Oman holidays

Oman is the Arabian Peninsula's most-traveller-friendly destination — a stable, English-speaking, infrastructure-strong country that holds the Empty Quarter desert (the world's largest sand desert, the Rub al Khali), the dramatic Hajar Mountains with the Jebel Akhdar plateau (a cool-climate fruit-growing region at 2,000m+), the dhow-building harbour of Sur, the frankincense trade route along the southern Salalah coast, the fjord-like Musandam Peninsula in the north (the "Norway of Arabia"), the turtle-nesting Ras al Jinz reserve, and the souqs and white-painted forts of Nizwa, Bahla and the old city of Muscat.

A 10-14 day Oman trip: Muscat arrival (2-3 nights — the Grand Mosque, the Royal Opera House, the Mutrah souq, dhow harbour cruise) → Nizwa Friday goat market and 17th-century fort (1-2 nights) → Jebel Akhdar plateau "Green Mountain" (1-2 nights at Alila Jabal Akhdar or Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar) → drive across the Wahiba Sands desert with Bedouin camp overnight (1-2 nights at Desert Nights Camp) → Sur and the coast (1 night for the dhow-yard and Ras al Jinz turtle-nesting night-visit) → optional Salalah and the southern frankincense coast (3 nights, especially July-September during the monsoon "Khareef" season when the south goes green) → optional fly to Musandam fjord region (2-3 nights at Six Senses Zighy Bay).