The people are simply too hospitable
6. The country is far too safe
7. The nature is truly terrible
8. There are too many unforgettable experiences
Conclusion

1. The weather is unbearably beautiful

Let’s be honest, who wants warm weather and sunshine all year round? If you’re a fan of gray, rainy days and cold winters, you’ll be immensely disappointed in Oman. Unfortunately, the country almost exclusively offers clear skies and pleasant temperatures.

The sun shines so often that you can safely leave your umbrella and winter jackets at home. What a waste if you never get to wear all your beautiful autumn and winter outfits! So if you appreciate the coolness of an air-conditioned room, then you’d better skip Oman.

Oman Travel Time Salalah Palms

2. The landscape is far too diverse

Imagine being on vacation and constantly being distracted by new, breathtaking landscapes. It’s impossible to relax! In Oman, this is absolute horror: There are the endless sand dunes of the Rub al-Khali, where you feel like you’re in an epic desert film – far too spectacular to just lie around lazily.

Then there are the dramatic gorges and steep cliffs of the Jebel Akhdar Mountains, where you’re constantly tempted to take photos even though you were just planning to take a relaxing stroll. Not to mention the green oases that appear in the middle of the desert and completely disorient you with their palm groves and springs. Where is the monotony when you need it?

Last but not least, there are those paradisiacal beaches on the Indian Ocean, with their soft, white sand and turquoise waters. Honestly, that sounds more like a postcard than a tolerable vacation destination. Surely you prefer the good old boredom that you expect from a truly relaxing vacation, right?

3. There are no skyscrapers and endless shopping malls

When you visit Oman, you’ll quickly notice that there are almost no gigantic skyscrapers or endless rows of shopping malls. Shocking, isn’t it? Instead, you’ll be greeted by a landscape full of historic mud fortresses, picturesque souks, and traditional architecture that will transport you to another time.

Who wants so much culture and authenticity when you could wander between sterile, air-conditioned malls where one store looks like the next? A real drama for anyone who can’t live without a daily shopping trip!

And these souks – the traditional markets – are simply awful. There are no international fashion chains that you already know from every other city. Instead, you’ll find handmade carpets, exotic spices, fragrant incense resins, and delicate silver jewelry.

Sure, that sounds nice, but do you have the nerve to deal with such unique, locally produced goods? After all, you have to bring home a real souvenir instead of the usual mass-produced product!

4. The culture is too rich and fascinating

If you’re looking for a holiday destination that offers as little intellectual challenge as possible, then you’d better stay away from Oman. The culture there is simply too rich and fascinating to ignore. In Oman, you would be traveling to a country rooted in thousands of years of history, where you’ll encounter heritage and tradition around every corner. Do you really want to put yourself through that?

Who needs so much depth when you could just stroll around a theme park with recreated history? In Oman, you’ll be confronted with a wealth of culture that can only confuse you. For example, there’s the Frankincense Route, which has been a center of trade for centuries. Sure, incense might smell nice, but not everyone wants to ponder its meaning!

Then there are those impressive forts strategically placed throughout the country, each with its own story of glory and defense. But let’s be honest, is there that much substance? Wouldn’t it be much more relaxing to lose yourself in an anonymous hotel complex where the most exciting thing is the buffet?

So, if you’re a fan of cultural superficiality and prefer to avoid profound experiences on your vacation, then Oman is definitely not for you. Too many stories, too much tradition, too much humanity – simply too much of a good thing.

5. The people are simply too hospitable.

Omani hospitality is also a real problem. Here, you might find yourself invited for coffee—not just any coffee, but “Qahwa,” the traditional Arabic coffee served with sweet dates.

And before you know it, you’re embroiled in deep conversations about life, family, and Omani culture. Who has time for that on vacation? What an imposition when you’d rather remain anonymous and have no desire for real encounters!

You’re probably looking for a more distanced, anonymous travel experience, where no one bothers you and you can stay comfortably in your own bubble, right? Then just forget about Oman! The people there are simply too nice, and that could seriously ruin your vacation feeling.

6. The country is far too safe

If you’re looking for the ultimate thrill of risky adventures and constant vigilance on your vacation, then you should avoid Oman as well. This country is so safe that the thought of visiting might even make you wonder whether it might be better to bring a little nerves—after all, you’ll hardly encounter any real danger!

In Oman, you can stroll through the streets without having to worry about pickpockets or shady characters. The low crime rate there is truly a disgrace! You might be in Muscat’s Old Town, and instead of an exciting chase, you’re greeted with a friendly smile and a “Welcome to our city.” How boring! There’s simply no room for that adrenaline-pumping feeling you need for a real adventure.

And the police in Oman are exactly what you wouldn’t want them to be: friendly, helpful, and always at your service. You could stand on the side of the road without attracting a single bad look, and the police would still be happy to show you the way.

This isn’t really the stuff exciting vacation adventures are made of. If you need the thrill of an exciting crime chase, you won’t find it here.

7. Nature is truly terrible

Do you also enjoy strolling through dreary gray and boring, uniform holidays where nature plays no role? Then you’d better skip Oman. The constant beauty of nature might just distract you and make you stop yourself from truly relaxing and enjoying yourself—and we don’t want that, do we?

Let’s start with the Rub al-Khali, the bright red desert that stretches endlessly and constantly screams at you how impressive it is. It’s truly terrifying how those vast sand dunes glow in the sunset, painting a picture that could have come from a postcard catalog. And did we mention how incredibly sandy the desert is? Nobody needs sand in their shoes!

And then, just when you think you can relax a bit, along come the dramatic cliffs and gorges of the Jebel Akhdar Mountains, so spectacular they might almost make you seriously consider your existential questions.

But that’s not all: the wadis of Oman are so beautiful you might have to consider whether you’re actually dreaming. These mysterious valleys, lapped by turquoise waters and surrounded by sheer cliffs, might really turn your need for something ordinary and average on its head. How can you concentrate on the rest of your vacation with so much nature around?

8. There are too many unforgettable experiences

If you prefer to spend your vacation sitting in giant hotel bunkers and struggling through the usual tourist processing, then Oman is definitely the wrong choice. In this country, you’ll be constantly confronted with unforgettable experiences – and that can be really exhausting.

Imagine trying to sit back and relax and suddenly finding yourself in the middle of a spectacular natural adventure. Perhaps you’re hiking through the impressive wadis, counting the stars in the gigantic night sky, or exploring the underwater world of the Indian Ocean. The idea is simply horrible!

In short: If you’d rather forgo exciting experiences that might lead you to discover new things, then Oman is really not for you. The constant flood of extraordinary moments could lead to you actually having fun and enjoying your vacation – and that would of course be totally impractical!

Conclusion

If you still want to go to Oman after these shocking lines, we have plenty of blog posts to help you plan your trip. Don’t worry – Oman is really a fantastic travel destination that you shouldn’t miss!