Salalah is over 1000 Km from Muscat, located in the far south of Oman. You can reach Salalah by direct flight, bus ride, or private transport.
Direct flight to Salalah
If you are in Muscat, you can fly directly to Salalah. Citizens of Dubai, Kozhikode (near Kochi in India), Doha, and Sharjah can also take a direct flight to Salalah.
Multiple airlines operate seasonal direct flights during the peak khareef season, including Etihad from Abu Dhabi and Gulf Air from Bahrain. Some European airlines, Neos (from Milan, Verona, and Rome) and Smartwings (from Prague, Bratislava, Katowice, and Warsaw), also offer seasonal direct flights during winter.
Salalah Airport transfer services are available to ensure seamless travel from the airport to your destination.
Bus ride to Salalah
If you prefer to travel by bus, you have multiple options. You can ride a bus from Muscat and Dubai to reach Slalah. If you travel from Muscat, you will reach Salalah in 10-12 hours. However, if you leave for Salalah from Dubai, it will take 16 hours. While traveling by bus, you will have multiple stops to eat, pray, or go to the toilet.
Some transport companies that offer bus services are Gulf Transport Company (operating the Dubai and Muscat routes) and Mwasalat (operating in Oman only).
Mwasalat
Mwasalat operates three buses a day carrying passengers from Muscat to Salalah. During the Khareef Season, the company runs more buses due to a higher influx of tourists. You can get the latest information about the route and timetable from here. Fares are OR8/13 one way/return.
Gulf Transport Company
Gulf Transport Company runs 8 buses every day from Muscat to Salalah. The schedule is from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with a break in the afternoon. The schedule varies consistently, so to be safe, make sure you have booked a seat at least one day in advance.
You may not find relevant information online. However, the company has added a schedule photo to its Google Maps, which mentions this schedule. Rates are OR7/13 one-way/return.
The company also operates a bus between Dubai and Salalah. The bus leaves Dubai Deira at 3 pm and reaches Salalah at 7 am. From there, the bus leaves for Dubai at 3 pm and arrives at 7 am the next morning. Fares are OR10/18 one-way/return.
Private transport
Alternatively, you can go on tours in Salalah by private transport. The government has installed excellent infrastructure to connect Salalah to the rest of Oman. If you prefer a direct route from Dhofar to Salalah, it goes straight through Haima. The distance is over 1000 Km, and it takes 10 hours of non-stop drive.
However, you can follow the coast if you love nature and prefer a more scenic route. But it will consume some extra hours. Another option is to take a round trip from Muscat.
When you drive along the coast, there are a few tourist attractions that you cannot miss. These include Masirah Island, the Sugar Dunes at Al Khaluf, Wahiba Sands, and Ras al Hadd.
If you are a tourist from UAE, your preferred route should be the border crossing at Al Ain/Mezyad. You should travel on the main road to Nizwa before moving south through the middle of Oman.
To avoid any inconvenience, you must carry essential travel and insurance documents. If you travel in a rental car, ensure it has a cross-border travel permit.
Public transport isn’t the most viable option for seeing all the best places in Salalah and Dhofar.
The local bus mainly goes between Salalah Port, the city center, and the airport. So, to have a memorable experience, you must either rent a vehicle or join a tour.
In the case of a rental vehicle
You can visit the top tourist attractions in Salalah in a 2WD. But you must arrange for a 4WD to explore the mountainous roads in the west or drive off-road, which is common here. You can pick up and drop off a rental car at Salalah Airport.
If you’re looking for a rental vehicle, I suggest going with Holiday Autos. They offer the best Salalah tour packages and good customer service. Plus, you can cancel your reservation for free up to 24 hours before your scheduled pick-up time.
Before you rent, make sure you have any necessary documents, like an international driving permit. Also, check if your travel insurance covers rental car excess—it is cheaper than buying extra coverage from the rental company. World Nomads and True Traveller both offer such options.
Tours
You can find tours in Salalah if you don’t want to drive. These include both private and group tours. These tours in South of Oman usually cover Salalah’s west, north, and east, including Wadi Darbat, The Empty Quarter, Fazayah Beaches, Tawi Atair Sinkhole, and more. Viator offers the widest range of tours, with a few more options on Get Your Guide.
