“7-Day Salalah Road Trip” Things you Need to Know Traveling with Children
Travel Guide - Salalah, Oman
Monsoon season is finally here and this is the perfect time to discover this beautiful paradise in the dessert of Oman. I personally do not believe it until I and my family experienced the wonders of Salalah. In this blog we will explore the places we have been to, share the amazing hidden gems we have truly cherished with our children as Salalah has its special memories that lingers on forever in our hearts.
In this blog I will share the details of our 7-day road trip experience traveling from Dubai to Salalah , where did we stay with our kids, top tips on how to survive the 15-hour drive as well as lay overs, and finally our Salalah itineraries and experience. So if you are travelling with children this blog is specially for you!
Day 1 - Travelling from Dubai to Salalah, Oman
We are a family of seven, myself my husband and our four kids plus nanny. We woke up early and get geared up (more on this later), to prepare our long drive from Dubai - Oman. First thing before we dive in! please be reminded if you are travelling with kids it is extremely important to keep them busy during the road trip so we brought their ipads, head sets, books, colors etc. and a lot of patience with us. :)
To travel from Dubai to Oman by road, you generally have a couple of main routes depending on your final destination within Oman. Since we took Dubai - Hatta - Al Ain- Ibri - Niwa - Salalah roads, this is where I will focus on.
Route to Salalah ( Dubai-Hatta-Al Ain-Ibri-Nizwa-Salalah)
Dubai to Hatta border crossing:
To travel from Dubai to Hatta, take the E44 highway (Hatta Road) southeast for about 130 kilometers, passing through scenic desert landscapes and mountain views until you reach the Hatta border crossing. The journey from Dubai to the Hatta border offers stunning views of the desert landscape, rocky mountains, and charming villages, making it a scenic and culturally enriching experience. From Dubai to the Hatta border typically takes about 1.5 to 2 hours by car, depending on traffic conditions.
Hatta to Al Ain:
To travel from the Hatta border to Al Ain, take the E44 highway southwest, then merge onto the E55 and follow it west until you join the E66 highway, continuing on this route through the scenic Hajar Mountains and desert landscapes for approximately 160 kilometers until you reach Al Ain.
Important
Documents: Ensure your passport, visa (if required), and car insurance (valid in Oman) are up to date.
Border Crossings: The Hatta and Oman borders are the most common for travelers from Dubai. However, confirm the current status of the border crossing points and their operational hours.
Vehicle Requirements: If you are renting a car, confirm that the rental company permits cross-border travel to Oman and provides the necessary insurance. 4x4 is highly advisable based on our experience.
Bring at-least 1 ltr. of extra fuel just if incase of emergency. (optional)
Alternative Routes:
Kalba Border Crossing (for South Oman): If you are traveling to the southern parts of Oman, you might consider the Kalba border crossing. From Dubai, take the E102 (Sharjah-Kalba Road), then cross the border at Kalba and proceed towards your destination in Oman.
Before you start your journey, it's advisable to check the current road conditions and any travel advisories. the traveling hours always depends on different routes you will take, the approx. travel time we took also depends on how fast we were navigating the roads as well as including stop overs and resting hours in between. This guide is primarily from our own experiences. If you are considering a road trip to Salalah, it is important to allocate minimum seven to max ten days if you will maximize the trip with resting period in between.
Al Ain to Ibri:
To travel from Al Ain to Ibri, take the E22 highway southwest towards Mezyad, then cross the UAE-Oman border. When we reached the boarder we spent another approx 2hrs. for the verification of the documents which I also shared below for your guidance. After crossing the Hatta border, you will enter Oman near Buraimi and proceed towards Ibri. Continue on Route 21 south through the picturesque Omani countryside for approximately 130 kilometers until you reach the town of Ibri.
Ibri to Nizwa:
Continue from Ibri to Nizwa on Route 21. We decided to have our overnight rest in Niwza which with 4 children is highly advisable. We have stayed in a very friendly and cosy hotel named Intercity Hotel Nizwa by Deutsche Hospitality. We have rested so well and ready to a road trip again the following day from Nizwa to Salalah.
Day 2 - Nizwa to Salalah:
We had our morning breakfast in the hotel in Nizwa and immediately left, started our journey from Nizwa to Salalah early to make sure we will not be late at nigh. It took us approx four and half hours to reach Salalah, we have enjoyed the very welcoming weather entering Frankenstein city to Salalah the fog was all over us covering the cars, we felt so much excitement seeing the subtle clouds with the rains heavily pouring down, feeling the coldness and breeze temperature covering the surroundings.
Due to the long drive, we have settled in the hotel at Hilton, Salalah. We prefer to leave the rest of the late afternoon to explore the beautiful landscape, palm trees around the hotel as well as the beach area. We made an evening walk by the beach and waited for the sunset. Had our dinner in the hotel and rested.
Day 3 - Ayn khor, Mountain Picnic Adventure
Our technically “first day” in Salalah was amazing, we woke up raining and had a nice breakfast at the hotel, Hilton Salalah is one of the cosiest hotels we found in Oman. Great for families I have wrote a separate review during our stay should you need to know more about Hilton in Oman.
Before we started our day we went for a quick morning walk again. Hilton in Salalah is located in such a beautiful very calming, peaceful with so many coconut trees surrounded by it , the location was perferct for us, it made us feel we weren’t in the Middle East. Although be mindful with the biggest mosquitos I have even seen which quite prominent in this area in Salalah. Ayn Khor is our next journey.
Take Note!
There are numerous ways to get to Ayan Khor, but I will focus on the vehicles, which I believe are the most important aspect to consider before embarking on this trip. The mountains are steep and rocky, making it crucial to have a sedan cars, instead a 4x4 vehicle is more preferable. Additionally, exercise caution, especially when it rains.
Bring mosquito repellants, sleepers so you can enjoy the nature and the running waters at most. We definitely enjoyed this trip, on the way back we stop on the mountains to have a picnic for dinner, watch the sunset, my kids were playing around whilst we can still view the Ayn falls from apart. it was a wonderful family experience for us. It is time go back to our hotel at is near by night. Hilton once again is not far, we came tired and rested well for or next adventure the next day.
Today, we skipped breakfast at the hotel and woke up early to prepare for our journey to the famous Wadi Darbat. According to my research, the route to Wadi Darbat is long not due to distance but because of the heavy traffic caused by the numerous visitors to this paradise in Salalah. This was exactly our experience; the cars were jam-packed, moving slowly towards the falls, which were the main point of our journey.
Parking was heavily congested as well, with no designated parking areas. We ended up parking our car along the side with many others. We then walked down to the falls in our slippers and shoes to experience the beautiful gift of Salalah’s nature. Wadi Darbat Falls is incredibly refreshing, with clear turquoise water that is very calming. You can try boating here, but swimming is not allowed. Carry extra clothes with you, water bottles, sun screen and have fun!
On the way back, we visited one of the nearby sinkholes, known as Tawi Attair. There are pathways that kids and families can walk safely to reach this area. However, be cautious, as the sinkhole is very deep. While the scenery is beautiful and peaceful, exercising caution is essential, especially in this area.
We definitely didn't want to miss the Greenlake view either. You can make a short stop here to rest and take photos if you wish. Our journey to Wadi Darbat was full of surprises, and we easily found Greenlake on the way to the sinkhole mentioned above. Salalah has many beautiful places to offer, and we feel so blessed to experience them ourselves.
On our third day, we chose to splurge and enjoy a relaxing day without driving or long walks at the Hilton before heading back on our long drive to Dubai. We decided to stay at the hotel and enjoy the facilities they offer. The weather was perfect throughout our trip, allowing us to fully enjoy the best days and locations in Salalah. The Hilton and its staff were very accommodating, and they have a family pool facing the beach area.
The view was absolutely amazing. We were very happy with our stay here. Our trip to Salalah has to end here. Had the best dinner over and slept earlier to leave at 5am the next day.
On this day, we woke up early to travel back to Nizwa for our first overnight stay before heading back to Dubai. We preferred this route since we had our kids traveling with us. We didn’t have much choice to stay late at the hotel, as the long hours of travel would not allow us to make it in time during the day if we stayed for breakfast. Therefore, we packed light food and water and started our journey from Salalah back to Nizwa.
It's approximately four and a half hours from Salalah to Nizwa via Route 21. We stayed at the Intercity Hotel for a night to experience the hotel facilities, which my kids definitely enjoyed. After settling in, we went straight to the kids' pool area at the back of the hotel. Also, note that swimming attire in Oman is conservative, so pack a full-covered swimsuit or something similar to avoid any disappointments.
Overall, we enjoyed our stay in Nizwa, feeling fully refreshed and well-rested, ready to head back to Dubai using the same route mentioned above.
Day 7 - Nizwa to Dubai
Salalah is of our memorable trips as a whole family. It was our very first long drive travel with our kids from out of the UAE. It is highly recommended to travel on Monsoon season starting from July to see and experience the real paradise in Oman.
Top Tips:
Travel during the day: The majority of the roads in Oman towards Salalah have no lights.
Bring battery banks: Essential for keeping your devices charged.
Water and refreshments: Stay hydrated and energized.
Handy toilets: Plan for restroom breaks, as facilities may be sparse.
Mosquito repellents: Protect yourself from mosquitoes, especially in areas like Salalah.
Plan your itinerary well in advance: Ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip.
Bring at least 1 liter of fuel (optional): Extra fuel can be handy for long stretches without gas stations.
Carry cash: Not all gas stations in Oman accept credit cards.
Have FUN! Enjoy your journey and the beautiful sights along the way.
Lastly! Should you have been enjoying reading my travel blogs please visit and follow my PHOTOGRAPHY journey on my ClickASnap account here you will find all my beautiful captured moments from different places we have been to, explored and left my heart filled with special photos and memories.
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