Oman has no shortage of natural wonders, not least the soaring Al Hajar Mountains, where twisting roads reveal gaping gorges and spectacular canyons, and the country’s vast deserts, where traditional Bedouin culture survives intact to this day.
A walking tour in the Al Hajar Mountains is a wonderful way to experience local life and often includes a visit to the pomegranate orchards, where you can buy directly from the local farmers.
Thrill seekers can cross the mountains by way of via ferrata: steel cables, rungs and ladders fixed to the rock face for climbers to clip onto.
You’ll find some impressive UNESCO World Heritage sites among the mountains, including the beehive tombs of Bat, Al-Khutm and Al-Ayn, which predate the Egyptian pyramids.
The Sharqiya Sands support a surprising variety of flora and fauna but the real draw here is the landscape, with dunes reaching up to 100 metres high.
The Rub Al Khali has long held travellers in its thrall, most notably British explorer Sir Wilfred Thesiger, who crossed it twice in the 1940s.
The sheer scale of the Al Hajar Mountains only becomes clear as you venture along twisting mountain roads in a comfortable 4x4, passing ancient villages and orchards irrigated by Oman’s aflaf water channels, some of which date back over 5,000 years. The mountains contain Oman’s highest peaks, including Jebel Al Akhdar, famed for its terraces of roses and pomegranates, and the towering Jebel Shams. Trekking, canyoning, climbing and zip-lining are among the many activities on offer from hotels.
Home to some 3,000 Bedouin and sculpted by the wind into beautiful sweeping shapes, the towering dunes of Sharqiya Sands are just a few hours from Muscat, yet it remains a decidedly wild, peaceful and otherworldly place. A number of desert camps operate in the area, offering wonderful opportunities to learn about Bedouin culture.
Oman is also the gateway to the largest sand desert in the world, the Rub Al Khali or Empty Quarter, which covers 250,000 square miles of southern Arabia. Bedouin guides and luxurious mobile camps offer the chance to experience its raw beauty for yourself.
High in the mountains, this boutique retreat is immaculately designed, with a spectacular spa, cliff-edge infinity pool for drinking in the views, and activities ranging from stargazing to via ferrata rock climbing.
On the edge of the Arabian Peninsula’s most breathtaking canyon with soul-stirring views of the Al Hajar Mountains, Anantara offers sleek rooms with balconies, chasm-facing villas with private pools and a host of exciting, adventurous activities.
Spending a night beneath a canopy of stars is a truly unforgettable experience when exploring Oman's deserts, where traditional Bedouin culture survives intact to this day.