Salalah Festival 2023- The Mesmerising Season of Omani Khareef

Oman is all about daunting mountains, crystal clear seas, golden sand beaches, and sandy deserts. It has ample places for exploring for travelers worldwide. The Khareef season in Salalah is the most awaited. So, if you have already heard about this unique natural festival in Oman and are thinking about being a part of it, here’s everything you need to know!

Salalah Festival 2023 - Dates

15th to 31st August

Khareef

Khareef means ‘autumn’ in Arabic, and during this time in Oman, a typical tropical climatic condition dominates Dhofar.

Climate During Khareef
The North-Western and Northern winds start blowing over the seas adjacent to the Southern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. There are regular rainfalls, almost 24 hours a day, accompanied by a few patches of white fog, making the weather moderate and covering Dhofar and Salalah with astonishingly gorgeous greeneries. Khareef is when tourists from all over the globe visit the city of Salalah to be a part of this natural wonder.

Salalah Tourism Festivities 

The Ministry of Tourism in Oman carries out this unique ‘Khareef Festival’, also known as the ‘Salalah Tourist Festival’, to celebrate the spectacular season in Oman. It features individual traditional performances, lip-smacking local Omani cuisines, and beautiful handicrafts.

Things to Do During the Festival

If you plan a trip to Oman during this upcoming Khareef season to be a part of the Salalah Festival, then you need to know how to enjoy it the most. Here’s a list of places you must visit during the festival for an unforgettable memory for a lifetime!

Soak in the Sceneries of Wadi Darbat

Wadi Darbat, one of Dhofar's most picturesque and famous wadis, is situated in southern Oman. During the Khareef festival, the wadi is fully covered with greeneries. A beautiful lake is present there, along with green mountain ranges, surrounded by white fog and a few mesmerizing waterfalls.
Pros
If you visit Wadi Darbat during the Khareef season, you can take a boat trip on the lake or even buy some fresh and delicious fruits from the many stalls around the wadi.

Shop at the Famous Haffa Souq

In Salalah, the Haffa Souq is a prominent local market. Here, you can get some of the most amazing traditional Omani stuff like local handicrafts, gold & silver jewelry, pottery, clothes, and frankincense. This market will give you a glimpse of Oman's real culture and heritage.
Pros
During the Salalah Festival, special Dhofari and Omani cultural performances take place in this Haffa Souq that you might not like to miss Al Fazayeh Beach.

Gain Yourself That Much Needed Blues at Al Fazayah Beach

Al Fazayah Beach is another beautiful natural attraction in Salalah, which you must not miss! The magnificent turquoise crystal water along the perfectly rocky coastline makes it a gorgeous location in Oman. You will fall in love with the drive to the beach as you pass through the lush green mountains and stunning natural beauty.

Pros
Salalah Famous Coconut Juice
Salalah, being a tropical city, boasts of numerous coconut trees. The famous coconut juice is one of the most loved fresh-made juices in the city. It is very much in demand during the Salalah Festival, and you can taste it from one of the numerous fresh fruits & juices stalls in Dhofar and Salalah. You can also take away some along with you and enjoy the same while watching the mind-blowing beauties of Salalah.

Drench at the Blowholes at Al Mughsail Beach

Al Mughsail Beach is another stunning beach in Salalah that gets all the more pretty during the Khareef season. Famous as one of the most remarkable beaches in the city, Al Mughsail beach has quite a dramatic coastline and thunderous crashing waves!

Pros The blowholes, which are scattered all across the beach are unique as well. Here, the sea water rushes with a strong current and form natural fountains. The beauty of this place is thayou might get drenched t while checking out the fountaied, which is truly a fantastic experience. However, keep some extra clothes in handy!

Indulge in Some Traditional Omani Camel Meat

In Salalah, camel Meshkak (meat kebab) is one of the most famous dishes. This kebab is made wite unique local seasonin andme local loaves of bread and rice. The Meshkak is a mouth-watering delicacy whiceveryone lovesne.

Pros Several restaurants and eateries serve this particular dish during the Khareef season.
Best Place to Relise Camel Meat However, Ittin Plain (Sahl Ittin) is the best place for having this dish in Salalah. You can get this with some grilled chicken or beef, bread, ri,ce, and some sala,s; a usual way of serving the Meshkak to the customers.

Other Attractions During the Khareef Season

Apart from these, you can be a part of the magnanimous revelries around that comprised parades, cultural shows, art concerns, ts, and much more during the Salalah Festival.

You will be able to experience a different angle of Om; hencece, you shouldn’miss itss! However, during this time, Salalah and Dhofaareasea get crowded with touristworldwideld. So, yomustto book your stay in advance to save the best place for yourself.