T R AV E L T R E N D S
VISIT SALALAH IN OMAN Land of Greenery By Rozina Musthafa
Salalah is the 2nd largest city of Oman, and it’s also a coastal city. Unique climatic factors make it a magical spot and the jewel of the Arabian Sea. On the northern side of it is a mountain range, with greenery, springs, and waterfalls (in Khareef), and on the southern side are pristine white-sand beaches. It’s blessed with a natural park with spectacular views of waterfalls, lakes, mountains, caves, vegetation, and plenty of wildlife.
The Salalah Festival is an yearly tradition that welcomes the cooler months. It lasts from July to September when the temperature drops to 23ºC, while the rest of Oman and the Gulf countries experience considerably hotter climates. Rain also turns Salalah into a completely green area. Omanis prepare some cultural and traditional shows to celebrate this monsoon season and welcome tourists and visitors from all over the world.
TOP PLACES TO VISIT IN SALALAH
AL BALEED ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK
Al Baleed Archaeological Park is an open air Archaeological site across the Arabian Sea that displays various artifacts discovered in the Al Balid and Sumharam ruins, as well as a whole section covering Omani maritime history including beautiful models of Omani ships past and present. This site is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a must-visit.
SOUQ AL HAFFA/ AL HUSN SOUQ
This is the main market in Salalah and the place for buying traditional Omani items from clothing to gold and silver handicrafts, and of course a wide variety of frankincense! If you are here during the Salalah Tourism Festival, you may also see a traditional Dhofari dancing performance. 70 DESTINATION RIYADH JANUARY 2018