Maverick Guide to Oman

by Peter J. Ochs II

For naturalists, the rock formations, minerals, and fossils of Oman are textbook-quality, and the variety of flora and fauna is awe-inspiring. For adventurers, there is wadi bashing, hiking, camping, and rock climbing. The landscape ranges from desert to oasis to mountain to coast, and the Omani people are among the most hospitable in the world. This guide utilizes the familiar Maverick format to communicate everything a first-time traveler needs to know. The author lives in Oman and has made many of the treks he writes about. He gives insight into the customs, history, and culture of the country, as well as how to get along with the Omanis in the best possible fashion. Advice is given on everything from asking permission to take pictures, to what type of vehicle to drive in certain areas, to which forts are open to the public, to what kinds of clothes to wear.

384 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1997

About the author

Peter J. Ochs II first went to the Sultanate of Oman in 1991 to work in the Reports Section of the Information Centre for the Ministry of Water Resources. As an art director, he assembled scientific texts and graphics into publication form, working with a team of expatriate and Omani Graphic designers. During that time, he had an opportunity to explore the country, both through his job and through weekend wadi bashing. (For those of you not familiar with this common expatriate activity, the act of wadi bashing consists of finding a wadi--which is the Arabic term for river, or river bed, since many do not have continuous flowing water--where you can have a picnic or camp.)

After two years, having amassed a great deal of information about this little known Arabic country, he decided to publicize Oman through writing, photography and artwork. In 1995 he prepared an exhibition of photographs and illustrations which was shown throughout New England at schools, libraries and cultural fairs, and more recently in 1998 at the National Council on US-Arab Relation’s presentation ceremony of the International Peace Award given to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the Sultan of Oman.

In 1996, Peachey (as he is known by friends and colleagues) returned to Oman to write the first English language travel guide to be published in the United States, the Maverick Guide to Oman, published by Pelican Publishing of Gretna, LA. The book went through two editions and is currently out of print.

From 1998, he was living in Oman working in inbound tourism. He managed a small company specializing in cultural/adventure tours. Here he designed itineraries, scheduled and conducted adventure/cultural tours, organized fam-trips, created brochures, posters, banners and other marketing material and promoted same, and trained incoming staff as tour guides. He also gave public lectures and slide shows to various cultural and social groups on inbound tourism in Oman using his photographs and illustrations. He has also written magazine articles for travel publications and was a regular contributor to the Day Out column in Oman Today. After the 9/11 tragedy, he returned home to the US.

Mr. Ochs is married and has children spread all over the map from the US to Singapore. He and his wife Letchmi and their kids love to travel together and will go wadi bashing at the slightest provocation.

In 2009, Mr. Ochs obtained CIG status from the NAI and served as historic yellow bus driver/guide at Yellowstone National Park where he continues to work as a Certified Interpretive Guide.