Ever experienced those ‘pinch me’ moments in life? As someone who’s explored over 60 countries, it’s pretty rare for me to still get that feeling when I explore a new place. But let me tell you, if you blindfolded me on the plane and plopped me onto the beach, I would’ve never guessed I landed in Oman!
Salalah, Oman is a destination that effortlessly sweeps you off your feet! This enchanting city is a true masterpiece that I’m so excited to share with you.
Salalah is a perfect vacation spot for anyone looking for an idyllic beach break with a unique and diverse landscape, exceptional hospitality and delicious food. From the UK Salalah can be reached by flying from London to Muscat and then taking an internal flight from Muscat to Salalah.
Where to Stay in Salalah
If you’re looking for luxury accommodation look no further than The Anantara, Al Baleed Resort.
This five star resort will leave you wanting for nothing when it comes to a relaxing and rejuvenating vacation in southern Oman.
There’s a stunning beach fringing of the property which boasts incredible sunrise and sunset views, a huge swimming pool running through the center of the resort, numerous restaurants and a wonderful range of room categories. I had the pleasure of staying in a ‘one bedroom garden villa with pool’, and the space was incredible for a three night stay.
There’s so much to see and do in Salalah Oman but having a luxurious space allowing an easy switch between vacation and exploring mode makes all the difference in my opinion. The location of this hotel is perfect.
Places to Visit in Salalah
Salalah is a true Omani haven with so much to see and do, all of which will take your breath away. The region’s adorably famous for having more camels than inhabitants and therefore no day goes by without waving hello to a humped friend 😉
What makes Salalah so incredibly unique is that the camels travel all the way down to the beaches, it’s one of the only places in the world you can stroll past a camel with sand between your toes, it’s quite the novelty.
Fazayah Beach
If you’re a beach bum like me then Southern Oman is an absolute ‘must visit’ place for you! The beaches in this region of the world are unexpectedly phenomenal. One beach in particular I would recommend is Fazayah beach located in the Dhofar region of Southern Oman. The water here is crystal clear and the white sand stretches beneath for miles, making a perfect place to enjoy a full day at the beach. The best bit? You can drive straight on the sand and perch up your boot door for some much needed shade.
Discover the Magic of Wadi Dawkah
Did you know that Salalah is home to some of the world’s finest frankincense? It was actually the reason for my trip out to Salalah, to see for myself the valuable natural product in all its glory growing in the Boswellia Sacra trees.
A visit to the enchanting UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wadi Dawkah was one of the cultural highlights of my trip. Roughly an hour’s drive from Salalah lies a mystical realm of frankincense, which is collected (by a method called tapping) from the precious tree bark then dried and hardened to be graded as frankincense.
Spending time at Wadi Dawkah is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the rich history of Oman, we spent a few hours interacting with locals, sipping tea and taking in the unique scenery.
Wadi Darbat Waterfalls
As if the beaches weren’t enough of a draw for me and my love of being submerged, Salalah is also home to a stunning collection of waterfalls, pools and rivers. In peak Season Wadi Darbat is a cascading dream to look at, admire and in some places even have a swim.
Due to the time of year (December) not all of the natural pools were full during our visit but there was still a stunning spectacle of emerald water.
Scuba and Snorkelling
Whilst we’re on the subject of water a visit to Southern Oman wouldn’t be complete without exploring the magical underwater world of the Arabian Sea. This area of the world is renowned for the colorful corals and lively marine life.
We spent a half day on the water and on the way to our dive spot we were greeted with a pod of over a hundred humpback dolphins. They playfully danced around the boat for what felt like hours, it was a truly unique and memorable experience. I also spotted turtles before jumping into the sea and being surrounded by an abundance of fish. The diving in Oman is incredible!
Out of all my 2023 travels Salalah was the one to truly exceed all my expectations. It’s a destination to add to your 2024 travel wish list for sure!
My trip to Oman was a press trip, I was invited by the team at Experience Oman.
