Enjoy this episode of Big Blend Radio's Food, Wine & Travel Show — presented in partnership with IFWTWA — featuring IFWTWA member Erin Coyle, a freelance travel writer and ESP teacher living in Muscat, Oman, as she shares the warm welcome she has found there and the museums, villages, hikes, desert camps, and wellness experiences worth adding to your list.

Watch the episode below in the YouTube player or download/listen to the audio version on Podbean:

By Erin Coyle

'Welcome to Oman,' 'Join us for coffee or karak,' and 'This is your home' are some of the greetings you'll hear in Oman. Locals will invite you for coffee, tea, snacks, or even meals. Someone will always help you. I've experienced this repeatedly since I moved here in 2018 to teach English in a foundation program at a university in Sur. Sur is a coastal city two hours from the capital, Muscat.

Several times, my friends and I went with a student from the college to his hometown for horse and camel shows. He always invited us for lunch at his mom's house. She always ensured we ate well, making generous helpings of chicken or beef and rice. One time we were walking around the city and ran into two tourists. Our student invited them to join us for lunch, so they did.

I taught a community service class at the college where I used to work, and a few women invited my friends and me to Iftar, the meal eaten after sunset during Ramadan. The ladies welcomed us into their homes and made sure we ate well. I have been to Omani weddings and Eid activities, such as visiting friends' relatives and helping to prepare mishkek, meat kebabs made from goat meat. I also learned that you shake your coffee cup when you are finished; otherwise, the host will give you more.

There are countless stories about how fortunate I have been to experience wonderful Omani hospitality. Even on hikes in local villages, someone will stop and offer coffee and halwa. Halwa is a sweet, jelly-like texture made with sugar, rose water, and ghee. Some variations have nuts.

My dad visited me for the first time earlier this year, and the first thing he noticed was the hospitality. We were walking around the souq in Bahla when one of the shop owners told my dad to sit down for some coffee and dates. He wanted to hear about my dad's visit to the country. My dad kept noting the warmth everywhere he went.

Besides the welcoming hospitality, there is plenty to do when visiting. Whether visiting museums or traditional villages, spending time in nature, taking a cooking class, or even signing up for a wellness class, Oman has a bit of everything.

For those wanting to learn about history, head to The National Museum or Bait Al Zubair in Muscat. Both showcase traditional clothing, jewelry, maritime history, and more.

Bait Al Zubair was once a residence and now houses exhibits spread across five buildings. Make sure to visit the small garden, which has miniature village replicas. There's also a falaj, an above-ground water channel that uses gravity to move the flow of water.

This is located in Manah, just over two hours from Muscat. I've been four times and I always discover something new. The interactive museum allows visitors to test their skills as a fort guard or a falaj builder.

For those who enjoy wandering around traditional villages and admiring old mud homes and ruins, Oman has plenty to explore.

About a one-hour drive from Muscat, this village is a place to see old mud homes, some of which are now cafes. The heritage trail walkway is surrounded by a falaj, farms, date and banana trees, and cafes, making it a nice spot to maintain the past with a modern twist. Signs along the trail indicate places to see, such as an old souq or poet's lane.

Misfah is one of my favorite villages in Oman because it makes me feel like I'm in the past while surrounded by nature. The drive is nearly three hours from Muscat. The village is more than 300 years old, with old mud homes turned into guesthouses, restaurants, and coffee shops.

Visitors can take a farm tour to learn about the falaj water system, or walk through alleys to photograph traditional wooden doors.

There's also a shop at the beginning of the village that sells honey, handmade baskets, mats, and rose water.

There are plenty of hiking spots, but for those pressed for time, I'm sharing two that aren't long or difficult.

Sidab is in Muscat, and the path takes about an hour return trip, depending on your pace. It requires climbing a nine-step ladder, then using a rope for about 5 minutes while ascending rocks. After this, the gravel and rocky path will lead to two beaches. The second beach is where visitors will find unique arched rocks, which are great for photos.

Visitors can also drive to Rustaq, just under two hours from Muscat, for a short hike and swim at Hoqain. Expect to swim in clear blue and turquoise colored water pools. Peanut-brown-colored crevices and unique cinnamon-shaded rock formations surround the pools.

For those wanting more challenging hikes, such as Jebel Shams Summit (a 24 km hike that has a lot of ascending and descending rocky paths), reach out to a hiking group. On Instagram, check out @wadi.adventure, @exploreandchallenge, @cyr_adventures, @quick_challenge, and @ahmed_nizwa.

The best time to enjoy the cool weather in the desert is between November and January. Wahiba Sands has many camping spots and styles. Guests can set up with their own camping equipment anywhere in the desert or glamp at places such as Desert Nights Resort or Starry Domes.

Desert Nights Resort offers standard rooms and villas with private pools, while Starry Domes offers dome-tented rooms. I've stayed at both and have done traditional camping. Either way, it's so peaceful sitting under the stars without the internet.

Bar Al Hikman has been dubbed the Maldives of Oman for its white sand and turquoise waters. It's a five-hour drive from Muscat, including a forty-five-minute stretch through the desert before reaching the beach.

My husband, Freddy, and I camped with a group, Explore and Challenge, and enjoyed music by the fire and local food, including kebabs, rice, and chicken. Visitors will need a four-wheel drive.

To learn about Omani cuisine, visitors can sign up for a tasty, fun cooking class with Chef Sameera at Rozna Institute of Culinary Arts. It's part of Rozna restaurant, which is a fort replica. The dining area reminds me of Hogwarts dining hall with its dark wood table and arched windows. Read more about Oman's flavors and food at Food, Wine & Travel Magazine.

Oman has a slew of cafes and coffee shops, but one of my favorites in Mutrah is Muska Gallery and Cafe. It's across from the fish market and has rotating artwork. When walking inside, the welcoming beige couches and dark wooden tables make one feel at home. They also have painting and pottery classes. It's also a special place because Freddy and I got married here.

Oman is becoming more popular for wellness. A few classes to try are Wim Hof breathing, mindset, and cold bath sessions or Immersive Multi-Dimensional (IMD) breathwork sessions with certified instructor Thomas Kleefeld. IMD is about releasing trauma from the body through a guided audio session that includes binaural beats, and a couple of screams. I've done both with Kleefeld, and they have helped me reduce stress, increase focus, and feel rejuvenated.

Book a class with Kleefeld on his site, or on Instagram @whm_instructor_thomas_kleefeld.

Oman was ranked the second-safest country in U.S. News' Best Countries rankings. There is a sense of calm and peace here even during turbulent times.

When shopping for souvenirs, go to a souq, where you can buy clothing, jewelry, frankincense (similar to incense), pottery, and more. My two favorites are Nizwa and Bahla because they provide a sense of nostalgia and comfort of the past.

Dress modestly when visiting Oman. When swimming at wadis, I usually wear yoga pants and a long-sleeved shirt or t-shirt. For mosques, men should wear pants, and women can wear long skirts or pants; sleeveless tops are not allowed. Women will also need to cover their heads.

Traveling with friends, solo and in group tours, Erin has explored Southeast and South Asia, Oceania, Europe, the Middle East, East and South Africa. She is currently a freelance travel writer and ESP teacher living in Muscat, Oman. Prior to this, she taught English at a university in Nanchang, China for five years. She's a member of IFWTWA, Travel Writers University, and TravMedia Middle East. erinshotpot.com

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