Oman is one of the most beautiful and fascinating countries in the Middle East. Oman is a perfectly safe country, located in a turbulent region, and should definitely be on your bucket list. Its grandiose landscapes and fascinating culture and tradition have inspired myths, legends, and dreams that still take hold of the imagination. Oman has spectacular mountains, lonely deserts, idyllic pristine beaches, picturesque villages, and elusive wildlife. A welcome and authentic respite for the modernism of its popular neighbor which is the United Arab Emirates, Oman still offers a sense of the oriental spirit of 1001 nights with its low-key tourism profile. This is the time to immerse yourself in the mysterious beauty of Oman, because the country gears up to attract much more tourists, with a new airport, a large conference center, and a string of new attractive luxury hotels.
Best Time To Visit – Oman’s weather is typical of the Arabian peninsula, with scorchingly hot summers from April to September and pleasantly temperate winters from October to March. However, the varied topography & geography of Oman makes its climate quite variable too. For most of the country, including the capital city of Muscat, the summer season is extremely hot, humid, and very unsuitable for travel. The temperature during this season peaks up to an average of 40 degrees celsius (104° F). Sometimes the temperature can go as high as 50 degrees celsius (122°F) during the day. Winter is the best time for travel in Oman, with an average temperature during the day of about 27 degrees celsius (80°F) while the nights are breezy and cooler with temperatures dropping down to an average of 15 degrees celsius (60°C). Winter days are filled with sunshine for almost all of the time (although in recent years we have seen an increase in the number of overcast and rainy days). The temperature in the mountains is around 15 degrees celsius (30°F) cooler than in Muscat all year round, making it a great place to escape from the heat of the lower plains in the summer months, or for a refreshing break and perhaps a view of the majestic snow-capped peaks under the winter sun. The luxury tours to Oman in 2021 should be planned for the winters ideally and if the luxury tours for Oman are planned in the summer, then you should travel to the mountainside of the glorious country rather than staying in the plains. The Dhofar area in southern Oman, where the beach resort of Salalah has located witnesses monsoon rains from June to September. The rain falls under the form of a constant drizzle, transforming the landscape into a lush and green gigantic oasis.
How to get to Oman – Most visitors arrive in Oman via the modern Muscat International Airport, although an increasing number of visitors have been flying in via the Salalah International Airport too. The Muscat International Airport (MCT) is Oman’s largest airport and the main entry to Oman. It is situated close to the capital city of Muscat and features flights to several regional destinations as well as some intercontinental services to Asia, Africa, and Europe. The Salalah International Airport (SLL) is the Sultanate of Oman’s secondary international airport and is the main gateway to southern Oman and the beautiful beach resort town of Salalah. It is also possible to enter the Sultanate of Oman via road from The United Arab Emirates.
Highlights, Travel Tips, and Inspirations – Oman should definitely be on your bucket list because of the following wonders that you need to witness and experience in the country which are the Old City Centre (Muscat), Sultan Qaboos Mosque (Muscat), Opera House (Muscat), the magnificent Hajar Mountains, boundless Arabian deserts, stunning fjords of the Musandam Peninsula, beautiful beaches mainly around Muscat and Salalah and lastly, Salalah’s coconut fringed beaches and banana plantations. Your luxury tours to Oman should definitely include a visit to one of these places as without these in your itinerary, a trip to Oman would be incomplete.
Top Ten Luxury Hotels in Oman –
Jumeirah at Saraya Bandar Jissah – This hotel consists of two wings – one with 206 rooms and one with 112 rooms and the resort is located in the picturesque cove of Bandar Jissah, near Qantab, nestled between the Hajar Mountains and the Gulf of Oman, close to Muscat. The overall resort premise includes a luxurious Talise Spa, a dive center, a wide range of sports and leisure facilities, a selection of restaurants, bars, and cafes, and a kids club. The resort is a part of a larger property that includes 300 high-end residential townhouses and villas, taking advantage of some of the most beautiful, unspoiled coastlines in the Middle East.
Image Credits: Archello
Intercontinental Muscat – Set on 35 acres of lush palm gardens between the grand Hajar Mountains and the white sands of the Gulf Coast, the InterContinental Muscat is located in the heart of Oman’s capital. The hotel is quite old though with dated rooms. It’s located along the shore, but the beach here is public and somewhat unattractive. But despite the negatives, the hotel is big on the amenities. It offers two floodlit tennis courts, a 25 m (82 ft) Olympic size swimming pool, a leisure pool, a fully equipped gym, sauna, and a jacuzzi. Having a good array of leisure facilities and being close to Muscat’s main commercial districts and only 15 minutes from the airport, the hotel is still a huge favorite amongst business travelers and leisure guests alike.
Image Credits: Intercontinental
Desert Nights Camp, Al Wasil – The Desert Nights Camp in Al Wasil, which is the only luxury desert camp in Oman, is an ideal base for an Arabian desert adventure, with spectacular craggy mountains in the distance, endless dunes, and crystalline wadis. It is only a two-hour drive away from the capital city of Muscat. The camp is sprawled across 10-acres of silken sands within the vast isolation of the Omani desert region. The 30 luxurious, fully air-conditioned Bedouin-style tents feature Oman styled cozy sit-outs, luxurious beds under a linen canopy suffused with golden light, tiled rooms with tasteful Arabian furnishings, and boutique bathrooms offer a copete Arabian experience to the customer as if he were taken back to the middle ages. Each night, guests feast on traditional Omani food in the flickering glow of the campfire and cherish it.
Image Credits: Oman Hotels
Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara Salalah – This wondrous resort is nestled between a private beach and freshwater lagoon, known as the Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara, it celebrates cultural treasures while being the first and only luxury pool villa resort among Salalah hotels. Middle Eastern designs reflect Dhofar’s rich heritage and are inspired by the region’s iconic coastal fortresses. Intricate, artistic details complement the princely comforts and luxuries. Walkways are surrounded by towering palms, magnificent trees, tropical gardens, and lush water features, creating tranquil journeys to new discoveries and experiences. Guests can relax at the exotic infinity pool, or soak up the sea view from the resort’s private shore or simply bask in the glow of the sun on the beach. The resort has 30 luxurious rooms offering beach, sea, or garden outlooks, in addition to 106 one, two, and three-bedroom villas that are perfect for romance and shared escapes with family, friends, and loved ones.
Image Credits: Luxury Travel Advisor
Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort, Al Hajar Mountains – Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort is a two hours drive inland from the capital city of Muscat. The five-star retreat is perched 2,000 m (6560 ft) above sea level on the curving rim of a great canyon, in the high rocky contours of the Saiq Plateau on Oman’s fabled Green Mountain. The elegant architecture reflects the mountainous surroundings and Oman’s artistic culture, with contemporary design motifs depicting the region’s ancient yet strong forts. A striking infinity pool with a belvedere offers an illustrious setting for relaxation and rejuvenation. The Anantara spa pampers its guests with Arabian cleansing rituals and helps you find your natural flow in hot yoga and massages. Guests can also stargaze from the viewing platform where the legendary Princess Diana, the queen of hearts, once stood. Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort offers Omani splendor in the most breathtaking and splendid natural settings.
Image Credits: Conde Nast Traveller
The Chedi Muscat – A GHM Hotel, Muscat – The Chedi Muscat was one of the first stylish and ultra-sleek luxury resorts to rise on the Gulf of Oman. Today, it remains a standard-bearer for quiet luxury, and with its minimalist design, it still ranks as Oman’s most elegant and exclusive resort, known for its surreal beauty and effortless design. It’s located on a long stretch of private beach and 21 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, although its setting is not nearly as dramatic as the hotels listed below. Sparkling waters, vibrant gardens and dramatic mountains as seen through the grand windows in all 158 wonderful, well-appointed guest rooms and suites heighten the calming effect of the natural and timeless environment. Facilities at The Chedi Muscat are utterly comprehensive, with six distinct restaurants, a thirteen-suite Balinese spa, three swimming pools, including a stylish 103-mere (338 ft) long pool, a gorgeous health club plus two executive meeting rooms which makes this luxury hotel ideal for both tourists and businessmen alike.
Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz Carlton Hotel, Muscat – Tucked away between the rugged Al Hajar mountain range and the beautiful Sea of Oman, Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel is a beachfront retreat set in exquisite gardens. The hotel was originally opened in 1985 to host visits by foreign heads of states at that year’s Gulf Cooperation Council Summit and at the celebrations marking the 15th anniversary of the occasion of Sultan Qaboos’s accession to power. Arab and art deco influences infuse the resort with an elegant ambiance, most notably in its majestic 38 m (124 ft) high and domed atrium lobby. From each of the hotel’s 250 guest rooms, suites and private balconies, guests can gaze upon magnificent mountains, sea or garden views. The hotel is located on the most beautiful stretch of beach in the vicinity of the capital city of Muscat. In 2015, a phenomenal Six Senses Spa was added to the hotel and built into the surrounding landscape of towering stone and rock cliffs in the hotel premises.
Shangri La Al Husn, Muscat – Exclusively located on the bay at Barr Al Jissah, the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa nestles against the dramatic backdrop of the rugged interior mountains and the spectacular and pristine turquoise waters of the Gulf of Oman. The resort consists of three separate hotels which are the Al Waha (Oman’s first dedicated family hotel), Al Bandar, and the kid’s free Al Husn. The latter offers Shangri-La’s highest level of service, amenities, and privileges to its customers. Its 180 rooms and suites are amongst the largest and most luxurious in Oman, with an inviting décor inspired by royal Arabian palaces and accented by authentic Omani artworks which will make you feel elated and take you to medieval Arabia on your luxury tours to Oman. Guests can enjoy access to the private 100 m (328 ft) beach in the hotel, as well as enjoy complimentary mini-bar, daily complimentary afternoon tea, and pre-dinner cocktails and canapés service too.
Alila Jabal Akhdar, Al Hajar Mountains – Jabal Akhdar, meaning ‘The Green Mountain’ in Arabic, is part of the Al Hajar mountains range, one of Oman’s most spectacular and picturesque areas. Set 2000 m (6560 ft) above sea level, Alila Jabal Akhdar provides access to this magnificent landscape of untouched beauty and surreal magnificence. Overlooking a dramatic gorge and with views of the Hajar mountains, the hotel is perfectly positioned to explore the region’s renowned rugged landscapes and mountains, a haven for adventure travelers, nature lovers, and those seeking an escape from the desert heat. The resort’s 78 beautifully appointed suites and villas are located within the main hotel building or arranged in individual clusters of four to six suites, generously spaced out around the clifftop to maximize privacy and uninterrupted views over the mountains and down into the gorges, which are a wondrous sight to watch.
Image Credits: Alila Hotel
Six Senses Zighy Bay, Musandam Peninsula – The Six Senses Zighy Bay is an ultra-luxurious ‘hidden gem’, located on Oman’s northern the Musandam Peninsula, only a scenic two-hour car journey from the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The setting of this beautiful indigenous village-style resort with its private marina is spectacular, with dramatic mountains on one side, and a 1.6 kilometer (1 mile) sandy beach on the other side. The resort gives the feeling of exotic remoteness, yet offers every comfort, easy accessibility, and barefoot luxury beyond your imagination. The accommodations are inspired by traditional Omani houses and feature high indigenous-style ceilings, a colorfully cushioned living area, and a cloudlike bed made with unbleached cotton sheets topped with your choice of ergonomic pillows that give a sense of ultra-slic luxury. All villas have a private pool with them, where guests can refresh within the privacy of high cobblestone walls. This resort is the best place to stay on your luxury tours to Oman as no other resort will offer you Oman at its finest then this resort.
Image Credits: Kiwi Collection
