Jackie recently had the opportunity to revisit Oman.  The last time she visited this amazing destination was over 10 years ago so she was extremely keen to see what changes (good or bad) had taken place over the years.

The overnight flight with Oman Air from Heathrow Terminal 4 takes about 7 hours, so plenty of time to watch a movie, have dinner and take a nap.  An early morning arrival means that you have the rest of the day to freshen up and relax around the pool.  I spent the first day and night of my trip at the beautiful Chedi, about 40 minutes’ drive from the airport.

The Chedi Muscat

This is definitely a hotel for couples or perhaps a small group of friends.   The hotel has been open for 20 years but still exudes a wonderful atmospheric charm and endless sophistication, as well as style.  The newly renovated Serai rooms are sleek and minimalist, whilst the one bedroom club suites feel modern but in keeping with Omani tradition.  Just to be aware: only the one bedroom suites have outside space.  There are 3 beautiful pools, one of which is dedicated to families with small children.  Please note however that there are no kids club facilities at the Chedi Muscat.

Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort

The next day we drove up the mountains to Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort, a journey of about 2 hours 30 minutes.   Located at 2000m above sea level, the temperature is always about 10 degrees C cooler than Muscat.  It is perfect however for hiking, yoga and rock climbing (under instruction) or having a go at scaling the famous Via Ferrata.  This is perfectly safe but does require a degree of fitness.  For anyone who has never experienced rock climbing this is an amazing opportunity to have a go under the superb instruction of the team at Anantara.  The views from the hotel are simply breath taking whether you are taking part in one of the activities on offer or just relaxing by the pool.  It’s easy to understand why this hotel was included in the Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby series, with Giles Coren and Monica Galetti.

Alila Jabal Akhdar

The next day, our guide took us a little further up the mountainside to the beautiful Alila hotel, our home for the night.  Another gorgeous property – so stylish and sophisticated.  It is difficult to imagine that we were over 2000m above sea level.  The food was divine and the service immaculate.  This hotel offers beautiful rooms as well as a few villas for families or small groups to enjoy. Treat yourself to a massage over looking the canyon – highly recommended!

The following day it was time to travel back down the mountains to Muscat which included  a stop en route at the souk and Fort in Nizwa.  Both well worth a visit to pick up some saffron and frankincense in the souk and have a wander around the restored fort next door.

Kempinski Hotel Muscat

Once back in a much hotter Muscat, we visited the  Kempinski Hotel located in a very smart part of the city.  The busy marina, shops, bars and restaurants are right on the doorstep. This hotel is perfect for a long weekend with a small group of friends or for a short stop off on the way to another destination or for corporate visits.

Jumeirah Muscat Bay

Our home for the night was the recently opened Jumeirah, Muscat Bay.  A wonderful family friendly hotel on a gorgeous beach.  Stylish rooms with fabulous bathrooms (my favourite of the trip), plenty of dining options and a beautiful pool make this resort a wonderful choice for a family holiday.

En route to Shangri-La Al Husn, home for our last night in Oman, we managed to fit in a boat trip to find some dolphins.  We were not disappointed.  After speeding out of the bay for about 40 minutes, our skipper found some fisherman fishing for tuna.  If there is tuna, there are dolphins.  We saw over one hundred swimming alongside us for over 15 minutes. The best thing was that apart from 3 tiny fishing boats, we were the only boat around.  Such a natural setting without the Disneyesque experience that is on offer in other destinations.  Definitely one of the many highlights of our trip.

Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz Carlton Hotel

Before checking in to Shangri-La Al Husn we had time for a lunch break at Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz Carlton Hotel.  This is a wonderfully established hotel.  It was great to revisit Al Bustan which has been a popular choice with clients for many years.

The entry lobby, with it’s cathedral style ceiling, is totally mesmerising.  It’s difficult not to keep looking up at the fantastic chandeliers. Whilst the Al Bustan is still very elegant, with an old school charm, some of the rooms can look a little dated in comparison to some of the other hotels in Oman.  Having said that, it was difficult to find fault and easy to understand why it is still such a popular choice.

Shangri-La Al Husn

The Shangri La Barr Al Jissah resort comprises 3 hotels; Al Waha is ideal for families with lots of interconnecting room options.  The hotel has recently been refurbished and is perfect for young families. Children also have access to a wonderful Kids Club which is very popular.  Next door is Al Bandar which is currently undergoing refurbishment but will hopefully be ready to start taking bookings at the end of the year.  Al Husn is the 5* option with it’s own private beach and pool area. The service is impeccable with nothing being too much trouble.  It is also worth noting that the resort plays host to a number of turtles during the season. They even have their own Turtle Ranger to keep the babies safe whilst in the nest.

The best time to visit Oman is October through April due to the excessive heat in Muscat.  We found the temperatures in the mountains however just about perfect in June so maybe consider a mountain  option combining Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar and Alila.  A couple of days in each would provide a wonderful relaxing long weekend!

If you need any information at all about any of the hotels mentioned please do give us a call.  We always love to hear from you.

June 2023