Cruises

If you're going on a cruise of the Middle East, Salalah is a pretty good place to stop over. While there may not be as much to do as larger cities such as Dubai or Sharm El Sheik, Salalah offers miles of beautiful beaches. One of the major attractions of Salalah is the lush green landscape. Caused by the monsoons that hit the city from June to September, the greenery makes the city an inviting change from others in the region.

The Khareef Festival

To see Salalah at its most active time you must go during the Khareef festival, which takes place during the late summer months, toward the end of the monsoon season. Over a month long, the festival attracts tourists and locals from all across the region. Coming at the end of the monsoon season, it allows visitors a chance to see the city at its greenest, and offers plenty to do in a normally quiet town. Activities include a carnival, local folk music, poetry and dancing.

Things to Do

If you're looking for things to do in Salalah you can go shopping at the local souq, or marketplace, where you can haggle over prices for souvenirs and other items, or check out the Sultan Qaboos' palace. The take-home item of choice from Salalah is Frankincense, long a famous product of the region because of its particular climate. Most of the other attractions of Salalah are outside of the city, so unless you have a longer stop you will probably not be able to enjoy them. If you have extra time or just want to relax, enjoy a nice meal at the Hilton Salalah, with beautiful beach views.

Typical Itineraries

Salalah is a fairly common stop on cruises of the region. A typical 2-week cruise of the region will probably stop at Sharm El Sheik, Aquaba, Safaga, Salalah, Muscat and Dubai. Longer cruises typically start somewhere in the Mediterranean, exploring the sights there before taking the Suez Canal into the Red Sea to see the sights of the Arabian Peninsula. Cruise lines that offer cruises with stops in Salalah include Discovery World Cruises, Oceania Cruises, and Costa Cruises.