OMAN
camels, enjoy authentic meals or swim in cool wadis. Virgin Holidays Worldwide Product
Coordinator Caron Macfarlane said: “Oman is packed with natural wonders including stunning mountain ranges, gorgeous waterfalls, dramatic caves and vast deserts – most of which are unspoiled.” Improved air connections to Salalah in the south mean this green, frankincense-growing region is opening up too, while Musandam in the north offers world-class diving and is an easy add-on to the UAE. Oman sells well as a twin-centre
with Zanzibar or the Maldives, and also as a stopover, but more discerning holidaymakers are choosing it as a standalone destination – and it’s easy to see why.
What’s new Hotels: Asian hotelier Alila opens
its fi rst Middle East property in December, in the mountains two hours’ drive from Muscat. Alila Jabal Akhdar (
alila.com) will be set on a cliff overlooking a dramatic gorge. , The 444-room Salalah Rotana Resort (
rotana.com) opens on Al Suwadi Beach, Salalah, later this year, with a spa and wellness centre, several restaurants and and a children’s club. International hotel groups are lining up for a spot on the beach at Jebel Sifah, a new development south of Muscat. Construction on Angsana and Missoni properties starts in the next 12 months. Sifawy Boutique Hotel (
jebelsifah.com) is already open. , A 400-room Rotana Hotel at new resort Salalah Beach (
salalahbeach.com) will start welcoming guests later this year, offering a range of restaurants, a Zen spa and a private beach. Sodah Island, off the Salalah coast, will appeal to upmarket guests – when work fi nishes it will have a 32-villa hotel by Cheval Blanc, part of the Louis Voutten Empire (
muriya.net). A 290- room Fairmont hotel and a 309-room beachfront Kempinski hotel will open by 2015 at The Wave (thewavemuscat. com,) a residential and leisure complex taking shape near Muscat. Twelve luxury tents have opened at
Top, clockwise from left: Oman has spectacular sandy beaches; Dhow on the water; Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Muscat. Opposite: The Chedi Muscat is a fi ve-star resort
“Agents don’t always realise the experiences that you can have in Oman… such as diving, turtle-watching, dolphin trips, dune bashing”
MATT RUSHBROOK , GENERAL MANAGER WESTERN AND ORIENTAL TRAVEL
Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve (rasaljinz-
turtlereserve.com) which has one of the largest concentrations of nesting turtles in the Indian Ocean. Visitors can watch them during guided night and dawn excursions. Golf: Oman now has three 18-hole golf courses – the Greg Norman-designed Almouj Golf at The Wave is the newest
arrival.It joins the Muscat Hills and Ghala Valley courses. Flights: Qatar Airways (qatarairways.
com) has launched fl ights to Salalah in Oman’s south from Doha. The airline has also entered a code-share agreement with Oman Air on Doha-Muscat fl ights.
Tourism talk “UK visitors increased for a record 10th year in 2012 to 103,000, and more than 150
British tour operators now programme the destination. The UK offi ce has doubled in size as part of the Ministry’s strategy to train and support the travel industry. We have been targeting the golf market as there are now three world-class golf courses in Oman. The BBC’s Wild Arabia series showcased the Dhofar region at its best. Moreover, Oman is now fi rmly on the cruise map.” Alison Cryer, Oman Offi ce of Tourism, Director UK & Ireland
34 July/August 2013
Where to book it WESTERN AND ORIENTAL –
020 7666 1310 The 10-night ‘Beaches and Retreats’ package, with fi ve nights at The Chedi, Muscat and fi ve nights at Six Senses Zighy Bay, Musandam, costs from £2,285pp, on a B&B basis. The deal includes fl ights and is valid for departures before September 30 2013.
westernandoriental.com BALES WORLDWIDE – 0845 057 0600
A 13-day ‘ Sultanate of Oman’ tour costs from £2,795pp, including fl ights and superior mixed-board accommodation in Muscat, Sur, Wahiba Sands, Nizwa and Salalah.
balesworldwide.com DESTINATION OMAN – 01792 643019
Seven nights’ B&B at the fi ve-star Shangri-La Al Waha Hotel costs from £949pp (May-September) including fl ights and transfers.
destinationoman.co.uk FRED OLSEN CRUISE LINE
– 0845 869 6958 The 23-night ‘Wonders of Ancient and Modern Arabia’ cruise from Southampton to Dubai, leaving January 5, 2014, costs from £2,239pp. Balmoral will call at Salalah for one night.
fredolsencruises.com
www.sellinglonghaul.com
“Consider flying your clients down to Salalah. It offers a totally different take on Oman with its sub-tropical climate and green surroundings”
PHIL ELLIS, PRODUCT MANAGER BALES WORLDWIDE
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