Mountains & Deserts

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.

The sheer scale of the Al Hajar Mountains only becomes clear as you venture along twisting mountain roads in a comfortable 4×4, 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 Sharqiyah 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.