Wahiba Sands: Oman’s Favorite Desert Holiday Destination

It is a world of rolling sand dunes some of which stand over a hundred metres tall. It is a world famous for its native desert flora and fauna. It is the favorite desert holiday destination in Oman. I am talking about Wahiba Sands that is named after the Bedouins who call this shifting land their home.



Wahiba sands or Sharqiya sands is where you head to if you are keen on some desert adventure. Dune bashing in 4x4s, Quad biking over dunes, dune boarding, camel rides to the deep pockets of the desert or simply sitting on the dunes in the night and watching the milky way, Wahiba sands packs all of it into one fantastic desert experience.



Add to it traditional Bedouin food, music and culture and rich Omani hospitality and you have a desert holiday package that will rival some of the best across the world. And that’s not that, it also makes for a great adventure honeymoon in a country that is a great honeymoon destination for Indians.



Right from the time you are welcomed with some local dates and some freshly ground qawwah coffee to the time you train your sights on the rolling sand dunes, you cannot think of anything buy adventure here. The tall mountains of red sand offer opportunities to people of all ages and those with different adventure needs. You could simply roll down the dunes, watch the sun set over the dunes, try your hands controlling the 4x4 in the steep shifting sands of the dunes, board on some tall dunes or just relax at the sight of one of the mother nature’s most interesting creations. Wahiba sands is such that it makes everyone feel special here.



So the next time you are looking at a desert holiday destination for some offbeat adventure, think of Wahiba Sands in south central Oman. May be, you could go there the next time you find yourself having a long weekend holiday or even better if you have more time at hand. I certainly loved my time here and can’t wait to return to discover these mighty sand dunes a bit more.



How to get Oman visa as an Indian citizen:

If you are an Indian passport holder with a valid US, UK, Japan, Canada or Schengen visa, then you can get visa on arrival in Oman. You can also apply for the Oman tourist visa from the Oman embassy in India. For full details, look up my article titled ‘Oman visa for Indians’.



How to reach there:

The nearest airport would be Sur airport and the drive from Sur to Wahiba Sands should take you a good 3 hours in a four wheel drive vehicle.

The nearest international airport with the best connectivity to India would be Muscat international airport and the drive from Muscat to Wahiba sands should take you about 5 hours in a four wheel drive vehicle.



Best season to visit:

If you can handle the heat, Wahiba sands is accessible all year around.

If you cannot handle the heat, it is best to opt for the winter months between October through February.



Where to stay:

Most of the properties located at Wahiba sands are luxury tented accommodation located right by the sand dunes. They cost a pretty penny, but offer great access to the sand dunes thus making for a fabulous desert holiday destination.



If you prefer something cheaper, yet more cultural, stay with the Bedouins in their traditional homes. Stay will be basic, but the experience will be rich. After all, they are true denizens of the desert.



Where to eat:

There are only two options to eat in the desert here. You eat either at your desert tent/hotel or you eat at a Bedouin household. To have food at the Bedouin homes, one needs to inform them in advance.



Other nearby tourist attractions:

1) Sur: The coastal city with white houses where ships are handmade.

2) Nizwa: The historical heart of Oman



3) Muscat: The capital of Oman and a bustling metropolis with traditional souks and castles.

4) Al Hamra: The oasis settlement that is surrounded by date palms and mountains.

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Travel Photo of the Day: Wahiba Sands, Oman

Happy Monday!

Today’s travel photo is of a mundoos, some traditional coffee jars, the Sultan in the background and other traditional utensils from inside a Bedouin tent in the gorgeous Wahiba Sands desert of Central Oman. While I absolutely adored the desert with all the dune bashing, dune boarding and starry nights, my precious moments here were having a cup of bitter Arabian Coffee (Kahve) with really yummy dates offered to me in this very Bedouin tent.

Note: Click on the photo to share it or to download a higher resolution as your desktop wallpaper.

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Dune Bashing: Oman’s Favorite Adventure Sport

Oman as a destination offers a lot to adventure traveler from scuba diving to dune surfing, from dune bashing to snorkeling, from mountain biking to mountain climbing, from yachting to ATVs and much more. But, if I have to pin point one adventure sport that grabs a lot of attention, it has to be ‘Dune Bashing’. This is undoubtedly the most popular adventure sport that is relished by both locals and tourists alike. In fact, the sport is so famous that the country itself is synonymous with this sport.


With easy access to so much of desert land and sand dunes, most Omani men have been practicing dune bashing right from their childhood. The craze is so high that there are local clubs, rallies, races and even international rallies that are either within the GCC countries or even having drivers from all over the world.


While there are lots of places in Oman to go dune bashing, the best dunes and the ones that are closest to the capital city of Muscat are Wahiba sands (which are also known as Al Sharqiya Sands). Dune bashing is typically done an hour or two before sunset, when the temperatures are slightly lower and when you can enjoy the beautiful sight of the golden rays of the setting sun over the sand dunes.
 

Here are some things that you should know about dune bashing:

1) Tire pressure is reduced before getting on the sands. This is to give better traction and prevent tires from either bursting or getting a puncture.

2) Descending a sand dune is tougher than ascending a sand dune.


3) Depending on how many cylinders your car has and its horsepower, you can plan on climbing dunes of different levels.

4) You hardly use your brakes. The more you use your brakes, the deeper you will get stuck in the sand. You get most of the control by using your steering wheel.

5) You can drive through the sands on two wheel drive and for inclines and depending on your car’s horsepower, you can shift into four wheel drive mode.


6) For the first timers and faint heart, do remember to tighten your seat belts properly and prepare yourself for a bumpy ride.

7) Be prepared to get punctures (flat tire) and hits on your suspension.


The next time you go to Oman, you should give dune bashing a try. It is fit for all kinds of travelers as long as you prepare yourself well. It is a lot of fun even if you don’t do the driving yourself. The added bonus of a dune bashing trip is that you are bound to get great visuals of the desert in the evening or early morning sun, which will definitely be a treat to the eyes.

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Arabian Oryx Desert Camp: Tucked Amidst the Sand Dunes of Wahiba Sands, Oman

As a traveler, I have stayed at interesting hotels across many countries. But, only a few such stays are etched hard into memory. Either they are special due to their location or may be we met some great people while staying there. The Arabian Oryx Camp is one such place, but I remember it very well due to its special location. It is set amidst tall sand dunes and is especially sensational at sunrise and sunset. I stayed here for a 2 half days and a night and this review is based on my recent experience of staying here.

1) The Arabian Oryx camp looks like a typical Bedouin camp, but comes with all the basic luxuries like air conditioning, hot shower, hot tea kettle, etc. It is not too basic nor too gaudy luxurious.

2) The location of this camp is truly special. It is located right in between the sand dunes of Wahiba Sands. One can just walk from the camp and start climbing onto the dunes. This augurs well for those who are interested in watching the sunset from atop the dunes, dune surfing and dune boarding.


3) If you have a 4 wheel drive vehicle, then the vast expanse of dunes is just 2 minutes away and before you realize, you are doing some serious dune bashing.

4) The rooms are not too big, but they are snug and comfortable for something that is right in the middle of the desert.

5) All meals are included in the camp room tariff. Food is served at a common restaurant in buffet style. Meals include a mix of continental, Middle Eastern and Indian fare. Food is not exceptional, but pretty decent.

6) Evenings are interesting when they organize local dance performances and play traditional Bedouin music.


7) There is no internet connectivity at the camp and even data connectivity is only available near the restaurant area. It is truly remote.

8) The people running the place are very service oriented and take good care of their customers.

9) This is a great place to watch the desert sky and all the millions of stars in it. Apart from watching the desert sky, talking to friends or reading a book, there is nothing else to do during the night hours.

This camp is a nice place and I would definitely recommend this place for a true desert experience. I would have preferred a much more rural setup, but considering the harsh weather during the day, I would not mind the luxury.

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