Abingdon Living Jan - Feb 2020

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magical OMAN Katie Thomson journeys to the mountains and dunes of Oman to discover unrivalled landscapes and classic Arabian hospitality 26
The name Oman is a particularly evocative one. It speaks of the shifting sands of dunes and deserts, the intricate mastery of wood carving, interiors bedecked in jewel-toned fabrics reflected in shining brasswork and of millennia-old traditions and classic Arabic hospitality. It is also a country of contrasts - high mountain passes with spectacular valleys and picture postcard famous backdrops of sand dunes. You might not think mountains when you think of Oman, but the country has some of the most spectacular landscapes and vistas anywhere in the Middle East. Indeed, many nationals from the UAE or Saudi head to the Omani mountains for their holidays, preferring the milder climate in the summer months. Sitting atop a peak in Jabel Al Akhdar is the Sahab Resort and Spa, the latest hotel offering from the Omani Al Nahda group. Known for their strong commitment to service and luxurious settings, this hotel seeks to offer a mountain getaway where guests can truly relax. The hotel is of course centred around the views - spectacular vistas of gorges, waterfalls and stone cut ridges. The designers have been keen to ground the hotel in its location through a series of careful touches - the million year-old fossils found in the valley are visible throughout all of the grounds and the local rosewater scents the halls. Sahab offers 27 rooms in three different categories - Studio rooms, Suite rooms & Family Suites. The decor is influenced by rich Omani culture, equipped with all the modern amenities and offering a magnificent view of the Jabal Al Akhdar mountain range. It was special indeed to sip my morning coffee whilst gazing out across the vastness of the surroundings, watching as the sun stretched and touched each mountainous ridge in turn. There are lots of excursion options from the hotel - some abseiling and mountain climbing for adrenaline-seekers, alongside more sedate tours of local villages, the rose garden or even star gazing. I opted for the village tour, taking in the local waterfall and getting a sense of the unique challenges of living in somewhere so remote. After days of soaking up the endless views by the pool, it was time to move on to a more archetypal Middle Eastern experience in the sand dunes. Mirage-like and utterly majestic, the Dunes by Al Nahda resort sits amongst the undulating sand dunes of Wadi Al Abyad. Only 40 minutes from Muscat, it’s a world away from city life, creating an authentic taste of the Omani experience. The hotel is made up of a series of static ivory one or two bedroom Bedouin tents, each luxuriously furnished with dark woods, richly patterned fabrics and ultra-comfortable beds. For a truly majestic stay, and this resort does host royalty, there are the Royal Suites. The size of almost four tents together, each is capacious at 139 square meters and equipped with separate bedrooms, a living room and a private patio. Dunes Resort and Spa “IT IS ALSO A COUNTRY OF CONTRASTS - HIGH MOUNTAIN PASSES WITH SPECTACULAR VALLEYS AND PICTURE POSTCARD FAMOUS BACKDROPS OF SAND DUNES.” 27
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Abingdon Living Jan - Feb 2020

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