- Oman
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A few hours of sumptuous coastal driving south from Muscat, the sleepy town of Ras Al Hadd, once you get there, is pretty unremarkable. Twenty minutes away, however, is the Ras Al Jinz nature reserve. There for a small fee, guests can watch Green turtles arrive on the beach to give birth and hatchlings make a break for the big blue.
This is small guesthouse with 20 rooms in two buildings, directly on the sandy beach. Clean, friendly, nice - Arabian hospitality and style, European comfort. Fantastic buffet breakfast!
We were going to visit Oman and wanted to use four days for a snapshot of the country. Arriving in Muscat is a shock as frankly it’s so much cleaner than our cities. We visited the Sultan Qaboos Mosque on the way in and it is a jaw dropping experience – a mélange of different Islamic styles that perhaps because of the space do not overwhelm. However, that apart, for us the best was out of Muscat and our safari through the mountains and desert. They are so barren that each village seems as though it could be the only one – but no, around a corner there would be another one. Camping in the desert gave us the chance to lie back and drink in millions of stars above in an almost religious experience. It’s difficult to get used to so many shades of brown but in their own way, they are beautiful. A great visit for non-touristy experiences.
Totally unexpected – green in the heart of Arabia. We travelled at the start of October for casual birdwatching and a beach holiday. We got both but also a little part of Arabia that contradicts practically everything written about the Middle East. The mountains were covered in trees and coastal birdlife extraordinary. Our lasting memory was the bucolic surroundings and total contrast from the cities of Egypt and desert of Jordan.
http://www.Salalah.Travel
Very friendly country where the people love children. We visited Nizwa and enjoyed the goats (through we didn’t let on what would happen to them), the Wahabi Sands and small villages and finally the Green Turtle place. We all enjoyed it immensely and it possibly is the most child-indulgent place we have been to in a while.
Great location, pleasant decor – we went just after they opened and so was not as good as it will be soon.
The company are into nature and cultural type holidays, we did a trip down the coast to Salalah in April. You need to except that there are no five-star hotels on the trip, only in the big towns, so we camped sometimes. The Omani guide was great, he cooked great meals and was a safe driver. We ate in some local restaurants and visited a true bedu family. The beaches were endless and had to dip our toes in on many an occasion.
When we arrived into Salalah it was a surprise to feel a difference in culture, it had a tropical African feel with some Yemen style thrown in. We liked it because it's still real.
www.holiday-in-oman.com, tel 00 968 24485663
Near to Radisson hotel in Al khwuair
A great destination for families, Muscat has everything and cheap at that. My tip is to make sure you leave your luxury hotel with private beach etc, to eat. Yes, you won't be able to drink alcohol in Omani restaurants but the selection of Arab food, seafood (lobster for £5 a head), Indian food and Persian (among others) are a delight, obscenely cheap compared with hotel fare, and served by friendly locals. The Mermaid on the beach just along from the Hyatt is a particular gem.
A newly established British-run ground operator in tourism.
We went on their glass bottom boat out to the Islands off Muscat for snorkelling.
It was awesome. The sea was so clear, there were dolphins everywhere and whales too.
The staff were really friendly and professional, and we even got snacks as we sailed!!!!
Perfect day on the Arabian Ocean.
Ok, so their desert tour is touristy, and cliche, but we thoroughly enjoyed it -- for $145 for two (including dinner), it was a value. The staff is outgoing, the dune driving somewhat scary, and the food is (suprisingly) good. Full description and photos at:
www.travelmusings.net
No website, but your concierge can book it for you.
This is where the cool kids stay! Sleek, sexy, modern. I only had a drink here, but fell in love with the place. Beautiful pools (one for adults, one for kids), a spectacular restaurant, etc., etc.
Full description and pictures at www.travelmusings.net
www.ghmhotels.com/hotels/hotel_home.asp?hotelid=13§ion=home
The festival takes place for about a month in January and February. There are lots of different festival events around the city but the best place to head is the Al Qurum National Park where the main events take place. It's a great place see local musicians, dancers and demonstrations of local culture. It's also a great place to see the local people letting their hair down.
This large mosque, completed in 2001, is a fabulous, stunning building. Non-Muslim visitors are allowed in between 8am-11am on any day except Friday and certain religious holidays. The earlier you go the better; it deserves to be savoured over a few hours. You'll feel slightly nervous standing under the chandelier in the men's prayer hall as it is huge!
All the taxi drivers will know
You need to get up early, but it's well worth it. Pods of dolphins congregate off the coast of Muscat, and the boats follow them for a good hour or so. The trips also go right around the bay, giving spectacular views of the coastline. If you're of a strong-ish constitution, you might want to investigate the nearby fish market, where local fisherman bring in their catches, including leopard sharks and reef sharks.
Zahara Tours will arrange boat tours and trips around the local markets;
www.zubairtours.com/
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