OMAN’S TOP 5 MARCH 2019 ACTIVITIES with a great Opera Performance and Camel Racing

With the days still not too hot and the evenings pleasantly warm March is a fantastic time to get out and about for Oman’s Top 5 things to do in March.

The month usually has world-class performers at the Royal Opera House – past performers have included Anna Netrebko and a rising star Yusif Eyvazov. This March enjoy Lakme the opera by Léo Delibes with the wonderful “Bell Song” ( L’air des Clochettes)

and “Flower Duet”  (Duo des fleurs – known the British Airways theme after it was used in their adverts – the video is a superlative performance by Sabine Devieilhe & Marianne Crebassa – who are not performing in Oman)

Royal Opera House Muscat Oman’s Top 5 things to do in March
Royal Opera House Muscat

Take a late meal at one of the restaurants near the Opera on page 91 of the Bradt Guide to Oman.

Lovers of Camels will enjoy a chance to see Camel Racing. March has one of the main events in the calendar.

Camel Race Oman
Camel Race Oman

This is at Suhar’s race track which is easy to find from the Al Batinah highway; on the carriageway towards Muscat look for the south turn signed for Suhar’s main hospital and police station (the turn is just after the Shell petrol station and Porshe service centre) . The dates in 2019 are 25-28 March. Camel races are early morning events, try and arrive around 07:30. Oh! and remember the ‘jockeys’ in the main races are actually small ‘robots’. The best day is Thursday, after the race have a visit into Suhar’s corniche – you will find more information about Suhar from page 146 of the Bradt Guide.

Art Oman
Art Oman

Check out Muscat’s Art Exhibitions – there is usually 2 or 3 in town and this year is an unusual one the “Oman international Art Fair” at Oman Convention and Exhibition Center (Hall No.1) 27-30 March 13:00 – 22:00.

Game Fishing - Al Hallaniyyat Islands Oman’s Top 5 things to do in March
Game Fishing – Al Hallaniyyat Islands

Much of the year offers good game fishing off Muscat. However March is probably the last month where the humidity allows for clear views back towards the spectacle of Muscat’s coast.
My rewrite of the Bradt Guide to Oman in eBook here and paperback through Amazon worldwide here. will help you plan places to visit throughout Oman.

Oman Guide Book by Tony Walsh
Bradt Guide to Oman

The best location to set off from is Marina Bandar Al Rowdha using a sea tour & game fishing company listed on page 136 of the Bradt Guide to Oman. You stand a good chance to see Dolphin if you leave in the early morning and catch Hamour and Tuna.

Al Jabal Al Akhdar Oman Oman’s Top 5 things to do in March
Al Jabal Al Akhdar Oman

Late March is the start of Al Jabal Al Akhdar’s rose season. The roses are the famous perfume rose, Rosa × damascene and in the early morning the flowers are picked. Then they are carried into the various distilleries where the process of extracting the essence starts. The resulting water has a distinctive aroma, best experienced rather than described. More details are on page 215 of the Bradt Guide to Oman and its best to overnight on the mountain so you can see the early morning flower collection. Do remember you need a 4×4 vehicle for the ascent, if you don’t have one there are several companies who can offer transportation from Birkat Al Mawz – check Map on page 212 Bradt Guide to Oman.

Author: Tony Walsh

Book author including the current Bradt guide to Oman