This stout building, beside Qurayat's main vegetable and meat souq, looms unexpectedly into view alongside the narrow main road through town. Recently restored, this 19th-century fort is typical of Oman's coastal defensive structures, with high, crenellated walls and a round watchtower. It's not always open as billed, but the proud exterior is worth a look, and there's a fine wooden door at the entrance.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
21.36 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…
13.11 MILES
Looming over the village of Mazara and holding back a permanent body of water, the enormous Wadi Dayqah dam is the largest in Oman. A road winds up to the…
12.84 MILES
Occupying a breezy spot on the edge of the Jebel Seifa complex, independent of the neighbouring hotel, this stylish beach club boasts a palm-shaded…
28.53 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…
29.35 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…
24.16 MILES
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…
24.4 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…
18.65 MILES
The blue-green, brackish water at the bottom of this peculiar 40m-by-20m limestone hole invites a swim and a snorkel. The intrepid can inch round the…
Nearby Northern Coast attractions
0.69 MILES
This large and attractive park on the edge of Qurayat, with an island in the middle of a small lake, makes a pleasant place to stroll and watch local…
0.82 MILES
This unique triangular watchtower, built in the 19th century and overlooking the corniche, is accessed by a causeway at low tide. The sandy beach to the…
4.95 MILES
'Resort' is a misnomer for Al Khobaar as there's no hotel or any other facility here warranting that description. For some this may mean it's of limited…
9.26 MILES
A beautiful bay east of the Jebel Seifa complex stretches into the distance. In the cooler months it's a lovely place for an easy stroll or a picnic, and…
12.84 MILES
Occupying a breezy spot on the edge of the Jebel Seifa complex, independent of the neighbouring hotel, this stylish beach club boasts a palm-shaded…
12.86 MILES
There's not much left of the fortified ruins that crest the knoll in the middle of Mazara, but this doesn't spoil their appeal as the subject of a…
13.11 MILES
Looming over the village of Mazara and holding back a permanent body of water, the enormous Wadi Dayqah dam is the largest in Oman. A road winds up to the…
16.15 MILES
High above the coast, in the wrinkled folds of the Eastern Hajar Mountains, a combination of spring and rain water collects in deep pools along the length…