12 Quirky Things To Do in Sur, Oman
Scribbled by Claire ◊ 02 Apr 2025
Are you planning a trip to Oman and wondering if Sur is worth visiting? Below we detail all the coolest and quirkiest things on offer around Oman’s maritime city, including wadis, off-roading adventures, museums, plus camping spots, hotel recommendations, and more.
While Muscat, Nizwa and Salalah get all the limelight in Oman, the charismatic port city of Sur, historical home of the dhow, should not be overlooked as a hub for tourist activities. Its proximity to some of the most popular locations in the country, including several of the best wadis, off road driving routes, ancient sites and coastal highlights, makes Sur an interesting destination in its own right.
The seafaring centre of Sur was once one of the most prominent maritime trade cities in the Arabian Sea, with connections to east Africa, India and China as far back as the fifth century. These trade routes were facilitated by traditional dhow boats, which sailed across the region, delivering spices, ivory and precious stones. With the construction of the Suez Canal in the 1800s, Sur’s trading influence diminished, but the conventional dhow construction persisted.
The city is relatively small and easy to visit in a day, with crumbling buildings, a lengthy corniche, several museums and some serious maritime history. We’ve spent quite a few (lost count!) nights in Sur, exploring the surrounding region in depth. There’s a distinct, laidback vibe that differs from anywhere else we’ve spent time in Oman.
This post contains everything you need to know for your visit to Sur and a quick list of things we think are worth your time!
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Getting from Muscat to Sur
The best way to visit Sur is to rent a car. This will enable you to explore all the surrounding scenery, sights and wild camp (if that’s your cup of tea). Unless you drive through the Hajar Mountains, all the roads to Sur are paved, not at all congested, and very easy to drive. We fully recommend driving from Muscat to Sur, even for beginner drivers.
We hire all our vehicles in Oman (and across the world) through Discover Cars. Their insurance is unparalleled (from our unlucky experiences!).
Bus | it is also possible to get a bus from Muscat to Sur with the official Oman bus company Mwasalat. The bus route 55 leaves from Azaiba Bus Station and takes about five hours. This journey goes through Ibra, so doesn’t take the scenic coastal drive. The bus leaves once a day at 8 a.m. and a single ticket costs 4.2 OMR. Mwasalat has an app and a decent website if you want to check it out.
Hitchhike | hitchhiking in Oman is common and safe. The route is busy from Muscat to Sur so I imagine it would be easy to get a lift, but can’t be sure as we haven’t done it ourselves.
Things to do in Sur, Oman
1. Visit Al Ayjah
This small, historical district is across the lagoon from the main city of Sur. Wandering around this intriguing enclave, you’ll pass goats, fishermen and dilapidated buildings; it’s worth getting out on foot to explore here for a little while. From the lagoon side, you can see the dhow construction and boats across the bay, along with the sentry watchtowers that guard over the inlet. There are also heritage buildings that, unlike many other places, have not been commercialised or restored. Within this region, make sure you spot:
The watchtowers – these look like they have faces on. There are a handful on the hills around the lagoon, originally positioned to protect the port and now look out on the dhow yard.
Al Ayjah Lighthouse – although it is not possible to climb the lighthouse, there are nice views of the beach and corniche from across the harbour. The building may not be old, but is quite striking and can be seen from all along the coast around the city of Sur.
Distance from Sur: 0 kilometres
Car: 2WD
Entry fee: free
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2. ‘Mother of all Outcrops’
This is the weirdest thing to do in Sur. We were looking at Google Maps and saw a place marked ‘mother of all outcrops’, somewhere off the main road to the south east of Sur.
Obviously, with that name we just had to go check it out – and this is it! Check out the photo if you’re interested in visiting – it was quite cool, but just some big stripey rock in the middle of nowhere.
Made me laugh though.
Distance from Sur: 40 kilometres
Car: 2WD
Entry fee: free
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3. Pink Lakes
Along the coast that runs south between Sur and Shannon Port are some salt lakes with a seriously pink hue. These aren’t hard to locate – there are several spots along the main coastal road.
GPS coordinates: 22.191263, 59.765548 – pink Lake near Ra’s ar Ru’ays, 22.064317, 59.672462 – pink lake south of Suwaih.
Full disclosure – we’ve driven this route numerous times so have popped in to see the pink lakes more than once. One time we got really lucky and the lakes were crazy bright pink, other times they were softer shades of pink.
These Oman pink lakes aren’t like the pretty, farmed pink salt ponds you see in places like Mexico. They are natural, ungroomed salt lakes and you may see some dead fish and birds! It’s nature.
Distance from Sur: Ra’s ar Ru’ays pink lake: 75 kilometres, Suwaih pink lake: 92 kilometres
Car: 2WD
Entry fee: free
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GOT MORE TIME IN OMAN?
Explore some wadis:
Take a look at our 13 favourite wadis
Hike Oman’s favourite Wadi Shab
Live in a fairytale at the Wadi Damm pools
Explore the quirky white pools of Wadi Abyad
or the magnificent waterfalls of Wadi Darbat
Explore the cities and mountains:
Feel intrepid on an Oman offroad mountains itinerary
Discover what dramatic means with this Salalah itinerary
Explore Oman’s cultural heart in Nizwa
Prepare with our Oman driving guide
Max out your time with these Muscat Day Trips
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4. Wadi Tiwi
Apart from Wadi Shab, Wadi Tiwi is one of the better-known wadis in Oman. This one, however, requires a four-wheel drive vehicle to reach the best area. It’s also one of the very few places in Oman where you may get a little bit of hassle from the residents – go prepared.
We’ve written more on another post about our favourite wadis in Oman, check it out if you’re interested.
Distance from Sur: 75 kilometres
Car: 4WD
Entry fee: free
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WHERE TO STAY IN SUR, OMAN
Despite its size and proximity to a plethora of famous sites, Sur isn’t exactly rammed full of luxury accommodation. There are several main ‘tourist grade’ hotels, including Sur Plaza Hotel and Sur Grand Hotel. If you are looking for a moderate, comfortable hotel with a decent breakfast, we recommend these.
Tour groups use these hotels though, so you’ll possibly see a few obnoxious tourists walking around in inappropriate clothing (seriously, every single time we’ve stayed).
Camping | Camping is a fantastic option around Sur, if you are visiting with that in mind. We have both camped and stayed in hotels multiple times around Sur and recommend either depending on your preferences. The beaches north of Sur are pleasant and popular with campers.
Turtles | there are also options to stay near the turtle reserve in Ras Al Jinz, roughly 50 kilometres south-east from Sur. The SAMA Ras Al Jinz Resort is far nicer than the Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve Hotel (especially when considering the price – although the latter’s room rate does include a guided tour).
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5. Beehive Tombs
One of the more off-beat sights around Sur and also one of our favourite places in the entirety of Oman, these 4000-year-old tombs are absolutely worth the trek if you have a four-wheel drive vehicle.
We’ve written about the history behind the Jaylah beehive tombs and how to reach them on a separate post if you’re curious to find out more.
Distance from Sur: 85 kilometres
Car: 4WD
Entry fee: free
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6. Spot Turtles
Turtle-nesting is one of the most popular reasons to visit the Sur region. East of the city are the small settlements of Ras Al Jinz and Ras Al Hadd, with beaches where rare turtles lay their eggs. It is possible to go on a night/morning tour and see the eggs hatch or laid.
Be careful not to disturb the turtles – lights, camera flashes and loud noises can all seriously affect their egg laying and hatching.
There are questionable ethics involved in viewing turtles. If you have a bad experience with a tour, ensure you leave a review everywhere you can to help stop any bad practices.
Tours are run by the Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve. Have a look at their site to book a trip.
Distance from Sur: 50 kilometres
Car: 2WD
Entry fee: 8 OMR for adults, 3 OMR for children 3-10, free entry for under 3s
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CAMPING AROUND SUR, OMAN
Wild camping is legal almost anywhere in Oman, and around Sur is no exception! The best places to camp outside of the city are:
Fins Beach
Qalhat Beach
Eastern Hajar Mountains
We’ve written more about camping in Oman and our favourite wild campsites, if you want to have a look.
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EXPLORING OMAN’S WHITE WADI | IS OMAN EXPENSIVE TO TRAVEL?
7. Learn About Dhows
Along the lagoon front at the west end of the suspension bridge leading to Al Ayjah, on the city side of the harbour, is a small gate. Behind it is an incredibly significant, famous maritime tradition. Here, using centuries-old practices, the Arabian wooden vessels called dhows are still handcrafted.
The workshop is open-air, sitting along the waterfront and usually produces only a few dhows at a time – each one made to order. If you want to see some construction in action, avoid summer, it’s too warm and you’ll not likely see anyone doing anything strenuous!
There’s also a shop with some miniature dhow models if you fancy a nautical-themed Oman souvenir.
Distance from Sur: 0 kilometres
Car: 2WD
Entry fee: 1 OMR
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GOT EVEN MORE TIME IN OMAN?
Go camping:
Sleep under the stars at these amazing wild camping locations
Plan your trip with our Oman camping guide
Camp atop Oman’s highest mountain
or camp in the palest of Oman’s deserts at the Sugar Dunes
or have a totally unique adventure:
Spot the most remote beehive tombs in Oman
Wander around Oman’s most photogenic fort
Learn about livestock at the Nizwa goat market
Take a look around Oman’s most unique fortification
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8. Wadi Shab
One of the most famous outdoor sites in Oman, Wadi Shab is a star. With a short boat ride, 45-minute hike, three pools to traverse and a cave with a waterfall, it’s an adventure suitable for anyone with a little mobility.
For more information, check out our dedicated post on the hike to Wadi Shab and if it appeals, consider having a look through our top wadis in Oman.
Distance from Sur: 50 kilometres
Car: 2WD
Entry fee: 1 OMR
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9. Forts and Castles
Within Sur, there are several forts and castles. These include:
Sunaysilah Fort | 16th century building designed to defend the city
Bilad Sur Castle | built in the 19th century for defending against roving tribes within Oman
Al Ayjah Castle | another fortification built in the 19th century along with the surrounding merchant buildings
Distance from Sur: 0 kilometres
Car: 2 WD
Entry fee: Various
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10. Maritime Museum Sur
A small, well-maintained museum dedicated to the maritime history of Oman. It’s a must-see for anyone who is super into ships and local history, otherwise maybe give it a miss because the entry fee is quite steep for the size. It’s pretty cool if you want to learn all about the different types of dhow boats (there are way more than I thought).
There is also a large, 25 metre long, ‘Ghanja’ style dhow boat on display called Fatah Al Khair.
Distance from Sur: 0 kilometres
Car: 2WD
Entry fee: 3 OMR
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11. Eastern Hajar Mountains
Looming over Sur, just to the north, is the eastern Hajar Mountain range. Precipitous tracks weave their way, almost impossibly, up the sides of the vertical cliffs, providing vast views of the entire coastline. These mountains are arguably more spectacular than the more famous western Hajar mountains, yet are rarely visited by tourists.
There are several routes in, all requiring a four-wheel drive vehicle; each one totally worth the time and effort (we’ve driven all the roads in this region).
The mountains hide caves, abandoned villages and even 4000-year-old beehive tombs mentioned above. We love the scenery and isolation when driving here – it’s unrivalled in our opinion.
Distance from Sur: from 29 kilometres
Car: 4WD
Entry fee: Free
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12. Wander Sur’s Corniche
The seafront region of Sur is pretty and worth a little of your time just to take a stroll along. You can see the Al Ayjah Lighthouse across the bay and watch fishermen tidy their nets for their next outing. It’s not really a swimming beach (although we did see the occasional resident in the water!), there are small sun shelters, a handful of restaurants and some generally wild, peaceful vibes.
Distance from Sur: 0 kilometres
Car: 2WD
Entry fee: Free
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CAR HIRE FOR YOUR TRIP TO SUR, OMAN
We always rent our vehicles all over the world, including our recent trips in Oman, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Morocco, with Discover Cars. They’re often the most affordable, plus they paid out immediately on an insurance claim we made when our car took some heavy damage in Sicily. We fully recommend them.
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TAKE A LOOK BELOW OR CHECK CAR RENTAL
Map of things to do in Sur, Oman
Below is a savable Google Map of everything there is to do in Sur.
Yellow markers are for places to visit in and around Sur.
Green icons are for hotel recommendations.
To save the map to your Google Maps, click on the star icon by the title.
Best time to visit Sur, Oman
The best time to visit Sur is during the winter months of November through April. These months get plenty of sunshine and the temperatures are milder. As Sur is on the coast, it does not benefit from the altitude of the nearby eastern Hajar mountains, so the summer heat is oppressive.
For turtle hatching in nearby Ras Al Jinz, the best time is during the summer months, however turtles can be seen all year round.
Final Thoughts – Things to do in Sur
Sur, Oman, is such an easy location to reach, yet so few visitors spend time there.
It’s a fantastic choice if you want to see a different slice of life in Oman, one that isn’t the typical stops of Salalah, Muscat and Nizwa. Even if you are not into seeing the turtles at Ras Al Jinz (the main reason most people visit), it’s still a worthy stop. The city is also conveniently close to Wadi Shab, one of the most popular stops on Oman’s tourist circuit – and by staying in Sur instead of Muscat, you can arrive first thing in the morning to beat the crowds.
We’d highly recommend Sur, and hope you have a great trip!
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