What budget to travel Oman? Money and currency

What budget for activities and outings Oman?

To make Oman's heritage accessible to as many people as possible, entrance fees are often derisory: 500 bz or 1 OMR for the vast majority of forts and castles, a few OMR for museums, 5 OMR maximum for the most important ones.

For a breath of fresh air without spending a penny (unless you absolutely want a guide), hiking and trekking are 2 disciplines widely practised in Oman, where countless trails have been marked out. For other activities, which are generally supervised, budgets vary according to the services offered. However, as the sultanate's standard of living is relatively high, sporting activities are quite expensive, especially as they often require special equipment and, especially for mountain sports, there are few centers with experienced instructors trained to international standards. All the companies listed in this guide are accredited. On the other hand, avoid advertising by local freelance guides, especially for climbing or canyoning. They're certainly very good, but none of them are insured.

What budget to eat Oman?

You can eat cheaply, at any time of the day, in the coffee shops, scattered all over the country including in the most remote areas - in this case they are located at petrol stations. Hygiene rules in Oman are very strict, so restaurants and coffee shops are subject to frequent checks. If any breach of the rules is detected, the establishment is forced to close. There are therefore no contraindications to eating in small establishments that do not pay a premium for kebabs, wraps, salads, French fries, kebabs, Arabic dishes, etc. and delicious freshly squeezed fruit juices.

Elsewhere, prices vary according to the standing of the establishment: around 8 euros for a typical Omani restaurant and from 50 euros for a fine dinner in a gastronomic or fashionable restaurant.

What is the budget for accommodation Oman?

A peculiarity of the country is that its tourism policy tends towards a high-end positioning, while tolerating wild camping on a large scale. Although the government favours the opening of luxury establishments and rarely grants licenses to guesthouses, travel and accommodation can be found at all price levels in the sultanate. There are small local hotels in all the tourist regions, and while they may not be the most exquisite in terms of décor (ah, taste and color...), they are generally comfortable and always very clean, hygiene being a matter of the utmost importance in this part of the world. Nothing, however, or it's very rare and involves sharing an apartment in a hotel residence, at less than 20 OMR for a double room, or €47 all the same. These aparthotels, with their generally comfortable and spacious units, are a good option for keeping costs down, since they allow you to share costs and save on eating out - which, let's not forget, isn't really an expense, since you can eat for a few euros in the ubiquitous coffee shops.

In the absence of a guesthouse or local hotel, you can always pitch your tent, a practice accepted absolutely everywhere, provided, of course, you don't disturb the locals and respect their way of life. This form of globalized wilderness camping is sometimes even the only way to discover the country's most remote and secret areas.

Travel budget Oman and cost of living

Oman has a reputation for being an expensive destination and, indeed, standard hotels and car rentals are quite expensive. Even small guesthouses are never exactly cheap. But more and more of them are springing up in the tourist sections of the sultanate, offering great alternatives to hotels and, above all, a more authentic setting. Another significant advantage for the wallet: camping is free and authorized throughout the country, even on the outskirts of towns. Knowing that the level of safety is one of the best in the world, this is a major advantage. The only downside is that, while they do exist, serviced sites are rare, so we're talking more about wilderness camping without toilets or water.

The price of food varies from one to ten, depending on the standard of the place - from a gargote to a top-of-the-range restaurant in a luxury hotel. But it's perfectly possible to eat for a few euros every day and absolutely anywhere in the country, in the heart of the coffee-shops that are legion. It's worth noting that hygiene regulations are drastic in the Sultanate, and health checks are frequent. So there's absolutely no fear of eating on the go or sipping tons of fresh fruit juice, even on the rocks.

In terms oftransport, on the other hand, there's nothing very practical for backpackers. Neither train nor metro, very few public buses and, in any case, none serving the mountainous and remote areas of the sultanate that are of interest to travellers. As a result, it is often necessary to rent a 4x4 vehicle at a not inconsiderable daily cost (a minimum of 40 OMR per day). This may be partly offset by the cost of fuel, which is much cheaper than in France. To save money, a sedan may even suffice for the classic tour via Nizwa, the surrounding cultural and natural sights, Jebel Al Akdhar, the turtles, the most popular wadis (in this case, park at the entrance and hike), the coastline between Ras al Jinz and Muscat. All you need to do is ask for a transfer to a desert camp, which is often done easily.

If you plan your trip well in advance and opt for camping, you can visit Oman at a very reasonable price.