We went on an epic road trip through Oman. It was a thrilling adventure, combining mountain vistas, serene wadis, vast desert landscapes, picturesque beaches, and engaging city activities. Our Oman itinerary involved spending the nights in 3 different locations. We spent 2 nights at Jebal Akhdar, then moved on to Wahiba Sands for 1 night, and finally stayed in Muscat for the last 3 nights of our trip. We stayed at comfortable-to-luxury hotels in Oman across our road trip adventure, and I recommend all 3 of them for your trip.
The location of these 3 Oman luxury hotels couldn’t be more diverse. Our first stay was set in Jabal Akhdar, a mountain area about 2000 m above the sea level. The next accommodation was deep inside Wahiba Sands, a large desert region in Oman. And finally, we enjoyed the luxurious stay at W Muscat, in the capital city.
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3 Luxury Hotels in Oman
Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar resort
Destination
We rented a Land Cruiser at the Muscat International Airport and drove first to Nizwa town at the base of Al Hajjar mountains. After a quick look at Nizwa Fort, we drove further 1.5 hours to Jabal Akhdar. This is a large mountain area in the north of Oman that lies at 2000 m above sea level. Even further ahead is Jabal Shams, a part of which is also described as the Grand Canyon of Arabia.
Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar resort is perched on the curving rim of a great canyon in the Al Hajjar mountains. The setting is absolutely breathtaking. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore many of its hiking trails, while others can take in beautiful views from the luxury of their resort.
Rooms
There are a total of 115 luxury villas and rooms, with a choice of canyon and garden views. Within rooms, there are options of canyon view rooms on the ground floor or the first floor. The choice within villas is even more varied to suit different families, from a Garden Pool villa to a Cliff Pool villa, available as one bedroom or two bedroom options.
We had chosen the Canyon View room and were happy with the size and amenities offered. The bathroom was luxurious to say the least. And the spacious room opened into a balcony with engaging views of Jabal Akhdar area. The resort has vast grounds where many pomegranate, olive and other local plants are grown giving it a cool feel.
Hotel amenities and service
There are 5 restaurants within the property to entice your taste buds. That was enough variety for our 2 day stay. The breakfast spread served at Al Maisan catered to a wide selection of international, south asian and middle eastern dishes. The kids loved the Italian fare at the poolside dining restaurant Bella Vista. We also tried the fancy fine dining Al Qalaa restaurant that serves middle eastern cuisine with a twist.
The dining areas, the pool areas and the adventure activity all offer knowledgeable staff and punctual service. Every single staff member we met was very polite and friendly.
Activities
The five star resort boasts of a luxury spa facility on its premise, although I don’t have first-hand experience of it. My daughter loved the infinity pool at Anantara with breathtaking views of the canyon. She also tried easy cycling around the resort. The superb kids’ club kept both the 8-year old and the 4-year old busy for the large part of the day.
I tried the ‘via ferrata‘: 200 metres of going around the cliff edge as well as trying Oman’s first zipline. Great fun and stunning views! We also spent some time at the tennis court and the snookers table.
Booking Information: Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar resort
Thousand Nights Desert Camp, Wahiba Sands
Destination
The Wahiba Sands or Sharqiya Sands is a vast desert region in eastern Oman. If you ask me, an overnight trip to the Wahiba Sands is a must on any Oman travel. And my recommendation would be an overnight stay at an Oman desert camp rather than just a quick dune bashing adventure to fully soak in the beauty of this land.
We drove from Wadi Bani Khalid, so it was afternoon by the time we reached a small town just outside the Wahiba Sands desert. It was a thrilling drive to reach the camp from here, about 40 km deep into the desert to the Thousand Night Camp we had booked for our stay.
Rooms
Thousand Nights Desert Camp was everything it promised. The best part was its location, about 40 km from the nearest town, it felt like we were off the grid. And no other camps nearby to crowd you out.
The tents and beds were clean, the toilet was quite basic. This is NOT a luxury accommodation, so manage your expectations.
Hotel amenities and service
The food, both at dinner and the breakfast spread was good. And the warmth and hospitality of the staff shone through when after a 3-hour sandstorm, they worked hard to shift our dinner place to an indoor room and served it hot. The next morning, the open dining area had been cleaned in the early morning hours to have it ready for breakfast.
The kids couldn’t get enough of the play area in the camp. There was a small pool but none of the guests could enjoy it that evening because of the storm.
Activities
Dune bashing is an epic activity to try at any desert camp. The property can arrange this or the more laid back camel riding to enjoy the dunes and the vast landscape. They can also arrange
a visit to a local Bedouin family.
Booking Information: Thousand Nights Desert Camp
W Hotel, Muscat
Destination
Your Oman trip is bound to take you to its capital city. Muscat is almost a linear city that stretches over 70 km following the coastline. You will find it warm and welcoming. Well laid-out with low rise buildings and broad roads, Muscat is good to spend a day or two. The 2 days in Muscat was the finale of our Oman itinerary.
W Muscat is a luxury, beach hotel in Muscat situated on the upbeat Shatti Al Qurum beachfront. The well appointed rooms, a beautiful bar, stunning environs of the outdoor pool area where we spent an evening relaxing, and the great breakfast spread all make it an excellent accommodation choice in Muscat.
Rooms
W Muscat is within walking distance of the Royal Opera House. it is also a 15-minute drive from the Old Souq, Muttrah Corniche and Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.
Some rooms boast sea views and others garden views, we had a garden view room overlooking the splendid pool area. As expected from any Marriott luxury hotel, all the rooms come with air conditioning, a flat screen TV with satellite channels, an electric kettle and a coffee machine. The rooms are complete with a private bathroom with free toiletries.
Hotel amenities and service
For us, the main amenity at W Hotel was the outdoor pools. The hotel also has direct access to Qurum beach, but understand the Oman dress code for public spaces. We used the 2 outdoor swimming pools and poolside bars extensively.
There are 6 restaurants and lounges, including the grill house CHAR and Chinese restaurant Ba Ban. We enjoyed a fun evening at Siddharta Lounge by Buddha-Bar. Its rooftop setting and cocktails are quite epic.
This Marriott luxury property offers AWAY® Spa with 10 treatment rooms, and a beauty salon. For sports and recreation, guests can make use of the fitness center that is open 24 hours a day and the tennis court.
Activities
The stay at W Hotel gave us a much-needed R & R break after the hectic road tripping. Like i mentioned earlier, we spent a lot of time enjoying the outdoor pool areas.
But there is enough to see and do in Muscat city. Amongst family-friendly things to do in Muscat, we visited cultural sites like the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, and a kid’s museum, tried local cuisine, and went for a pleasant evening walk along the Muttrah Corniche.
I also enjoyed a diving trip to Dimaniyat islands. We visited Oman in November and the sea was refreshing, but not cold.
Booking Information: W Muscat
Check out these posts for planning your Oman trip –
A Perfect 6-Day Oman Itinerary
Overnight trip to an Oman desert camp
Oman in November: Weather, What to expect, Travel Tips
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