"The best kept secret in the Middle East about to cease to be"
Intense blue waters, seas of golden dunes in impassable deserts, turquoise oases, canyons to look out at while negotiating the purchase of a carpet, complete a menu of landscapes capable of seducing anyone . Welcome to the country of Sinbad the Sailor, the most unknown and fascinating of the Arabian Peninsula, although not for long…
New York Times has just declared Oman as “the best kept secret in the Middle East about to be left….” And it is that, aware of the enormous potential of this hidden treasure between the desert and the Indian Ocean, the large hotel chains such as Anantara, Radisson Blu, Four Seasons or Kempinski , prepare their landing in the sultanate during the next few years. So do not hesitate, be still one of the first to explore " the soul of Arabia ” without jostling or hordes of annoying tourists. We tell you the experiences that cannot be missing on your travel route.
1. TASTE THE CHARM OF ITS CAPITAL, MUSCAT
Bathed by the pristine waters of the Indian Ocean and that particular light of Arabia, Muscat spreads out like a city of neatly arranged white buildings on a sand-colored background. Walking through its pristine avenues, it seems impossible to imagine that just 40 years ago poverty here was endemic, that there were only two kilometers of paved road and that illiteracy reached more than 70% of the population . The efficient management of gas and oil fields by Sultan Qaboos (the national hero) has worked the miracle of turning an impoverished country into a modern state, yes, away from the luxury and extravagance to which its UAE neighbors are so prone.
Oman Corniche: the promenade along the ocean
Muscat it is without a doubt, the emblem of that measured prosperity , a calm and silent city whose maximum pleasure is to walk at sunset through the Corniche , the beautiful promenade along the ocean as we walk past the slender Omanis in their dishdasha robes and turbans. The spectacle of sensual sunset lights projected on the minarets of mosques and white government buildings is unique.
But if there is something you cannot miss in the Omani capital, it is the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque , built in 2001 to celebrate the 30 years of the sultan's reign. A work of modern Islamic architecture that impresses with the purity of its lines and the elegance of its forms. If you thought that all mosques were the same, you are very wrong… The simplicity on the outside contrasts with the ornamental richness on the inside where you can admire an impressive eight-ton lamp in addition to the second largest persian rug in the world (which took four years to weave by the hands of 600 women and whose measurements reach a whopping 70 meters long by 60 meters wide).
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
two. A NIGHT IN THE DUNES
Imagine: hundreds of kilometers of tan dunes, dromedaries lazily crossing the horizon, even with a bit of luck you will meet a group of Bedouins on horseback.
In Wahiba Sands 200 kilometers from the capital (also known as Sharqiya Sands), with an area of 14,500 square kilometers, you will find all the ingredients to become a true Lawrence of Arabia and live some strong emotions like sliding down the ocean of dunes in a 4x4 (the popularly known dune-bashing). Do not underestimate the ability of the local guides to make you have a bad time “surfing” at terrifying speed among the dunes that rise as we pass, forming gigantic towers about to devour us. While you repeatedly cross yourself in the back of the vehicle, your driver will give you condescending smiles, but don't give him a break, you are braver than he thinks. If you are calmer the classic dromedary ride also has the grace of him.
After the adrenaline rush you have two options, camping in the open under the stars or, go to the glamping that is now so fashionable: sleep in a tent but with all the glamor and comfort. If that is your option (it was mine) Desert Nights Camp is the perfect alternative: exquisitely decorated tents, a cozy terrace to taste Omani cuisine at nightfall... In any case, it is mandatory to contemplate the sunset in the desert. Few phenomena have the rare virtue of leaving you literally speechless.
Glamping outside of Oman
3. MARVEL AT THE TURQUOISE COLOR OF THE OASIS IN WADI SHAB
Confess it, you had always imagined an oasis like a crystal clear pool surrounded by palm trees suddenly discovering itself in the middle of the desert. Well, we're sorry, you won't see anything like it in Oman, but you will be equally impressed by the beauty of the wadis , true oases that run between the mountains forming natural pools located at different levels.
We visit the Wadi Shab 60 minutes from Muscat . In the middle of the arid landscape, a kind of reservoir under the highway announces our arrival at the oasis. It will be necessary to start, however, an ascent by the stone walls that rise on both sides of the valley to finally meet him emerald green of the wadis surrounded by the splendor of date palms and the occasional orchard. In the upper pools it is possible to bathe in them , swim from one to another or dive into caves created by erosion where the water is trapped in a magical repertoire of lights and colors.
If you want to explore more of these particular oases, we recommend Wadi Tiwi known as the wadi of the "Nine Villages", where you can walk through the villages that border the wadis.
Wadi Shab, 60 minutes from Muscat
Four. LOOK AT THE GRAND CANYON OF ARABIA, IN THE JEBEL SHAMS MOUNTAINS
We promised at the beginning of the article, Oman's landscape record is extremely varied . Today we have decided to peer into the abyss in the deep Wadi Ghul , the so-called “Grand Canyon of Arabia”, a precipice of more than 1000 meters for heart-stopping views (and dizzying) located in the highest mountains of the sultanate. Between photo and photo we receive the visit of a carpet seller who does not hesitate to expose, as if it were the most normal thing in the world, the precious merchandise on the edge of the precipice in the manner of an improvised store.
"At more than 3000 meters, in the middle of nowhere and negotiating the price of a carpet" - comments my travel companion, half amazed, half amused. “This is Arabia – the seller tells us - we are merchants, no matter the altitude”.
The Grand Canyon of Arabia
5.**TRY THE MOST EXPENSIVE PERFUME IN THE WORLD (OR WHY NOT, BUY IT)**
Arabia was already known by the classics as “the land of perfumes” and the Arabs always enjoyed a great reputation as masters of the art of fragrance. However, in Oman they have wanted to loop the loop by creating the most expensive perfume in the world, Amouage Gold , a fragrance whose creator, the accredited “nose” Guy Robert, defined as follows:
"Every woman needs a magnificent perfume in her arsenal, a fragrance that will make her feel like Jean Harlow in a satin gown descending a marble staircase. Gold Woman is that fragrance."
Of course with such a description they make you want, and many, to buy it (if it were not, of course, for its high price, about €350 for a 100 ml bottle ) . The history of this original perfume begins in 1983 when the sultan commissioned the famous perfumer from brands such as Chanel, Dior or Hermès the conception of the “most expensive fragrance in the world” capable of synthesizing the essence of the sultanate and that would constitute the perfect gift from the Omanite royal house to visiting Heads of State and foreign dignitaries. Guy Robert got down to work selecting the noblest ingredients such as olibanum extract from Dhofar frankincense, damask rose, jasmine, tuberose and lily… until completing the masterpiece that is Amouage Gold.
The best way to discover the secrets of this peculiar perfume is to pay a visit to the Rusayl factory , on the outskirts of Muscat, where you will discover each step of its elaborate production process and, at the end of it, you will finally have your mini-sample of the most exclusive perfume in the world!
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Oman, discover it NOW