Destination OMAN_Oct'10 by Hot Media

Destination Oman 40 reasons to visit the Gulfâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most intriguing, beguiling and rewarding nation

Destination Oman

Oman Today Steeped in tradition but with a modern, forwardthinking outlook, Oman offers the informed traveller a world of possibilities. Its people are among the friendliest and most welcoming in the world and their pride in their country shows through in their desire to show it off to visitors. Oman has been blessed with an incredible spread of natural riches, from the stunning coastline where pods of dolphins leap around dhow boats to the awe-inspiring quiet and majesty of the Wahiba Sands.

About This Guide We’ve picked the 40 best things about Oman and placed them into simple-to-reference sections, making it easy for you to plan your perfect trip. Our recommendations range from traditional essentials to more unusual options, with the aim of making sure you have a wonderful time, whether you’re travelling alone, with your family, or for MICE.

Contents 2 8 10 14 16 19 20

Oman for Culture - wonderful old buildings, new museums and heritage experiences Oman for MICE - perfect conferences, meetings and places to reward your team Oman for Adventure - thrilling, high-octane experiences on land and sea Oman for Families - discover why this country is so wonderful for a family break Oman for Relaxation - total calm and tranquility await Oman for Celebration - join in with fun-ﬁlled national events Where to Stay - our pick of Oman’s best hotels

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Destination Oman

Oman for culture

Lose yourself in downtown Muscat

Oman’s capital is home to a wonderful mix of traditional local architecture and slick new buildings. It’s a refreshingly low-rise place, built on a human scale which provides a lovely contrast to the megalopolises elsewhere in the Gulf. The heart of the action is along the Corniche in the Muttrah district: head down on your ﬁrst evening and mix with the contented souls taking the air, meeting with friends and popping in to charming cafés for powerful coffees. If you get there at dusk you can watch the sun go down and the lights go up, reﬂected against the lapping waves of the sea.

Take a tour around Nizwa

Jump in your hire car and head out of the capital – just an hour out of town you’ll ﬁnd 2

Destination Oman

one of Oman’s most impressive cultural offerings – Nizwa Fort. This 17th century architectural beauty was a powerful barrier to attack, repelling invaders keen to dominate the area’s trade routes and keeping Nizwa safe for hundreds of years. You’ll have a fun morning exploring the citadel – make sure not to miss the brace of cannons at the front, the doors topped by shafts through which date syrup or oil could be poured on unfortunate attackers and the ancient wells which kept the fort well supplied during sieges. Once you’ve ﬁnished your tour, pop in to Nizwa souk to pick up some local handicrafts.

Stock up on Frankincense

Oman has always been closely identiﬁed with Frankincense, that powerful resin which forms the base of some of the most exquisite and sophisticated local perfumes and incenses. You must make sure to pick some up from

Clockwise from top left: Muscat’s beautiful skyline; the mustvisit Nizwa fort; Omani children in traditional dress; bowls of frankincense for sale.

one of the country’s dozens of souks – the old souk in Salalah is particularly well-known for the range it offers – as it makes a great, exotic gift. You’ll ﬁnd that prices span a wide range – there are multiple different grades of Frankincense, and the highest quality ones can be quite expensive. The tree which produces Frankincense is extraordinarily hardy and thrives in Oman’s rockier regions.

Wander round the Museum of Omani Heritage and the Bait Al Zubair Museum After a nice spot of breakfast at your hotel, potter down to Muscat’s Al Alam Street where you’ll ﬁnd the Museum of Omani Heritage. It has been open for 36 years and offers a fantastic introduction to the country’s culture and heritage, with hundreds of 4

Destination Oman

ancient artefacts and beautiful silver-plated muskets and pistols. To complete the cultural experience, spend the afternoon at Bait Al Zubair, a museum which comes equipped with its own traditional Omani village where you can get a ﬂavour of the old ways of life, and check out their wonderful display of intricate khanjar daggers, fashioned from silver.

Visit Al Jalali Fort and Mirani Fort

Out on the ramparts of Muscat harbour you’ll ﬁnd this pair of 440-year-old Portuguese forts, built to stave off attacks by Turkish warships (the Al Jalali fort is almost completely cut off from land in order to make it yet more impenetrable). Entrance to both is free – you can expect to gain a fascinating insight into the city’s martial history and some great views over the side into the heart of the old walled city and also out towards the blue and gold Al Alam Palace.

KANOO WORLD TRAVELLER PROMOTION

Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa: 3 hotels, 1 unforgettable experience Why book to stay at just one luxury hotel when you can experience three without having to repack your bags? That’s the inviting scenario at Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, where a mere weekend spent amidst its stunning surrounds – all rugged mountains and a powder-soft beach - will instill you with a new zest for life. Of the three hotels, Al Waha is the familyfriendly zone, complete with a winding lazy river and myriad inﬂatables to entertain the kids; Al Bandar, home to late-night lounges and a few choice restaurants (try the featherlight black truffle risotto while sat a stone’s throw from the ocean at Capri Court) is ideal for couples or groups wishing to make the most of their evenings beneath star-ﬁlled skies; while the exceptional Al Husn suits those after

something a little more private (no children under the age of 18 are allowed) and suitably dramatic. Though no matter which of the three hotels you stay at, CHI, The Spa, is a must-experience for all. Here, some of the Sultanate’s best therapists are on hand to work away your stresses in one of twelve beautiful treatment villas. And once relaxed, you can then take in the glorious spectacle of an adult turtle hoisting herself from the ocean to lay eggs on the golden sands aside the resort. All you need do is leave your room number with the concierge and the resort’s designated Turtle Ranger will alert you to any turtle hatchings taking place on the beach. A unique experience; a truly unique resort. T: (968) 2477 6262 E: www.shangri-la.com/muscat

Destination Oman

‘If you’ve only seen camels in their natural state you’ll be amazed to see trained racers zipping by at 40 miles per hour’

Cheer on the jockeys at a camel race

Few activities give you such a ﬂavour of Oman’s passion and sporting spirit as a visit to a camel race. You’ll ﬁnd them on offer across the country, particularly during public holidays and other celebrations – just ask your hotel concierge when the next one is taking place in your area. If you’ve only ever seen camels in their natural state – waddling along slowly with awkward lolloping gaits – you’ll be amazed to see the trained racers zipping by at as much as 40 miles per hour.

Take a day trip to the Wahiba Sands.

Oman is blessed with a series of strikingly different natural habitats, including stunning coastline, sub-tropical greenery and vast stretches of pristine desert. The best example of the latter is to be found at the Wahiba Sands. Covering almost 5,000 square miles, 6

Destination Oman

this desert is home to Bedouin tribes as well as an extraordinarily diverse collection of ﬂora and fauna. Vast golden-red dunes stretch up to 300 foot into the air, and the sheer size and beauty of the place leaves you lost for words.

Immerse yourself in history in Omani castles

You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to forts and castles in Oman – there are well over 500 to see, many of them still in excellent condition. Once you’ve seen Jalali, Mirani and Nizwa forts, your next priority is to see the nation’s two most impressive castles, at Barka and Jabrin. Barka castle is the older of the two, having been built in the thirteenth century, and is home to an intriguing octagonal tower, watchtowers, prayer rooms and prisons. Meanwhile, the huge Jabrin Castle (which has over 50 rooms on three ﬂoors) is known for its exquisite decoration, in the form of painted ﬂowers, delicate carvings and symbols.

Marvel at the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

No trip to Oman would be complete without a visit to the striking Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque on the road between Muscat and Seeb. This 40,000 square metre edifice can welcome as many as 20,000 worshippers at one time, has no fewer than five minarets and is home to the second largest hand-woven carpet in the world as well as an imposing chandelier made from Swarovski crystal. The lavish use of beautiful white marble and gold plate and the inspiring floral designs make for a jaw-dropping view. You don’t have to be Muslim to enter – non-Muslims can take a tour every week day from 9am to 12 noon. Destination Oman

‘Your team deserve a special experience. And it doesn’t come much more special than dinner at Sense on the Edge’

Destination Oman

Oman for MICE

Show off the views at Sense on the Edge

exciting and unusual event. You’ll ﬁnd it doesn’t get much more exciting than the gripping ﬁnal day of the Dubai to Muscat Offshore Sailing Race, which takes place in November. You’ll be

At the end of a long day of work, your team

stationed at Muscat’s Marina Banda Al Rowdha,

deserve to be treated to a special experience.

where you can indulge in ﬁrst class hospitality

And it doesn’t come much more special than

while you cheer in the racers as they come

a dinner at Sense on the Edge at Six Senses

to the end of their 360-mile dash along the

Zighy Bay. The location is unbeatable, offering

Gulf’s coastline and down through the Straits

breathtaking views out from a mountainside

of Hormuz. Guaranteed to leave your clients

and over a tranquil bay, under a sky blanketed

thinking the world of you.

with stars. Get a candle-lit table out on the terrace and watch your workers unwind as they enjoy a ﬁrst class Mediterranean dinner: it’s the sort of experience they’ll be telling everyone back at the office about for years…

Go on a brainstorming break at Al Sawadi Beach Resort.

Hold a reception at Trader Vic’s

If you’re looking for a place to throw a welcome celebration for clients or colleagues, look no further than Trader Vic’s at the InterContinental Muscat. It’s a wonderful spot for entertaining, offering an intriguing French

Sometimes you need to get away from it all

Polynesian take on décor and drinks, alongside

in order to generate the best ideas. When

large sharing platters of exotic comfort food.

only a proper change of scene will do, bring

Ideal for those laidback, informal receptions

your team out to the Al Sawadi Beach Resort,

and networking events where you want people

a laidback spot where the scenery comes

to relax and mingle.

courtesy of one of the country’s ﬁnest beaches and a seafront studded with small islands. You and your team can spend the mornings bouncing ideas around in the conference room

Lay on the perfect conference at Grand Hyatt Muscat

The Grand Hyatt Muscat is one of the capital’s

and the afternoons bonding over scuba-diving,

best-loved hotels and is perfectly set up to

horse-riding and golf. You’ll come back fresh,

cater for conferences, no matter what the size.

motivated and buzzing with new plans.

The dedicated inhouse meetings and events

Entertain your clients at the ﬁnal day of the Dubai to Muscat Offshore Sailing Race.

team will coordinate with you on which of their excellent rooms will best suit your needs, and will set up AV and presentation systems and break-out areas, as well as working with

When it comes to getting clients onside, there’s

hotel’s superb restaurants to organise ﬁrst-rate

nothing better than inviting them to a truly

refreshments and dining options. When it comes to post-conference relaxation, delegates

Clockwise from top left: Trader Vic’s at the InterContinental Muscat; a racing yacht in full ﬂow; the view from Sense on the Edge at Six Senses Zighy Bay.

will love the tennis courts, Fitness Centre and huge outdoor pool. Destination Oman

Oman for adventure

Explore Al Jabal al Akhdar

Al Jabal al Akhdar means ‘The Green Mountain’ in Arabic, and it lives up to that name. Towering over the local region, it is one of the country’s highest peaks, and has long been a popular place for small Omani communities due to its pleasant temperatures – in the height of summer it rarely goes above a delightful 30 degrees Celsius. The higher you travel up the mountain, the greener it gets – nearer the top you’ll ﬁnd villages with cherry, walnut and peach trees alongside beautiful ﬂowers like the desert rose, juniper bushes and even entire gardens. The whole mountain is also cut through with wadis and natural springs which help to keep the area highly fertile. This is a great place for a visit– the views alone are worth the trip.

High wire across Snake Canyon

Only the most courageous of visitors should take on the challenge on offer at Snake Canyon in the Al Hajar mountains. Here you’ll ﬁnd a network of zip lines which you can whizz along at speed, venting your lungs as you take in the astonishing scenery. It’s one of those experiences you’ll never forget – exhilarating and daunting in equal measure. There are enough rides on offer at the Canyon to keep you going for almost two hours, by which stage you’ll feel extremely proud of yourself.

Go trekking in the Al Hajar Mountains

If you’d rather see the mighty Al Hajar mountains at a more sedate pace, then you 10

Destination Oman

should consider going on an organised trek. This is one of those trips where you need to make sure you’ve got a backup memory card for your camera – you’ll be snapping away from dawn to dusk at the mountain range, including the extraordinary Jabal Shams (the ‘mountain of the sun’) which is the highest point in the whole region. You can expect to see ancient trading trails, traverse verdant wadis and come across some of the region’s most beautiful wildlife.

Go paragliding over wonderful scenery

Go 4x4ing in the Empty Quarter

There are a series of spots where you can paraglide in Oman, but perhaps none more exciting than at the entrance to Six Senses Zighy Bay. Here you can strap yourself to a highly qualiﬁed paraglider who will glide you down to the hotel, giving you an incredible panoramic view over the local surroundings. If you want to paraglide but your partner doesn’t then don’t worry – they can choose to come in via 4x4 or speedboat instead.

There is no more thrilling location for an adventurous desert safari than The Empty Quarter. Hook up with one of the many tour companies offering trips into the dunes and they’ll supply you with a modern 4x4 and experienced guides and take you out for a fantastic time bashing your way up and down monster dunes, stopping off to check out beautiful wadis and paying a brief visit to the desert town of Nizwa. Clockwise from top left: a 4x4 tackles a dune; Trekking, kite-boarding; Beautiful views in the Omani countryside. Next page: Diving with a turtle and exotic ﬁsh.

‘Hook up with one of the many tour companies offering trips into the dunes and they’ll supply you with a 4x4’

Destination Oman

Head up for fun at Jebel Shams Base Camp

Jebel Shams Base Camp is a highly unusual spot, located in the Gulf’s highest mountain where you’ll be surprised and delighted to discover a spruce little complex of bungalows and air-conditioned Bedouin-style tents offering guests wonderful views out over Wadi Nakhr, which has been likened to the Grand Canyon. It’s a great place to visit in summer, particularly, when temperatures are far lower – up to 15 degrees Celsius lower – than in the rest of the country. Jebel Shams has a great spread of activities on offer, including abseiling, trekking, rock climbing and geology tours, followed by barbecues in the Mountain Restaurant at night.

Go diving in the Gulf of Oman

The warm waters of the Gulf of Oman offer some prime spots for outstanding diving. 12

Destination Oman

There’s an abundance of beautiful coral, including teddy bear corals, black coral, large table corals and whip corals. There is also visibility of up to 20 metres in the summer time – which means you’ll get excellent views of the schools of tropical ﬁsh which zip around the waters (the ﬁsh here are so varied and plentiful that new species are regularly found and categorised). Expect also to see beautiful turtles and dolphins.

Try your hand at kiteboarding

It’s not a proper holiday unless you’ve tried at least one new activity – and what could be more exciting and novel than kiteboarding? Oman is home to the Gulf’s ﬁrst internationally approved kiteboarding centre (log on to www.kiteboarding-oman.com for details) where you can learn the ins and outs of this challenging sport in the shallow-watered surroundings of Sawadi Beach.

CE L E B R AT I N G 2 5 Y EARS OF E XCE P T I O N A L S ERV ICE WI T H A S T O RY T O T ELL I N E VE RY C O R N E R .

In celebration of our 25th anniversary, Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat has planned a one month long series of gourmet delights featuring the Al Bustan Palace Culinary team, a chocolatier from Valrhona and world renowned grape farmers/growers together with a fashion & jewellery show by Nadia Dajani. Join in the 25th anniversary activities throughout the celebratory month of October and take home a piece of the Al Bustan Palace experience with you.

Do you live an InterContinental life?

For more information, please call +968 24 799 666 or email albustan@albustanpalace.com albustanpalace.com

Oman for families

Introduce your kids to some Arabian wildlife

Pay a visit to Tawi Ateer sinkhole

Take your family to the extraordinary Tawi Ateer, a 975,000 cubic metre sinkhole in the Dhofar region, where the views – and the hundreds of shots you’ll take – are astonishing. Craning your neck to see the blue water at the bottom is not for the faint-hearted. An extraordinary natural phenomenon.

The lush green As Saleel Nature Park is located just outside of Sur. It’s ﬁlled with fragrant acacia and cineraria forests and is the perfect place to spot some of the most intriguing local wildlife, including red foxes, Omani wild cats, gazelles and eagles. This area is so renowned for its diversity and captivating beauty that it has been listed on UNESCO’s World Natural and Cultural Heritage register.

Visit the Musandam

Take a birdwatching tour

Spend the day paintballing

Go souk shopping

The Musandam Peninsula is one of the most attractive corners of Oman, known for its series of ‘fjords’, craggy rock formations which you can cruise around on a traditional Omani dhow boat. The scenery is fabulous, as is the swimming – if you’re really lucky you might get to swim alongside one of the pods of dolphins which frequent the area. If you have time, book in for an overnight trip, and enjoy a wonderful dinner under the stars along the way, with only the sound of the waves lapping against the hull for company.

A fun family day awaits at Xtreme Sports (www.xtremesportsoman.com) in Muscat. Here you can spend happy hours dashing around the tailor-made course, ﬁlled with clever places to hide and barriers you can shoot over, taking pot-shots at your nearest and dearest. It’s a very safety-conscious set-up, monitored by trained referees and with the added bonus of practically guaranteed sunshine. Players have to be aged 12 or over – teenagers will absolute love it. 14

Destination Oman

Oman has been on birdwatchers’ radar for a long time – the country is a haven for more than 450 different species, both local and migratory. It’s particularly well situated – at the meeting point of three major landmasses – to attract birds from a wide area. Pack binoculars for all your family and introduce them to local legends like Purple Sunbirds, Yellow-Vented Bulbuls and Little Green Bee-eaters, as well as visiting species the White Cheeked Terns, Sooty Falcons and Spotted Redshanks. At Al Ansab Lagoon you can also see Pied Wagtails, Sand Martins, Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse and dozens of Black-Winged Stilts. Magical.

In Muttrah in Muscat you’ll find the adorable Muttrah Souk, the first port of call for culture vultures and shopaholics alike in the nation’s capital. Here you’ll amble along winding alleys crammed with ancient stores laden with antiques, spices, wooden handicrafts and – most importantly – beautifully-worked gold and silver. Once you’ve identified some jewellery you like, make sure you barter for it. Bartering is standard practise in the souk as well as being a lot of fun – by the

‘The Musandam’s scenery is fabulous, as is the swimming – if you’re lucky you might swim alongside a pod of dolphins’ end of the process you’ll have settled on a price that suits both you and the store owner, and you’ll have been treated to a dramatic display of mock-upset at your bids followed by some canny negotiation.

Visit the astonishing Al Hoota Caves

Located just below the Hajar Mountains, the Al Hoota Caves are over two million years old and have rightfully become a major tourist site. Jump on board a train which zips you to the mouth of the caves and then wander along the walkways taking in the brightly-lit caverns, rock formations and the awe-inspiring underground lake, ﬁlled with huge shoals of pink ﬁsh.

Go dolphin-watching

Your children will absolutely adore the sight of spinner and long-nose dolphins leaping in and out of the sea as you bounce along in a dhow or zoom by in a speedboat.

Clockwise from top left: Pleasure cruising in the Musandam; New-born baby turtles; A dolphin leaps from the water off the coast of Oman.

You can hook up with a tour operator in Muscat who will take you out to see these beauties, alongside other rarer beasts such as bottlenose dolphins, humpback whales and Brydel’s whales.

See new-born turtles at Ras Al Jinz

Each year the tranquil beach at Ras Al Jinz in Oman is besieged by as many as 30,000 turtles who come to nest and to lay their eggs in the reserve area. You’ll need to book accommodation at the reserve in advance during this period, as it is extremely popular. Once you’ve secured your room you can look forward to seeing the newly-hatched baby turtles and learning all about them at a special onsite scientiﬁc centre where you can talk with experts in the ﬁeld. Destination Oman

Oman for relaxation

Soak up the sun on Ras Al Hadd

Enjoy the region’s best dates and coffee

Right out on the eastern edges of Oman in the district of Ash Sharqiyah you’ll ﬁnd the attractive little village of Ras al Hadd. The beaches are doubly famous – they are used as nesting grounds by wild turtles each year, but they also offer great swimming and sunbathing opportunities (there are a spread of pleasant low-key hotels where you can book in for a beach-based break). Ras Al Hadd also has the distinction of being the ﬁrst place in the Arabian Peninsula where sunrise is seen each morning.

Oman is rightly feted for its delicious, thick coffee and its wonderfully sweet and juicy dates, and you’ll enjoy both in abundance during your stay. You should also dig in to some fantastic local cuisine – expect rich soups, kebabs, curries and elegant rice dishes, all eaten with piles of delicately-ﬂavoured fresh ﬂat breads and rounded off with traditional Omani halwa, a dessert made with eggs, butter, rose water and cardamom.

Revel in the Al-Dimaniyat Islands Nature Reserve

For a truly tranquil experience, make your way out to the nine islands of Al Dimaniyat, a pristine environment which is home to snorkelfriendly coral reefs, a 100 hectare-large nature reserve and a great diversity of wildlife. The best way to experience the place is to camp – you’ll never forget the experience of waking up the next morning in total calm and solitude and watching the world wake up around you. 16

Destination Oman

Go game ﬁshing off the coast of Sur

Unwind at Six Senses Zighy Bay

Out in the Gulf of Oman off the coast of Sur you’ll be able to enjoy a half or full day game fishing trip, setting out from Marina Bandar Al Rowdha and heading out on a local fishing boat. You’ll need an expert to guide you to the best spots and to brief you on the best way to land your catch – and you can expect to do battle with the likes of Doradoes, Sailfish and Marlins. All equipment is supplied, so all you need to bring is strong arms and sunscreen. The long periods of calm in between bites makes this a highly relaxing way to indulge your sporting side.

Stay at one of the gorgeous stone villas at Zighy Bay and you’ll have access to their world class spa, where you can turbo-charge your relaxation with some stress-busting holistic

‘Turbo-charge your relaxation with some stress-busting holistic massages and treatments using local ingredients’ massages and treatments. One particular highlight is the ‘Wonders of Oman’ package, which combines a mint-laced sea salt bath, a body scrub using local coffee and a massage with frankincese oil – highly authentic and highly relaxing.

Hit Chi, The Spa at ShangriLa Barr Al Jissah

Another superb spa choice is on offer at the attractive Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa, set with the Al Jissah bay in front of it and the mountains behind. Here you can enjoy sophisticated treatments either in the spa itself or in a private tent set out on the beach. Stressed souls are sure to adore the Traveller’s Retreat combination, which involves a foot ritual with an algae wrap, salt scrub and an Aroma Vitality massage. 18

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Previous page: Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Clockwise from top left: Fishing, Six Senses Zighy Bay; Catamaran cruises. Opposite page: Salalah; Oman National Day.

Take a catamaran cruise

Get in touch with Ocean Blue Sailing Trips (www.oceanblueoman.com) to organise a catamaran cruise. They run a series of different cruises, but our two favourites are the Sunset Cruise Oman and the Moonlight Magic cruise. The Sunset Cruise heads out at 3.30pm, leaving from Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah or the Chedi Muscat, and comes back just after sunset, in time for you to enjoy dinner on dry land. The two hour Moonlight Magic cruises, meanwhile, only set out once a month, from the Shangri-la Barr Al Jissah, and sail out towards the moon under the starlight. Expect to travel on a highly comfortable catamaran with excellent drinks and nibbles onboard.

Oman for celebration

Salalah Tourism Festival

Every summer time, thanks to the southwest monsoon (known locally as the ‘Khareef’), the southern region of Salalah becomes a verdant tropical haven, with plants and ﬂowers springing into life, carpeting the ground in greenery. It’s a wonderful place to visit and is perceptibly cooler than the rest of the country, making it a favourite holiday spot. There is plenty to see in the region, including lovely springs, tombs and the ruins of ancient cities. The fun is compounded with the annual Salalah Tourism Festival, which lays on excellent events and entertainments celebrating Arabian culture and heritage. It’s a magical time to visit the region.

‘National Day is a great opportunity to meet local people and join with them in celebrating this fantastic country’

Celebrate Oman National Day

November the eighteenth 2010 sees the arrival of the 40th annual celebration of Oman’s National Day, which is also the birthday of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos. Each year the whole country gets involved in the celebrations, with enormous street fairs, wonderful traditional food, displays of traditional music and dance, marching bands, military processions and huge ﬁreworks shows laid on. No matter where you are in the country on the big day you’ll be able to get involved – but obviously some of the biggest celebrations will be taking place in Muscat. It’s a great opportunity to meet up with local people and join with them in celebrating this fantastic country. Destination Oman

Where to stay

Our pick of some of the best hotels in the country... Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat The Chedi Muscat Crowne Plaza Muscat Crowne Plaza Salalah Crowne Plaza Sohar Golden Tulip Resort Dibba Golden Tulip Khasab Golden Tulip Seeb Grand Hyatt Muscat Haffa House Hotel Hilton Salalah InterContinental Muscat Jebel Shams Base Camp Majan Hotel Oman Mercure Sur Plaza Hotel Oman 20

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+968 24 799666 +968 24 524400 +968 24 660660 +968 23 235333 +968 26 850850 +968 26 836654 +968 26 730777 +968 24 510300 +968 24 641234 +968 24 692121 +968 23 211234 +968 24 80000 +968 96 66600 +968 24 592900 +968 25 543777

Muscat Holiday Hotel +968 24 487123 Park Inn Muscat +968 24 507888 Al Nahda Resort & Spa +968 26883710 Radisson Blu Hotel Muscat +968 24487777 Safeer Hotel Suites, Muscat +968 24602355 Salalah Marriott Resort +968 23 26824 Al Sawadi Beach Resort +968 26 795545 Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort And Spa +968 24 776666 Six Senses Zighy Bay +968 26 735555 Sohar Beach by Swiss-Belhotel +968 2684 1111 Swiss-Belhotel Resort Masirah Island +968 2550 4274

Clockwise from top left: Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort And Spa, Al Bustan Palace Muscat, Crowne Plaza, Six Senses Zighy Bay private reserve pool , The Chedi Muscat,

OMAN

Six Senses Zighy Bay is secluded on Oman’s northern Musandam Peninsula – a 90-minute drive from the Dubai International Airport. It is designed with 82 pool villas, including the Retreats, the Reserve, and a private marina. The dramatic setting has mountains on one side and a beach on the other. Six Senses Zighy Bay truly reflects the brand’s positioning of Redefining Experiences. It offers a choice of dining alternatives – from international cuisine to regional specialties. The Six Senses Spa focuses on holistic wellness and rejuvenation. It offers a full menu of treatments delivered by skilled international therapists.

Zighy Bay, Musandam Peninsula Sultanate of Oman T: +968 26735 888 E: reservations-zighy@sixsenses.com www.sixsenses.com