Holidaymakers who want to explore the countryside are well-advised to hire an air-conditioned, off-road vehicle with a knowledgeable, local driver at the wheel. These can be relied upon to have intimate knowledge of their home country, including such fascinating areas as the Wahiba Desert which 450 Bedouin families still call their home. The exhilarating outings through the red-yellow sand dunes are as much - if not more fun - for the driver than they are for the passengers. Equally to be recommended is a journey through the wadis, as the dried up riverbeds are known. Among the most scenically impressive are Shab Tiwi and Bani Khalid wadis with their deep ravines, magnificent groves of palm trees and 'natural baths'. The picnic areas are popular with Omanis who come here with their relatives at the weekend or on public holidays to enjoy a barbecue. Of course, visitors to Oman should not come away without seeing some of the notable city sights. The lively metropolis of Muscat with its modern administrative centre and bright new shops and businesses housed in Arabian-style architecture is only one aspect. Equally attractive are the vegetable and fish market in the quarter of the city along with the Matrah souk which is a great place to wander. This is an oriental mosaic of exotic aromas, traders hawking all manner of wares and colourful locals in traditional attire. Another undoubted attraction is the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, which is the only one in the country also open to non-Muslims. It was built on a site measuring 460,000 square metres within the space of only six years and opened in 2001. Other worthwhile destinations in Oman are the ancient part of the capital Nizwa with its renovated fort. The modern business area stretches out below alongside the new central souk where haggling with the traders is all part of the fun.