Some of my most special memories from living in Oman are not from staying in luxury hotels or boutique guest houses. They are from sleeping under the endless night sky, speckled with stars, often in our own tent. If you fancy wild camping in Oman read on for our experience gained over two years.
Below I'm sharing handy things to know, what to pack and some of our favourite places to pitch including locations on Google Maps. I've also answered some reader questions about food, camping basics and the ultimate wild camping conundrum: what to do when you need the toilet!
But before the good stuff, I'd like to thank you for visiting Oman Wanderlust and also encourage you to join our Facebook group Oman Unpacked. It's a community to get even more personal recommendations from visitors and expats who love Oman.
*This post contains affiliate links. If you click and buy something, I may earn some commission. This is at no extra cost to you but helps me cover the costs of running this website. See my privacy policy and disclosure policy for more information (links in footer).*
What's so special about camping in Oman?
We have been camping as a couple and as a family for more than two decades. In the UK we have owned tents, a caravan and a camper van, and parked ourselves at some lovely spots all over England and Wales.
But none of this compares to wild camping in Oman, where you can really immerse yourselves in the landscape.
Unlike the UK, where wild camping is all but a no-no, it's possible to pitch a tent almost anywhere if you follow a few simple rules:
- stay off the road and out of sight of permanent homes
- you don't stay in the same place for more than two nights (this is a legal requirement in some areas)
- take your litter with you and dispose of it responsibly.
This has given us the opportunity to stay the night on the edge of canyons, on hidden beaches only accessible by boat and at the top of mountainous and sand dunes. After these experiences, the thought of paying to camp in a regimented European holiday park seems truly unadventurous.
Camping tips
Before I share the locations of places we have camped, here's some handy things to know before setting off on your trip:
2WD or 4x4?
Plenty of people camp using a 2WD vehicle, even choosing to lay the back seats flat and sleep in the boot rather than put up an additional shelter. If you plan to do the same be aware that you will have less choices for camping spots because you'll not be able to drive too far off the tarmac road.
Remember, you can't camp right beside a road because you may cause an obstruction or accident.
We found that having a 4x4 gave us many more options as we were able to go off roads to find quieter spots.
Give yourselves plenty of time to find the best camping spot
Camping is very popular in the winter months, so expect well known spots to fill up fast, especially on the weekends which are Friday and Saturday, not Sunday, in Oman.
If you are planning on camping in places like Sifah Beach, Fins Beach, Jebel Shams or Jebel Akhdar, get there early to secure a spot before the sun sets.
Fuel up
There are loads of petrol stations on the main roads, but if you are planning on going off road make sure you have a full tank of fuel when you leave the highway. This takes the pressure off if you spend longer than expected finding a place to camp.
Buddy up in the desert
Never travel alone in the Wahiba Sands or Empty Quarter deserts. It’s too easy to get stuck. You can also corral your vehicles so that your camp is easier to see for other desert adventurers.
What about safety?
Camping is safe in Oman as long as you are sensible about your vehicle's capabilities and aware of your natural surroundings.
Crime is very low in Oman, so we never worried about that while camping. The worst you can expect from fellow campers is that they might be noisy neighbours. They are also very likely to offer you coffee and mishkak!
It’s the wildlife and weather that we were most worried about.
Scorpions and other beasties make burrows around bushes and snakes can be found sunbathing on rocks or hiding in cracks. Pitch away from these and it's very unlikely that you will encounter them.
Once you get a campfire going most things stay away. Although we did have mice, goats and camels visit in the night. Make sure any food is packed away so you don't wake up to a mess.
Always check the weather
Camping in the mountains or in wadis when rain is forecast is a no-no. Flash floods kill locals and tourists every year.
Something we also noticed in the desert and mountains was a change in the direction and strength of the wind when the sun rose and set. Being well pegged down is a must.
And, more at the comfort end of your considerations, when the nighttime temperature is above 30℃ it’s time to start camping at higher altitudes. We know from experience that it's no fun trying to sleep under canvas when it's 34℃.
What to pack
We are not minimalist campers and usually take everything but the kitchen sink. But here is what I think you need as a minimum for a night of wild camping:
- Something to raise you off the ground for sleeping
- A tarp and guide ropes or tent for shelter
- A shovel
- Water and dry, packaged food for one night
- first aid kit
If you like your creature comforts, here's some more things I would recommend:
- enough water and food for a few days stored in a camping fridge/cool box with ice
- a tent/roof tent
- camp bed/mattress - we tried and tested inflatable mattresses vs camp beds, and found the latter was more practical for Oman's different terrains
- sleeping bags and pillows
- camping chairs
- a lighter
- camping stove, pans, kettle and something to eat from
- washing up kit including dish washing liquid and a cloth/sponge
- bin bags
- firewood
- wash bag and towel
- a warm jumper as nights in the desert and mountains can get cold
- a hat, long sleeved top and sun cream to protect you from the sun
If you are intending to wild camp in the desert also take a look at the list of kit we packed for our Wahiba Sands crossing which included equipment that helped us recover our vehicle when we got stuck.
How to keep water cool
Something we didn't know before moving to the Middle East is that a lot of people here prefer to drink room temperature water. There's even science behind this as it aids digestion and improves hydration.
But if you want to keep your water cool while camping we have three suggestions:
- keep bottled water in a cool box packed with ice
- to save space and ensure food isn't ruined by melting ice, freeze a few bottles of water and use them as freezer blocks in your camping cool box
- or buy a separate thermal water container, fill it with water and ice cubes. You can find these at Lulu and Hypermax supermarkets along with cool boxes of various sizes.
We used all of thee methods and settled on the last as the best option for having cold water for 24 hours or more.
Where to buy camping equipment
If you haven't bought camping equipment with you or you need top ups, here's the places we recommend buying your kit:
- Decathlon in the Mall of Oman - you'll find good quality roll mats, camp beds and and sleeping bags here as well as camping accessories. This is the expensive end of the market but good if you are investing for the longer term.
- Thursday Trip - a specialist off road and camping equipment shop found in Mawaleh, Muscat. If you plan to go to the desert this is where you can pick up recovery equipment like sand boards and tow ropes. There are lots of similar shops across Muscat.
- Lulu Hypermarket - great for budget tents, camping chairs, mattress rolls, blankets, cheap pillows, camping gas and firewood. Other branches are available but I have linked the location of a large one.
- Hypermax - same as above. Other branches are available but this is a large one.
- Sultan Centre in Qurum - same as above plus camping stoves and gas barbecues. You'll also find more tent options when shopping between September and December.
- Ali Express and Amazon AE - for expats living in Oman you can get most things delivered through online retailers. Just be aware of delivery charges and tax.
Roof tent rental recommendations
If you want to hire a 4x4 with a roof tent and equipment, a good friend of mine has given me these recommendations:
Meals we cook while camping
I’m no chef, so don’t expect anything fancy. Here’s our go-to camping meals:
Dinner
More often than not, dinner was our first meal after arriving at a camping spot. We'd usually pack our cool box with frozen burgers or mishkak and eat these with bread and salads.
Another favourite that I would prepare in advance and freeze was chilli (meat or vegatable). This was easy to warm through and serve with rice or in tortilla wraps as burritos.
Breakfast
We always had a cool box with us so it was easy to transport cut fruit and yogurts to add to cereals. These might even last two days if you have enough ice packs or frozen water/meals in your cool box.
An easy to transport breakfast that was always a hit with my kids were wrapped pastries.
For a special treat we would start the day with turkey bacon and egg rolls. Don’t forget the tomato sauce!
Lunch
We didn’t often camp in the same spot for two nights, so lunch was often on the move.
If you want to avoid wrapped pasties from a petrol station, your cool box comes into its own. Pack it with pre-made wraps, samosa, vegetable sticks, hummus, boiled eggs, boxed fruit and yogurts.
The elephant in the room...going to the toilet when wild camping
In the UK and Europe we stayed at designated campsites with toilet blocks and waste disposal points for our portable chemical toilet.
When we moved to Oman we brought this with us. And never actually used it!
It was during our first camping trip we realised it was a pretty pointless piece of kit. You need to use chemicals in the tank to keep it 'nice' but then have nowhere safe to empty it until you get home.
So, we went back to basics. Yes, I'm talking about a shovel and a hole. To add a bit of luxury we had a toilet tent and seat on a frame so it was easy to perch over our natural toilet. Anything solid was bagged and binned at the next available skip.
A word of caution, not everyone is conscientious in keeping camping areas clean - another reason to arrive in the daylight when picking a spot.
So with that image planted in your minds...
Tried and tested places for camping in Oman
While I am sharing the locations of the places we have camped between 2023 and 2025, I accept no responsibility for their current suitability. The landscape is ever changing and extreme weather may make sites inaccessible or unsuitable.
Use common sense and don't take risks.
Beach camping
I have a love/hate relationship with staying on Oman's beaches after a bit of a shock during our first beach camping trip. A long story short, we got caught out by an unexpectedly high tide.
We learnt from that mistake and camped on several beaches. Oman's East facing coast makes for wonderful sun rises.
Here's some beach camping spots we recommend:
Bander Khayran
This collection of inlets and hidden beaches are a popular camping destination not far from Muscat. If you have more camping equipment than you can carry you can park here and ask one of the boat operators to take you round to the camping beaches. You can arrange a time for them to pick you up the next day.
Bander Khayran small beach: This small beach is only suitable for two to three tents, so if you reach it first it's unlikely you'll get neighbours. Pitch on the shingle and enjoy snorkelling, starry nights and bioluminescence in the winter months.
Location: Bander Khayran small beach
Bander Khayran big beach: This larger beach is just around the corner. We have camped here with a group of five families. If you are camping alone you may find other people join you.
Location: 23°31'10.3"N 58°44'04.5"E
Sifah Beach
This is a really popular camping spot. Expect it to be busy on weekends and public holidays when people go here to party rather than sleep. We camped at the north end of the beach away from the permanent camps.
Location: Sifah Beach North
Coastal camping spots between Dibab and Wadi Shab
There's an abundance of camping spots to pick from with low cliffs that give way to small beaches to the East and the towering Hajar Mountain range to the West.
My best advice for camping along this stretch of coast is to come off the Route 17 motorway on to the smaller road that runs along the beaches and keep your eyes peeled for a good spot.
If you are in a 2WD vehicle you'll find lots of parking areas just off the road. If you have a 4x4 you may be able to pull onto a beach.
Here's a place we have camped. While there, we swam with turtles and saw giant rays leaping from the water.
Barr Al Hikman
This is a camping spot that you should never attempt to reach solo. In fact, I would recommend hiring guide (and from personal experience even some of them can get lost!) to take you across the salt flats. The route changes regularly with the tides and weather, and it is easy to get stuck in the mud.
Stock up with food and water when you pass through the town of Mahout as there are no shops or restaurants once you start crossing the tidal plain.
We pitched between the beach and lagoon near Whales Head Camp.
Camping in the desert - Wahiba Sands
When in Oman, a night in the desert is a must. And if you're more into glamping than camping there's good news as you don't have to put up your own tent if you don't want to.
During our our first stay in Wahiba Sands we decided to check into a camp after a few days of wild camping in the mountains. But if you get the chance to go wild I think you'll love it.
Wild camping in the desert
We have wild camped in the desert during driving weekends with Guide Oman who found overnight locations along our route, or we went with friends.
One of our favourite places for camping with friends was a half hour drive along the Bedouin road from Al Wasil into the dunes beyond the SAMA desert camp. We camped in various spots high on the dunes with front row seats for the sunset and starry sky, while well away from popular weekend party spots closer to Al Wasil and Bidiyah.
Take a look at my post about our adventure crossing Wahiba Sands for more information about being prepared to travel in the desert.
Luxury camping
If all that sounds like too much hassle or you are not travelling with friends, book a desert camp instead. These range from air-conditioned luxury resorts to more traditional camps with Omani hospitality. You can even arrange to be picked up from Al Wasil or Bidiyah, so no 4x4 is necessary.
Hajar Mountains camping spots
Want to escape to the cooler climes of Oman's mountains? Here's some locations we have camped to watch the sun set and rise over rugged horizons:
Jebel Akhdar
There is a large picnic and camping area high on Jebel Akhdar where you can find sheltered pitches and stunning views. Here are the spots we have camped:
One of many Jebel Akhdar camping areas: this is a level space in a valley from where you can hike up the sides for views.
Location: 23°08'16.3"N 57°37'17.1"E
We did camp in another spot but I wouldn't recommend it. We have been driving around for a while, the sun was setting and the view points were quite windy. So pulled off the track and pitched quick in a sheltered area.
Look for suitable pitches in these locations with a view instead: 23°08'16.3"N 57°37'17.1"E and 23°07'59.7"N 57°38'19.9"E.
Jebel Shams
There are camping spots all along the East facing cliff. We chose one that meant bumping across some boulders, but it was away from other campers to the North of us. We moved a few rocks to pitch on a flat area.
Location: 23°11'59.1"N 57°12'07.9"E
Wadi Damm
This was the first stop on a week long road trip in Northern Oman. We enjoyed it so much that we camped here on three occasions.
Jebel Misht view above Wadi Damm: this rocky pitch had an incredible view but was quite exposed and very uncomfortable if you're sleeping on a thin inflatable mat. We made a note to buy proper camp beds after this.
Location: 23°14'12.3"N 57°06'28.8"E
Wadi Damm parking area: this much flatter pitch is in the car park at the entrance to the wadi walk. Lots of people come here to picnic in the day time and evening, so it can get crowded on weekends and holidays.
Location: 23°13'59.0"N 57°04'21.0"E
Sheltered spot above Wadi Damm: this was close to our original camping spot but more sheltered and with less of a view. It was easy to climb up the rocks next to our tent and see the sun rise.
Location: 23°14'14.3"N 57°06'16.9"E
Wadi Dayqah Damm
This was the very first place we camped in Oman thanks to friends sharing it with us. We loved the location, next to a deep wadi pool, so much so that we returned several times.
The track through the wadi is well used and most of the time it is dry with a few fords to cross. A 4x4 is essential for reaching this place and you must not camp here immediately after rain or if it has been forecast as the wadi is prone to flash floods.
Location: 23°06'25.3"N 58°53'58.4"E
Camping on the coast road to Salalah
If you are thinking of doing the epic coastal road trip between Muscat and Salalah, wild camping is a convenient way to sleep along the route. Hotels and guest houses are few and far between.
We made the 1,280km trip south in three days with two nights of camping:
Ras Madrakah: this place is better for camping with a roof tent. We struggled to find a suitable spot to pitch our tent because of the fishing debris on the beaches. In the end we went well off road to find a secluded spot. This is definitely one for 4x4 only and you need to be aware of the tides to ensure you are not cut off.
Location: 19°00'17.8"N 57°50'10.7"E
Ash Shuwaymiyyah beach: we pitched our tents on the long beach between the town of Ash Shuwaymiyyah and the mountain pass to Hasik. We had it all to ourselves.
Location: 17°52'21.1"N 55°33'50.0"E
Here's a couple of spots we would investigate if we did this trip again:
The lagoons at Al Jazer near Khahil: this looked like an idyllic spot to camp, much like Barr Al Hikman but easier to access from the main road. It's a few minutes drive off Route 41. It would have been too long to drive here straight from Muscat but if we had added a night to our trip and made an earlier stop at the Sugar Dunes of Al Khaluf this would have been a great place for a second night.
Wadi Schwaymiyyah - if you'd like to camp close to the famous waterfalls then this is an elevated parking spot with bins.
Have you go any questions about wild camping in Oman that I haven't covered? Drop me an email or comment below.