Do you know that Salalah dramatically transforms from a dry landscape into a beautiful green oasis in the monsoon season? All the places in Salalah that were once barren mountains and deserts turn into a carpet of green, and the changes are brought on due to the monsoon rain and clouds from the Arabian Sea that surround the city and give life to it with waterfalls, rainfalls, and streams.
What Is The Best Time To Visit Salalah?
The best time to visit Salalah is the monsoon season, also known as the Khareef season, which literally means autumn in Arabic. It refers to Oman’s monsoon season which arrives between late June and September. If you are planning to make a Salalah trip, here are all the places that you must add to your travel itinerary, most of which look even more ethereal in the Khareef season.
The Best Places In Salalah to Visit During Monsoon
1. Mughsail Beach
Al Mughsail Beach is one of the most aesthetic places to visit in Salalah. It is a long stretch of white sand bordering clear blue waters, and the landscape is beautiful enough to bring peace to any person.
And it’s not just an ordinary beach. This place in Salalah is surrounded on both sides by picturesque mountains, which makes it an elegant spot for spending a relaxing day or taking memorable photographs. If you like, you can even spend a cozy little picnic with your family on the beach.
2. Wadi Darbat
Wadi Darbar is the best place to see in Salalah during the rainy season. It is usually a low-lying waterfall but reveals its glorious beauty from July to September as the trees and lake transform it into a lush and thriving valley.
Besides trekking across the lush grass and plains, you can enjoy the beautiful seasonal waterfalls that capture the attention of all tourists. Boating is also one of the best things to do at Wadi Darbat as the lake looks even more majestic under the cloudy sky, surrounded by lush green mountains.
3. Ittin Salalah and Ayn Jarziz
The Ittin Mountains are only a 10-minute drive away from the airport, and you can reach the top viewpoint within 5 minutes to get a glorious view of the city. It is among the most beautiful places to visit in Salalah, especially in the monsoon season and at night.
While the clouds obscuring the green landscape of Salalah as seen from the top of the mountain, is a sight to behold, the Ayn Jarziz Springs are an unforgettable attraction. They are right beside Ittin and look heavenly in Khareef season, with plenty of natural activities to enjoy such as shallow streams, waterfalls, and breathtaking views of the Mountains.
4. Fazaya Beach
Another one of the aesthetic Salalah places to visit is Al Fazaya Beach. This 5-kilometer beach is a sight to behold in the monsoon season as the pristine white sand and clear water glitter under the overcast sky.
Most tourists and locals visit Al Fazaya Beach to take a dip in the refreshing waters, but the real highlight is the stunning scenery and mountains that surround it. However, we highly recommend taking a reliable 4×4 vehicle for your journey there, as the roads can become slippery during the rainy season.
5. Al Husn Souq
The Al Husn Souq looks like a place out of a fairy tale during the Khareef season. You must make a visit to this market during your Salalah trip as it offers the best cultural influence and natural beauty of this region.
Al Husn Souq is one of the best places in Salalah which gives an old open-air market vibe. You will find dozens of shopkeepers selling perfumes, colorful clay pots, Omani dresses, and other items that you can take away as souvenirs. The ambiance of the market looks even more magical during the rainy season.
6. Ayn Sahalnoot
Fancy a scenic drive surrounded by green trees on both sides? Or maybe you are looking for places to visit in Salalah with your family in the lap of nature. Then Ayn Sahalnoot is an impressive valley that can make all your traveling dreams come true.
This beautiful place offers natural scenery where you can hike mountains, fly kites, enjoy a little picnic, or drive around. The fog that envelops the whole place during monsoon adds to the charm of the valley, creating a peaceful oasis where the waters are as calm and blue as the skies.
Places To Visit In Salalah With Family
1. Sultan Qaboos Mosque
Sultan Qaboos Mosque is a stunning building that captivates your attention right from the outside. It is one of the best places to see in Salalah for genuine Islamic displays of architecture. It is the biggest mosque in the city and is located in the heart of the Salalah City Center Area.
The two domes and minarets of the mosque as seen from outside look ethereal as the backdrop of a serene lawn. The main entrance displays beautiful Arabic font and chandeliers. On the inside, you can find two prayer halls for male and female worshippers, with huge wooden doors, green carpets, and majestic wall patterns adorning the interior of the mosque.
2. Sumhuram Archaeological Park
This tourist attraction at Khor Rori is a respected heritage site that tells the stories of old settlements in Oman. It is a great place to visit in Salalah with your family, as after the restorations, the archeological sites are very well preserved and many other remains are discovered such as temples, fortifications, Frankincense storage rooms, and many residences.
The Temple of Sin is an attractive place to check out as it was the worship place of the Mesopotamian Jemeni Moongod of Sin. The entrance fee is quite nominal and gives you access to the archeological sites as well as the indoor gallery.
3. Marneef Cave and Blowholes
Salalah is one of the most beautiful cities in Oman, a natural wonder that you can see in its beaches, sand dunes, mountains, and caves. The Marneef Cave is among the most popular places in Salalah, and its close proximity to Mughsail Beach ensures that it is always getting visitors from around the world.
The Khareef season brings about beautiful scenery that you can enjoy while sitting under the Marneef Cave, and once you are at the cave, the blowholes are only 5 to 6 meters away. Once you reach down to the blowholes, you can get a beautiful view of the cave from afar – a sight that will surely steal your breath away.
4. Tawi Atair Sinkhole Oman
The Tawi Atair Sinkhole is one of the most famous places to see in Salalah with your family. Being the deepest natural sinkhole in the world among others, it attracts thousands of visitors each year due to its adventurous individuality.
The sinkhole is very deep, which is why you and your family must take care while seeing it from the viewing gallery. During Khareef season, the land around the sinkhole can be dangerously slippery, so do not try to view it from any other place, and never in the absence of a professional guide.
5. Djebel Samhan
Djebel Samhan is a natural reserve in Oman where you can breathe in the magical views above the clouds. This mountain presents one of the highest points in the Dhofar Mountains on the east of Salalah, and offers you a mix of diverse wildlife and the serene atmosphere of the mountains.
Hayur Cave is a beautiful cave and a great viewpoint in Jebel Samhan, and it is from this particular place in Salalah you can witness the landscape of clouds beneath you. With the rugged terrain and breathtaking sights, there are a lot of activities you can enjoy at Djebel Samhan.
6. Anti-Gravity Point
A short detour from the Tawi Atair Sinkhole will lead you to the Anti-Gravity Point, one of the most exciting places to visit in Salalah. Your kids will love the mysterious ability with which the cars go up the hill without the use of acceleration – a natural magic that you and your family will never forget.
The Anti-Gravity Point, also known as Magnetic Point or Magnetic Hill, is an amazing tourist destination as the cars can move as fast as 40 to 60 km per hour without the use of any external forces, and that too uphill!
7. Museum of the Land of Frankincense
This museum in Salalah has a variety of halls and a Frankincense tree living inside of it, to showcase the various artifacts discovered by UNESCO sites. There are two halls inside the museum, the Maritime Hall and the History Hall. The former has a beautiful display of wooden crafted models of Omani Boom, Battil, Ghanjah, Sambuq, and other boats. The latter possesses historical items and artifacts extracted from the Al Baleed Archeological site.
This indoor museum is indeed one of the greatest places to visit in Salalah with your family and travel buddies.
Hidden Gems And Places In Salalah
1. Empty Quarter Oman (Rub Al Khali)
The Empty Quarter lies 200 km North of Salalah and is one of the best places to visit in Salalah due to its daunting and highly adventurous experience. This desert is quite unique as compared to others in the region, as the giant piles of sand gravel spread over an area of 500,000 sq. km stretches in not one but 4 countries; Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.
Dune bashing is perhaps the best way to enjoy the Empty Quarter, the largest uninterrupted desert in the world, on your Salalah trip.
2. Taqa Beach
The beautiful Taqa Beach has the most photogenic huts in all of Salalah. Their unique architecture and design not only provide you with a serene ambiance but are also perfect for hosting a small party or barbeque with your loved ones.
The creeks offer the most stunning views that not many places in Salalah can compete with. The grass grows on the white pristine sandy beach. If you are a bird lover at heart, you will love it here at Taqa Beach as flocks of birds fly around here and gather at the beach.
3. Dolphin Watching Cruise & Diving
Dolphins are long-known friends in Oman who meet all tourists with maximum zeal and happiness. There are many places in Salalah where you can spot humpback dolphins. We highly recommend booking a cruise for yourself to meet these lovely animals.
The cruise begins in the morning and offers almost 2 hours of interactive dolphin-watching experience. The guides will also help you take great photos from the safety of your boat.
4. Local Fruit Huts
Oman is known for its dense vegetation and growth of the most delicious fruits in the region, and it is no wonder that the country proudly presents its fresh produce in traditional wooden huts.You can find the local fruit huts selling everything from coconut drinks to bananas and vegetables, and they are indeed one of the most heartwarming places to visit in Salalah. The rates of fruits are displayed on the stalls so that you can have a unique and refreshing experience getting delicious fruits and fruit juices to your heart’s content.
