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Exploring Jebel Samhan in Oman – Discovering A Breathtaking Viewpoint

Towering above the landscape, Jabal Samhan is the tallest mountain in Oman’s Dhofar Governorate and offers stunning vistas from its viewpoint that’s well worth visiting.

A Protected Sanctuary

Apart from being one of the key Oman attractions, this mountain that reaches a height of 2,100 metres, is also home to a wildlife reserve where the critically endangered Arabian leopard resides; other wildlife can be found here too including the Arabian gazelle. Keep in mind, to visit this sanctuary, special permission is needed.

Planning an Excursion

Jabal Samhan is about an hour’s drive from Salalah and the Kharif or monsoon season (end of July to early September) is an ideal time to visit since the landscapes are more verdant. Properties like Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara organise excursions here which also include visits to other local attractions such as the Tawi Atayr sinkhole.

StellarD, Tawi Atayr Dhofar Oman, CC BY-SA 4.0

Making the Ascent

Depending on the tour, you can drive to the plateau viewpoint or undertake a six-hour trek. Set amidst deep mountain passes and limestone caves, Jabal Samhan also features fascinating flora. On your journey, you may come across spiky dragon trees that are centuries old, beautiful desert roses and frankincense trees.

The Famed Viewpoint

Near the summit, you will find the viewpoint with some truly spectacular coastal panoramas over 1,000 metres above the ground. Depending on when you visit, you will also see thick clouds below which add to the area’s charm. Be mindful that the wind can be quite strong and don’t forget your camera to capture this spellbinding sight!

Mobile Camping Adventure

There’s a myriad of camping adventures that you can be a part of – and some of them offer facilities that let you experience a comfortable and luxurious stay. One such instance is the modern mobile camping adventures offered by Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara.

Overview

These new mobile camping adventures will let you wander through the diverse landscape of Southern Oman’s Dhofar. It is indeed one of the best Oman attractions.

What to Expect

While the sun continues to shine, one may look forward to exploring the endless deserts, craggy mountains, and long stretches of empty yet beautiful beaches. And by night, you can expect to relax under star-studded skies, while immersing in complete luxury.

Image Credit: Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara

Adventures

If you choose to venture away from the comforts of your luxury tent, you will find yourself gliding along with dolphins with marine experts, discovering intriguing historical sites with archaeologists, and even pointing out the marvels of the night sky with astronomers.

Guidance

You will be traversing to all kinds of sites in the luxury of a 4×4 while being accompanied by the members of the Mahrah tribe.

Diving in Salalah

Salalah is a city of wonders. With many attractions, dining spots, and shopping hubs, Salalah has already won the hearts of many travellers. But what about water adventures? Does Salalah have good diving spots?

The closest diving spot to Salalah

If you have thought of holidaying at Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara or any other similar place, Mirbat is just 70km away from where you are. With many Oman attractions including China Wreck, Rocky Beach, and Eagle Bay, it’s indeed a paradise for those who love underwater explorations.

What to pack for the tour

The relevant equipment will be offered by the licensed diving instructor you choose. But make sure you take a hat, sun protection cream, towels, and sunshades with you for the tour.

Diving experience

The total diving experience may go on for around 5 hours. It’s a beautiful experience to meet the underwater creatures and plants during your exploration under the guidance of the instructor.

When to enjoy this experience?

Diving sessions do not function when it’s the high tide. So, make sure you schedule your tour somewhere from January to April or October to December. Happy Diving!

Top Things to Do in Oman

From beachside bliss and historical sites to desert landscapes and bustling souqs, Oman has plenty to offer; here is a glimpse into the best things to do on your holiday.

Spend Time at the Beach

There are some sublime beaches in Oman where you can not only visit but be based at as well. Amongst such popular places is Salalah home to pristine stretches of shore. Properties here like Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara offer luxurious pool villas and water sports such as snorkelling, diving, fishing and stand-up paddleboarding.

Visit Historical & Cultural Sites

You can find out more about the country’s heritage by visiting key Oman attractions including the Bahla Fort (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Sohar Fort and the Al Baleed Archaeological Park. Ancient Sumhuram ruins can be seen at Wadi Darbat, while the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is not to be missed either.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pukomuko/, Al Balid Archeological Park 5, CC BY 2.0

Explore Deserts & Mountains

Amongst the best things to do in Oman is to explore the deserts be it the Wahiba Sands or those in the Dhofar province; you can enjoy camping, dune bashing and camel safaris too. More adventures await at the Jabal Akhdar Mountains and Jabal Samhan Mountain including trekking amidst spectacular vistas.

Shop at Local Souqs in Oman

Souqs are the name for traditional Arabian markets where one can not only shop for unique souvenirs but soak up some local culture as well. Such markets to visit include the historical Mutrah Souq with it numerous stalls, the Sohar Handicrafts Souk and Al Husn Souq, known for its frankincense products.

Dolphin Watching in Oman

Prepare to be entranced during a dolphin-watching tour during a luxurious holiday spent at one of the Oman hotels. No trip to this splendid country is complete without experiencing the pleasure of viewing these gentle mammals of the sea frolic just off its exquisite coastline.

Best Times to Spot Dolphins

From October to May brings the best months for enthusiastic travellers to go dolphin watching. It is recommended to embark on these exciting tours on bright, sunny days as these friendly mammals are less likely to leap out of the water on cloudy days.

Experience

Dolphin watching in Oman typically consists of enjoying the acrobatics of majestic dolphins of the surrounding waters. Both young and old will surely have the time of their lives spotting these beautiful creatures of the sea leaping about in their playful manner.

Tour Inclusions

Many dolphin-watching packages offered by properties such as Al Falaj Hotel include complimentary transport along with meals to satiate your hunger that you’ll certainly get after being immersed in the refreshing sea breeze for hours.

Dolphin Species in Oman

Common Bottlenose Dolphin | Image via Pixabay

The most common dolphins that a tourist in Oman can expect to see are the Rissos dolphin, the Indian Ocean dolphin, the Common Bottlenose dolphin, the Indo-Pacific Humpback dolphin, the Striped dolphin, and the Long-beaked dolphin.

Best Places to See When You’re in Oman

Oman is a great country to spend your vacation. Located within a stone’s throw from Saudi Arabia and North of Yemen, it is pretty surprising how Oman is famous for its openness and hospitality – and they don’t even discriminate based on your religious preferences. So why not book an Oman resort today to enjoy the country’s beauty surrounded by its friendly natives!

Muttrah Corniche

A stroll along this long esplanade will bring you the joy of glimpsing Oman’s living history. This scenic waterfront promenade is peppered with cafés and restaurants. One should particularly visit Muttrah Corniche at night when the surrounding fountains are lit up and the atmosphere takes up a romantic glow.

Bimmah Sinkhole

Want a free pedicure? Why not sit on the edge of Bimmah Sinkhole and dip your toes in its beautiful emerald waters. Let those small fish nibble at your toes and scrape off those unsightly skin off your feet! This sinkhole can be found in the Falling Star Park (Hawiyat Najm Park), and it may feel as magical as it sounds.

Birkat Al Mawz

Located within a driving distance from properties such as Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort, Birkat Al Mawz appears like an abandoned ghost town at first glance. It is nestled at the base of the Al Hajar Mountains, offering a window to observe what life in Oman was like several hundred years ago.

Wadi Shab

Wadi Sahib can be described as a playground gifted to the adventurous travellers by Mother Nature. Hiking, swimming, mountain climbing, and diving again – it has everything a thrill-seeker desires.

How COVID – 19 will change the travel industry?

COVID 19 both as a life-threatening disease and as a fast-spreading pandemic has caused so much of damage to the world – it has resulted in the death of many individuals as well as it had made a huge impact in the economies of almost all the countries around the globe. Read on to know how it would affect the travel industry in particular in the coming months and even years.

Overview

The COVID 19 Panedmic has indeed taken the world by a dark and ominous storm. It has claimed the lives of over 0.9 million people by the time of this writing and it has crippled the economies of a great many nations. Numerous industries have been highly affected as imports and exports have come to a complete standstill. Among the many industries, travel and tourism is the one which has been hit the hardest and countries which GDPs greatly rely on tourism are struggling to surface back to where they were financially before the calamity.

Personal Hygiene

As we are now moving towards embracing the ways of new normal – learning to live amidst the spread of the pandemic, numerous precautionary measures and safety practices are being implemented and adapted into the daily routines of people around the globe. Hygiene practices such as washing hands occasionally, wearing a mask all the time when you are out in public places, maintaining a distance of at least a meter from others, are being followed by many and they are already being instilled on to people’s daily routines.

Laws and regulation

Travel laws and regulations are being changed drastically to ensure safety and to curb the spread of the virus. Many countries now request a COVID 19 report during the visa approval process and tourist destinations around the globe have decided to not offer visas on arrival. Some nations have also gone to the extent of enforcing hygiene practices for if a person fails to follow them would be fined or face other types of penalties and punishments.

The future

The scene of the future of travel, although seems a bit bleak during this time, there are occasional glimmers of victory in the news media of nations succeeding in the battle against the pandemic. Some countries have already opened their gates for tourists and numerous resort establishments are already preparing to receive guests with upgraded health and safety practices. For example, Oman Resort properties the likes of Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort now use enhanced cleaning technology and have digitalized most of its operations so that you won’t have to interact with others directly. There is now a lot of hope that things would return to normal very soon.

Adventurous guide to Oman

While most travel aficionados might not think of Oman as a great vacation destination, it is in fact full attraction see and experiences to be had. In particular, if you’re a thrill-seeker, the region has a number of great options for you to choose from.

Desert Camping

A massive portion of Oman’s land actually belongs to the Great Oman Desert. This wilderness of heat and sand covers an area of over 64,000 square kilometres, and it’s the perfect destination for an overnight camping trip. Spread across this vast sea of sand are several camping sots for you to choose from, so pick one and get this adventure started.

Dolphin Watching

If you prefer some fun out on the open waves catching sight of some fascinating marine mammals, consider a dolphin watching tour off the coast of Oman. Certain Oman hotels – say, for example, the Al Falaj Hotel – will most likely recommend this activity on their itinerary, so don’t miss out!

Taking a Hike

If you prefer a bit of quiet seclusion and some alone time with nature, a hike up the Jabal Akhdar Mountains will offer the best mix of excitement and tranquillity. If you’re into rock climbing, some of the cliffs face present out here will surely get your blood pumping.

Sinkhole Diving

Many stories try to explain the origins of the mysterious pool that lies right next to the main highway near Wadi Shab– some even state it was caused by an ancient meteorite. Whatever the case may be, put on a pair of shorts and dive right in to escape the searing midday heat!

Jebel Shams of Oman

The Jebel Shams is one of the most beautiful places in the world that you can visit not only in Oman but in the whole world. It is part of the spectacular Grand Canyon of Arabia – the Al Nakhr Canyon.

Introduction

There are plenty of things to do when you go to the Jebel Shams which is what makes it a must-visit attraction for sightseeing in Oman.

Image Credit: Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort

For Camping

The Jebel Shams is referred to as the Mountain of the Sun in Arabic because it is the first place that receives sunrise in Oman. It is a great place to go camping or if you’d like to talk to your local hotel like Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort for glamping options.

Stargazing and Night Photography

The Jebel Shams is a great place to go stargazing or for long exposure night photography. However, the conditions have to be great as well as it being a moonless night. Thanks to it being away from light pollution areas it can guarantee great shots.

Hiking

There are three major hike routes in the Jebel Shams which include the Al Nakhur Rim hike, Al Khitaym to Wadi Ghul hike and the Jabal Shams summit hike. The summit is not the highest point which is inaccessible due to there being a military outpost situated there.

Conquer the rocks in Oman

With Oman being a rather mountainous nation, it comes as no surprise that it’s an ideal location to go rock climbing. Want to know more about the perfect places in Oman to go climbing.

The Wall

Whether it’s before or after your climb, treat yourself to some comfort at a nice Nizwa hotel, you’ll find plenty around like the Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort for instance. The Wall is a great place to start as it is Oman’s only indoor rock gym. Here you can inquire about the climbing scene and the local routes and get some gear. You can even hire a local guide to help you out.

5 O’Clock Rock

Located just 5 minutes up Al Amerat Road, you can drive up here. It’s a big slab of limestone and has 10mm expansion bolts equipped to make things easier for you.

Qantab (Bandar Al Jissah)

Invoking the feel of sea-cliffs off southern Thailand or eastern Spain, Qantab will most definitely leave you pumped and asking for more.

Khubrah Canyon (Secret Canyon)

Located around an hour from the busy capital of Muscat, Khubrah Canyon offers a thorough sense of solitude and independence. It features beautiful weather and a boundless rock that is ideal for any skill level.

Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+