Oman in cash.
The sultanate of discreet wonders: Musandam's fjords, adobe forts, emerald wadis where you swim beneath the palms, and the singing dunes of the Wahiba. Arabia Felix exists.
Helvetica Exchange prepares your OMR travel envelope at Rue Pierre-Fatio 19, 1204 Geneva (Rive district) — the posted rate, no separate commission, Monday–Friday 08:30–18:30 and Saturday 09:00–17:00. Reserve and your rate is held for 3 hours during opening hours; ID from the LBA thresholds.
The cities, chosen.
Muscat
A corniche between sea and brown mountains, a marble mosque and a frankincense souk.
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque — An eight-tonne Swarovski chandelier, a single-piece Persian carpet — mornings only, dress modestly.
Mutrah Souk — Frankincense, khanjars and Bedouin silver beneath the lamps — smiling negotiation in rials.
Nizwa & the forts
The old capital of the interior — a round fort, and the Friday goat market.
Nizwa Fort — The giant cannon tower and its intruder traps — oasis view.
Jebel Akhdar — The 'green mountain' of rose terraces — 2'000 m, ten degrees cooler.
Wadis & the Wahiba Sands
Turquoise natural pools, then a sea of orange dunes — the perfect day.
Wadi Shab — A hike-and-swim to the hidden waterfall cave — entrance boat 1 rial.
A Wahiba Sands camp — Dunes at sunset, Bedouin dinner and starlit silence.
Getting around.
A car (or 4×4 for wadis and desert) — impeccable roads, near-free petrol. Muscat–Nizwa 1 h 30. Wadi villages and small shops live on the counted rial.
Cash & banknotes.
The rial is strong (1 OMR ≈ CHF 2.30) yet the country is gentle: petrol nearly free, forts at 2–5 rials, shawarma at 1. Camps and hotels set the budget; carry rials counted for wadi villages.
| Rate reservation | held 3 hours, during opening hours |
| Counter hours | Mon–Fri 08:30–18:30 · Sat 09:00–17:00 |
| Commission | none — the margin lives in the posted rate |
Before you go.
Is Oman expensive?
The rial is strong (1 OMR ≈ CHF 2.30) but the land is gentle: near-free petrol, forts 2–5 rials, shawarma 1 rial — camps and hotels set the budget.
Do I need a 4×4?
For the Wahiba and certain wadis, yes — or choose a camp that collects you. The rest of the country drives beautifully in a saloon.
Indicative amounts — rate reservable for 3 hours · Rue Pierre-Fatio 19, Geneva · Guide complet en français