When to visit for Sarb season
The mist from Khareef is only just clearing, so the mountains still carry patches of cloud and Wadi Darbat’s waterfalls run at their fullest. Pink balsam flowers begin appearing in the valleys, and herders start moving livestock up to the newly green slopes.
Expected weather: About 23-31°C, with lingering cloud early on, then brighter and less humid.Do: Catch Wadi Darbat’s waterfalls while they’re still running full, before they thin out later in the season.Dubai to Salalah, returnAED 773 from
Skies are at their clearest and humidity at its lowest, so Jabal Samhan’s canyons and the coastline are both easy to see end to end. Balsam blooms spread widest here, and the sea off Mughsail calms enough for swimming.
Expected weather: About 22-31°C, mostly clear, dry and less humid.Do: Hike the clearest viewpoints over Jabal Samhan’s canyons, and photograph the balsam bloom at its widest.Dubai to Salalah, returnAED 777 from
Wadi Darbat’s waterfalls thin to streams and lakes as the season dries out, but the plains and mountain viewpoints stay clear and cool. This is the last stretch before Sarb ends on 21 December.
Expected weather: About 21-29°C, clear, dry and cooler, especially after sunset.Do: Camp out under cool, clear mountain skies, an Omani coffee-and-dates evening tradition of the season, before Sarb ends on 21 December.Dubai to Salalah, returnAED 735 from
Sarb is Dhofar’s own spring, the calmer season that follows the Khareef monsoon. It runs along the coast from Dhalkut to Mirbat, from late September to 21 December, getting drier and clearer each week.
The fares above are priced from Dubai. Search flights to Salalah from any city.
Where to stay in Salalah
These three sit in Salalah’s hotel belt, a short drive from Wadi Darbat and the mountain viewpoints Sarb season is known for. None are tied to specific Sarb dates, so the same room works for any week of the season.
Browse the full range of Salalah stays for your own Sarb season dates.
Questions
What is Sarb season in Dhofar?
Sarb is the spring that follows Dhofar’s Khareef monsoon, running along the coast from Dhalkut to Mirbat from late September to 21 December, with clearer skies and less humidity than the Khareef months.
When does Sarb season end?
Sarb finishes on 21 December each year, when Dhofar moves into its drier winter months.
Is Sarb the same as Khareef?
No. Khareef is the humid monsoon from around June to September, thick with fog and rain. Sarb follows it, with clearer skies, lower humidity and calmer seas.
What can I still see at Wadi Darbat during Sarb?
Early in the season the waterfalls still run from Khareef’s rain, thinning to streams and lakes as Sarb continues into December.
Do I need specific dates to visit Salalah for Sarb season?
No. Sarb spans about three months, so flights and hotels can be booked for any week without needing a fixed festival date.
Sources
- Oman Observer, “Sarb season keeps Dhofar green beyond Khareef”, season dates and weather characteristics, retrieved 22 September 2026.
- Oman Observer, “Rejoice Dhofar: ‘Al sarb’ season is here”, 21 December end date and Dhalkut to Mirbat coastal range, retrieved 22 September 2026.
- Oman Observer, “Dhofar in Bloom: The Pink Season of Sarb”, pink balsam bloom detail, retrieved 22 September 2026.
- Oman Observer, “Khareef gives way to Sarb in Dhofar”, spring livestock grazing custom, retrieved 22 September 2026.
- Time and Date, “Climate & Weather Averages in Salalah”, average monthly high and low temperatures based on Salalah Airport observations collected from 1992-2021, retrieved 22 September 2026.
- Wego flight search, Dubai to Salalah, sampled 22 September 2026, in AED.
- Wego hotel search, Salalah, sampled 22 September 2026, in AED.
How these figures were produced
- Fares are round-trip economy, one adult, Dubai to Salalah, sampled for three windows within the season (3 to 7 October, 14 to 18 November, 8 to 12 December 2026) through Wego’s flight search, in AED, on 22 September 2026.
- Hotel rates are per night for a 4-night stay from 14 to 18 November 2026, two adults sharing one room, filtered to four-star-and-above properties with a guest review score of 8.0 or higher, through Wego’s hotel search, in AED.
- Seasonal detail, including bloom timing, grazing custom and waterfall flow, is drawn from Oman Observer’s reporting. Expected temperature ranges use average monthly lows and highs from Salalah Airport observations collected from 1992-2021; they are typical conditions, not a forecast.
- Each flight link opens the exact outbound and return dates that fare was sampled for. The price may have moved since 22 September 2026, so treat the row as a snapshot, not a live guarantee. Hotel rates are a sample for an ordinary week and are not tied to the dates shown; book your own nights on Wego.
Disclaimer: We’ve worked hard to make sure the information in this article is as accurate and up to date as possible at the time of publishing. Travel details such as prices, schedules, visa rules, and entry requirements can change at short notice, so it remains your responsibility to verify the current details with official sources before you book or travel. Wego accepts no liability for any loss or inconvenience arising from the use of this content.
