 3,000
BC - The ancient city of Magan provides copper
to the ancient world, linking the Indus and Sumerian
civilizations, and "Ships of Magan" appear
in ancient Sumerian art.
945 BC -
The Queen of Sheba rules the rich country of Saba, trading
in frankincense, gold, silver, ivory and
apes.
563 BC - Cyrus the Great
of Persia conquers Oman.
50 AD - The
Roman author Pliny describes the coastline of Oman and
her ports. notably "Muza", used by the merchants
who trade in frankincense and other Arabian perfumes.
130 AD - The anonymous
author of the "Periplus of the Erythraean Sea"
describes the Dimanyat Islands and the difficulties
of navigating the Omani coast.
224 AD - The al-Azd tribe
- still the dominant group today - enter northern Oman
from their original base in Dhofar and Yemen and free
it from the Persian yoke.
226 AD - The Sassanian
emperors introduce the "Qanat" system of underground
water channels to Oman.
625 AD -
Oman accepts Islam from the Prophet Mohammed.
950 AD - The Arab historian,
geographer and philosopher. Abd al-Hasan Ali ibn al-Husayn
al-Mas'udi, known as The Herodotus of Arabia, travels
to and writes of the court of the Sultan of Oman.
1450 AD -
Vasco Da Gama arrives in Sohar and persuades a famous
Omani pilot, Ahmed ibn Majid of julfar, to pilot him
to Calicut.
1506 AD -
Alphonso de Albequerque sacks Muscat for resisting him,
and the Portuguese construct the jelali and Malyani
forts that still stand today.
1697 AD -
The Portuguese are ousted by Imam Sultan bin Saif.
1820 AD – First treaty
between Oman and the British to ensure a "cessation
of plunder and piracy by land and sea" is signed.
1970 AD –
His majesty sultan Qaboos bin said takes the throne
of Oman. |
The home of one of the most ancient civilizations on
Earth. Oman's rich heritage and the wealth of her culture
fascinate and beguile the modern visitor.
Oman enjoy a culture that is unique in the Arab world.
Traders and fishermen have sailed to Africa, India,
Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia and even China for thousands
of years and the traditions of the country reflect this
varied heritage. The traditional souks in every major
town are still a reflection of that heritage, with antiques
as varied as porcelain from Holland and Germany to Bedouin
bridal necklaces featuring Maria Theresa silver dollars
and modern goods including exquisite cashmere from India
and glass from Iran. 
Oman's diverse geography and varied climate sets it
apart from other countries in the Arabian Peninsula.
From pristine white beaches and spectacular cliffs in
Dhofar to the rugged grandeur of the 'Jebel' or mountains;
from the date and banana plantations of the Batinah
region to the sculpted dunes of the Wahiba Sands. Oman
challenges every pre-conceived notion of the region.
Oman's
southern province of Dhofar revels in the cooling rains
of the Monsoon or Khareef whilst temperatures in the
rest of the Gulf rise.The month long Khareef Festival
(July) is the premier event in the Omani calendar, and
displays Omani culture and heritage in the most spectacular
manner for locals and tourists from all over the world
alike. The Muscat Festival, which showcases the best
of Oman as well as the best of the world in a lively
mix of entertainment, games, rides and stalls, including
nightly fireworks displays, is the counterpoint of the
year (January - February). 
Zahara
Tours is Oman's leading Destination and Leisure Management
Company. Enjoying an extremely high reputation for professionally
efficient service, Zahara employs multilingual tour
guides and a fleet of modern, deluxe air-conditioned
luxury coaches, four wheel drives and other vehicles.
