【Middle-East Travel】Follow Oman’s Frankincense Trail and Visit the World’s Third Largest Mosque | GreaterGo

【Middle-East Travel】Follow Oman’s Frankincense Trail and Visit the World’s Third Largest Mosque

Oman is one of the oldest countries on the Arabian Peninsula. It has endless deserts and coastlines along the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. One can’t help but imagine the countless camels and caravans transporting frankincense thousands of years ago, as the frankincense trade route connected the world. Today, Oman blends ancient and modern cultures, home to over 500 ancient forts, magnificent natural scenery, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This has made Oman the No. 7 most visit-worthy country in the world for 2022 according to Lonely Planet. Follow【GreaterGo】to explore this Belt and Road travel destination! 

Oman Travel Recommendation:  Land of Frankincense of Samharam – Khawr Rur

When travelling in Oman, you must visit the bazaars as it is filled with the fragrance of frankincense. From ancient Rome to India, Oman has long harvested Frankincense for religious incense and medicinal purposes, as valuable as gold. References to frankincense can be found in the Bible and Arab histories, highlighting its preciousness from long ago.  

Just as there was the Silk Road in the East, there was the Frankincense Trail in the Arabic history, and this ancient trade route originated from Oman. The ancient frankincense trade routes extended from southern Arabia to Rome, Persia and regions of the Far East. The commercial transportation corridor has been in operation for an incredible 2,400 years!

Within Oman's Dhofar Governorate, you can find remains of frankincense trade in Wadi Dawkah with its frankincense trees, remains of the caravan oasis of Shisr/Wubar and the affiliated ports of Khor Rori and Al-Baleed. These sites have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites as “Land of Frankincense”, underscoring the trail's importance as equally significant as China's Silk Road in its thousands of years of history.

Oman Travel Recommendation:Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is a must-see attraction when visiting Muscat, the capital of Oman! This world's third largest mosque covers an area of 416,000 square metres and can accommodate up to 20,000 Muslim worshippers. Inside the mosque is an 8-tonne crystal chandelier and a hand-stitched carpet weighing over 21 tonnes, showcasing luxury and solemnity.

The mosque also features various facilities, including a library housing 20,000 reference volumes in science, Islamic culture and humanity, playing as an Institute of Islamic Sciences for young people to study religious knowledge. The mosque also features a dedicated conference hall that can seat 300 people for meetings and seminars.

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