Mirbat

Mirbat was the main port of Dhofar before Salalah took the trade, shipping frankincense and horses across the Indian Ocean, and the old town keeps a group of merchant houses from that period: tall buildings with elaborately carved wooden doors, window frames and balconies showing East African and Indian influence, most of them now empty and decaying with a few restored. A small castle stands by the shore. The harbour is a working fishing port, busiest in the early morning, and the tomb of Bin Ali, a domed shrine with a cemetery of carved headstones, sits at the edge of town. Diving and turtle beaches lie along the coast nearby.

What you actually see

• Carved merchant doors - the decorated woodwork on the old houses.
• The fishing harbour - the boats and the morning landing.
• Bin Ali's tomb - the domed shrine and its carved cemetery.
• The small castle - the fort by the shore.

When to go

October to April for clear weather; khareef from late June to early September brings mist and drizzle. Early morning is best for the harbour. The drive from Salalah takes about an hour.

Honest expectations

Many of the old houses are collapsing and entry is unsafe. Restoration has been patchy. The town is quiet with limited facilities. Modest behaviour is expected at Bin Ali's tomb.

Nearby

Taqah lies west; Jebel Samhan rises inland.