Dunes, turtles and more. Oman: eden in winter

Three thousand kilometers of coastline, golden sandy beaches, emerald waters rich in dolphins, whales, colorful fish, giant crabs and sea turtles. This is the ideal season to visit Sultanate of Oman. With temperatures that do not exceed 28-30 degrees, this strip of land on the Arabian peninsula, near the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, is the perfect destination to escape from our winter and enjoy a holiday in the sun.It is not only for the sea that you visit Oman though. A magical land with ancient roots still untouched and unknown to mass tourism, it is a destination to discover. A fascinating country, where you can venture between trekking in the wadi (deep canyons) and dunes in the desert, be amazed by sparkling oases and lush palm trees, the ancient fortress of Nizwa and souks that smell of spices.
The capital: Muscat
Nestled between rocky heights of the Jabal Hajar mountain range and the beaches of the Gulf of Oman, it is a very different city from neighboring Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi. First of all for the skyline, which does not have a single skyscraper (the buildings must not exceed the Muezzin tower), but all the charm of a Middle Eastern city poised between modernity and tradition. The innovative projects, the ancient houses gathered in the walls, the rich museums and the harbor with dhow fishermen, the traditional boats. The city tour inevitably starts from its most famous jewel, the Grand Mosque of Sultan Qaboos. The glance is amazing: the white as far as the eye can see of Carrara marble, the colonnades, the golden mosaics. In the prayer room everything is majestic, immense: the magnificent crystal chandelier, the Persian rug handmade by five hundred weavers (a record: 4,263 square meters of carpet). White and dazzling, the Royal Opera House is also the next stop: it is the only opera house in the entire Arabian peninsula, where you can admire clothes and costumes worn by opera stars, including Maria Callas, and watch the many shows on the program . Modern and hi-tech, the National Museum leads you to discover the history of the country, with a tour of finds, writings, traditional clothes and precious jewels. But to breathe the air of the place better head to the old port, in Muttrah, with its lively promenade dotted with ancient Indian-style houses, and wander through the chaotic alleys of the souq. We make our way through clouds of incense, mountains of spices and handcrafted jewels, with sellers inviting us to try everything.

Muscat. Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

After the day of visits, it is worth relaxing on the beach, perhaps swimming in the amazing sea view pool of The Chedi Muscat, the longest in the Middle East (105 meters), a record swim in a breathtaking landscape. Nestled in a lush garden, the resort is an amazing oasis of elegant and secluded peace, ideal for getting around the city, as it is located in Al Gubbrah, in a great location to reach the old center.The sea: Salalah
Couples, families, groups of friends. They come from Germany, from France, from Italy. The coast of Salalah, in the Dhofar region, offers a place with tropical sunshine with added value: this location is also famous because it is located on the Via dell'Incenso, an ancient route that crosses the country, once used for the commerce of the scented essence derived from the resin of Boswellia, a shrub of which the Dhofar is full. The Maritime Museum of Al Balid tells the story of caravans carrying incense, starting from the legends linked to Sinbad the sailor. The coast is full of archaeological sites, such as the ruins of the lost city of Ubar and the artifacts of Taqa, the garden of Ayn Razat or Mirbat, the ancient capital of Dhofar.

Paradise for diving enthusiasts, Salalah offers long beaches of fine sand and a warm sea where you can dive in every season. To experience all the beauty of a beach holiday, Al Balid Resort by Anantara has a beach club that organizes all kinds of water sports for all ages, set in a tropical garden with 750 coconut trees, pools and water features.

The mountain: Jabal Akhdar
Driving north, a couple of hours drive from the capital, you reach another unmissable stop: the great green mountain, Jabal Akhdar, which with its 3,000 meters of altitude is the highest massif in the Hajar chain, backbone of the country. Deep canyons, red and purple peaks, ancient villages and green terraces with pomegranates, apricot trees, almond trees, furrowed by the typical aflaj, irrigation canals, a vital part of the Omani heritage (in the country there are 10 thousand). The perfect spot to admire the landscape and endless horizons is Diana's Point, a lookout so named in honor of Lady D, who visited the site and was impressed during a trip to the Sultanate. Diana's Point is located in Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort, located 2,000 meters above sea level, overlooking a canyon. For those who feel like it, the Anantara Guru organizes the Three Village Trail Hike, a three-hour trek that leads to marching on the mountain slopes, following the course of irrigation canals, to discover the villages of Al Aqr and Al Ayn .

Trekking along the canals to Jabal Akhdar

The desert: Wahiba Sands
Golden dunes, orange sunsets and starry skies. Among the many riches of Oman, the desert is the experience not to be missed. Venturing alone is impossible. The advice is to rely on expert guides, able to sail the dunes with a 4×4 and navigate in the desert, like the local agency Zahara Tours, which organizes excursions throughout the country. Reached the heart of the desert (the advice is to get there in time to watch the sunset), you arrive in one of the tented camps. The most authentic is the 1000 Nights Camp, located in the deepest part of the desert, and accommodates guests in Bedouin tents with spartan but comfortable carpets and beds. A true experience from The Thousand and One Nights.

Practical information
The national airline Oman Air connects Malpensa to Muscat with two flights a day, lasting about seven hours. The Omani atmosphere can already be felt on board, especially for those who choose the award-winning business class, where they can enjoy the traditional welcome of the country. Fruit extracts and dried dates as a welcome, along with a warm perfumed cloth with the famous incense, a precious essence that serves as a red thread for the journey: it is not by chance that Omani Amouage creams and fragrances are on board, the most expensive perfume in the world, which contains the Dhofar incense. Not to be missed, during the flight, the tasting of typical dishes of the sultanate, a parade of spicy saucers, which tell the culinary tradition of the country. Given the distance, the advice is to fly Oman Air from Muscat to Salalah. www.omanair.com
To enter the country you need a passport valid for at least six months and a visa to be presented on arrival at Muscat airport. The cost is 5 Ryal, around 10 euros, for stays of 10 days. The visa must be requested online on the official website of the Sultanate of Oman and printed.