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home > destinations > Barka and Al Sawadi
The coastal town of Barka in the Batinah region features a bustling vegetable and fish souk by the beach every morning giving Barka a lively feel. The beautiful stretches of beach at Al Sawadi are also handy for organised boat trips around the Daymaniyat Islands Nature Reserve teeming with bird and marine life.
Getting there
43 kms (Barka) / 63 kms (A'Sawadi) along the tree-lined highway from Seeb International airport.
Flying times to Seeb from:
- London Gatwick ≈ 8 hours
- London Heathrow ≈ 9 hours
- Manchester ≈ 9 hrs 45 mins
Oman Air also provide 3 daily connections to Salalah and four flights to Musandam per week from Seeb International airport.
Highlights
What to see
Barka Fort: The fort has been restored and the two watchtowers at the back were once part of the town walls. You will find the fort close to the beach as you enter the town.
Bullfighting: Unlike the Spanish equivalent this Omani sport is bloodless. During each contest, which lasts only a few minutes, a pair of equally sized bulls lock horns in a test of strength until one animal takes a tumble in the sand. A rope is secured to each bull so that they can be separated if the fight should turn nasty. Bullfights take place on Fridays during the winter months rotating between Seeb, Barka, Al Sawadi and Sohar. Hotels in the Batinah region should be able to let you know where the nearest venue and event takes place.
Where to go
Al Sawadi Beach: dubbed the 'seashell' beach and surrounded by a panorama of clear blue ocean and sun-kissed sand, beach lovers can take a long stroll on these shores to enjoy the fresh breeze and picturesque views of the sea and the nearby islands. Seashells are in abundance here and come in all shapes, sizes and colours.
Daymaniyat Islands Nature Reserve: nine small islands lying 16 km off the Batinah coast. Al Sawadi Beach Resort organises boat rides, dive and snorkelling trips to the islands.
Activities
Diving and watersports
The dive centre at the Al Sawadi Beach Resort offers a comprehensive range of PADI courses with dive excursions to 17 distinctively different sites including the Damaniyat Islands - one of the best dive sites in Oman. They also run a wide selection of watersports including Banana boat rides, water skiing and sea kayaking.
Explore
Tours
The Rustaq Loop: Set a day aside to visit three of Omans' finest forts on this round trip tour starting from Barka or A'Sawadi which includes Nakhl Fort, Rustaq Fort, Al Hazm castle. Further optional stops may include a visit to the date processing factory and a picnic around a hot spring oasis in Nakhl.
Desert Safari
Experience the Wahiba Sands on a day trip or with an overnight camp under the stars. You are transported by 4x4 vehicle via the Hajar mountains with a stop at Wadi Bani Khalid, a beautiful oasis, then arrive at Wahiba Sands in time for lunch. You can experience dune bashing in the 4WD and have a go at sandboarding.
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