Wedged into a tight valley where the craggy tops of the Western Hajar Mountains crumple inner Oman, Nizwa has long been an important pitstop on the trade routes through Arabia. These days, it's famed for its breathtaking surroundings and rich history, which pulses through ancient souqs and the towering keeps of the muscular Nizwa Fort. 

In fact, it's the Nizwa Fort that brings most of the traveling crowd. Enlist the help of a Nizwa tour guide to reveal its secrets, which will transport you all the way back to the 12th century. Within, wander cannon-topped bulwarks and beige-hued fortification walls and learn about the imams who lead the defense of the city against marauding bandits and armies throughout the 1600s and 1700s especially. 

Nizwa is also home to a weekly livestock market, where a glimpse of the old Oman and its herder days is on the menu. Farmers come down from the mountains to trade their goats and cattle, then haggling, chatting, and sharing stories. Next door is the bustling Nizwa souq, where dome-topped minarets tower over terracotta pots and stacks of spices, lentils, and arabesque trinkets.