Dubai may have all the glitz and gloss, but its next-door neighbour Oman retains the mystique and romance of ancient Arabia. Along the coastline you'll find dolphins, turtles, pristine beaches and world-class hotels. Head inland for historic forts, camel markets, windswept mountains and golden desert dunes. 
Recommended tour operator: Bailey Robinson
Bailey Robinson says
Whether you opt to fly and flop or take a private tour, Oman is both fascinating and diverse - and under 8 hours’ flight from London. Described as ‘Arabia’s jewel’, the capital of Muscat is home to grand mosques, fascinating museums, minarets, forts and the atmospheric Muttrah souk. We offer a choice of 3 hotels close by the city, all with fabulous beaches and a dramatic mountain backdrop.
The Chedi Muscat (pictured top left) is contemporary, stylish and minimalist; this exclusive beachfront hotel remains our clients’ most popular choice in Oman and is just 20 minutes’ drive from Old Muscat. Also close to Muscat, Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa offers a choice of 19 restaurants, spa, private beach and 124 acres of landscaped gardens while the palatial and more sedate Al Bustan Palace is dramatically located on a sweeping sandy bay.
In splendid isolation on the northern tip of Oman, the Six Senses Hideaway Zighy Bay can only be reached by speedboat or 4×4; with just 30 villas, it’s pretty much the ultimate in peaceful escapism.
Our tailor-made 8-day private 4WD chauffeur-driven tour takes in historic cities, mountains, desert landscapes and Bedouin villages; highlights include dolphin-watching, the 17th century fort at Jabrin and a night in a tented suite in the dunes of Wahiba Sands.
