Oman in December: Christmas & New Year on a Family Road Trip
What December in Oman is really like: weather, Christmas in the desert, New Year in Muscat, holiday prices, Ramadan 2027 and a 10-day winter itinerary.
We spent Christmas and New Year in Oman with our two kids, from 21 December 2022 to 1 January 2023: Christmas Eve in a desert camp, Boxing Day in a canyon, New Year's Day under the dome of the Grand Mosque. If you are wondering whether Oman works as a winter holiday, this is what December there actually feels like, plus what we would tell anyone booking for this winter.
Why December Is One of the Best Months for Oman
From November to March, Oman swaps its brutal summer for warm, dry, bright days. December sits right in the sweet spot.
- Coast and Muscat: around 27°C by day and 19°C at night. We did not see a drop of rain in twelve days.
- Mountains: Jebel Akhdar and Jebel Shams sit around 2,000 m. Days are mild, but nights can drop to around 8°C, with frost possible at dawn. Pack a real jacket.
- Desert: warm afternoons, cold nights. On Christmas morning in the Wahiba Sands we were wearing fleeces until the sun was well up.
- Sea: the Gulf of Oman is still pleasant for swimming; the pool at Wadi Bani Khalid felt around 20°C, the sea at Sur a little warmer.
Our Christmas and New Year in Oman, Day by Day
The dates and places below come straight from our photos' GPS data, so you can copy the rhythm.
- 21 December: the terraced oasis of Misfat al Abriyeen, old Al Hamra and Bahla Fort.
- 22–23 December: Jebel Akhdar plateau, around 1,900 m, and the abandoned village of Wadi Bani Habib.
- 24 December (Christmas Eve): drive to the Wahiba Sands, sunset on the dunes from 17:08 to 17:23, dinner at the camp.
- 25 December: sunrise on the dunes, then the turquoise pools of Wadi Bani Khalid in the afternoon.
- 26 December: Wadi Tiwi and the oasis village of Mibam.
- 27 December: Wadi Shab, from the boat crossing to the swimming pools at the end of the canyon.
- 28 December: a morning on the white beach at Fins, then up the coast towards Muscat.
- 29–31 December: Muscat's coast around Bandar Jissah, with a boat trip on New Year's Eve.
- 1 January: the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, the perfect quiet start to the year.
The full story of each stage is in our two-week Oman family road trip.
Christmas and New Year in Oman: What to Know
- Christmas is not a public holiday, but it is easy to celebrate: hotels and resorts organise Christmas Eve dinners, and several churches in Muscat hold services.
- Our Christmas Eve was in the desert, with a communal dinner at the camp and a sky full of stars. It is one of the best memories of the trip; read about it in our Wahiba Sands guide.
- New Year's Eve is mostly celebrated in hotels and resorts. Alcohol is only served in licensed hotels and restaurants.
- Dress modestly outside resorts and beaches: shoulders and knees covered in villages, souks and forts.
Prices and Booking for the Holidays
December is high season. Desert camps and upmarket hotels can cost 30–40% more than in shoulder months, and flights to Muscat can be twice as expensive as off-peak.
- Book your desert camp for 24–31 December first: the good ones fill up early.
- Then book the car: an SUV is not essential, but the extra clearance helps on wadi tracks and the sand road to the camps.
- For reference, our 12 days for a family of four cost about €4,650 in 2022, flights included. Expect more today.
For our picks in each region, see where to stay in Oman.
After the Holidays: January to March and Ramadan 2027
January and February are just as pleasant, and quieter once the school holidays end. Keep one date in mind: Ramadan 2027 is expected to start around 8 February and end around 9 March, with Eid al-Fitr just after. Travelling is still possible, but many restaurants close during the day and eating or drinking in public is frowned upon. Late January or mid-March are easier for a first trip.
A 10-Day Oman Winter Itinerary
- Days 1–2: Nizwa, Misfat al Abriyeen and Bahla Fort.
- Day 3: Jebel Akhdar, with a warm layer for the evening.
- Day 4: Wahiba Sands, one night in a camp (two if you can).
- Day 5: Wadi Bani Khalid, then on to Sur.
- Days 6–7: Wadi Tiwi and Wadi Shab. Our Oman wadis guide explains which one to do first.
- Days 8–10: Muscat, its beaches and the Grand Mosque.
TOP TIP: The Grand Mosque is open to non-Muslim visitors from Saturday to Thursday, roughly 8:00 to 11:00, and closed to them on Fridays. Arrive early, and bring clothes covering arms and legs, plus a headscarf for women. More details in our Oman mountains and heritage guide.