What is the best time to visit Salalah?
Wondering what’s the best time to visit Salalah? You are lucky because you can tour Salalah at any time of the year. You will find it equally eye-catching and refreshing. Even at the peak of summer, when the rest of the Arabian peninsula is submerged in suffocating heat, the maximum temperature in Salalah hovers around 27 degrees.
That being said, the ideal months to visit Salalah are July and August. Tourists flock to Salalah to escape the unbearable heat from the rest of Oman and neighboring Arab countries. In contrast, European tourists prefer to visit Salalah in winter.
The best time to visit Salalah is the Khareef Season (June to Early September)
The beauty of Salalah is at its peak during the monsoon season. From mid-July to early September, lush green grasslands and waterfalls are at full flow. These are months of peak tourist activity, and tour prices in Salalah are sky-high. On average, 30,000 tourists visit Salalah during this period.
Between mid-July and late August, Salalah hosts a tourism festival. It also hosts social and cultural events at the Al Murooj Amphitheatre and other places.
During the khareef season, exploring inland sights like Wadi Darbat, Ayn Khor, and Ayn Athum is best. However, strong winds and rough seas usually make coastal areas unsafe. If you want to explore Salalah’s white sand beaches and blue seas, you should probably delay your visit until the end of the khareef season.
Salalah is not best suited for campers in khareef as high winds and constant showers batter the city. Visitors have to stay in hotels, which are particularly expensive in the monsoon season due to the high influx of tourists.
What happens after khareef season?
Immediately after the khareef season, tourist numbers drop. However, Salalah’s scenic beauty remains intact. You should visit Salalah from mid-September to early October if you like it less crowded but want to hear the natural music of flowing waterfalls and the rustle of lush green grass.
Mid-October to May for the Salalah tour
Mid-October to May is for those who like moderate temperatures and dry weather. You can go camping or hiking and explore the exquisite beaches of Salalah. Wadis may dry up as the khareef season becomes a distant memory, and hillsides will lose their green beauty.
If you prefer to see blue water pools, flourishing waterfalls, and lush green mountainsides, visit Salalah in October. However, places like Wadi Darbat retain their green beauty throughout the year.
Nights in Salalah are rather chilly from December to February. You will feel it more if you stay in the mountainous regions. During this period, the weather remains dry, with barely any showers.
However, the temperature begins to spike from March onwards. Humidity also increases, and there are occasional showers.
Some caution regarding cyclones.
Recently, we have observed more cyclones in the Arabian Sea just before and after the monsoon. These incidents take place from May to June and October to November. These cyclones have wreaked havoc on Salalah. If there is a warning of a looming cyclon, please don’t ignore it.
