Highlights of Oman Muscat Strung below craggy mountains, the Omani capital of Muscat is one of the Middle East’s oldest and most picturesque cities. Between its corniches and modern quarter are Portuguese-built forts, bluedomed mosques, royal palaces, and souks, all heavy with the sense of a lost Arabia Nizwa and The Hajar Mountains The Hajar Mountains run like a spinal column down the length of the country, dividing the fertile coastal plain from the harsh desert interior. In the north of the country, Nizwa, ancient capital of a rival state to Muscat, sits and dominates the base of the mountain range, its huge fort a glowering presence. Be awed by the dramatic scale of the mountains and surprised by the fertile canyons and wadis hidden within. Wahiba Sands The Wahiba Sands is a stretch of ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ desert only a few hours from Muscat. Stretching nearly 200 miles from north to south it is home to towering dunes, valleys of harder, ridged sand and a few Bedouin families and their camels. Excellent fixed camps mean you can spend a night in the desert in relative comfort, enjoying a range of activities from 4×4 drives to camel rides. Most of all it gives you the chance to see a desert sky at night, so filled with stars and so free of light pollution you can read a book by star light, and the familiar constellations are almost impossible to pick out from amongst the million points of light. Musandam Peninsula Like a crooked finger hooked into the Straits of Hormuz, the Musandam Peninsula is an island of Omani territory marooned in a sea of United Arab Emirates. There are two distinct sides to Musandam. One is the very traditional way of life – oil wealth and the high-tech development of the region has passed most of Musandam by and so you can take jeep safaris into deserted mountains, passing only the occasional village, or jump aboard a dhow to explore unpopulated inlets flanked by dolphins playing in your bow wave. Alternatively there is the modern luxury of the Zighy Bay resort where every comfort has been laid on to provide the beach ultimate retreat (see page 9). Oman offers unique opportunities to explore with sights within easy distance of Muscat, so even if the destination your resort woes you with in-house entertainment this beautiful country is welcoming and wonderful. to behold!
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NjE5ODQ=