Oman holiday guide: four ways to stay

Sweeping desert plains and undulating dune-scapes, 3,000 kilometres of rugged coastline, soaring mountain ranges… Oman’s geography is nothing if not eclectic. Equally varied are the different holiday-types that Oman naturally accommodates, so we set our Kenwood Travel Middle East experts the task of summarising their recommendations for the best ways to experience this enchanting place. Are you a twin-centre, adventure, family friendly or luxury holidaymaker? Read on to find out, and see which Oman holiday suits you best.

Two-centre Holidays

Thanks to coastlines flanking both the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea, Oman enjoys a strategic position for Middle East travel. As a gateway between West and East, it makes an ideal stop–over location on long haul journeys between the UK and Asia & the Far East. Break up your flight with a weekend mini-break in Oman’s dynamic Muscat and easy-to-reach surrounding areas. A holiday destination of distinction in its own right, Oman, as an add-on to your existing travel plans, really comes in to its own, showcasing its wide range of cultural, gastronomic, romantic, historic, family-friendly and luxury attractions. Visit different destinations within the country as part of a domestic Oman two-centre holiday, or go international.  The travel experts at Oman Air recommend Thailand as the number-one destination for travellers wishing to combine Oman as part of a dual-country two-centre holiday. The land of smiles’ topicality certainly does compliment Oman’s more rugged beauty to offer a contrasting yet ultimately harmonious mix. Muscat to Bangkok boasts a mid-range flight time of six hours, allowing Oman holiday makers to continue their trip to Thailand without a lengthy, jetlag-inducing transfer. And after Bangkok, how about a bit of laid-back beach time in Hua Hin?

Adventure Holidays

Taking cues from its neighbouring Arabian destinations Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Oman offers the very highest standards of service and hospitality. It therefore stands to reason that the level of luxury delivered by Oman’s top hotels – including gourmet cuisine, sumptuous spas and private access beaches – sees the fly-and-flop crowd well and truly taken care of. That said, the adventurers among you will find plenty to discover. Desert tours through the night; Arabic tent venues; adrenalin-fuelled mountain pursuits; visits to sea turtle nature reserves; scuba diving and dolphin spotting are just the beginning of what’s in store for outdoors action in Oman. Start your story today.

O U R  T O P   P I C K  The Niza & Grand Canyon Tour incorporates an adventure-filled day at the dunes plus plush accommodation at Alila Jabal Akdar and the newly opened Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort.

The sights, sounds and seas of colour of Muscat’s vibrant ‘Soque’.

Family Holidays

And it’s not all about luxury lifestyles and indulging your adventurous side. Family holidays in Oman exceed expectation too with their ability to please everyone in the gang, young or old. Beach holidays allow little ones to experience the ocean safely, taking full advantage of those warm, shallow waters. Dolphin spotting boat trips and and turtle sanctuary visits are a fun way for little ones to appreciate the region’s marine wildlife. A city break in Muscat meanwhile, with its dynamic pace and authentic atmosphere, will reveal a wealth of shops & soque markets, museums, restaurants, galleries and historic sights that are just waiting to be discovered by you and your family.

O U R  T O P  P I C K  Shangri-La – Al Waha Resort treats children like VIPs and features a kids club, spacious family rooms, a lazy river and even an on-site turtle ranger. For the family beach holiday in Oman it has to be Al Bustan Palace whose private shoreline stretches to one kilometre of pristine sands.

Luxury Themed Holidays

To Oman’s stunning natural beauty, warm hospitality and cultural legacy, add a long list of ways to personalise your visit. Travelling golfers won’t lack links on which to perfect their swing; indeed, the country’s dramatic golf course back-drops and coastal settings have been known to inspire the odd hole in one. Spa lovers seeking true R&R need search no more: Oman hotels per capita house some of the biggest, best and most innovative spas in Arabia. Or why not turn up the tempo and delve deeper with a diving holiday that unveils Oman’s underwater treasures? Spot whale sharks, spotted eagle rays, bottlenose dolphins and honeycomb morays to name but a few of the species that call Oman’s plankton-rich gulf waters home. And the final way in which you can personalise your Oman holiday? With a touch of romance, of course. As a honeymoon venue Oman’s scenery has few equals. Its hotel honeymoon packages and inclusions meanwhile are the icing on the cake.

O U R  T O P  P I C K  For the travelling golfer, it has to be Grand Hyatt Muscat Hotel. Sifawy Boutique Hotel is well known as a diving hotel and provides close access to the stunning Dimaniyat Islands. Spa lovers, head to The Chedi Muscat for specialist wellness treatments that are out of this world.