With daily flights into the capital Muscat, and a wealth of truly world-class luxury hotels with properties from the likes of Shangri La, Six Senses and Ritz-Carlton – though despite the international brands all have a distinct Omani flavour.

The Pinnacle Inside Track

Emerging from its shell and now a rising star on the luxury travel scene, the Sultanate of Oman is justifiably described as Arabia’s Jewel. Located on the south-east coast of the Arabian Peninsula, Oman is just an eight-hour flight, but a magical world away. In this dramatic and diverse landscape lie majestic luscious fjords, vast desert expanses, pristine reefs and dramatic rugged mountains plunging down to the stunning coastlines of the Arabian Sea.

To make your stay in Oman extra special, contact our specialist consultants who will be happy to arrange the following for you:

• Diving provides adventure and enjoyment with dramatic wall drop-offs to scenic coral lined fjords, ranging in depth from 6-40m. Oman enjoys good sea conditions with an average visibility of 20-30m. Night dives are popular and divers are often astounded by the amount of phosphorescence found in Oman's night-time waters.
• The Omani desert is a large expanse of sand dunes extending from the mountains of Eastern Hajar towards the Arabian Sea, the most renowned of which is Sharqiyah Sands with its dunes rising to 200m. Desert adventures in Oman take more than one form; be it by camelback, four-wheel drive or in the traditional Bedouin style, thrill seekers will not be wanting for choice, and no desert tour would be complete without sand-boarding.
• Dolphins frequent the seas of the Sultanate on a regular basis and can be seen in close proximity to the coast from Musandam in the north all the way down to Dhofar in the south. Whales can also be seen, albeit less frequently, in particular the humpback and the orca. Trips are normally carried out using traditional Omani fishing boats; plenty of space, lots of shade and refreshments all help to maximise the experience. Trips are usually arranged in the early morning and at sunset.

All of the above activities and reservations and much more can be discussed and arranged by our specialist consultants.

The Chedi, another stunning five-star, opens its new spa next month, further strengthening the Sultanate’s already diverse wellness offering. The capital, Muscat, with its ancient souk and ornate Grand Mosque, lies waiting to be explored. The new state-of-the-art Royal Opera House is about to open its doors, and will welcome Placido Domingo and Yo-Yo Ma to the stage in its inaugural season. High-quality restaurants both local and international are geared to welcoming visitors, and those on the lookout for authentic Omani cuisine might try the new Le Mer in Muscat, or eat on the rooftop of Bait Al Bilad, in Qantab. Oman’s second 18-hole golf course is nearing completion. Designed by Greg Norman, it’s within The Wave, a new development that will include hotels from Fairmont and Kempinski.

General Description

One of the oldest cities in the Middle East, Muscat is the business and cultural hub of Oman as well as its capital. Major development and urbanization has seen extensive growth of the city's metropolitan area, assimilating other surrounding towns. The city broadly comprises three areas: West Muscat, including Al Seeb, the airport and Al Ghubbrah; Central Muscat, including Al Khuwair, Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, Al Qurm and Ras al Hamra; East Muscat, including Ruwi, Al Mutrah, Old Muscat and Al Bustan. The old city is built around a natural harbour, flanked on either side by the twin forts of Al Mirani and Al Jalali, built by the Portuguese in the 16th Century. At its heart is the elegant Sultan's Al Alam Palace. The fortified walls which once surrounded the city have been replaced by a stone ditch which is known as Al Hosn, or the fortification. To the south of the old city is Sidab Harbour and Bandar Jissah beach. The main development is west of Old Muscat, including the Al Mutrah business district, Qurm and Al Khuwair, both home to modern shopping complexes. Here too can be found most of the major hotels, many of which are positioned along the fine stretch of coast between Ras al Hamra and Al Ghubrah, facing the Gulf of Oman. Considering its location and proximity to desert, the city is surprisingly green, with tree-lined main streets linking the various districts, several large parks, and shrubs and flowers decorating many traffic islands and public spaces. The architecture of the city is of a broadly similar and attractive style, mostly with low white buildings built with some resemblance to the historic regional styles.

Public Transport

The red, white and green buses operated by the National Transport Company (ONTC) connect Muscat with other main towns and cities, and also serve some suburbs along the major roads. The local 'Baiza' buses are inexpensive and operate throughout the metropolitan area. Taxis are plentiful and relatively cheap. They are not metered, and drivers generally adhere to agreed but unwritten rules for fares within the city. It is best to find out and agree the fare beforehand. Fares from the airport to hotels are regulated and displayed in taxis. Many international car hire companies have offices in the city and at the airport, and the city has a good network of wide modern roads. Domestic flights operate between Muscat and Salalah.

Location

Location: Approximately midway along the north coast of Oman, facing the Gulf of Oman. 25 mls east of Seeb International Airport, 90 mls east of the border with the United Arab Emirates and around 600 mls north of the southern city of Salalah.

Position: Forming part of an area known as the Capital Area, the city is built along a stretch of coast, with mountains behind.

Tourist Board: www.omantourism.gov.om

Beach

The city has a number of good beaches, most notably Qurum beach, which stretches for about 3 mls west of the Crowne Plaza hotel, and has some palm shades and picnic areas. Bandar Jissah beach is south of the old city. The bay here is quite secluded and has a children's playground and snack shop. Snorkelling is popular here, and the beach is the home of Oman Diving Centre.

Entertainment

Daytime: historic palaces and forts; the Grand Mosque; souks and markets; shopping; diving; watersports, including kayaking; dolphin watching; bird watching; fishing.

Evening: mostly based in the large hotels. The city is also home to the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra, and regular concerts take place from September to June.

Serving Airports

• Muscat Seeb International (MCT)
• Flight time from the UK: 7 hrs 30 mins

Market/Suitability

Becoming increasingly popular with Western tourists seeking a modern Middle Eastern city with an authentic flavour; divers of all levels, with magnificent and little-explored coral reefs providing home to a large variety of marine life; adventure travellers; those with an interest in Middle Eastern history; a large number of international business travellers.

Shopping

There are several modern, air-conditioned shopping malls that sell everything from designer and international labels to local perfumes. These are mostly situated in the Qurum commercial area. The traditional Arab markets (called souks) provide an opportunity to haggle for local produce such as fragrant oils, spices, jewellery and handicraft. The largest of these is the Muttrah Souk.

Eating Out

A wide range of both regional and international cuisine is on offer, including Arabian, Lebanese, Indian, Mexican and Oriental. A number of international fast food chains have several branches throughout the city.

Accommodation

Mostly 4 and 5-star hotels belonging to international chains. Most of these are in the west of the city, along the sea front and the Al Khuwair district. A number of budget options can also be found throughout the city.

Local Excursions

Half day: city tour; dhow cruise; dolphin watch cruise; Muscat by night. Full day: Nizwa fort; Hajar Mountains; Jabal Akhdar; Jabal Shams; Wahiba Sands; Musandam peninsula by air. 2-3 days: Wahiba Sands desert safari & Bedouin camp; city of Salalah.

Interested?

For more information on this destination, call us today on (028) 3832 3618, arrange a callback or email us.

Alternatively, if you would prefer we are very happy to see you in person at our new Travel Lounge, Lurgan. Visitors are advised to make an appointment with one of our specialist consultants.

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