Plan your trip to Muscat, Oman

Oman sits on the Arabian Sea in the Middle East, bordered on the north by the United Arab Emirates, the northwest by Saudi Arabia and the southwest by the Republic of Yemen. From mid-March until October, the mountainous region in the north (including capital city, Muscat) is oppressively hot, with temperatures reaching into triple digits. The best time to visit is between October and April, with temperatures (relatively) bearable. In the southern region, the annual monsoon known as the Khareef occurs from early June to mid September, turning the countryside a lush green.

While considered one of the more liberal countries in the Middle East, conservative dress is still expected in public, particularly for women, who should take care to cover arms and legs. Camel racing is a unique and popular pastime, with prize camels fetching in excess of $70,000. Jockeys are developed early, some making their debut as young as five years old. Races are not scheduled far in advance and the only way to find out when they’re going on is to ask around.