Oman travel guide

These seemingly never-ending dunes roll and pitch like the waves on a white ocean. Home to Bedouins, camels and very little else, they're the perfect place to simply be

From lush oases and hilltop towns to vast stretches of desert, Oman really is a land of contrasts. We round up five otherworldly destinations you need to visit

From its vast deserts, towering peaks and pristine beaches to its buzzing capital, Muscat, it's easy to fall under Oman's spell. Here are some hotel options for every type of traveller

The steep, scrubby slopes of the Jabal Samhan Nature Reserve are home to the last Arabian leopards, although the chances of spotting one are almost non-existent

Hundreds of miles from sparkling Muscat, southwest Oman offers a glimpse of the sultanate’s traditions and history — and a vast expanse of desert

Experience local life in Jebel Akhdar The crags and canyons of Jebel Akhdar — 'the Green Mountain' — are known for their hiking trails. The remoteness of the Al Hajar region also ensures traditional life still thrives. In the rainy season, water flows through a labyrinth of wadis and terraces fed by ancient aflaj irrigation systems. Pomegranate, peach and walnut farming supports tiny hillside communities, and each April, the scent of rose water distillation floats on a gentle mountain breeze.

Travel to Oman's Musandam Peninsula for an enticing few days' exploration, from spotting dolphins on a dhow cruise to ascending Jebel Harim, its highest peak, passing Bedouin villages and hidden settlements