Why go?
We just can’t help ourselves. We keep coming back. Over the past 10 years, my three daughters and I have sailed around Oman’s islands, sleeping on deck under the stars, followed ancient watering systems along valleys, found hidden villages, gone wadi-bashing and dune skiing, swum with turtles and shopped in colourful souks.
On our first trip, looking at their proximity on the map, I thought Oman must be the new Dubai. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, they both share the same latitude and climate, both have golden desert lands and cerulean coastlines, but Oman has a conspicuous historic culture and sense of place that you don’t encounter in its sister state.
On all counts, Oman is a treasure trove of experiences for families. It’s sunny, clean, has next to no crime, is exceptionally friendly and more than half the population speaks English. Travelling with children means swimming comes before souks and henna before history, but with a bit of careful planning, we’ve always struck a good balance.
The charm of this quiet land – where camels mingle with limousines and ancient forts have satellite dishes – lies in its subtle and unassumingly gentle way of introducing tourists to its natural wonders and age-old Islamic-cum-Bedouin culture.
Discover the top 10 hotels in Oman perfect for your family holiday
What to see
Head to the capital
The capital, Muscat, is a singularly sanitary city where you’re fined more for a dirty car than for breaking the speed limit. The spotless roads are lined with whitewashed villas, manicured municipal gardens and gleaming vehicles that look like they’ve just driven off a forecourt. Locals are particularly proud of their new opera house and elegant mosque, which cost more than £177 million. Its cool, shiny marble exterior defies the intricate grandiosity that lies within. We all marveled at the largest carpet in the world, an Iranian masterpiece, which took 600 women three years to weave, not to mention the 7-tonne Swarovski crystal chandelier that radiates a golden light over the 6,000 all-male congregation. Children over 10 are allowed in the mosque, but need to cover their heads with the scarves that are provided at the entrance.
Explore the coastline
Down on the coast, the colourful Sultan’s Palace is flanked by two forts that were built by the Portuguese in 1587, strategically placed to guard the entrance to the city. A little further along, there was an eye-opener for the children, packed to the brim with white-robed men touting a ‘stinky’ array of giant gambas, waisthigh tuna and trumpet fish. The nearby souk was great for souvenir shopping and local goods such as painted perfume bottles, precious frankincense, and traditional dishdashas worn by Omani men (irresistible at a mere £10).
Hundreds of metres of private shoreline at the Al Bustan Palace’s scenic beach are a paradise for families. A red carpet is rolled out every morning from the hotel to the shore so you don’t scorch your feet on the sand. We snorkelled with the resident turtles and, just as we despaired of seeing dolphins in the bay, spotted three of them gracefully dipping and diving only metres from the shore, then rushed to the tennis lesson. The Discover Scuba course was a big hit, too.
What to do
Set sail for adventure
After a quick trip to the supermarket for supplies, we drove to the new marina at The Wave and boarded a catamaran. The children were anxious about the charter, but soon squealed with delight as they checked out their cabins and met Captain Abdullah (a master of card tricks and paddle board racing). They later declared this their favourite bit of the holiday. We headed due north to the Daymaniyats, a small cluster of about nine uninhabited islands about 12 miles off the Omani coast. Still uncharted and relatively remote, they’ve recently been declared a national park. They’re as unspoilt as anything you’ll find in the Indian Ocean and are top of the list for those looking for an adventure.
At night we relaxed on the deck under shooting stars to the sound of waves breaking on the reef and the gentle creak of the boom. Atdawn we swam to the shore, hovering over shoals of fusilier, parrot and angel fish. The water was a balmy 30C and the air was a hairdryer-hot 36C. We drifted over planets of corals, slowly taking in the galaxy of underwater worlds that were home to strands of long-haired purple and yellow corals as well as colourful angel and damson fish. We even found Nemo!
Desert safari
The southern slopes of the Hajar Mountains, which drop from heights of more than 3,000m straight into the warm Gulf, are famous for their oasis villages and date groves – in stark contrast to the sand dunes of the sparsely populated Wahiba desert. An off-road, roller-coaster ride across the waves of the ever-changing pattern of dunes towards the desert camp had us all screaming with excitement. Later, I sat in my tent listening to the children gleefully running down dunes in the dark. Hud Hud’s safari accommodation, in six canvas bell tents complete with solar showers and wooden pit loos, is designed for comfort. After a spot of stargazing and a full day’s exploring, hiking, swimming and eating, we fell onto comfortable mattresses dressed in crisp white linen to the sound of, well, nothing.
The next morning we woke to a breakfast fit for a sultan: fresh fruit, cereals, chilli omelette, local yogurt and honey from the Hajar Mountains. Just outside the enclosure were various tracks made in the night: antelope, birds of prey and snakes had all left their tell-tale prints. We met up with a Bedouin tribe exercising their camels and followed them some way, taking in the flora and fauna of the desert. You can choose to ride their camels, drive up and down the vertiginous dunes or just take in the vast space and pure peace of the dunes.
We stopped in the ancient capital Nizwa to admire the elaborate filigree work on the silver daggers being sold in the recently renovated souk and enjoyed the banter and bartering of locals in the fruit and vegetable market. Early every Friday morning, market day, there are hectic scenes of cattle and goat trading. A stretch of winding road took us to the jewel of the Hajar Mountains. Our ears popped as we climbed more than 3,000m to the summit of Jebel Al Akhdar (Green Mountain). Wild juniper, peach, orange, apricot and grapevines clung to the slopes against all odds.
Where to stay
After all our touring around, the Alila Jabal Akhdar hotel offered a blissful retreat. Perched on the edge of a plateau 2000m above sea levels, naturally the views are spectacular. The hotel is built in stone and blends beautifully with its surroundings. Decorative iron work abounds in the from of chandeliers, light fixtures and panelling and Omani artefacts and fabrics add to the appeal.
The hotel was ‘so quiet it hurts my ears’, said one daughter. Unused as we are to absolute tranquillity, its abnormal stillness lulled is into an instant state of peace and relaxation. It was the perfect ending to our most recent foray into Arabia.
Discover the top 10 hotels in Oman perfect for your family holiday
Where to eat
Street eats
With a multicultural population and a rich harvest from the sea, Oman has plenty of culinary variation, and something to entice visitors of all ages. For an authentic dining experience, there’s no shortage of typical Omani food to be found – look out for Schwarma (kebab-style meat in pitta with tomatoes and garnish), falafel and Turkish coffee. The street food is delicious and great if you need to eat on the hoof, and Mezze (tapas-style dishes) is a brilliant way to sample lots of local flavours.
Local favourite: Bin Ateeq
You’ll find plenty of Indian and Turkish restaurants in Muscat, but if you want an authentically Omari meal, try Bin Ateeq on Sultan Qaboos Street, Muscat, next to Pizza Express. The surroundings aren’t the most glamorous, but you’ll definitely feel part of the local culture, sitting on an old carpet beside Omani traders, and tucking into authentic local dishes.
Best burgers: Slider Station
While hamburgers may not be the most traditional Omani dish, Slider Station, in Muscat’s Oasis by the Sea mall, is popular with families. Picture a sushi conveyor belt containing mini burgers, and you’ve got the idea. Just make sure you leave room for their famously gooey chocolate dessert.
The lowdown
How to get there: Gulf Air, which has a Sky Nanny service, flies to Muscat from £324 return. Flights with Oman Air cost from £335 return.
Where to stay: The Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort in Muscat is great for families. Rooms cost from £115 per night (shangri-la.com). The Al Bustan Palace sits in an oasis between the beach and the mountains and rooms cost from £180 a night. The Alila Jabal Akhdar hotel costs from £190 per night. Tailormade packages can be arranged via Holiday: Heaven on Earth.
When to go: The most pleasant time to visit is between October and April when temperatures average between 25C and 35C during the day. It’s generally 10° cooler in the mountains.
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