One of the Middle East’s mellowest and most sublime destinations, Oman has endless charms to offer the visitor: a rich heritage reflected in its ancient mosques and historical sites, incredible dive sites, beautiful sandy beaches and an exotic Arabian culture. It is set on the Arabian Peninsula, featuring a magnificent landscape of vast desert, endless coastlines and undulating dunes. Highlights include: the elegant, evocative capital of Muscat; the friendly port town of Sur; the charming mountain settlement of Misfat Al Abryeen; the prehistoric tombs bordering the Western Hajar; diving around the Daymaniyat Islands Marine Reserve; and watching hundreds of green turtles emerging from the ocean at Ras Al Jinz to lay eggs.
Jebel Akhdar, meaning ‘Green Mountain’, is a rugged mountainous region in the central Al Hajar Mountains. It serves as a gateway to learn about the area’s natural wonders, rich history and cultural heritage. Perched 2000 metres above sea level, Jebel Akhdar provides a respite from the desert heat and is a welcome retreat for nature lovers and adventurers with its mild Mediterranean climate. Dubbed, 'The Fruit Bowl of Oman', the landscape is peppered with lush orchards of prize pomegranates, apricots, other local fruit, walnuts and Oman’s famed damask roses; as well as deep canyons, numerous caves, a collection of charming hamlets, and ancient abandoned villages. Visitors can enjoy views of the eponymous, Jabal Akhdar Mountain, and the majestic Jebel Shams, Oman’s highest mountain.
Set in Central Coastal Oman, the locally-known Wahiba Sands, also known as the Sharqiya Sands, is a vast desert featuring rolling sand dunes located just south of the city of Sur. The desert stretches for an impressive 170 kilometres along the Arabian Coast and features dunes reaching up to 100 metres in height. Visitors can stay overnight in one of the many camps. Popular activities include 4WD tours (dune-bashing), camel rides, guided horse rides, trekking, sandboarding, and quad biking. Don’t miss the opportunity to pick up some skillfully handcrafted goods such as traditional camel bags and colourful woollen key rings. Views of the uninterrupted starry night sky will charm you, the golden sunsets and sunrises will mesmerize you, and the Bedouin traditional way of life will enchant you.
With an idyllic location on the breathtaking Musandam Peninsula in Oman, Zaghi is a secluded resort town fringed by a mile-long sand beach. Until recently, this tiny gem was accessible only by boat. Now, albeit by a winding pass, it is only a two-hour drive from Dubai International. The seaside village is situated in a beautiful crescent bay with towering ochre mountains. The mountain and the ocean are the stars of the show here. A nature lover and adventure seekers paradise, visitors to Zaghi can hike, paraglide, enjoy a sunset picnic from one of the vantage points, or head into the deep blue for some snorkelling or a dhow cruise.
