There are a few reasons people call Oman the ‘Pearl of Arabia’ –  it could be because of its glittering skyscrapers or its hidden natural beauty. But there’s another side to Oman and its modern capital Muscat. And when you discover this Arabian pearl, you know you’ll be taking home some pretty exciting holiday stories.

Desert Safari

What does your ideal holiday look like? Are you a ‘lounge by the pool’ kind of traveler or do you prefer to live life in the fast lane? If you’re the latter, then you’re in for a white-knuckled treat on a desert safari in Oman. Don’t be fooled - you can leave your binoculars at home for this safari and there probably won’t be a camel or Arabian leopard (yes, they exist) in sight. A desert safari in Oman means one thing: dune bashing. You can expect a hearty dose of adrenaline as you hurtle up and down the golden sand dunes in a 4x4 and take in the gorgeous views the Omani desert has to offer. Although you might find the sandy roller coaster ride a little bit distracting. 

Watch Turtles On The Beach

Maybe you were disappointed to discover that your desert safari didn’t involve any wildlife watching. Not to worry - Muscat has its fair share of fauna. From April to August, over 20,000 sea turtles make the shores of Oman their temporary home. The best place to catch sight of them is on the beaches of Ras Al Hadd, where up to 60 turtles lay their eggs every day. You can quietly watch the mother turtles lay eggs and - if you’re really lucky - you might just catch a glimpse of the babies hatching and waddling their way into the waves. But you’ll have to time your visit right - whatever you’ve heard about these hatchlings, they can move pretty fast when they want to. 

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Oman’s Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon in the US has quite the reputation. But not many people know that Oman is home to an impressive canyon of its own. Wadi Ghul has its own kind of stunning scenery and sheer cliffs to challenge even the most intrepid hiker. Once you get to the higher reaches of the canyon - by foot or by car - you’re going to want to take your time and take in the views. And when you do, you’ll see a beautiful thing that happens in this region of the world - the rich earthy rocks make the skies bluer than you’ve ever seen them. On a clear day, you’ll be able to see for miles over the lofty mountains and take a moment of quiet from the city. You might hear the clip-clop of a hairy goat scaling a cliff-face, but other than that, it’s peace and tranquility all around. 

 
Where to stay: Grand Millennium Muscat