Oman

Oman lies on the south-eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, facing the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Muscat is set between rocky mountains and the sea: the old harbour of Muttrah with its souq and corniche, the Grand Mosque, the Royal Opera House, Qurum’s beaches and calm bays to the south.

In the Hajar Mountains, the Saiq plateau of Jebel Akhdar holds terraced villages and rose and pomegranate gardens above canyons; nearby are Nizwa, with its fort and souq, and the UNESCO-listed fort of Bahla. The Wahiba Sands bring dunes, Bedouin traditions and starlit nights; Wadi Shab and Wadi Bani Khalid hide clear freshwater pools, and turtles nest at the Ras al Jinz reserve. In the south, the khareef monsoon turns the hills of Dhofar around Salalah green, and the Land of Frankincense is also UNESCO-listed. In the north, on the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam’s fjord-like khors are best explored by dhow, often with dolphins.

Hospitality is generous — guests are welcomed with coffee and dates — and seafood and souqs are part of daily life. Summers are usually hot; the cooler months are the main season, the mountains are cooler still, and Dhofar has its own monsoon season. Oman suits couples, families, nature and culture lovers, and active travellers drawn to hiking, diving and the desert.