Camping in Oman: The Ultimate Guide from a Solo Female Traveler

Oman was practically designed for wild camping. Wadis filled with hidden pools beckon you in to explore, small valleys between towering mountain peaks become the perfect places for a good night’s sleep. There is something about waking up on a mountain top – or among the dunes of the desert or on the shores of a beach – that makes Oman feel like magic. 

However, if you’re planning on spending some time camping in Oman, you probably have plenty of questions. That’s why I’ve broken down everything I learned on my week-long solo camping trip across Oman so that you can get all the answers in one place. From how safe I felt as a woman to the nitty gritty of bathroom activities (I KNOW you’re curious!) consider this your ultimate guide to camping in Oman. 

Wild Camping in Oman

Wild camping is completely legal in Oman. That means if you see a cool beach or a hidden valley, you can pitch your tent there, no problem. You do not need a permit to set up a campsite or make a campfire, just some ambition and a tent (or in my case, a big car!)

Where Not to Camp in Oman

There are a few exceptions to the “camp anywhere” rule, which include privately owned land and protected nature reserves. These areas are usually clearly marked and it’s hard to confuse them.

One notable spot where camping is not allowed is the Ras Al Jinz beach. This area is extremely popular for its sea turtle populations, but since they are a protected species, camping is prohibited on this beach. If you plan to camp in Oman during hatching season (usually April-August) look carefully for any posted signs regarding turtle nests on any beaches. 

Responsible Wild Camping

When camping in Oman, it’s important to be responsible campers. This means paying attention to Leave No Trace Principles, and leaving campsites as good as or better than you found them. 

If you notice some trash left at your campsite by previous campers, be considerate and pack it out along with your own rubbish. Be respectful of the people and animals that you encounter, and remember that you are a traveler in someone else’s country, so be considerate of local customs and treat the landscape as you would your own.

Safety Factors to Consider

There is an unfortunate misconception that Oman is unsafe, but this is 100% untrue. 

On the contrary, Oman is one of the safest countries in the world for travelers and locals alike. The crime rate in the country is extremely low, and the Royal Oman Police are easy to access and quick to take action to uphold this reputation of safety and security. Many locals regularly leave their doors unlocked and windows down without fear, even in Oman’s larger cities.

Omani people are extremely hospitable and eager to welcome travelers to their country. Many people will go out of their way to make you feel at home, from recommending campsites to inviting you to join them for gahwa (Arabic coffee) and dates.

TIP: If you do need to contact emergency police while traveling in Oman, dial 9999.

Safety as a Woman Camping in Oman

Even in the safest countries in the world, there is always a level of nuance to consider as a solo female traveler. However, I’m happy to report that I felt extremely safe camping in Oman, even as a woman traveling by herself.  

Since I was traveling alone, I maintained some of my regular habits for solo travel, such as never telling anyone my exact camping spot and remaining ambiguous about the fact that I was alone. However, I ended up taking some campsite recommendations from locals now and then, and even camped with two new Omani friends I made along the way!

Wildlife and Other Hazards While Camping in Oman

Luckily for wannabe-campers, there are minimal natural predators in Oman to consider. Scorpions and snakes both reside in the desert, but are generally sparse and more afraid of us than we are of them. A general good rule of thumb is to shake out clothes and check your bags after camping for creepy crawlies. 

You should always be aware of your natural surroundings when camping, especially when setting up camp in wadis or on beaches. In the case of rain, wadis are prone to flash floods, so if you decide to camp in a wadi, make sure you pay close attention to the forecast. When camping on beaches, always check the tides to ensure you won’t wake up in a puddle or get washed out to sea!

The Basics of Camping in Oman

There are plenty of factors to consider when planning a camping trip across Oman for any period of time. Here’s a breakdown of my packing list and the facilities I found along the way during my week solo-camping. 

The Facilities

FOOD – Food is easily accessible and affordable in most parts of Oman. There are large supermarkets in all of the major cities, where you can purchase all your essentials. Smaller towns usually have smaller grocery stores, with basics like bread, fruit, and snacks.

Eating out is also relatively inexpensive in Oman depending on your tastes. Most basic Arab dishes range in price from 1-2 OMR ($2-$5 USD) and South Asian dishes are usually even cheaper, ranging from 0.5-1 OMR ($1-$2 USD) Even in smaller towns, food options are usually plentiful – keep your eye out for roadside cafeterias selling shawarma and biryani.

TIP: Most gas stations and mosques in Oman have adjacent cafeterias. These are great places to stop for a quick bite while out on the road.

WATER – The verdict is still out on whether the tap water is safe to drink in Oman – some locals do, some locals don’t. Either way, it’s best to stock up on plenty of water to have with you while camping for drinking, cooking, and cleaning. Most stores carry 2 liter bottles for ~0.2 OMR each ($0.50 USD) 

If you want to fill up water on the road, most mosques have a purified drinking fountain outside where you can fill up your bottle in a pinch. If approaching a mosque, please remember to dress modestly (shoulders, knees, and heads covered). I highly recommend buying a filtered water bottle like this one from Water To Go so you can fill up from anywhere. 

BATHROOMS – Let’s be frank here: when camping, most of the time bathroom activities are as simple as finding a secluded spot. This spot should be at least 50 meters from a water source, and any toilet paper or feminine products should be carried out. I recommend carrying a small trowel with you to make this process a bit simpler. 

Most gas stations in Oman have public bathrooms. You will usually have to ask a station attendant for the keys, but facilities are free. Most public bathrooms do not have toilet paper – most often just a shattaf (aka, a bidet). If you absolutely need toilet paper to go, I recommend carrying it with you. 

TRASH – Public trash cans are all over Oman and easily accessible. Unfortunately, in certain areas, you’ll still see plenty of trash on the ground. Please do not further contribute to the problem and pack out everything that you bring. If possible, even pack out any trash you find left in wild areas. 

The Gear

The big three gear items you’ll need for camping in Oman are as follows: a vehicle, a tent, and a sleeping bag.

In my case, my car doubled as my lodging and my transportation. If your car is suitable for sleeping, this is certainly an option you can take as well. 

Besides the big three, here are some things I packed for my camping trip across Oman:

Charging banks – charged up during the day while driving, useful at night
Cigarette plug charger – useful for charging my gear during long drives
Kitchen equipment – pots/pan, fork, knive, spoon, plate, cup
Soap/Baby wipes – For staying clean and showers in a pinch
Biodegradable shampoo – Dr. Bronners is one of the most widely-sold biodegradable brands
Toilet paper – for daily activities and to bring with me to public bathrooms
Mini shovel – for the aforementioned daily activities
Dish soap/sponges – for keeping my kitchen supplies clean on the road
Trash bags – for packing out my trash and collecting rubbish I found
Firewood – for nights I wanted a campfire but didn’t want to scavenge for wood
Camp stove – when I wanted to cook meals without the hassle of a campfire

TIP: If you don’t want to bring all this gear with you to Oman, everything you need can be purchased at one of Oman’s major retail chains: Lulu Hypermarket or Carrefour. There are plenty of stores in Oman’s major cities. You could also consider renting gear from a company like Nomad Tours

My 5 Favorite Campsites in Oman

During my week car-camping across Oman, I stayed at a number of unique campsites and diverse landscapes. However, these five definitely reigned supreme. Go check out my full week-long road trip itinerary if you want more recommendations of things to do near these campsites. 

1. Bandar al Khairan Viewpoint

4WD Needed: No
Coordinates: 23.513440, 58.742748

Probably the best view you’ll ever have while camping. The Bandar Al Khairan viewpoint peers out over the turquoise fjords into the Gulf of Oman, and is located near a number of trails taking you down to smaller hidden beaches along the coast. 

You can choose to camp at the viewpoint itself, or take your gear down to the beach to camp right beside the sea. 4WD is recommended if you chose to drive to one of the smaller beaches, but the road to the viewpoint is paved and accessible with 2WD. 

This spot is only an hour from Muscat, so it’s a great place to start or end a road trip in Oman. The small town below the campsite has a grocery and a coffee shop if you don’t have the energy to cook, and it’s a popular sunset-watching spot for locals, so you’re bound to get invited for some evening gahwa and dates. 

2. Jebel Shams

4WD Needed: Yes
Coordinates: 23.206165, 57.203428

Is there any place better to camp than at the peak of Oman’s tallest mountain? Jebel Sham’s popularity with locals means it might not be the most secluded campsite you encounter, but certainly one of the most beautiful. Go to sleep with sunset views one direction, wake up to the sunrise the other. 

There are plenty of spots to camp on the peak of Jebel Shams, but I highly recommend the spot above. It’s slightly off-the-beaten-track from other popular camp spots and perfectly located on the edge of Wadi Ghul, the “Grand Canyon of the Middle East.” This means you’ll be in prime position for some epic sunsets the next morning. 

Jebel Shams is only accessible via a dirt road, so 4WD is necessary to camp at this spot.

3. Wadi Damm

4WD Needed: No, but 4WD can access deeper in the Wadi
Coordinates: 23.231267, 57.070007

Wadi Damm is one of the most stunning places to visit in Oman. The winding wadi takes you past numerous turquoise pools, perfect for a morning swim or afternoon dip. It’s the perfect place to spend an afternoon escaping the heat in the shady wadi. 

The bed of the wadi is a great camping spot. Wadis are dried up riverbeds, which means they are naturally greener than many other parts of Oman. Wadi Damm has plenty of green trees – a somewhat rare sight in Oman – perfect for setting up camp. Plus, camping in the wadi itself means you’ll have first dibs on the pools the next morning. 

I recommend 4WD for camping in Wadi Damm, as you’ll be able to drive further into the wadi (and shorten your walk to the pools if you intend to visit) However, you could certainly park at the outside of the wadi and carry your gear into camp as well. 

DO NOT camp at Wadi Damm if there is a chance of rain. Wadis are very prone to flash floods, so if the weather looks gloomy, best to find another spot.

4. Pebble Beach

4WD Needed: No, yes if you want to drive directly onto the beach
Coordinates: 22.852035, 59.237917

Pebble Beach is a laid-back, beautiful campsite easily accessible off of Oman’s Route 17. It’s easy to see how the beach gets its name – round, smooth pebbles line the shores, perfect for skipping if you’re so inclined. Keep an eye out at night, when bioluminescent plankton lights up the rocks along the shoreline.

There are a few rocky cliffs about 300 meters down the beach that are nice to pitch your tent under. Pebble Beach is also located only 5 minutes from one of Oman’s biggest tourist attractions – Wadi Sham. I recommend getting to this wadi early to avoid crowds, so Pebble Beach is the perfect spot to camp the night before. 

As always when camping on beaches, be aware of the shoreline and pay attention to the tides when pitching your tent – you don’t want to wake up in a puddle!

5. Sifa Beach North

4WD Needed: No, yes if you want to drive directly onto the beach
Coordinates: 23.443754, 58.780346

This was my first campsite in Oman, so it holds a special place in my heart. With the mountains one way and the ocean the other, it doesn’t get much better than setting up your tent on Sifa Beach. The powdery sand is just an added bonus. 

This campsite is only about an hour from Muscat, so it’s a great place to start your trip. Camping on the beach is free game, so you can park and set up camp, or if you’re confident driving on sand (and have the vehicle to do so) head right up onto the beach to find the perfect spot. 

My favorite thing about this campsite was waking up early and taking a morning swim. With gentle waves and a quiet atmosphere, it’s the perfect tranquil spot to rest and relax. 

Glamping in Oman

Listen, I get that taking wadi showers isn’t for everyone! For those who want to dip their toes into camping but aren’t ready to commit full-time to campfire cooking, Oman has plenty of “glamping” (glamorous-camping) options available. From geodesic domes with desert star views to pop-up luxury tents on Oman’s tallest peaks, here are a few glamping recommendations in Oman.

The Best Time to Go Camping in Oman

The best time to travel in Oman is during the winter – October-March. During this period temperatures are mild, usually between 25-30°C. 

Summer months get extremely hot in Oman, with temperatures often rising above 40°C, even after dark. This makes camping extremely uncomfortable, and I do not recommend trying to camp at this time if you are sensitive to heat. 

In areas of high elevation like Jebel Shams and Jebel Akhdar, nights can be chilly during the winter months. It’s actually not uncommon to see a little snow on Jebel Shams mid-winter, so if you plan to camp there during the winter months, pack accordingly and come prepared. I camped on Jebel Shams in February and while it was chilly, with a proper sleeping bag I was just fine.

My Oman Travel Essentials and Gear

Whether you’re looking forward to spending 24 hours exploring Muscat or car-camping your way through the Hajar Mountains, here are some of my recommendations to make your trip as smooth as possible:

• FLIGHTS: Find cheap flights to Oman on Kiwi.com and WayAway. If you’re also planning to head to Salalah, Oman’s green oasis, I highly recommend flying to cut down on time.
• HOTELS: Booking.com is my go-to for lodging around the world.
• RENTAL CARS: An essential for travel in Oman. I rented my 4WD through RentalCars.com
• TRAVEL INSURANCE: Visitors Coverage offers insurance plans tailored for every type of traveler. Click here to view their 3 most popular plans.
• ACTIVITIES: GetYourGuide, Viator, and TripAdvisor are some of the best platforms to search for activities.
• GEAR: I love my Osprey Porter 30 for travel and backpacking (plus it’s carry on size!) My waterproof Tarion camera backpack is my go-to for adventure travel, as it fits all my camera gear and daily essentials. I also can’t travel without my Water-To-Go filtration bottle.

Need Advice?

Have questions or concerns planning your own Oman Road Trip? Send me an email at brokenbootstravel@gmail.com or leave a comment below and we can chat everything from itinerary to safety.

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