Al Hazm Fort is one of the less known castles in Oman, but I still think it’s definitely worth a visit.
The inside of the fort has lots of interesting rooms, with secret chambers, prisons, and date store rooms; some of the rooms even have cannons, old rifles, daggers, and other 18th century artifacts on display.
This travel guide will explain how to get there, and everything you need to know before you go!Best Oman Tours
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Oman is not the cheapest country to travel, but Klook has Rustaq day tours starting from $65 USD, and Nizwa tours for similar prices. Both of these tours start from Muscat, and they'll allow you to see some of the best Omani castles, forts, and traditional markets.
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Visiting Al Hazm Fort
Al Hazm is one of the few forts in Oman that has an audio guide, and even though I didn’t use this I’ve heard it’s super informative and done in clear English.
It’s also completely free! There are designated places in the fort where you can use it to get some extra insight into 18th century Omani life and how the fort was used over the years.
When I visited Al Hazm I had already seen a bunch of other forts on the same day, so I was starting to develop some major ‘fort fatigue’, but I’m still glad I walked up to the top of the fort to look around.
You can walk along the inside of some walls at the top, and the views are pretty nice. Bring water! The walk up to the top of the fort can be extremely hot depending on the season.
Al Hazm is located near Rustaq, so it’s pretty easy to visit if you’re planning to go see Rustaq Fort or Nakhal Fort! I’d say it’s very worthwhile!
Entrance Fees
There’s an entry fee of 0.5 Omani Rials ($1.30 USD), but most tours seem to include this in the price.
How To Get To The Castle
The castle is in Rustaq, about 110 kilometers (70 miles) from Muscat.
You can drive there yourself with a rental car, or there are prepackaged day tours to Rustaq from Muscat that include the castle as part of their itinerary.
Best Tours In Oman
Where I Stayed
I stayed at the 2-star Mutrah Hotel in Muscat, in a private room for $38 USD per night. Oman is not the cheapest country to travel, but the room was big and clean, and the A/C was nice and cold.
The location was a big plus. There was a mini-mart right across the street, and it was near the Mutrah Souq (traditional market) and some other interesting places.
Prices may fluctuate from time to time, so just keep an eye out for a good deal.
See Also
- Oman Travel Guide
- Best Castles & Forts To See Near Muscat, Oman
- Best Things To See & Do Near Muscat, Oman