• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to footer

ZigZagonEarth

Plan unforgettable road trips!

  • FRANCE
    • CORSICA
    • NORMANDY
    • PARIS
  • EUROPE
    • ANDALUCIA
    • CANARY ISLANDS
    • CRETE
    • ICELAND
    • ICELAND WINTER
    • MADEIRA
    • MALLORCA
    • PORTUGAL
    • SANTORINI
    • SCOTLAND
    • SLOVENIA
  • REST OF WORLD
    • NEW ZEALAND
    • OMAN
  • TIPS
  • EBOOKS
  • SHOP
  • ABOUT

Al-Ayn and Bat (Oman) – Tip + photos of Unesco sites

Last updated on July 27, 2022 by Claire / this article contains affiliate links (Info)

Declared World Heritage by Unesco in 1988, the necropolises of Al-Ayn and Bat (along with Al-Khutm) are the best preserved necropolises from the Bronze age. The tombs structure and their history makes those sites fascinating.
Below is my guide to help you plan your visit.

Al-Ayn and Bat Necropolises Unesco site Oman - Travel Guide

Table Of Contents
Beehive tombs in Oman - Unesco sites
PLANNING TIPS - Al-Ayn and Bat
Unesco site of Al-Ayn, Oman
Archeological site of Bat, Oman

In this article, no ads, no sponsored posts. Just some affiliate links.
If you purchase through them, I get a commission at no extra cost to you (Disclosure).


Beehive tombs in Oman - Unesco sites

Oman has 5 registered Cultural Unesco heritage sites:

  • the Aflaj irrigation system which you can see in Birkat al Mawz (added in 2006)
  • The ancient city of Qalhat (added in 2018)
  • The archeological sites of Bat, Al Khutm and Al Ayn (added in 1988)
  • the Bahla fort (Oman has a lot of impressive forts - see my article) - added in 1987
  • The Land of Frankincense in the South around Salalah (added in 2000)

I personally think that the Beehive tombs are the most fascinating:

Al Ayn Necropolis - Oman 5

Unesco site of Al-Ayn Oman

Bat, al-Khutum and al-Ayn are 3 archaeological complexes of tombs built during the 3rd millennium BC. Located in the Hinterlands of Oman, the are the remnants of life during the Bronze age.

I visited only Bat and al-Ayn. Bat is a large area with 100 graves spread over it whereas al-Ayn is a smaller necropolis with incredible background mountains.

And more of those tombs in beautiful landscapes can be found on the Salmah Plateau (4WD off road access only) - see my article. 


PLANNING TIPS - Al-Ayn and Bat

Getting to and visiting the Bat site

  • Ibri to Bat = 25km - 30min drive
  • Nizwa to Bat = 1h50
  • Near Maqabil
  • There is no official entrance at the moment. Just find the hole in the fence with the small sign saying it is an archeological site

Getting to and visiting the al-Ayn site

  • 22 km East of Bat
  • On the road 21 between Ibri and Bahla, 36km from Ibri turn North.
  • Ibri to Al-Ayn = 50min
  • Nizwa to Al-Ayn = 1h10
  • The al-Ayn tombs can be spotted from the road.
  • You will have to park next to the road and walk through the river bed and between farms to reach the tombs.
  • No facilities
Location OMan Al Ayn Map

Google Map Data @2019

GPS coordinates, easy-to-plan maps and practical info in my travel guide eBook:

Be overwhelmed by the beauty, not the planning!

Oman Travel Guide eBook
  • 8 exclusive easy-to-plan maps
  • 90+ amazing locations
  • Tips to make the most of your time
  • 100+ large photos to decide 
  • GPS coordinates direct to the carparks

LEARN MORE

Need to rent a car in Oman?

Renting a car Oman tips reviews

See my 36 practical tips
to choose the best car to rent
from Muscat or Salalah
for the roads in Oman
and find the best deals

+ read more

or directly see the best deals on my favorite platform

Which site to visit

The most famous site is Bat due to the high number of tombs. However my favorite was al-Ayn because of their state of preservation and the surrounding landscape.

Archeological sites

Please be respectful and do not pick any rocks or damage anything. Those are 5000 years old.

Accommodations

  • You can stay in Nizwa or Ibri
  • Check out accommodations in Nizwa
  • Check out accommodations in Ibri

Where to stay in Oman?

Where to stay in Oman best areas

See my selection of the 12 best areas to enjoy the best Oman has to offer...
+ my selection of accommodations

+ see more

Unesco site of Al-Ayn, Oman

Al-Ayn is an important group of beehive tombs. It was my favorite. 

There are 19 tombs aligned on top of a hill. Some of them are well preserved.
Most of them are small and comprised of only one chamber. They were built with stones cut regularly. Archeologist Sandro Salvatori estimates that they can be receive 30 bodies.

As you approach the site you will spot those small circular shapes on a hill ridge. Cross the wadi and the farm to reach the path (10 min walk from the road).

Al Ayn Necropolis - Oman 1
Al Ayn Necropolis - Oman 2

I really enjoyed this location because of the combination of history and nature. In the backdrop is the magnificent mountain of Jebel Misht. 
The scenery is absolutely fascinating. I had a hard time leaving.

Al Ayn Necropolis - Oman 4
Al Ayn Necropolis - Oman 6
Al Ayn Necropolis - Oman 7

Archeological site of Bat, Oman

Bat is the biggest site. Here you have bigger beehive-tombs with multiple chambers. They could receive 200 bodies. Some of them are being restored.
The particularity is that they had white stones in the area so some are white towers.

I had seen many tombs by the time I reached this site and did not wander to find more of them. 

If you use the GPS coordinate on my eBook on Google Earth you will see the fence and some of the circular shapes from the tombs.

Bat Necropolis - Oman Access
Bat Necropolis - Oman 1
Bat Necropolis - Oman 2
Bat Necropolis - Oman 3

If you love such sites, have a look at all the Unesco World Heritage sites that Gary from Everything-Everywhere visited. It is quite impressive!


Want to see more of Oman?

  • Best Things to do in Oman - read article
  • Best of photos from Oman - Landscapes - read article
  • Best forts in Oman - read article
  • Where to stay in Oman - read article
  • Best days trips from Muscat - read article
  • Planning a road trip in Oman - read article
  • Driving in Oman - read article
  • Best Things to do in Muscat - read article
  • The impressive Wadi Shab - read article
  • The Bimmah Sinkhole - read article
  • The desert of Wahiba Sands - read article
  • The Ras Al Jinz turtle reserves - read article

Planning a trip to Oman?

Check out my travel guide to help you plan:

Be overwhelmed by the beauty, not the planning!

Oman Travel Guide eBook
  • 8 exclusive easy-to-plan maps
  • 90+ amazing locations
  • Tips to make the most of your time
  • 100+ large photos to decide 
  • GPS coordinates direct to the carparks

LEARN MORE

And keep track of your own trip!

Oman road trip journal

Want to see more of Oman's beauty?

PREVIOUS LOCATION: 

JEBEL SHAMS

NEXT LOCATION: 

RUSTAQ OMAN - THE LOOP 

Oman destination guide travel planning addict

Inspired? Share it on your favorite platform!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Paul P Caro says

    September 29, 2021 at 4:05 PM

    thank you for your information it is great job

Footer

CONTACT ME

Search

Follow ZigZag on Facebook

Follow ZigZag on Pinterest

Website in French: ZigZagvoyages.fr

Website in German: ZigZagreisen.de

Website in Spanish: ZigZagviajes.com

And discover the French regions:

Normandielovers.fr

LoireLovers.fr

CorsicaLovers.fr

 

Privacy / Terms of Use / Disclosure Policies / Refund policy

Become an affiliate for the ZigZag road trip guides

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. ZigZagOnEarth.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Amazon.uk and Amazon.ca

Copyright © 2023 ZigZag On Earth · Log in