Sur's location makes it one of Oman's best bases for day trips. Wadi Bani Khalid to the north-west and the turtle beaches to the south are the headline acts, but the whole stretch of coast and escarpment between Muscat and Sur is worth exploring slowly rather than rushing through.
Wadi Bani Khalid is about 70 km north-west of Sur and is widely considered one of the most beautiful wadis in Oman. Unlike most wadis that run dry in summer, Bani Khalid has year-round pools — clear turquoise water in a canyon of pale limestone, with date palms along the banks. You can swim in the main pools; follow the path further into the wadi for quieter spots. A 4WD helps for the upper sections, though the main area is accessible in a regular car. Bring food and water and make a full day of it.
Wadi Tiwi, closer to Sur, is narrower and less visited. The road up the wadi leads through a string of villages clinging to the cliffsides, with terraced gardens and falaj irrigation channels. Ask directions locally before heading onto unpaved tracks. A swim in one of the smaller pools here is a fine way to end an afternoon.
Ras Al-Jinz (about 60 km south) is home to one of the Indian Ocean's most important green sea turtle nesting beaches. The Ras Al-Jinz Turtle Reserve runs tightly managed night visits — small groups, red-light torches only — to watch females come ashore to lay eggs between June and October. Numbers peak in July and August. Book ahead; the reserve fills up. The adjacent Ras Al-Hadd also has turtle activity and is slightly less organised, which some people prefer. Both are best visited in the cool of the night rather than baking midday.