Combine the Tempting Beaches of Dubai with the Traditions of Oman
Written by: Elles Poppegaai (Product Manager)
The Middle East is a continent with many faces. While the United Arab Emirates offers vibrant glamour and relaxed, refined beach holidays in Dubai, Oman is characterized more by its rich traditions, culture, and nature. Dubai is a pioneer in the largest, tallest, and most extraordinary architectural creations, complemented by stunning beaches, fantastic weather, the most exclusive restaurants, and countless shopping opportunities. Combine this splendor with Oman, where the welcoming culture and rich history, rugged mountain ranges, and fairy-tale desert landscapes will leave you in awe from one moment to the next.
ICONIC DUBAI
Once a dusty desert city, Dubai is now one of the largest and most dazzling metropolises the world has ever known. Our journey begins here and despite its urban character, Dubai is also a beach destination with an irresistible allure. After an impressive drive past the world's tallest skyscrapers, we settle into our idyllic resort.
We are guided out of the car and glide through the lobby into an oasis of peace and serenity amidst beautifully maintained gardens. The stunning pool in the distance beckons. We feel completely away from the hustle and bustle of the city and can fully relax, enjoying the sun, sea, and beach in all their splendor. We stay in a magnificent accommodation, have access to superb restaurants, and pamper ourselves with endless wellness moments. The wide beach with fine white sand offers us a view of Dubai's impressive skyline.
With the city within reach, we naturally visit the Burj Khalifa, where we enjoy the endless views from high above. Here, we also have the opportunity to visit our favorite designer stores in Dubai Mall. We could stay until evening to watch the fountain show, but instead, we choose to walk along the boulevard of the vibrant Jumeirah Beach Residence in the evening sun. In the evening, we indulge in one of the many renowned restaurants featuring the world’s most famous star chefs.
WANDER IN THE DESERT
We combine Dubai's sandy beaches with the vast sand dunes of the nearby desert. Less than an hour's drive from the city, we are welcomed into a fairytale of 1001 Nights under the sparkling starlit sky. We enjoy the pristine view from our luxury Bedouin tent with a private pool, which rivals many hotel rooms. Our resort blends uniquely into the rolling landscape of the sand, offering us an intimate introduction to the culture, Bedouin traditions, and natural wonders that the desert has to offer.
Our desert experience is incomplete without engaging in some fun activities. Driving through the sand dunes, also known as 'dune-bashing,' is a must. As the sun slowly sets behind the dunes, turning the desert red and revealing an unparalleled starry sky, we continue our adventure. We end the day in traditional Bedouin style, watching a falconry show while camels move through the striking landscape in the background. We decorate our hands with traditional henna art as an authentic dinner is served.
The Mystique of Muscat
In just over an hour's flight, you will travel from the glamorous beach destination of Dubai to the magical and authentic Muscat. Here, you are welcomed by stunning luxury resorts, parading in a graceful line along the coast, with warm traditional coffee and open hospitality in a richly decorated palace by the sea. Unlike Dubai, the city of Muscat is bordered by rugged cliffs, spectacular mountain peaks, and endless desert. Due to the predominantly light-colored low-rise buildings, the city is also called the 'White City'.
Often serving as both the starting point and the end of an impressive journey through the Oman inland, the friendly and relaxed Muscat offers an authentic Eastern atmosphere of culture and rich history. You enter the city through the impressive Muscat Gate, visit the magnificent Grand Mosque built by Sultan Qaboos, and stroll through the colorful Muttrah Souk along the lively boulevard in the harbor. The Opera House in Muscat is a cultural highlight of which Oman is particularly proud.
ROUNDED LUXURY IN THE GREEN MOUNTAINS OF JEBEL AL AKHDAR
Just about a two-hour drive from Muscat lies the extraordinary natural phenomenon of Jebel Al Akhdar in the Hajjar Mountains. This area is known for its labyrinth of wadis and terraced orchards, where pomegranates and apricots flourish abundantly thanks to the mild climate. This mountain range, primarily composed of limestone, forms the highest point in Oman. Despite the region mainly consisting of desert, it has earned the nickname ‘The Green Mountains’ due to the occasional rain at higher elevations, which also shapes the wadis.
High in the mountain ranges of the Hajjar Mountains, we step into a world of luxury on one of the many terraces that this mountain range offers. Cloaked in opulence with dramatic vistas through the canyon as a treat, we traverse the surrounding desert in search of adventure and cultural gems amid the natural beauty of this environment. Dining here 'on top of the world' on a platform over the cliff, we enjoy the most spectacular sunsets as the mountain range is bathed in stunning orange and pink hues. We explore the wadis and hidden waterfalls in the valley, enjoy coffee in a local Omani mountain village, take magnificent walks over the plateaus of the mountain peaks, and push our limits by climbing along the side of a rocky wall.
