How To Plan The Perfect Wild Camping Trip In Oman

Oman is a unique land with magnificent mountains, undulating ‘wadis’ and a top-notch coastline – basically, the perfect destination for seekers of adventure. Go really wild and make it a camping trip – it’s cost effective and the epic views when you unzip your tent in the morning can’t be beaten. Here’s how to plan the perfect camping trip in Oman.

Wild camping in Oman is legal and you can camp almost anywhere. That includes the beautiful beaches, rocky mountains and sandy deserts. Oman is also a very safe country; locals are welcoming, helpful and chatty, and they respect campers’ privacy. Wild animals don’t tend to approach campsites, except for goats, which might pay you a visit and explore your bags and belongings.

Where to go?

For a coastal caper, pitch your tent on the best-for-beauty Salalah beach

You’ll find a peaceful night among the desert dunes of Wahiba Sands

Organising the ultimate wild-camping trip in Oman starts by choosing the best place to pitch your tent. To camp in the mountains, Jebel Al Akhdar (the Green Mountain) and Jebel Shams (Mountain of Sun) are the top spots in the country. If you’re seeking a beautiful night on the beach, then head to either Ras Al Hadd in the east, Salalah in the south, Mughsail in the Dhofar region or Masirah Island. As for a peaceful camp among the dunes, the Wahiba Sands in Al Sharqiya region and Rub’ Al Khali – the biggest, continuous sand desert in the world – are the best-known deserts for camping in Oman.

Where not to camp

The greenback turtle hotspot of Ras Al Jinz is strictly off limits to campers

Be careful not to pitch your tent in the natural reserves, especially the greenback turtle nesting ground in Ras Al Jinz – camp fires can scare them away. Wadis (valleys) are beautiful camping spots too, but can be dangerous on rainy days when they can quickly fill with water.

What you will need

A carefully planned campsite means a good night’s sleep – so stock up

Once you’ve decided where you want to pitch your tent, you’ll need to find equipment and tools. Firewood is found in almost every camping location. If you need larger firewood, however, buy big stacks from the nearby villages. You should also bring a mattress if you plan to camp in the mountains because the surfaces are rocky and uneven. You can pick up most camping equipment from the big malls in Oman, such as Carrefour and LuLu hypermarket.

Several companies also rent equipment or organise special camping trips on which equipment is provided. Bring light and comfortable clothes for the morning, as it gets hot and humid in Oman, especially in the desert. At night, be sure to wear lots of layers, plus a hat and gloves to protect you from the cold.