Nizwa is the best base in interior Oman, and the surrounding region has more interesting day trips than most travellers expect.
Jabrin fort, about 45 minutes south-west, is the most decorated castle in Oman — painted ceilings, hidden passages, and the tomb of Imam Bil'arub bin Sultan who built it in the 17th century. Bahla, between Nizwa and Jabrin, has its own UNESCO-listed mud-brick fort and the most famous pottery in the country.
The Wadi Bani Khalid system to the east makes an excellent half-day for swimming in turquoise pools between palm-shaded rocks. Misfat al Abriyeen, a stone-built village clinging to a steep mountainside, is one of the prettiest places in Oman to wander on foot. The Wahiba Sands desert is two hours east — a long day out, or better as an overnight in a desert camp.
