| Reviews and photos of Salalah attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Salalah sightseeing. Salalah Map |
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Al-Baleed Archaeological Park is one of the most interesting places to visit in the Salalah area. It is the site of the ancient port city of Zafar. The earliest settlement here dates back to around 2,000 BC, in the Bronze Age. It grew throughout the Iron Age, and you can still see the remains of a house from this period.
The city reached its peak in the 12th century, when it traded with Africa, India and China. Its major export, of course, was frankincense, but it also traded Arabian horses and gold. During the 14th century it was still a major trading port, when it was visited by Ibn Battuta. but, due to changing trade patterns it fell into decline by the mid-16th century.
Arachaeological excavation of the site has mainly taken place since the 1970s. The site covers an area of 64 hectares and there is a broad pathway, measuring 2.2km, which enables visitors to walk past all of the major structures, including the City Wall, Citadel and Grand Mosque. These are atmospherically floodlit at night. So, I would recommend visiting in the late afternoon and early evening so that you can see it both in daylight and artificially illuminated.
Admission, together with the Museum of the Frankincense Land, is just OR 1.
Opening hours: 8am-1pm & 4pm-9pm. Leave a Comment Directions: Al-Baleed is 4km east of Salalah, on the coastal road.
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Job's tomb is probably the most important religious site in southern Oman. It is the mausolem of Job of the Old Testament, known as the Prophet Ayub in the Koran. He is probably best known for the misquote "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away."
Both the Bible and the Koran say that he was an enormously rich man whose wealth was taken from him, and who was afflicted with a terrible skin disease, but he never despaired, remained loyal to God and was eventually rewarded by being made even richer and restored to full health. Hence the idiomatic expression, to be as patient as Job. By the way, what Job actually said, according to the Bible, was, "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away."
His simple tomb is on a pretty hilltop overlooking Salalah. Leave a Comment Directions: 30 km north-west of Salalah. If you are driving form the centre of Salalah, take the westbound Mughsail road past Centrepoint and turn right just after the Hamilton Plaza Hotel. The tomb is signposted as the Mausoleum of Nabi Ayub.
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Wadi Darbat is one of the most beautiful valleys in the Arabian peninsula. A river flows through here to the sea at Khor Rawri. After heavy rain during the khareef (June-September) there is an impressive waterfall at the southern end of the wadi. The wadi sides are densely forested. Nomads camp on the valley bottom while their herds of camel graze on the lush pastures. You can often see White Storks feeding amongst the camels. Leave a Comment Directions: The entrance to Wadi Darbat is well signposted on the road leading west from the roundabout just north of the town of Taqah, about 30km east of Salalah.
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Sumhuram was an important trading port between the 4th century BC and the 4th century AD. Today it is an impressive archaeological site with a beautiful location on a hill, overlooking Khor Ruri and the sea. There are extensive stone walls as well as a temple, residential area, storehouses and gateway to the harbour. A number of finds from the site, including cooking pots, jars and jewellery, are on display in the Museum of the Frankincense Land at Al-Baleed.
Admission OR 1 per vehicle. Leave a Comment Directions: Sumhuram is about 40 km east of Salalah.
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The citadel was where the ruler resided. It is just oppsite the grand mosque. The excavated portions include the northern side, which comprised an external wall and a round tower at the wall’s centre. Another tower has been revealed in the north-eastern corner, while the north-western corner was linked by another wall to the main city wall. Excavations continue to uncover other towers on the southern side of the fort.
The citadel consisted of several storeys, surrounded by a wall. The latest excavations have been on the citadel’s southern side, overlooking the grand mosque. A tower, the main entrance and a winding path leading up some stairs to the upper storeys have been revealed. Some of the upper floors have also been excavated. The path leads to some chambers in the north, six of which have already been uncovered. One of these rooms included a stratum of burned ash mixed with bronze, which suggests it may have been a workshop. Leave a Comment
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Mughsayl stretching for 4 kilometers is a magnificent sandy beach outlined by sculptured cliffs and blow holes formed in the limestone rocks, where plumes of water can reach a height of 30 meters or more. It is popular bathing resort and picnic spot. At high tide the sea bursts
dramatically through the rock slabs jutting out from the cliffs revealing many blow holes, the largest of which are covered with metal grids. The view along the coast where the mountains meet the sea is spectacular. The nearby Khawr Mughsayl is home to flamingos, pelicans and storks. Leave a Comment
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It is the cultural centre of Salalah and has on display the Al Musnad writings, ancient scriptures and coins dating back to 11th century AD, pottery dating back to the middle ages and traditional irrigation tools and manuscripts. The museum is open Saturday through Wednesday from 8am to 2pm Leave a Comment
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Nabi Ayoub's Tomb lies about 40 kilometers from Salalah on Jable Ittin. Nabi Ayoub's Tomb, marks the place where the remains of the Prophet, can be found. On the walls of the building are verses from the Holy Quran. Near the tomb, a small stone mosque is believed
to have been used by Nabi Ayoub for prayers. It is advisable to take off your shoes before entering and women should cover their heads with a scarf. Leave a Comment
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Previous sultans, including the current sultan's father, Sultan Said, lived in Salalah, but Sultan Qaboos has moved to Muscat. He still uses the Sultan's Palace in Salalah as his summer residence, however.
The palace, known as Al Husn, was originally built by Sultan Turki in the nineteenth century, but has been extended by successive sultans, and it is now a big, modern complex of buildings, overlooking the beach, south of the city centre. It is surrounded on the landward side by a stone wall and entered through big teak doors. The stretch of beach immediately in front of the palace is off limits to the general public, but you can get quite close and take photographs of the palace. The armed sentry doesn't seem to mind. Leave a Comment
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Mughsail Beach is known for giant blowholes (perforations in the limestone rock) which spurt water up to 30 metres (100 ft) high with sea water gushing into the cave system behind them during high tide.
Walking along the rock shelf you can hear the eerie sound of the sea rushing beneath your feet. Leave a Comment Address: west of Salalah
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on November 7, 2008
on July 19, 2003
on July 3, 2003
