Salalah, Oman: travel guide
Capital of the southern Dhofar region, transformed each summer by the khareef monsoon into a green, misty landscape of waterfalls. Ancient centre of the frankincense trade with UNESCO sites at Al Baleed, Khor Rori and Wadi Dawkah, plus long Indian Ocean beaches.
- Country
- Oman
- Currency
- OMR
- Time zone
- Asia/Muscat
- Nearest airport
- SLL
Top places to visit in Salalah
Sultan Qaboos Mosque Salalah
Mosque · 4.7 rating · about 0.8 h
The large white congregational mosque of Salalah Al Jadida, an elegant example of modern Omani mosque architecture.
Ayn Razat
Nature · 4.4 rating · about 1.3 h
A spring-fed garden park with pools and shaded lawns at the foot of the Dhofar mountains.
Taqah Castle
Fort · 4.2 rating · about 1 h · entry OMR 1
A restored 19th-century coastal fort-house museum of Dhofari life, about 33km east of Salalah.
Al Haffa Souq
Market · 4.3 rating · about 1 h
A traditional market near the corniche piled with Dhofari frankincense, bakhoor and hand-carved incense burners.
Al Mughsail Beach
Beach · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h
A long white-sand Arabian-Sea beach about 40km west of Salalah, backed by cliffs.
Job's Tomb (Nabi Ayoub)
Heritage · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h
A hilltop shrine reputed to hold the tomb of the Prophet Job, set amid the green Dhofar highlands with sweeping views.
Mirbat Castle
Fort · 4.3 rating · about 0.8 h · entry OMR 1
A 19th-century sea-facing fort in the historic frankincense and dhow-trading town of Mirbat.
Wadi Dawkah Frankincense Park
Nature · 4.3 rating · about 1 h
A UNESCO-protected grove of wild Boswellia sacra frankincense trees on the plain north of Salalah.
Wadi Darbat
Waterfall · 4.7 rating · about 2 h
A travertine cliff waterfall and valley of lakes that roars to life during the khareef monsoon.
Bin Ali Tomb, Mirbat
Heritage · 4.6 rating · about 0.5 h
A distinctive twin-domed medieval mausoleum on the edge of the old dhow-trading town of Mirbat.
Salalah Corniche & Al Haffa Beach
Beach · 4.5 rating · about 1.3 h
A palm-lined city beach and promenade along the Dahariz/Haffa waterfront, popular for evening strolls.
Sumhuram & Khor Rori
Heritage · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · entry OMR 2
A UNESCO-listed fortified ancient frankincense port overlooking a coastal lagoon at Khor Rori.
Things to do
- East Salalah Tour Tour · 8 h · from OMR 35 per person
- West Salalah Tour Tour · 5 h · from OMR 30 per person
- Khareef Green-Season Sightseeing Nature · 4 h · from OMR 20 per person
- Frankincense Trail Tour Tour · 6 h · from OMR 35 per person
- Dolphin Watching Boat Trip Water · 2 h · from OMR 15 per person
- Empty Quarter (Rub al Khali) Desert Tour Adventure · 10 h · from OMR 90 per person
Day trips and tours
- East Salalah Full-Day Tour 8 h · from OMR 35
Where to stay in Salalah
- Al Haffa & Corniche about OMR 80 per night
Beachfront strip near Al Baleed with the corniche, souq and top resorts.
- Salalah City Centre about OMR 45 per night
Central district with malls, budget hotels and easy access to the mosque and souqs.
- Salalah Beach (Al Saada) about OMR 110 per night
Modern resort development east of the city with lagoons and family resorts.
Hotels
- Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara 5-star · OMR 120 to OMR 280 per night
- Salalah Rotana Resort 5-star · OMR 90 to OMR 200 per night
- Hilton Salalah Resort 5-star · OMR 70 to OMR 130 per night
- Fanar Hotel & Residences 5-star · OMR 80 to OMR 160 per night
- Crowne Plaza Resort Salalah 4-star · OMR 60 to OMR 110 per night
- Hamdan Plaza Hotel 4-star · OMR 30 to OMR 55 per night
Where to eat
- Bin Ateeq Salalah Omani · about OMR 6 per person
- Baalbek Restaurant Lebanese · about OMR 7 per person
- Al Reef Lebanese Restaurant Lebanese · about OMR 5 per person
- Qadri Restaurant Indian · about OMR 3 per person
- Darbat Restaurant Arabic · about OMR 6 per person
- Bahjha Al Andlas Restaurant Arabic · about OMR 4 per person
Getting around
- Bus main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Car Rental Self main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Ride Hail main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.