Yiti boasts a beautiful, sandy beach surrounded by craggy mountain scenery that makes an attractive spot for a swim or picnic. The beach is at the end of a large, muddy inlet that is regularly picked over by wading waterbirds. If the tide is low, you can wade to a sandbar and look left for a great view of Bandar Jissah’s famous sea arch.

Locals believe the serrated rocks at the mouth of the inlet were inhabited by jinn (genies), and offerings used to be left at their base. Alas, the spirits have gone somewhere more private, according to the local fishermen, because of the disfiguring earthworks on the far side of the creek. Indeed, the whole village here is slowly being abandoned in the wake of encroaching tourist development. It remains a beauty spot regardless.

To reach Yiti, follow the signs (along 74 St) through a deep cut in the mountains from the roundabout in Bandar Jissah. For an enjoyable round trip from Muscat, return through Wadi Mayh.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Sea Arch

1.61 MILES

Created by rough seas working against the sandstone, this sea arch at the end of the Bandar Jissah headland is a famous landmark of this coast. Fishermen…

2. Bandar Khayran

3.34 MILES

Beyond Mutrah, the headland close to Muscat shatters into a series of khors (inlets) and bandars (natural harbours), the most extensive of which is Bandar…

3. Wadi Mayh

4.69 MILES

For a taste of a typical Omani wadi within an afternoon’s drive of Muscat, look no further than Wadi Mayh. With towering limestone cliffs forming a canyon…

4. Sohar

4.82 MILES

Just outside Al Bustan Palace Hotel, opposite the imposing parliament buildings, a small roundabout is home to Sohar, a boat named after the hometown of…

5. Bandar Jissah Viewpoint

4.99 MILES

This viewpoint (yet to be properly developed) on the road between Al Bustan and Bandar Jissah offers a fine panoramic vista of the chocolate-coloured…

6. Parliament Building

5.02 MILES

This elegant building, completed in 2013, is home to the two houses of the Majlis Ash Shura, Oman's parliament. It is not open to the public, but it does…

7. Marina Bandar Al Rowdha

5.41 MILES

Apart from offering a full range of boating amenities, Marina Bandar Al Rowdha is a popular launching point for a range of water sports, including fishing…

8. National Museum

7.3 MILES

Housed in an imposing new building in the heart of Old Muscat, the National Museum makes a fitting consort for the Sultan's Palace opposite. The emphasis…