December 13, 2015

From the Desert to the Sea in Oman

Middle East Cultural

WT Trip Leader Annie Hawkins Shares Stories of the Warmth of Oman’s Water, Sand, Hospitality, and Spices

Our adventure in Oman began at the lovely Hotel Shangri-La in Muscat.

A luxurious courtyard with a long central pool lined with palm trees and cabanas, leading to an archway framing a stunning view of the Oman sea.

At a traditional house in Al Hamra, we were greeted a with a warm welcome and enjoyed cross-cultural conversations over coffee. Hospitality in Oman is shown by offering coffee and dates to visitors.

A group of men in traditional attire sit on the floor of a room with patterned cushions, sharing tea from small cups and a communal tray. One man, wearing sunglasses and dressed in casual clothing, brings a touch of modernity to this serene scene reminiscent of Oman’s rich cultural tapestry.

A man in a white traditional outfit sits next to a woman dressed in a patterned dress and blue shawl. They are both sitting on a carpet in a warmly lit room, reminiscent of the serene ambiance often found in Oman.

One of our adventurers was painted with a beauty mask of saffron.

A group of people, some with head coverings reminiscent of Oman, gather indoors. One person applies a substance to a woman's forehead. A woman in the background appears to be cooking on a stove.

We traveled to Wahiba Sands to experience the lifestyle of Bedouin people. We hiked to the heights of Al Mydaybi, a Bedouin village at the edge of the desert…

A group of people, some with walking sticks, hike on a rocky path overlooking an old town in Oman. The buildings and distant mountains create a picturesque desert landscape.

…and wore only the best in desert fashion.

A man wearing sunglasses, a headscarf, and a "Wilderness Travel" t-shirt stands in front of a white SUV in the vast desert of Oman. Two other people are near another SUV in the background.

We spent one night at a tented camp among the dunes. It was a marvelous desert night where we enjoyed a feast of Omani food with wine, while music from the oud filled the air.

An older couple sits together on a bench at night in front of a tent in the desert, with two men sitting in the background, one playing an instrument.

Crossing the desert was quite an exciting experience…

Four cars drive in a line over the sand dunes in the desert, viewed from inside the front vehicle, as they traverse through Oman’s stunning landscape.

…and then we reached the sea.

A group of people stands on a sandy beach with the shimmering sea in the background, some dressed in traditional Oman attire while others sport casual wear. It's a bright sunny day with a clear blue sky.

At Ras Al Jinz, endangered green sea turtles lay their eggs year-round. After having laid her eggs, this turtle buried them in the sand and returned to the sea, leaving a tread of turtle footprints. We were able to watch the entire process.

A beach scene in Oman shows fishing boats, nets, and equipment on the sand. In the foreground, a sea turtle emerges from a burrow on the left, and adjacent right, turtle tracks lead to the sea.

The colorful city of Salalah sits along the Arabian Sea. Trees that produce frankincense, once more valuable than gold, thrive here so in the magical Salalah souk, piles of frankincense are displayed like a One Thousand and One Nights tale.

At the barber shop in the Salalah Souk, one of our intrepid travelers was pampered with a lavish shave.

-Photos and text by WT Trip Leader Annie Hawkins, Desert Kingdoms of Oman

From the Desert to the Sea in Oman

WT Trip Leader Annie Hawkins Shares Stories of the Warmth of Oman’s Water, Sand, Hospitality, and Spices

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