Imagine a week immersed in spectacular scenery: towering mountains, rolling dunes, flourishing mangroves, tropical orchards and a sparkling ocean. Over seven millennia of history, outdoor adventure activities, and a variety of cultural attractions add even more interest. Finally, throw in luxurious and serene accommodation, and you have a week spent between two jewels of the Middle East: Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE and Salalah in Oman.
Ras Al Khaimah and Salalah are a natural pairing for a one-week vacation itinerary. With fast travel times between them, a week divided between these destinations is a wonderful way to experience some of the very best mountain and desert scenery, heritage and culture the Middle East can offer.
This guide will give you a better sense of the two destinations with all the unmissable attractions revealed. Learn more about where to stay in both locations and how to travel from Ras Al Khaimah to Oman, too.
Part 1: Days 1 to 3 in Ras Al Khaimah
Ras Al Khaimah is the northernmost Emirate in the UAE. It’s renowned for its spectacular scenery, rich history, and warm hospitality.
Ras Al Khaimah has 68 kilometers of coastline facing Northwest across the Arabian Gulf. The coast features white sandy beaches and lush mangroves. Inland, a strip of desert separates the coast from the majestic Hajar Mountains and the UAE’s highest peak at nearly 2,000 meters above sea level, Jebel Jais. The varied topography means that the Emirate is packed with opportunities for adventure and exploration.
Where to Stay
Along the coast, there are luxury resorts that combine stylish accommodation, fine dining, spa facilities, beautiful pools and private white sand beaches.
Coastal hotels and resorts include:
The desert opens up some equally wonderful accommodation options. The Ritz-Carlton Resort Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert has private villas nestled within the dunes. There are also glamping opportunities.
What to Do
There are many ways to spend three days in Ras Al Khaimah.
Jebel Jais and the Hajar Mountains are must-sees and easily accessible by road. As well as spectacular views, the mountains offer great hiking and climbing opportunities, a high ropes course, and Jais Flight, the world’s longest zipline.
Other recommended destinations and activities for your time in Ras Al Khaimah include:
Day 4: Traveling From Ras Al Khaimah to Oman
Ras Al Khaimah are around 1,000 kilometers apart across the Arabian peninsula. You can travel between them via road or air.
Ras Al Khaimah to Salalah by Road
The 1400-kilometer road journey from Ras Al Khaimah to Salalah is an astonishing experience that takes you through both mountain landscapes and vast deserts. If you want to feel a sense of space and nothingness like never before, and you have enough time, then this is for you.
The total driving time from Ras Al Khaimah to Salalah is 13-14 hours. Most road trippers break their journey with an overnight stop at Nizwa, a charming town surrounded by mountains. There are plenty of hotel options in Nizwa, and a fort and a souq are also worth visiting, making it an interesting stopover.
Ras Al Khaimah to Salalah by Air
If time is not on your side, then a flight from Ras Al Khaimah to Oman is the best option for you. The fastest way to travel between the two destinations is via Sharjah or Dubai International Airports, where you can catch a direct flight to Salalah that takes under two hours.
The Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah travel time is around 45 minutes, and you can reach Sharjah International Airport in around 35 minutes.
Part 2: Days 5 to 7 in Salalah
Salalah is a coastal city and regional capital in southern Oman. Its scenery is more lush and green than much of the Middle East thanks to the Khareef, its summer monsoon season. Banana plantations and coconut groves thrive in its tropical climate, and they surround the city and its white sandy beaches.
Salalah is an excellent hub for exploring southern Oman. Visitors love the area’s wildlife and heritage sites and the nearby Empty Quarter, the vast desert that spreads northward across Oman and the Arabian Peninsula.
Where to Stay
Several luxury resorts make the most of Salalah’s coastal position with beautiful beachside retreats. They include:
- Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara
- Salalah Rotana Resort
- Crowne Plaza Resort Salalah
What to Do
No visit to Salalah is complete without soaking up the atmosphere of the frankincense souqs, exploring its tropical fruit orchards, and witnessing the architecture of the largest mosque in the region, the Sultan Qaboos Mosque.
There are many delightful locations to explore within a short drive of Salalah. Spend days five to seven completing your choice of the following day trips:
- The ancient ruined desert city, Ubar, known as the Atlantis of the Sands
- The enormous dunes of the Empty Quarter, best explored by camel or 4×4
- The mountainous Jebel Samhan Nature Reserve, home to Arabian leopards, hyenas, and gazelles
- The waterfalls of Wadi Darbat
- Samharam, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can see remnants of the important frankincense trade.
From Ras Al Khaimah to Salalah: A Week Well Spent
Together, Ras Al Khaimah and Salalah offer some of the best scenery, adventure and heritage in the Middle East. With this one-week itinerary, you can experience the magic of the desert, mountains and coast. Why not start planning your trip to Ras Al Khaimah and Salalah today?
