The hilly terrain that stretches along Oman’s northern coast is also excellent hiking country. Make sure to take plenty of water and sunscreen before even contemplating walking in the area in the summer. Sightseeing: with nearly 2,000 years of history and plenty of heritage collected along the way, Muscat is a city with plenty to offer sightseers from its handful of forts to the splendour of the Grand Mosque with its towering minarets and huge, ornate Persian carpet. Scuba diving: with its crystal clear seas and easily accessible reefs, the northern coast of Oman makes a great stretch of coastline for divers. Not far from Muscat just down the Gulf of Oman coast, Bandar Jissah is a resort with a dive centre that can provide all necessary equipment including snorkelling gear. Hiking: outside of the hot season, the area surrounding Muscat provides plenty of opportunities for getting out into the middle of nowhere. A little farther south, the Jabal Akhdar range could occupy the most intrepid hikers for months but those with less time on their hands need not travel this far – just head to the hills that rise up on the southern fringe of the city. Whale-watching: there are 12 species of whale that regularly swim in the Gulf of Oman, including the blue whale, the largest animal on the earth, and the easy-to-spot humpback whale. Boat tours depart from a number of places close to Muscat for whale-watching tours where the chance of spotting any one of these species is high due to the clearness of the water and the large number of whales in the area. Fishing: boats can also be taken out into the surrounding seas for full- or half-day fishing expeditions. Most will include all equipment, use of the boat, an instructor/crew as well as food and drink. A handful of expatriate operations run in and around Muscat too. Find out more at tour operators in the city for the latest information. | 
