Oman

The Al Hajar Mountains stretch from Muscat, through northern Oman and into the United Arab Emirates. While they initially appear inhospitable and arid, they are becoming an increasingly popular destination for adventure travel. The picturesque range offers dramatic vistas of canyons, gorges, and plateaus, while the rich colours of the igneous rock formations make for unforgettable sights.Highway 15 winds up the mountains to the old city of Nizwa, home to an impressive 17th-century fort and an early-morning goat market. Nizwa makes an excellent base to explore the mountains from, including traditional villages and mudbrick towns, date plantations, and historic forts. There are a number of trekking routes ranging from three hours to multi-day hikes, and travellers can visit the famous rose gardens of the Saiq Plateau.

Bahla is an ancient city in the northern part of Oman, not far from Muscat. It was founded at an oasis for caravans and travellers to stop at and rest on their desert journeys, and was the capital of Oman between the 12th and 17th Centuries.The famous Bahla Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, dates back to 1,000 BC, and remains the city's most popular attraction. Bahla has a rich tradition of pottery, and you can still see potters working at their kilns and haggling over their wares.

With a coastline stretching 1,060 miles (1,700km) along the Arabian Sea, it is unsurprising that Oman boasts a stunning array of sunny, swimmer-friendly beaches. As the Omani government seeks to promote tourism throughout the country, its beaches have become focal-points for this exercise, with more and more fun beach activities such as diving, kite-surfing, and jet-skiing being offered on its shores.There has also been a huge spike in the development of luxury beach resorts up and down the Omani coastline, offering visitors an air-conditioned retreat from the blazing sun and sand. Some of Oman's best beaches include Qurum Beach, which is located in Muscat below the Crowne Plaza Hotel. It's a beach which is perfectly set up for family vacationers, featuring picnic areas and shady palm trees.Qantab Beach, located a short drive from central Muscat, has an established local fishing trade, and tourists are strongly encouraged to take a trip out with one of the local fishermen to explore some of the area's sheltered coves and sea-caves. Finally, Marjan Beach features small coral reefs ideally suited to novice divers and snorkelers. It also boasts a lively nightlife, with several restaurants and hotels often frequented by expatriate workers in Oman.Tourists don't need to worry unduly about the dress-code for Omani beaches: western swimwear is perfectly acceptable while you're on the beach. Just make sure to cover up appropriately when you're on your way to and from your hotel or beach resort.

Oman's most-visited tourist attraction, the Nizwa Fort stands as a monument to architectural ingenuity, and a fascinating record of the fort-building practices of a bygone age. The fort's underlying structure dates back to the 12th century, though it was completed by Imam Sultan bin Saif al Yaarubi in 1668 as a defence against invaders looking to exploit the region of Nizwa's valuable natural resources.The historical interest of the Nizwa Fort is significant, as it represents a major advancement in military engineering in the early days of mortar-based warfare. The centrepiece of the fort is a drum-like tower that reaches 98 feet (30m) into the air and has a circumference of 118 feet (36m), fitted with 24 openings for mortar fire.Visitors to the Nizwa Fort are allowed to freely explore the area, which consists of maze-like stairways and corridors leading to high-ceilinged rooms and terraces which afford great views of the city of Nizwa and its surrounding plains. A highly recommended tourist sight in Oman, budget at least three hours to take it all in.

Old Muttrah Souk is the most popular traditional bazaar in Muscat. The market is a small maze of narrow alleyways formed by adjoining stalls. Tourists can bargain with stall clerks over the prices of gold and silver jewellery, antiques, and other traditional goods. The market has a less forceful air than others, so visitors are free to wander at their leisure without overt pressure from touts. Although the Old Muttrah Souk is popular with tourists, locals shop here as well, giving authenticity to the market and mixing ornamental souvenirs in between household products and food.

Address : Hellat Scoral Lawatiya, Muscat

Opening times : Open 9am-1pm and 4pm-9pm Saturday through Thursday; open 9am-1pm on Fridays.

The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is a new yet architecturally classic building completed in 2001, and is one of the largest mosques in the world with a capacity for 20,000 worshippers. The interior is grand and the prayer hall is home to a hand-woven Persian carpet weighing over 21 tons on the prayer floor, while an exquisite 46-foot (14m) chandelier hangs from the ceiling.This is a religious site rather than a tourist destination so visitors need to be respectful of the rules, although English-speaking guides are available to help navigate the visit. Muslims can visit any time of the day, but tourists of other faiths, while very welcome, should only come during visiting hours. Visitors are asked to dress modestly and women are required to cover their hair.

Address : Sultan Qaboos St, Muscat

Opening times : Open 8am-11am Saturday to Thursday.