Oman Desert Camps & Dhows

Gateway to the Arabian Coast – Muscat

Arrive in Muscat to a private welcome and settle into The Chedi’s serene elegance. After time to refresh, step inside the Royal Opera House, then wander the bustling Muttrah Souq. As evening falls, stroll the Corniche at sunset before savoring Omani flavors by the sea.

Begin with Muscat’s Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque before venturing into the Hajar Mountains. Stop for a private picnic in Balad Sayt village, then cross rugged canyons by 4x4. By evening, arrive at Alila Jabal Akhdar, a clifftop retreat above the Saiq Plateau.

Wake to the cool air of the Saiq Plateau and spend the day walking among rose terraces, stone hamlets, and ancient falaj channels. Pause for lunch in a mountain village before returning to Alila Jabal Akhdar, where evening brings spa time or sunset views across the peaks.

Descend from the mountains to Nizwa, where the 17th-century fort and lively souq reveal Oman’s heritage. Pause for a swim in Wadi Hawer before continuing by 4x4 into the golden Wahiba Sands. As evening falls, your private desert camp awaits with sunset views, candlelit dining, and oud music beneath the stars.

Wake to sunrise over the Wahiba Sands before trying sandboarding on the dunes. Continue through Mudaireb village and stop for Omani coffee in Jayla, home to a UNESCO falaj. By evening, reach your private Selma Plateau camp, where an astronomer guides you beneath pristine desert skies.

Wake on the Selma Plateau and trace Oman’s deep past at ancient beehive tombs before descending to emerald wadis for a hike and swim. By afternoon, step aboard your private dhow at Quriyat and sail the coast to Ras Abu Daud, where the day closes with a bonfire, swimming, and dinner under the stars.

Wake aboard your dhow and begin the day with a swim in turquoise waters. Spend the afternoon gliding north along rugged cliffs and hidden inlets, exploring by paddleboard or seabob. By sunset, anchor in Bandar Khayran for fresh seafood dining beneath towering coastal cliffs.

Cruise north to the Dimaniyat Islands, Oman’s protected marine reserve. Spend the day snorkeling vibrant reefs and swimming with turtles before enjoying sundowners on deck. As night falls, dine under the stars aboard your dhow anchored in this pristine archipelago.

Wake to a final swim before sailing back to Muscat. Disembark for your private flight south to Salalah, where a villa at Anantara Al Baleed offers ocean views, poolside leisure, and an evening to unwind along Dhofar’s coast.

Journey inland from Salalah through the Qara Mountains, stopping at frankincense groves and the fabled ruins of Ubar. By afternoon, leave the roads behind to enter the Rub’ al Khali, one of the world’s largest sand deserts, where your private camp is set among towering dunes.

Wake to sunrise over the dunes and spend the morning exploring the Rub’ al Khali by foot or 4x4. Search for geodes, learn desert survival from guides, and meet a Bedouin herder and his black camels before returning to camp for dinner beneath the stars.

Leave the Empty Quarter and travel into Wadi Exil, a wilderness home to rare Arabian leopards. Walk with conservation rangers to study tracks and camera traps before crossing the Dhofar Mountains. By evening, reach Alila Hinu Bay, a serene coastal retreat near Mirbat.

Spend the day at leisure by the sea or explore Dhofar’s heritage. Visit Mirbat Castle, stroll Wadi Darbat’s green valley, or join an archaeologist at Sumhurram, a UNESCO frankincense port. Return to Alila Hinu Bay for a final evening of coastal calm.

Spend a final morning by the Arabian Sea, whether walking the beach, enjoying coffee overlooking the bay, or taking a last swim. Transfer to Salalah Airport for your onward journey, carrying with you the contrasts of Oman’s mountains, deserts, and coast.