Best Oman Road Trip Itinerary

Oman is an amazing country for a road trip in the Middle East! With its beautiful beaches and culture, it’s a great place to explore. Here are the best places and itinerary for a road trip in Oman!

Muscat

Starting out in the capital of Muscat, check out the Mutrah Souq and Grand Qaboos Grand Mosque. If you have an extra day I recommend taking a day trip to the Daymaniat Islands!

Sur

From the town of Sur, you can visit the Bimmah Sinkhole and Wadi Shab.

Wahiba Sands

If you want a taste of the desert, check out the dunes here! There are so many different camps you can choose from, but make sure you have a 4x4 vehicle to visit.

Nizwa

This can easily be a day trip from Muscat, but I recommend staying the night here to catch sunset at the Nizwa Fort!

Jebel al Akhdar

Also known as the “Green Mountain,” it’s the highest point in Oman if you’re looking for a change in scenery!

How to Visit the Meroe Pyramids in Sudan

SUDAN

Most people associate pyramids with Egypt, but there’s actually a higher number of pyramids in the country of Sudan! Sudan has 255 pyramids, which are about 2,500 years old (newer than the Egyptian pyramids) and were used as tombs during the Nubian period. For my birthday this year, I visited the Meroe pyramids in the company of good friends in the spirit of adventure. Here’s how you can visit the Meroe pyramids along with my top tips!

Update as of September 2023: Due to the war happening in Sudan, it is not recommended to visit at this time. My dear friends lost their homes, jobs, along with all their possessions in Khartoum and were forced to leave to other countries. Some were not so lucky.

Visa

The Sudanese visa isn’t the easiest to obtain, but there are ways to get it through tour companies or local hotels. My recommendation would be to reach out to Acropole Hotel in Khartoum, as they will sponsor you, and get the letter of invitation set-up in exchange for staying at their hotel. You still have to pay for the visa on arrival when you arrive in Khartoum, but this avoids a visit to an embassy.

What Pyramids can I visit in Sudan?

There are four different sites where you can visit pyramids in Sudan, but in general the Meroe pyramids are the most popular, in the best condition, receive the most funding, and are historically the most important. You can even do a day trip from Khartoum if you’re really short on time.

MEROE PYRAMIDS / BEGRAWIYA: Like I previously mentioned, the most popular pyramids in Sudan, and are about 200 km from Khartoum and takes about 3.5 hours one way.

JEBEL BARKAL PYRAMIDS: Near the town of Karima, about 450 km north of Khartoum and a 6 hour drive one way.

EL KURRU PYRAMIDS: In the same complex of the Jebel Barkal Pyramids.

NURI PYRAMIDS: In the same complex of the Jebel Barkal Pyramids.

How to Get TO THE MEROE PYRAMIDS

As the situation in Sudan is unstable with the protests, it’s important to stay flexible with your schedule. Set aside more time than you think you need; if there’s a surprise protest, bridges that lead in and out of Khartoum will shut down and you won’t be able to leave.

Before leaving Khartoum, make sure you register your passport; you’ll receive an extra sticker in your passport and you need a letter of permission that you may need to show police checkpoints on your way to Meroe pyramids.

My friend and I took a taxi from Khartoum to the pyramids, but if you’d rather have an easy experience I highly recommend booking a stay with Italian Tourism. The price tag is high, but the camp is luxurious and the stay is well-worth it since you’ll be waking up with a view of the pyramids. They can arrange transportation to and from Khartoum as well.

It’s possible to visit the pyramids in a day trip from Khartoum by bus or taxi, but the most magical time to visit is either for sunrise or sunset (sunrise was my personal favorite). The cheapest way to do this trip is to stay at a guesthouse in either Shendi or Atbara; it’s fairly close to the pyramids but it’s a budget-friendly option.

Need to Know

You’ll probably be the only tourists at the pyramids and have the site all to yourself! When you arrive, the entry ticket is 20 SDP (about $7 per person, although things might have changed with the crazy inflation). You can take a camel ride (5 SDP) over to the pyramids since it’s a bit of a walk, but it’s really beautiful.

When to Visit

Sudan experiences extremely high temperatures, so I highly recommend visiting during the winter; I went in January and the temperatures were perfect. It was still hot so I couldn’t imagine visiting at any other time of the year.

If you’re interested in photography, the ideal time to photograph the Meroe pyramids is at sunrise for the best lighting. Sunset is also spectacular but you might experience crowds.

Everything You Need to Know about South Sudan

Welcome to South Sudan

South Sudan is the world’s newest country, but also a war-torn nation. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting this unique African country.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS & VISA

Of course the most important things is getting into the country; even though you can apply for the e-visa online you need to have a letter of invitation from a tour agency. We went with Mayom Bul’s company, Metro Safari South Sudan, and they’re known to be one of the best. Please keep in mind that this country has been through a lot and still battles corruption, but this tour agency does its best. It’s typical that things don’t run on time and you might be stuck at police checkpoints for hours.

When you arrive and step off the plane, you’re sprayed down with some sort of harmless chemical and taken to a building to fill out a customs form and show your PCR test. After that you head to the main customs area where you get in line and the officers check everything. Have all your documents printed and ready, and if you have your camera with you, make sure you have your tour agency send you the camera permit if you’re held for questioning.

Once you are picked up by your tour agency, they will take your passport to a separate office for registration. This must be done within three days of arrival, and you cannot leave Juba without this extra documentation in your passport. Remember to show this when you depart and be firm; they will take you into a dark back room and claim you don’t have the proper registration so make sure you stand your ground and show it in your passport so you don’t have to pay an extra bribe (another tourist we bumped into didn’t understand this so they paid a $50 bribe).

The Mundari Tribe

The main reason I wanted to visit South Sudan was to visit this unique tribe; they have a highly sustainable relationship with their cattle, almost in a “circle of life” sense. They devote their lives to their cattle by collecting their dung to burn for fires and keep mosquitoes away, drinking a cup of milk each day for sustenance, and using the urine to bathe. It was an unreal experience to be able to spend three days with this tribe, and one of my favorite travel memories to date.

Top Things to See in Rwanda

How to Get Here: DRC - RWANDA BORDER

When we arrived at the border on the DRC side, they kept insisting we needed to do a new Antigen test even though ours was still valid. Our Congolese guide just waived them off and walked us straight to the immigration counter to get our passports stamped and we didn't have any issues.

After crossing the bridge into Rwanda we paid for a single-entry visa for $50 each, and we were handed off to a Rwandese guide who was also excellent! If you're looking for a guide just for Rwanda I recommend Montana of Rwanda Guide -- Whatsapp: +250788794928

PCR

Because of the New Year's holiday, we got our PCR tests done as soon as we arrived. There was a hospital nearby and we paid $50 each, along with a $5 Antigen test because it's required to enter Nyungwe National Park. You get a code and type it into Rwanda's ministry of health website to get your results.

ACTIVITIES

• Nyungwe National Park: we opted for a waterfall hike, but there's a lot of activities you can choose from! You have to have a park ranger with you the whole time, you can't just explore on your own. The hike went past a tea plantation, and the workers were friendly and loved posing for photos.

• Lake Kivu: we took a traditional boat out to one of the islands for a short 30 minute hike to the top! Lots of bats, birds, and monkeys; since everything was closed for New Year's it was a nice way to spend the day!

CLOSING THOUGHTS

After coming from the DRC, Rwanda was a fantastic way to end this leg of the trip! Everything was so modern, clean, roads were all freshly paved, credit cards were accepted everywhere we went. If you're looking for arrangements/fixer through these three countries, again I definitely recommend Your Burundi Guide to take care of everything! Whatsapp: +25779249670

How to See the Lowland Gorillas in the DRC

Welcome to the Democratic Republic of the Congo!

There are three places in Africa to see the lowland gorillas: Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC. Rwanda is the most expensive, while the DRC is the least expensive; most people’s biggest concern is the security of the DRC, so I recommend going with the guide I went with!

HOW TO GET THERE: BURUNDI - DRC BORDER

On the day we were supposed to cross the border to the DRC, there was some political conflict; Rwanda had sent police over to the DRC over the death of someone in Virunga National Park but the locals were unhappy about it, so they shut down the borders. Surprisingly enough, they let us through the next day and we didn't have any issues.

DRC GUIDE

Even though Your Burundi Guide set up all the logistics and guides, we were handed off to a Congolese guide who was fantastic. Really motivated to make change in the DRC and knew how to talk our way out of the random police checkpoints that come up frequently. If you're looking for someone just in the DRC, Justin is amazing! He's based in Bujumbura but does frequent trips in both countries. Whatsapp: +25776119310

COVID / PCR / CUSTOMS

We were planning on using our PCR on arrival at the Bujumbura airport to cross into the DRC, but because of the delay it was no longer valid. There's a white tent on the right as soon as you cross the bridge and you can do an Antigen test for $10. It's really disorganized and the person performing the PCR test wouldn't let us have our results until we paid a bribe. We kept saying we didn't have anything but we were already held up so long the guide paid 3000 Congolese Francs ($1.50). We also had to show our yellow fever cards. The power went out when we were in the head immigration office to get our passports stamped, and even though we had the DRC letter of invitation, they wouldn't let us through til the power came back (2 hours later) because they needed to make sure they had their copy.

GORILLAS: KAHUZI-BIEGA NATIONAL PARK

Due to the incident at Virunga National Park, it was closed so we went to Kahuzi-Biega National Park to visit the lowland gorillas. Permits cost $400, whereas it's around $600 to see them in Uganda and $1500 in Rwanda. It was about a 20 minute trek to see them and we had about an hour with them. The only precaution was that we had to wear masks the whole time to make sure we didn't transmit anything to the gorillas. Really awesome experience getting to be so close to these beautiful creatures!

BUKAVU

We stayed the night in the border town of Bukavu. For our next trip we desperately needed USD, and luckily there's plenty of ATMs that dispense dollars in brand-new crisp $100 notes. EcoBank dispensed the most at $600 at a time and didn't charge a fee.

Everything You Need to Know about Burundi

Welcome to Burundi!

Located in the heart of Africa, this tiny country really surprised me with its greenery and such warm people!

ARRIVAL / VISA

We wanted to take advantage of the new VOA program that just started a few weeks ago! "Your Burundi Guide" arranged the whole trip and sent us a letter from the hotel we'd be staying at to show on arrival at Bujumbura Airport.

It's a little confusing when you arrive at Bujumbura airport; first thing is to show your negative PCR test before entering the building. Then, go straight ahead to the window in the very middle -- there's a big visa sign above. You give them your passport and they start inputting your info into the system. After that, go to the window to the left for the cashier. You have to pay for the visa ($90 for 30 days, $30 for a 3-day transit) and PCR on arrival ($100). You can pay in USD and they give you change in Burundi Francs. After you receive your receipts, go back to the middle window so they can put your visa in your passport. Then go to the window on the right to show your PCR on arrival receipt and they give you a slip of paper to do your PCR. Proceed to the next window to get your passport stamped, then go to baggage claim to put your bags thru the x-ray machine, and go through a back door next to one of the baggage claim conveyor belts to do your PCR test.

ACTIVITIES

TEA PLANTATION & GISHORA DRUMMERS

The first day we went to a tea plantation near Gitega; I was surprised how green everything was! It was really beautiful. In the afternoon we went to the famous drummers of Gishora, and it did not disappoint. The energy was fantastic and the local village all crowded around to watch.

BUJUMBURA

The second day we did a Bujumbura city tour. My favorite activity of the day was the boat ride on Lake Tanganyika to see the hippos. After that we went to some monuments around the city, but it was fun driving around seeing so many bicyclists and their way of life.

Top Tips to Explore Aswan, Egypt

This is my second time visiting Egypt, so I wanted to explore somewhere new! I only had a few days in between destinations, so Aswan was the perfect place to squeeze in on my travels. Here are my top tips and must-see places in Aswan, Egypt!

Nubian Village

From Aswan you can take a short boat ride over to the Nubian Village. It’s pretty touristy to be honest, but it’s perfect if you’re looking for a day trip away from the city of Aswan and want the perfect Instagram photos.

Abu Simbel

This is another huge draw to Aswan, visiting the ancient ruins of Abu Simbel. If you’re looking for a way to visit without any crowds, all the tour buses leave at the same time in a 4 AM convoy. This is due to the desert road being closed until 5 AM, so you end up at Abu Simbel with mass amounts of people.

Instead of leaving your hotel at 4 AM, I highly recommend leaving at 8 AM to arrive around 11 or 12 PM after all the tour groups leave! Then you’ll be able to enjoy this UNESCO Heritage Site all to yourself.

How to visit Somaliland Solo

Welcome to Somaliland

A de facto sovereign state located on the Horn of Africa, most consider it to be a part of Somalia. Unlike most unrecognized countries, Somaliland is a special case because it is completely independent, stable and functional, and entirely politically isolated. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Somaliland independently or as a solo female traveler!

I went overland from Djibouti to Somaliland on public 4x4 transport independently in December 2021; there was a time you used to need a booked tour with armed guards at all times, even visiting Hargeisa, Somaliland. Around December 2021 I had heard it was possible to do it on your own, but there was such little information out there that one of my gal pals and I attempted to do it on our own. And we did it!

If you want to read more about my trip to Djibouti, check it out here!

SOMALILAND VISA

When we arrived to Djibouti, our guide Moussa took us to the Somaliland consulate to pick up visas. Really easy and straightforward; we left our passports, 1 passport photo, and paid 11,000 DJF. They're only open Monday - Thursdays 9 AM - 1 PM but often times they close early. We came back the next morning at 9 AM and they were ready. Do NOT lose the receipt they give you, they check it at the border and at the police checkpoints along the overland journey.

How to OVERLAND INDEPENDENTLY FROM DJIBOUTI TO SOMALILAND ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Moussa helped arrange our overland trip to Somaliland. It's in a random part of town where all the 4x4s line up across from this khat stand (photo below). We paid 7000 DJF each for the front seat and it leaves at about 4 PM, but you need to make a reservation early in the morning and come back at 2 PM. Moussa said that's the cheapest he's ever seen it for the front seat though, so normally it might be more.

It takes about an hour to drive from Djibouti City to the border, and they only check the PCR on the Djibouti side to exit. After going through Somaliland customs, we had dinner, got sim cards, and exchanged money. We got a Telesom sim card for 400 DJF, which included 0.5 GB of data, plus paid an extra 200 DJF for another 1 GB of data. We exchanged our DJF for both Somaliland Shillings and USD; since inflation is so high we received a huge stack of bills and converted the rest to USD (they accept USD in Somaliland). The exchange rate is really good here compared to Hargeisa, so we exchanged as much as we could. We also wore our headscarves as soon as we crossed since they're much more conservative.

It was a long, bumpy ride to Hargeisa. There were no roads, just tracks in the sand. We stopped every couple hours at random camps on the side of the road where there were latrines, food, and people resting. At 4 AM, everyone got out and laid out mats under the stars. We were confused what was happening, but a woman led us to a hut with mattress pads and blankets on the ground and motioned us to sleep. When the sun rose at 6 AM, we hit the road again and made it to Hargeisa at about 10:30 AM.

what to wear in SOMALILAND

We were pretty exhausted after the overland trip so we took some time to rest and wandered the streets of Hargeisa. I found the money market was really fascinating. As a woman, if you have an abaya, that is preferred, otherwise a headscarf and loose clothing are okay. We wore loose, long clothing and a headscarf but we definitely attracted a lot of attention; people looked at us as if we were naked.

2026 UPDATE | I will admit, this was early on in my extreme travels; now that I’ve visited every country in the Horn of Africa and beyond — just wear an abaya.

where to stay in hargeisa, somaliland

We didn’t have anything booked prior to our trip; we just showed up and asked for a room at the Oriental Hotel for $18/night and had decent wifi, breakfast was included. If you’d rather book something in advance I’ll share a few options to check out.

SEARCH | Alternatively, check out Booking.com for more options in Hargeisa

COVID

The only place you can get a PCR done is the General Hospital of Hargeisa. It was $45, and you come back the next morning to pick up the results. Even though our next destinations don't require PCRs, we decided to get one since we've heard that Ethiopian Airlines will still ask for it (even though it doesn't say it on the website). This turned out to be a good move, since every checkpoint in the airport when leaving asked for it.

UPDATE | I visited Somaliland in December 2021 so PCR requirements have changed since then.

Top Places to Visit in Somaliland

BERBERA

Like I mentioned earlier, we visited Somaliland without a guide; the following are tips on how to visit Berbera independently. The best public transportation minibus service is Sahal (bright yellow buses). It was $5 one way to Berbera and took about 4 hours in total. We stayed at Alloore Hotel Berbera ($20 no AC, $30 with AC) and was nice and clean, plus took a taxi to Batalaale Beach for $4. Great for sunset and the ocean was clean and clear.

LAAS GEEL

The next challenge was how to visit Laas Geel on our own without having to book an armed guard. Somaliland is relatively safe these days, and when we went they were transitioning out of needing one at all times.

Laas Geel in Somaliland is an exceptional and exceptionally well-preserved rock art complex dating back between 5,000 and 9,000 years. Located near Hargeisa, its series of brightly painted caves and rock shelters feature vivid depictions of cattle, wild animals, and human figures, offering rare insight into prehistoric pastoral life in the Horn of Africa. The paintings’ vibrant pigments and detailed scenes make Laas Geel one of the most important archaeological and cultural sites in the region, valued for both its artistic quality and historical significance.

We asked the hotel in Berbera how much it would be to arrange transport to Laas Geel and then to Hargeisa. They found a driver for $100 and said he had police connections since technically you need a permit to visit; we thought we were gonna get a random dude in a tiny car, but he seemed to be a formal driver with a military badge in a 4x4 Landcruiser and we didn't have any issues at the police checkpoints. If you go this route, there's obviously a risk and it depends on how well your driver can talk their way through. It took about 2 hours to reach the Las Geels turn-off and we paid $25 each for entry.

Hargeisa CAMEL MARKET

We took a taxi for $4 to the camel market in Hargeisa. The most popular time is 9 AM - noon. People seemed to welcome photos, although we got yelled at because my friend's shirt, although long and loose, had buttons and apparently that's a no-no. Wearing an abaya is probably better. We went at 9 AM and there seemed to be taxis coming and going, but if you go at less popular hours you might need to ask your taxi to wait for you.

Everything You Need to Know about Djibouti

Welcome to Djibouti

Djibouti is a compact country of dramatic contrasts: volcanic landscapes, salt pans, and shimmering coastal waters where whale sharks congregate. Visit the otherworldly Lake Assal, hike the rugged Goda Mountains, and explore the French-colonial heart of Djibouti City. Scuba diving and snorkeling in the Gulf of Tadjoura reveal vibrant coral and abundant marine life. Expect a hot, arid climate, friendly local hospitality, and a low-key travel scene—bring sun protection, plan logistics in advance, and respect local customs for a rewarding, off-the-beaten-path experience.

This small African country is probably one of my favorites to date and will always be a special one! It usually gets a bad rap but if you have the time to really explore this unique country, you will find how special it is.

COVID requirements

Upon arrival at the airport, you must take a PCR for $30. It says they accept credit cards but they don't so bring cash. To depart, even if you don't need a PCR for your next destination you need it to leave Djibouti. You can take one at the hospital for $30, or you can do an express PCR for $60.

UPDATE | I visited Djibouti in December 2021 so PCR requirements have changed since then.

What sim card to get and currency in djibouti

Bought a Telekom sim card for 1000 DJF, then you can buy data for 500 DJF (3 days, 5 GB). The best place to withdraw money is the Bank of Africa in the main square. The fee was 600 DJF, whereas other random Bank of Africa/Saba Africa ATMs charged 1600 DJF. We stayed at CityGuest hotel on our first and last night in Djibouti City and had good wifi and AC for $60. One more thing to note, because of the conflict in Ethiopia, social media is banned in Djibouti. The only VPN that worked was the app "SuperVPN"

WHERE TO STAY in Djibouti

On our first and last night in Djibouti City we stayed at City Guest Hotel. For $60 it was decent and had good wifi and AC — that’s all you can ask for when going to off-the-beaten-path places in Africa, right?

Update: Unfortunately I can no longer find City Guest Hotel online, so here’s an alternative budget friendly option with great reviews.

SEARCH | Alternatively, check out Booking.com for more options in Djibouti City.

3 day itinerary in djibouti

We did a 3-day trip with a fantastic guide, Moussa. He was very responsive, super fun and friendly, and extremely hospitable. I can't recommend him enough. We compared pricing and trip offers with 8 other tour companies/fixers and Moussa by far had the best package. I know a lot of people aren't a fan of Djibouti, but Moussa made it such an incredible experience that I would love to go back one day!

Moussa Whatsapp: +25377278015

swimming with WHALE SHARKS in djibouti

I'm an avid diver (freediving as well) and have been fortunate to swim with whale sharks in multiple locations around the world, but Djibouti is by far the best I've ever experienced. For predictability, visibility, few number of tourists, sustainable practices, and the amount you see -- it can't be beat.

LAC ASSAL

We arrived in the evening on our first day after the whale sharks and camped nearby in local huts. There was a chef that cooked us a local meal, then we woke up early to float in the lake the next morning.

LAC ABBE

This was a long drive, but it was like being on another planet. We arrived for sunset on our second day, and there was a camp with electricity, nice toilets and showers. On the way back to Djibouti City we stopped at a local village. People were very friendly and welcomed photos.

Overlanding from Djibouti to Somaliland

Once we returned to Djibouti City, our guide Moussa helped us find 4x4 public transport to overland to Hargeisa, Somaliland on our own. If you’d like to read more about how we went from Djibouti to Somaliland overland independently and without a guide, check out my blog post here.

Top Things to do in Bahrain

Bahrain is the third smallest country on the Asian continent, but there’s so much to see!

How to Get Here

You can fly into the capital of Manama, but since I was already in Saudi Arabia I decided to take the land border across to Bahrain! I flew from Jeddah to Dammam, then went to the local bus station and bought a ticket to Manama. The bus leaves twice per day, once in the early morning and again in the evening, so plan your schedule accordingly.

Top Things to Do

Pearl Diving

Bahrain’s pearls are prized as some of the best natural pearls in the world. You can even dive and collect your own! There’s a few companies that offer the trip but if you’re looking for a half day snorkel, I recommend this company.

Royal Camel Farm

Over 500 camels are located right outside of the capital city of Manama, founded by the late sheikh of Bahrain.

Bahrain Fort

A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Bahrain Fort dates back to 2300 BC and has hosted Kassites, Greeks, Portuguese, and Persians.