One of the main reasons I wanted to visit Oman was to see the vast desert that covers so much of the country. In photos, the slopes of sand look serene and otherworldly and I was so excited about the opportunity to witness this first hand on a tour organised by The Chedi Muscat.
We set off early with Abdul, our Golden Oryx tour guide, who The Chedi Muscat use for all their desert tours. His spacious modern four-wheel-drive car was very comfortable, and we were glad to have air-conditioning in the 40-degree heat.
Abdul was a very knowledgeable and friendly guide. For much of the two-and-a-half hour journey from Muscat he educated and entertained us with stories of Oman’s history, geography and culture. Abdul has been working in the travel industry since 1990 and was one of the first guides to give desert tours in Oman (so much so, that many joke the road to the desert is named ‘Abdul Road’ after him).
Just before arriving at Wahiba Sands Desert, we stopped in a small village to part-deflate the 4WD’s tyres – this, Abdul told us, gives the car much more grip when speeding around the sand dunes.
Wahiba Sands Desert is a vast mass of red and white sand. Traditionally home to the Bedouin Tribes, it is an inhospitable and tough terrain that only they know how to survive in. The desert adventure began with an exhilarating drive across the dunes and numerous stops for photos, before we arrived at a Bedouin camp. We were welcomed into their home to enjoy Omani coffee (infused with cardamom), fresh dates and to learn about Bedouin traditions. We also had the opportunity to see – and buy, if we wanted – a range of handicrafts made by members of the tribe, including bracelets, frankincense, myrrh, rugs and scarves. Tour guests are also able to pay a little extra to have a short camel ride, if they wish.
From here, we ventured on to Wadi Bani Khalid, the most beautiful oasis in Oman. Surrounded by date trees, cascading waterfalls and caves, it was a beautiful spot to take a cooling dip in the natural green water. The wadi was also home to lots of little fish that nibbled our toes while we swam around, so it doubled up as a spa treatment!
For lunch, we had a simple buffet at the wadi restaurant including grilled meats, dhal, bread and soft drinks. When we were ready to leave, we jumped back in Abdul’s car for the 3-hour drive back to Muscat. He recognised we were tired so left us to nap in the back while he navigated the route back to The Chedi Muscat.
The trip was the highlight of our time in Oman, and both Abdul and The Chedi Muscat were excellent hosts. To find out more, or to book a tour, contact The Chedi Muscat or Golden Oryx here.