Infinity pool, The Chedi, Muscat
Given that Oman is one of my all-time favourite travel destinations, it makes sense that I have found a few places to rest my head. I thought I would share the best of them with you.
The Chedi, Muscat
The Chedi, Muscat, opened 13 years ago and is a luxury 5-star hotel in Al Azaiba, northwest Muscat on a private beach between the international airport and Muttrah. It has 158 well appointed rooms and the hotel grounds abound with water features and tranquility.
The choice of restaurants is good and the cuisine excellent although not inexpensive. My favourites are lunch at Serai Pool, fine dining at The Beach Restaurant or the atmosphere of the Arabian Courtyard, followed by Shisha in the lounge.
Whether you are escaping the winter of Europe or looking for some downtime on a stopover from Australia and New Zealand, this is a great choice for that relaxing break. There are 3 well-appointed pool areas to cater for everyone from the family friendly Serai, to the stunning beachfront infinity pool and cabana, to the amazing 100m swimmers dream pool. The spa offers a multitude of pampering delights to meet your jet lag recovery needs.
The hotel staff are courteous and attentive and the location means it is easy to see the sights of Muscat. This kind of luxury does not come cheap of course and prices start from $340 per night.
Sahab Hotel, Jebel Akhdar
No trip to Oman would be complete without a journey into the western Hajar Mountains. You need a 4wd for the trip and you will be rewarded with breathtaking views (see Captivating Oman).
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I stayed at the small boutique Sahab Hotel, 2,004 meters above sea level on Jebel Akhdar. It has the most spectacular views and is worth the, at times, scary drive up the mountain road. You have to pass a checkpoint at the base of Jebel Akhdar and, if you are not in a 4wd vehicle, you will be turned back.
Based on the Saiq Plateau the hotel has vistas of mountains and escarpments and ancient villages with their famous terraces of roses and pomegranates. There are a number of good hiking day tours to take. I walked down the mountain through the ancient villages for 3 hours and was collected by the hotel owner by car for the return journey.
There are a number of activities that can be organised through the hotel staff including goat herding, farming with locals, donkey rides, star gazing and, if you are more adventurous, caving trips.
When I stayed it was during December and nights were extremely cold but it was rather refreshing to have a dip in the heated pool and watch the sun set over the mountains. Magical!
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Sahab Hotel, Jebel Akhdar © Wanderers Dreams
© Wanderers Dreams
Prices are upwards of $250 AUD or 71 Omani Rials per night in peak season (23 Dec – 9 Jan and April to May when the roses bloom). There are only 27 rooms so be sure to book early.
There is a newly opened hotel Alila Jabal Akhdar that I have not yet stayed at, but fully intend to try out on my next visit to Oman.
There is a newly opened hotel on the plateau, the Anantara Jabal Akhdar, however this is a luxury hotel and looks to be approximately $650 per night.
Desert Nights Camp
Desert Nights Camp, Wahiba Sands
© Wanderers Dreams
The Desert Nights Camp is situated on the Wahiba/Sharqiya sands, a 2-hour drive from Muscat. Set admit 11 km of dunes, the camp is luxury with the desert experience. The night sky is truly awesome and the colours of the shifting sands change in the amazing dawn and dusk light.
The camp offers a range of activities for your desert stay including a memorable Sunset camel safari, 4 hour day time camel tracks, 4WD Dune bashing, quad biking, and sand boarding. Locally you can visit a Bedouin family house and enjoy the traditional Omani hospitality of coffee and dates or take a short drive and swim in the green waters of Wadi Bani Khalid. It is worth staying 2 nights.
There are 26 luxury tented rooms decorated in Arabian style. The rooms are air-conditioned (a necessity in the summer) and all have en-suite bathrooms complete with toiletries.
There is a restaurant on site which serves traditional Omani fare and offers local music around the campfire.
The cost of a two night stay is approximately $1300 per tent in January 2017
© Wanderers Dreams
Wanderers Dreams 