I must have made the statement “this place is unreal” about a thousand times to my game-for-anything friend Carie, who trusted me blindly when I invited her to join me on a trip to the Middle East, and a country that she knew little to nothing about (or that it even existed). All she needed to know was that if I was interested in exploring it, she should be too. (Which is a great indicator of a solid travel partner, by the way.)
Zighy Bay, just outside of Dibba, in the northern part of Oman.
Breanna WilsonSo, we planned a trip that would put us in Oman for just over a week. Two girls traveling alone in a part of the world that most people are completely terrified of, and we couldn’t have been more excited. The trip was setting itself up to be an experience of a lifetime. (And spoiler alert: it was.)
Oman is one of those rare places that because not many other people have caught on to how incredible this part of the world can be, and how friendly and welcoming these cultures really are, that make it a place that you should visit right now. Before the giant high rise hotels make their way there. And before it really becomes a place that caters to outsiders, and not the other way around.
When was the last time you heard someone you know talk about “that one time I was in Muscat…” It’s just not something you’re probably ever going to hear. Sure, everyone knows Dubai and the UAE. And everyone has heard of Saudi Arabia and Yemen. But what about the tiny country that borders all three of these countries? You just don’t hear anyone talking about it. And, if you’re anything like I am, don’t you want to be the person who has the travel stories that no one else does? (Short answer: you do.)
So, here’s where our itinerary took us on our week-long adventure through Oman, and the best place to travel to in the Middle East right now.
Going Off-Grid in Musandam
While there are plenty of places that you’ll want to experience in Oman – and the more you learn about the country, the deeper you’ll want to dive into the different landscapes and adventures that it has to offer – the most obvious place to start is the Musandam Peninsula, which is only a few hour drive from Dubai. The Peninsula sits at the northernmost tip of the country, divided from the rest of the country by a sliver of the UAE, and it’s about as remote and breathtaking as it gets when it comes to the landscape, the culture, and the people.
And it didn’t hurt that just outside of the small town of Dibba, there’s a resort that’s been on my bucket list ever since I started writing and researching travel. So, in all honesty, I didn’t just choose to start in the Musandam Peninsula for just its dreamy mountain landscape, I chose to head there also because of the Six Senses Zighy Bay. And while the resort lived up to everything that I ever dreamed it would, it was the backdrop that really blew my mind.
The all-villa resort is a two hour drive from Dubai.
Breanna WilsonYou see, the landscape here is rough. There’s little to no vegetation. The temperatures can be unforgiving in the summer. The sea is a deep, mesmerizing green that looks both inviting and terrifying. This is truly a place where nature reminds you just how little you are in this big, incredible world. Because if standing next to (and on top of) these mountains you don’t feel humbled, you’re not getting it. These are the moments that make you remember why it is you travel.
And back at the Six Senses Zighy Bay, you’ll feel those same grounding emotions. With outdoor showers, touches that pay respect to the Omani culture, and an architecture that fits right in with the landscape, this is a place that not only provides an elevated escape, but an elevated escape that still reminds you where you are in the world – which is something that five-star hotels more often than not lose in their experience. Because why stay at a place that doesn’t feel like you’re in a different country – that is the whole point of traveling, isn’t it?
And like the other two Six Senses properties I’ve experienced around the world, this property is also an all-villa resort, with each villa having their own private infinity pool. This is basically one of those resorts that spoils you for life. Embrace it.
And the things that you can do from the property are pretty incredible. Starting with a paraglide entrance that is just about the best way to start any hotel stay.
Upon arriving at the hotel, guests can choose to paraglide in. And with these breathtaking views,... [+]
Every day here was a new adventure. Mornings meant a sunrise hike (which is more like a climb) up the mountains that protect the resort. The views alone make the early alarms and aggressive ascents worth it. Followed by the most incredible breakfast spread I’ve ever experienced.
Afternoons were filled with things like coastal dives (the waters around here have some pretty incredible soft coral and more feather starfish than I’ve ever seen in my life), kayak and standup paddle board excursions (they’re free to use from the water sports center), and flights on the resort’s microlight aircraft.
Our evenings at the resort meant a fair mix of bumming it beachside or cleaning ourselves up and heading up to the resort’s cliff side restaurant overlooking the bay – the view up there during sunset is pretty spectacular. With Dhow Cruises, movies on the beach, as well as barbeques in our villa all rounding out our off-grid Omani escape.
Four days of exploring the scenery and disconnecting from the outside world later, it was time to head into the city. We were off to Muscat.
